Birthday; BARCA.

Here walks a contented, slightly over heated Birthday, erm, MAN. Today he hit the ripe old age of 30 years of age. So to celebrate, we have luxuriated in a much eagerly awaited voyage to the toasty city of Barcelona. Photographed today, on this special occasion, we swagger so very slowly into town, refreshed and recharged from a dip in at our incredibly fancy, get this, hotel. [Fancy; as in, there is a shower, a toilet and a great absence of hundreds of little grey hairy things running around our feet]. The great heat envelops + thwarts it's cape around our highly receptive beings and we quickly try to adapt to the hugely buzzy city we've found ourselves in. Gawping + applauding the swarms of skaters that whizz past us, going about their business. Not a teenager in sight, these guys and girls are well into their thirties and scrape along with varying skills. Ah to have had my longboard along with us! My only such experience really so far is hobbling about with it in Platt Fields, feeling completely overgrown for the pursuit and receiving continuous ridicule from the well hard groups of teens that mock + jeer as I slip in sludgy puddles + get thrown off hitting all the pot holes. But the fine slick surfaces around this city are the most hospitable for the ultimately satisfying mode of transport. We sip on shockingly cheap wine in beautiful cozy brimming squares and clink glasses to another celebration - 8 years of dating each other! (It's very common for us to only register this anniversary a few days after it's actually hit). The evening twinkled with amorous exchanges and excitement for the coming days. We sat on a street corner and tried to order tapas in Spanish, oh, um, Catalan. We found mojitoes for three bucks + basked in the late heat and sleepless energy that expanded right the way across this endlessly incredible city.

Happy Birthday, my darling.