Fruit Cake Biscuits and Olives

 We gathered at Estelle's house for another birthday offering. It was a wet but social weekend as the previous evening the Clancy's travelled over to Willie for a visit as well. It is all part of the Timmy rehabilitation, get driving, get moving, get active and give cancer the flick. Back at Estelle's house it was crazy games before other guests arrived like the Taylors.  It was at least an hour of frog flicking, scrawny chicken throwing and uppy uppy.  The high tea event was held with various birthdays in mind. The Taylors brought two jars from the 20 odd kilos of olives that came off our tree. These have been labelled as of 5 months ago so we might let them soak a bit longer.  The dessert featured an Estelle inspired cake as well as fruit cake shaped biscuits. That's different. A tour of the agriculture revealed blossoms on the orange, lime and cherry trees, As well as blossom on the passionfruit vines. The in ground plot has carrots (very crunchy, and must be grown from seed) and corn amongst the usual vegies.  There are plans for a hot house. These guys will never need to go to the shops.

frogger

chicken toss

fruicuits

Emerge

 This is a new restaurant for us and it is right in heart of Geelong with good car parking right next door.  If you had any doubts about what type of food is featured in this one then when you walk in the door to be greeted by a massive meat locker, with slabs of cow hanging there then the steak house vibe is confirmed.  I had the ribs which was a large cow bone cooked for 14 hours. They also had some exotics like barbecued croc and Moreton Bay bugs. We washed it down with some champers and an espresso martini.  No room for desert though.  We walked it off with a short session in the shops, with my new UGGs and a satchel. 

set at 5°

chicken roulade, ribs, beef wellington and a faux pas

coffee floaters

Deer Park Club

 This is a sprawling venue that we have used for birthdays previously. It is an effort to keep up with these 91 year olds and this time we had the conference room booked out for exclusive use. The whole place was going off and I don't think there was a free table. Huge screens were showing the World Cup and for the kiddies there are two play grounds, as well as face painting and balloon puppets.  I recommend the spare ribs. I had a half rack pork pack slowed cooked for eight hours or so.  We finished with birthday cake and a reminder about putting the date aside for a 100th in nine years time.

we are lumberjacks and that's ok
eat the food and run away

Return to the Conservatory

 I am getting tired of this recurring theme of where we were supposed to be now compared to where we actually are.   The reality is that we still have to go and celebrate a birthday and the Conservatory struck a chord a few weeks back so we went back for another luncheon.  I switched to the lamb shoulder very tasty with a mint sauce. Debbie tried the duck and was quacking about it.  We shared one desert with a single candle.  Just to change it up we dropped into the bar for a while. There was a fire, the world cup and a spiral staircase, everything you could want. I descended to the games room which I guess used to be a cellar for beer barrels.  

Official Winter beach day

 I got the Grandies going with a birthday cake session. Now it seems that if they were not helping then the cake would not have turned out so well. Ho Hum!  The afternoon was all beach action but with some stirred up water they did not go fully in but there was a lot of splashing about.  With steady sunshine and no breeze the afternoon seemed hotter the longer we stayed. Nana got a big roast going after all the exertions but even so there was plenty of room for the birthday cake and Winter ice cream.  Nana's present was one of those internet attached photo frames.  These frames would work better if they were wired.

 

Puckle and Bustle

Puckle St was going off on a Sunday afternoon. It was a bit rainy so that would add to the bustle in the Picture Theatre. Since we have vacated the Moonee Ponds scene a 6 storey cinema has been built there and it was busy. My sister Leanne, also hired out one of the theatres for a private viewing for her 60th birthday. I recall a similar party for a 50th some 17 yar ago. This film was mostly CGI and was a whodunit involving sheep.  I did not pick whodunit. A good way to spend a rainy day, champagne, cup cakes and ice cream. I thought the film was a bit sheepish.

Birthday Christmas Grandie Pub Meet

It was a big rendezvous of all Julie's grandies and our grandies were there as well. Good thing there were indoor and outdoor playgrounds at the Victoria Pub in Yarraville. The service and food was better than last time so I am giving it a tick this time around. I had the pie and peas with the red wine sauce, very tasty and not too big.  Laura timed her flight perfectly and arrived just in time to order lunch. We finished off with Julie's cake and Elyce did her photo management thing, by getting everyone to line up for a shot. When we got to Willie we fell asleep on the couch. 

Asher 7th

 The Universal Organiser had a day off yesterday, as why make it so hard as to coincide Asher's birthday with the school fete, in which she was peforming a class dance routine and the Melbourne marathon. I was to pooped to type anything more last night after an epic day. These school events are a step up from what I am used to. A few stats should suffice, like 14 major rides all on the back of trucks, at least 10 food trucks and another 20 stalls selling all manner of merchandise.  At the end, one stall was not packing up stuff to take back so they gave it all away, including a jigsaw puzzle that I scored. So after three hours of fete-ing we went back for birthday cake.  

Achey Breaky

As soon as I stepped outside I got the shivers. You can tell immediately that a lurghy has launched or a catarrh has called. It is a good thing I got away from the grandies before I gave it to them. It was probably one party day to many for me, especially after a long hospital day. Only thing is there is supposed to be another hospital day today also combined with another birthday visit, however I don't think the aged care people will want me visiting for a 98th birthday if I am achey and shaky.  Where is that rest day when you need it.

Red Velvet very tasty

Estelle's Cup of Cheer

 It was a small birthday gathering this time but I guess you only turn 70 once, although we are now spreading the rumour about being 60 again. James could not make it last week so we doubled up with Great Grandma and Grandpa for a home lunch.  Estelle had cake, ice cream, jelly and a butterfly cookie to take home. Whose birthday is it? I also received the hand decorated mug which was initiated straight away and yes the handle accommodates at least two fingers. Now I need an afternoon nap.

Big Weekend

 Estelle still had some beans but not too many left this morning.  We used up any remaining energy by going to the park and then a cafe.  The sky was overcast but we got away with any weather issues the whole weekend. There was a lot of action like sitting at the long table and getting a platter of grills, followed by a big indoor bouncing session and more cake later. I even got my own picture with Debbie's drawing skills coming out.  With all of this it seemed the simple helium balloon was one of the favourites and they had the tightest grip on them to make sure they were not floating off.  Not to mention my own bigger balloon ride experience that has to be slotted in now.

Whose Party

 We made it out to the Armstrong Grill which is a rustic cookup in an old shed that was either previously a hangar because a crashed plane is hanging from the roof or an ex hay shed.  I tried the pork ribs this time but in future I think I will stick to the beef ribs.  Then it was onto the Bounce centre where they also had  climbing walls where an auto belay system was in use. Just clip in and start climbing. These grandies were like spiders.  

who likes corn chips

bouncing not running

the circles

the plates

Birthday Season

There is nothing like a spit roast and if you are going around to James' house for lunch then lamb on a spit is it.  It was also his birthday and I scored a present or two for Father's day so everyone gets a prize.  The backyard projects are progressing here with a huge five hour effort to dig a hole for the new pond, actually an old triangular bath reporpoised (haha) for frogs and fish.  The science is in the seperate tub for cleaning and recycling the water back to the fish tub. Still a work in progress. 

thousands of worms

birthday trimmer

two ponds

Flowers more than hours

 I got some flowers last week to take into the Alfred.  I just got them on the go, a bunch of roses with tight blooms that were about to open.  So these are all setup in a vase in the short stay area and the next day they are a drooping, withering mess. Today I searched out the top notch florist shop for another go at buying roses.  One advantage over our home grown stuff is that these have no thorns but I will settle for them lasting at least a few days.  I still think our own grown are bigger and brighter.

Kooringal 67th Lunch

This golf club was recommended as somewhere in the area to go for a luncheon.  The dining area was huge and there was plenty of space but no kiddie play area. They did have some books and pencils and paper.  It was the most I have seen the grandies eat for lunch being favourite fish and chips. Generally the meals went down well so I think we will try it again. Golf courses have some prime real estate and this one is no exception. Grandma & Grandpa hit the jackpot winnings in bingo so thanks for their shout. Back at Willie it was time for cake and once again Grandma & Grandpa came up with a huge gnash cake. That is the first of numerous birthday outings.

Annexe Living

 We took a 10:00 am ferry to the otherside which was still a smooth ride even though the wind was up.  The traffic was not a problem so arrived at Safety beach in 30 mins.  Tim's birthday lunch was mostly catered by the local supermarket including pork crackle, which made it much simpler. All the Clancy gang were there and we went off to the local golf club where Dan Vogl was having a giggle, I mean gig.  Sleeping was tricky but we will make a better job of it tonight.

style and grace

ice cream cake

Moon Dog

Pubs aren't just pubs any more, they have to be quirky, groovy and spacey but this one has a kids play area, so not so super cool, like Yakimono.  Julie had her party at Moon Dog, basically an old warehouse with the obligatory mega home brewing kit at one end.  The food is your basic pub grub and they forgot about my order so another black mark. It reminded me of Little Creatures in Geelong. This is the second 5 hour lunch I have had in three days.  After cakes and presents and the ice cream Santa, we went back to theirs for the quiet drink. 

no speaking

cake and candles

cones of silence

lounging by the pool

Clifton Hill BrewPub

There has been a luncheon held here every few months but co-ordinating a day it is on hasn't worked however this time we were doing it by crooked hook. There was a diversion to Grandpa's house as his printer was not working and there are a whole stack of 90th birthday photos to print. We did get to see some of the presents including an amazing carved book that my sister Leanne did. After that we got to the pub just in time for the BrouHaHa. 

90 years young

 I don't get to go to many 90 yar old birthday parties. I think my record is a 95th birthday a couple of years back.  This was a long weekend of partying, this one spread across three tables at Castello's Victorian tavern in Gisborne.  Parking was scarce as the Circus was in town as well as the Wine Festival. There was a table of Bingo players and then the relos crowded around including Hamish who made the trip from Perth. He did not seem to mind being handed around unlike another small fry I know.  We took over the whole section, including moving four heavy tables to make way for a photo opportunity.  The 90 yar olds lasted pretty well considering it was a three hour lunch.

not much left

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