when i turned 30, I found to my annoyance that my friend Santhia had set me up on a date with a friend called Enrico. Enrico, while handsome and suave, was not my cup of tea. Just as he was about to arrive at my home, I said to Santhia, I really don't want to do this. Why don't YOU go. She, rather nervously, disagreed, and i, rather impatiently, started arguing. We were both yelling at each other when the doorbell rang, it was Enrico, standing at the door with a bunch of flowers. She pushed me out the door and closed it behind me.

Hopping into Enrico's little red sports car, he told me that before we hit the restaurant, he had to pick up his jacket, which he had left at his home.

Not the jacket routine I thought, outraged, that he was playing this one even BEFORE dinner. So when we got to his house, he said, why don't you come in for a minute, while I get my jacket. That's okay, I said firmly, I can wait here. He said, look, I'll be a few minutes, I don't want to leave you waiting outside, please come in. Feeling contrary (just for a change!) I said, oh, thats okay, thanks enrico, I can wait out here.

I thought Enrico was looking a little flustered, as he came round to my side of the car, opened the door, took me by the arm, and started physically leading me onto the footpath and up to the steps of his house. No lights were on, it looked suspiciously dark and murky to me. I was just about to bop him one when he opened the door and about 40 people yelled surprise and happy birthday!!

and inside was a beautiful birthday caked, baked and iced by Santhia, with a picture of a dancing koala bear wearing a tutu on it. we had a wonderful night, and when Enrico drove me home, I gave him a kiss on the cheek and said thank you!

freda