24, not 25,,,

D'oh

So at the end, I managed 25 sweets, 25 toy soldiers, $25 worth of phone card credit (so he can speak to his family, on me) and 25 utility hooks (because our stuff -- eg, clothes, towels and keys all get thrown randomly around at his place).

Only problem was, he is 24 this year, not 25. Boy, did he have a good laugh.

And at the cake shop, I had somehow, unwittingly requested for 21 candles.