Birthday parties.  I've never been one to organize big celebrations in my honour (maybe it's due to my
advancing age or maybe it's the perpetual shy guy in me), but surprise birthdays...  I have always been
a sucker for a good surprise  ;)

Thank you for all the love guys!
Thank you Rhoda for gracing us with your charming presence as always.
Thank you Takeshi, Jimmy, Fergus, and Phil for making it out on such a sacred 'footy' Wednesday ;)
Thank you Adrianne for bringing in the Canadian contingent.
With all these Brits and Yanks we hang around it's always good to see a fellow Canuck eh?
Thank you Maiko. Thank you Mickey.  I really appreciated seeing you both there.
Thank you Mama and Yuri.  You two are possibly the two most charming people I know in Japan.
And thank you Wifey Dee... all of my love girl, all of my love.

Today I am 30 years old.  It is a good day.
Shit has never been much better than this.
Tonite I am on a bus to the old capital Nara, then to Osaka.