Singing Birthday

 It was Shrikkanth's birthday today and he was having a 22nd birthday party to make up for not having a 21st birthday party last year. By golly he's young! Most of us have already turned 22 and he's only turning 22 now!

Anyway, I had to teach music in the morning so I couldn't make it till the afternoon. When I got there, his friends were all in the lounge playing Singstar. It's been a long time since I last went to his house. I think the last time was way back in year nine in 2002, when a group of us had to create a short film about something to do with Ancient China. I wish we still had a copy of that!

While I recognised a few people's faces, I only really knew Grainam (intermediate school friend) and Sarena (intermediate-high school friend). Apparently the other high school friends had been and gone already!

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoQMiXLWqp0)

There was still some food left so I had a bit to eat while catching up with Grainam and watching the singing going on.

As it got later, people started to leave until there were just a few of us left. We went into Shrikkanth's room to watch a few funny Youtube videos before it was time for me to go too.

Happy Birthday Shrikkanth!

Primary School Memories at a 21st

What a busy day it was for us! First it was the zoo, then we had a 21st birthday party in the evening! It was Danielle's 21st birthday. She was in Aonghas's year at primary school, so we've known her since waaaay back!

When we got there we didn't know too many people, but recognised a few such as our old deputy primary school Mr Wh...I mean Warren (by the end of the night he wanted us to call him by his first name!). We talked to him quite a bit tonight and he was quite open with us about his views on how the school ran!

We also caught up with a few old primary school friends we hadn't seen in a long time!

As we went up the stairs, we could hear classical music and initially thought it was a CD recording, but when we reached the venue, we discovered it was a string quartet featuring Danielle! They played some very lovely music!

There was plenty of food so we helped ourselves, before the speeches started.

Danielle's dad first gave a speech, reading out a poem he had read to her. This was followed by a speech given by her best primary school friend Katrina and a speech and song written and sung by her older sister Juanita.

They then played a little video they had put together for her, featuring various friends leaving messages for her. It was quite amusing!

They all shared stories and talked about how caring and friendly Danielle is, and I'd have to agree with them!

After the speeches, we returned to mixing and mingling before the birthday cake was brought out and we all sang Happy Birthday to her!

(http://youtu.be/9aC9rlNdEgI)

Supper was brought out, which included a lot of sweet and yummy food!

All the ex-Henderson Primary School gradually got together and we managed to get a group photo!

The night was soon over and while the weather wasn't great outside, the night inside was great!

Happy 21st Birthday Danielle!

Chen's 21st Birthday

Tonight was Chen's early 21st birthday party, since he will be starting uni early (being a medical student and all) and won't be able to celebrate next month when he really does turn 21. This was a really special 21st as we've known Chen since primary school which dates all the way back to 1998!

Chen had asked me to give a birthday speech for him so I stayed up late last night perfecting the speech, while Aonghas put together a a little video montage using a few videos he dug out from the Anderson archives.

I spent this morning before the party trying to make Diane's (his cousin) 21st birthday present that I owe her a year ago (we had an agreement that we'd make handmade presents for each other's 21st birthdays!) but didn't get it done in time, so I asked her if I could give it to her by the next time I meet up with her! Ouch! She was OK with that though so that was a relief!

When we got to Chen's house most people were already there eating. There was a slideshow playing on the TV (I think most of the photos were the ones we sent him!). We grabbed some food to eat and joined some of the guys we knew, like Zahir and Alex from high school and Diane. I knew a few of Chen's friends as I've met them before at Grafton, and some of them do pharmacy!

We just sat around eating and talking, waiting for a few more friends to show up before it was time for Chen's 21st birthday speeches!

I was the only person Chen really approached about giving a speech, so I gave a speech I had prepared for him, followed by Aonghas who played a video he had put together for him without his knowledge. I think that really surprised him!

After we finished, Chen opened the floor for others to say a few words about Chen, and it was remarkable just how many people had something nice to say about Chen! It definitely shows what a great friend he is. We heard all sorts of stories about him at uni and at high school.

His parents were the last to give him a speech and it was very heartfelt and touching!

Chen then gave a thank you speech which was well planned and thought out!

We all went to the kitchen and gathered around the table as we sang Happy Birthday to Chen before cutting the cake.

After we all had a slice of cake, it was time for Chen to unwrap his presents! He got a telescope from a group of his med friends, a shaver from his girlfriend Rose, and from the Anderson brothers he got a model of a heart! He got an iPhone 4 from Diane's family though so nothing can really top that off!

To finish off the night there was Xbox Kinect in one room and Wii in the other. I had a go at both, playing the Dance Revolution on Kinect and looking like a fool, and then losing at baseball on the Wii!

It was just on midnight and time to go. We had our last photos with Chen before it was time to go!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a truly great and wonderful friend Chen!