8 August, 2001—Almost two weeks after turning 21, Matt Powell says that it's “pretty much the same” as being 20.

Matt Powell opens a present

Powell, who turned 21 last month, was expecting to feel “way older,” but instead has watched the occasion come and go without any sudden feelings of responsibility or adulthood.

“At first, I thought being twenty-one was sweet, 'cause everybody kept giving me presents all the time,” said Powell, “but pretty soon that dried up. Not that I didn't get heaps of neat stuff,” he added.

Friends and family agree that the years have been kind to Powell.

“All I could say is that [Matt is] wonderfuller than ever,” said one anonymous source, adding that she wasn't disappointed at all that Powell wasn't feeling all tough and grown-up, as “grownupness is to be avoided at all costs.”

However, undoubtedly the hardest part of turning 21 was the organisation of a massive celebration for friends and family.

“It was a bit of a mission, actually. We were cooking and shopping for literally weeks.”

Powell now begins the mammoth task of writing thank-you notes to all his party guests.

“I guess it's something I have to do, now that I'm a grownup.”