Practically Perfect 🎶

Chim chim cher-ee! Manor Drive's the place for me!

She came from Trinidad to study something rather fine,

I came from Clapham where the circles weren't quite mine,

We met at Manor Drive doing masters late at night,

Sophie showed me what real friendship felt like—quite right!

I met her through dear James at Brunel, don't you know,

Design and Branding was my academic show,

Sophie renting out the rooms whilst doing her degree,

I moved to fifty-eight Manor Drive—jolly good for me!

Margaret moved in too, dance masters was her game,

Sophie, James, Emilia, OJ—wasn't that a shame!

Late nights on dissertations, working 'til the dawn,

Sophie there supporting us—our friendship bond was born!

My Clapham friends were frightfully stuck up, though I cared,

Meeting Sophie was like breathing in the freshest air!

First time I understood what proper friends should be,

Fifty-eight Manor Drive became my family, you see!

Playboy bouncy castle Sunday after Saturday's bash,

Castle chaps delayed until after football's dash!

Whole day drinking Prosecco, laughing, bouncing high,

Manor Drive magic—oh my, oh my!

Supercalifragilisticexpiali-Manor Drive!

House parties, Prosecco, keeping fun alive!

Two-for-one white wine from the corner shop we'd buy!

Saturday pedicures—oh me, oh my!

Sophie, you're bloody brilliant, that's quite true!

Fifty-eight Manor Drive—a spoonful of sugar for you!

Creative excellence in everything you'd plan!

I've admired your journey since it all began!

Any and all our house parties there, you see,

More house parties after—frightfully lovely tea!

Come back to Manor Drive for one more splendid night,

That address made everything perfectly right!

Lost Belle the cat for several rather worried days,

Thankful Tom next door kept his feline ways!

Watching Cakefarts when our work should have been done,

Manor Drive shenanigans—jolly good fun!

Her unimpressed face—thirty-five degree tilt, quite precise,

Fifty-five percent pursed lips, side eye rather nice!

Trinidadian white rum or corner shop wine we'd share,

That's what we drank without a single care!

The philosopher I know best of all, I must confess,

Chats over wine and tea in our evening dress!

Drunk or sober, conversations rather deep,

Manor Drive memories are mine to keep!

Lioness—loyal, faithful, elegant and wise,

Resourceful, capable before my very eyes!

Warning label reads: "Don't cock it up!" you'd say,

That's the Manor Drive wisdom to this day!

You showed me what real friends are meant to be,

Breath of fresh air, you set me free!

From Clapham's frightfully stuck-up tea and chat,

Sophie, you're where it's at!

OJ came to your Tobago wedding, rather grand,

James, Sophie, all of us there hand in hand!

Now I live in Singapore, you're in Trinidad's heat,

But Manor Drive bonds make our circle quite complete!

Recently we gathered at Manor Drive once more,

Recreated that photo on the hallway stairs of yore!

James, Margaret, Sophie, Emilia standing there,

Best housemates of all time—beyond compare!

Alanis Morissette sing-alongs frightfully loud and clear,

Soft rock for the booze I couldn't handle, dear!

Rock for conversations, every single word,

Manor Drive symphony forever heard!

Creative excellence, your ideas always right,

I've massively admired your career's flight!

You are bloody brilliant, that's what I want to say,

From Manor Drive's first night to this very day!

Supercalifragilisticexpiali-Manor Drive!

House parties, Prosecco, keeping fun alive!

Two-for-one white wine from the corner shop we'd buy!

Saturday pedicures—oh me, oh my!

Sophie, you're bloody brilliant through and through!

Fifty-eight Manor Drive, this song's for you!

Hong Kong, Singapore, Trinidad may part!

But Manor Drive lives forever in my heart!

Happy fortieth birthday, Sophie, here's to the best!

Fifty-eight Manor Drive crew passed every test!

From that first night when I moved in to stay,

To this celebration of your special day!

You are bloody brilliant, Sophie, quite true indeed,

Manor Drive forever—just what we need!

Chim chim cher-ee! Manor Drive for Sophie!

Practically perfect in every way!