age doesn't sneak up on me, friends do

Surprises rarely succeed, especially around my birthday period when my 'surprise radar' is on high alert. But these sneaky rats got me, good.

Luck and preparation was on their side.

1. Two weeks has passed since my birthday, so I was not expecting any celebration at all.
2. I almost didn't turn up because I was exhausted from my Sri Lanka trip.
3. Jintian (JTB) was distracting us with a 'magic stick' while Thomas (TTE) got the cake.

While they were singing along to the birthday song tune from the musical candle, I was still puzzled and - very blondly - wondering whose birthday it was.

So thank you people. You are good!