Twitter. Its detractors are fond of painting a picture of an echo chamber; all narcissism and no real value. I had a slightly bleak moment earlier which I immediately bruited on Twitter:
Oh god. The realisation that it’s my thirty third birthday tomorrow has just hit me like a truck. Console me, Twitter.
Out of the thirty-ish replies, twelve of them contained sage counsel, I got one piece of bad advice, five generous and charming compliments, three insults, the possibility of a marital spat and a birthday card from a robot. I couldn’t have asked for anything more…I may be bidding my youth a fond farewell, but as usual, Twitter serves to remind me that I’m not alone; all human experience is understood and shared in a way that’s really quite humbling. Thanks, chaps.
I’ll be taking the bad advice, naturally.
lyndons
.@franksting @acatinatree If you cope with your “Album” birthday (33-and-a-third), great! …but wait for your “Single” birthday at 45 
SarahPea @acatinatree didn’t ya hear that in 2010, u get to minus 10? Happy 23rd birthday!!
BurroughsBot RT @bimyou_bimyou @acatinatree you’ll be the same age as William S. Burroughs when he died? (I was never very good at the consolation …
franksting @acatinatree wait until you hit thirty three and a third (I had a birthday party for that), btw 
hopeinhell @acatinatree i’m 38. so shut up. do you feel consoled? 
helenperris @smperris And you say you don’t know how to flirt. (cc @acatinatree)
MetalheadMick @acatinatree Hey, we share a birthday(tomorrow’s my 23rd) It’s a proven fact people born on 31st of July in a year ending with 7 are awesome
bimyou_bimyou @acatinatree you’ll be the same age as William S. Burroughs when he died? (I was never very good at the consolation game…)
smperris @acatinatree 33? Pretty young thing like you? Surely not.
karalee_ @acatinatree oh sweetie, was going to cheer you up with this: http://bit.ly/aXIeN6 but then realised you’re 2 years past your peak
LucieSnape @acatinatree it will be a good 364 days until you have to think about it again! Hope u have a wonderful day! Embrace being 33 yrs young!
shoes_off @acatinatree you’re hotter than Jesus.
andrewbarnett @acatinatree When you’re my age, you won’t remember your 33rd birthday…
JoelyRighteous @acatinatree There, there, would a walking frame help?
bernardk @acatinatree if it’s any consolation, you’ve just made me feel old!
voirol @acatinatree Spring chicken!
mab397 @acatinatree when you feel 84 on Sunday, 33 won’t seem so bad
Bruman7 @acatinatree Haha you’re a day older than me ya old boiler!
rambn @acatinatree technically, I think you can’t be upset until you hit 40 
damana @acatinatree My god! I am 33 and 11 months and wish i was as fabulous as you on my 33rd. You are brilliant, witty, articulate and gorgeous!
nickspurway @acatinatree QUICK. TO THE VODKA
Opheli8 @acatinatree I’m older than you!
Being older than all of you including @TomVoirol entitles me to say this – look forward, never back and make sure that every step you take into the future is in fucking fabulous shoes x
Stealth “I have over 30 friends” post.
I thought what happened on Twitter, stayed on Twitter. Even 33rd birthdays
I promise that every year is better than the last. That’s why we keep on living. Happy Birthday, my dear friend.
we’re kind of left to categorize our own replies. sage counsel, right?