'twas my birthday on Friday. 40 years old. ffs. was completely non-plussed about the whole episode right up till I woke up on Friday morning to be greeted by my family all looking at me to see my reaction. it went something like....

yaaaaawwwwnnnnnn. check johnson. scratch. oh bollocks. reach for cigarette. remember I haven't smoked for 6 months. feel grumpy. realise I now has the absolute right to feel grumpy what with being middle aged, so really go for it. get handed stroooong coffee which diffuses the situation for a bit.

and so on

Anyways, not much to do about it , but relax into it and go with the flow. if I could only remember how to relax without involving mind altering chemicals.

so, to the bright side of birthdays - pressies. yeah man. I think most people who know me are genuinely surprised that I made it to 40, so hadn't banked on having to get me anything, so they gave me money - so with said money I have just bought myself a Hasselblad 501C Get in! being the wonderful and generous chappie that he is gave me the coolest pinhole camera - one of the zeroimage 6x9 ones. its stillsitting in its box as I'm scared to take it out and use it, so pretty it is. on top of this I got enough silver nitrate from my lovely wife to make an actual silver bath for floating or dipping of my papers. yes. I have peculiar tastes, but I'm all happy.

Anyways, thanks for the favs, watchers etc. Must now go and moan about the state of the world to anyone who stands still long enough to listen........

As ever, set your faces to stun and check this lot out :