Last night was really quite awesome. My friend jenny was holding a 21st birthday party; it was held over in Crewe, by invitation only at the overdraught bar. Jenny expressly mentioned, too, that it was formal wear, which meant only one thing – my tux had to come out.

[at this point I better say my parents rule – they went to the not negligible trouble of dry cleaning my suit and delivering it here. Thanks guys]

so, charlotte having changed me into my suit, and looking stunning herself, we caught a lift over to Crewe. Jenny’s friends and family were there, in kilts, as were most of my friends. There and then, I decided it wasn’t a night for beer.

I went to the bar: ‘Please mix one gin and one vermouth’. I asked. What I got back was quite passable, but not a proper martini. I got talking to my friends, and a while later I saw AF at the bar, so I went over to chat. He complemented me on how smart I looked; I replied I simply had a bond fixation. He asked if I was drinking martini.

‘kind of’ I replied, whereupon he very kindly set about mixing me a proper martini, methodically pouring liquid from one glass to another to a precise recipe. When I tasted it, I recognised it as that which I had in Sydney on new years eve: something which I seem to be acquiring a taste for – Martinis. Quite delicious, even if it lacked the slither of lemon peel and green olive, which seem to give it extra bite.

I was determined, however, not to get drunk last night, so I happily drunk water for the rest off the evening, talking o friends, eating cake and dancing. I had a lot of fun: at one point, Steve thought it would be a good idea to sweep me off my feet and carry me about the dance floor. Everyone had an excellent time; jen made a good speech, and at about half twelve we got a taxi home.

Happy birthday, Jenny. That was great.