BotanicaH

 It seems more was packed into this weekend than the entire Darwin week.  The hospital visit was originally unintended however a Friday meetup was organised for a detailed examination by another raft of doctors. The Saturday was Elyce's surprise 40th Knees Up at a place called Botanicah in the Prahan high end shopping strip.  Yes we were in a shed with a lot of plants. How this place fends off the buy out offers is a mystery.  This morning we were up before sparrow fart and back to the scene of the ribbing at the church in MontMorency, for more photos. At least we know it was all worth it, as the school has accepted Estelle as a student. No comments here on the selection process. 

Who's boots

hot chocolate milk

TiddlyWinks

 They have partying down to a fine art at TiddlyWinks. There were five, five yar old parties being hosted at the same time, including two of them for two Evelyns. The three storied playground was the focus at the start. The main attraction was the dance floor/stage/disco room. This had two main sessions for the disco beats. Food was served in a seperate upstairs room where two staff entertained with magic and ice cream. Phew! It took  the whole back of the car to get the 20 or so presents back home. Evie was excited from start to finish, although we still have the afternoon to go.

Kaia star of the show

 The afternoon was a well organised three year old birthday.  At first Kaia seemed unsure of getting all the attention but seemed to get used to the spotlight by the end of the day. The main banquet table was just the right size to handle 12 ankle biters with a steady supply of  sausage rolls, pies, sushi and quiche, don't forget the ice cream. The adults also got plenty of that finger food as well. The highlight was the pinata for the kids and the cocktails for the mums.  That was a long fun weekend now for a rest day.

BackYard Swingers

 The hanging gym has come into full usage this time around with every piece of apparatus in use at the same time and rated at 150 kg it sure had a big test, even if it was only for a photo. Meanwhile the ever reliable spit was always turning in the corner with lamb at one end and chicken at the other. The Evie and Kaia show continued into the afternoon with much cake and frogs in jelly and an honourable mention to the 70th wedding anniversary.  It started winding up after the main guests left for the airport which gave time for a cleanup before we made our way back to Geelong. Phew! Today must be a rest day.

four girls making coffee

home grown melon

another present

there were six or seven in here

Kaia in shot

gym test

Charlie ready to fly

Pound Bend

 I haven't been anywhere near Pound Bend since the days when we were regularly visiting Paul Stork at his Mud Brick house.  This time it felt like I was driving all day when coming from Geelong.  The roads are narrow with no parking so we had to walk 100 metres but the rain stayed away. Partner Pete and his wife Trish were having a party. I have not seen this house since they moved there and it is big with the Yarra River running down below their backyard.  You can't have a conversation with anyone in this group without business coming up.  Everyone here is a businessman or woman. Debbie is well known in this group as her exploits are always put up as a poster to follow.

Park where you can

Yarra

Charlie Pre 2 Party

 Since Charlie was here with a lot of his cousins then lets have an early birthday party. To average out the driving we we went to Williamstown and invaded the locals with eight kids under eight.  There was a lot of food and a lot of fun and a lot of noise. There are many presents that will not make it on the plane next week. Getting in pizza was a good move especially with the oven playing up after the last electricity outage.  After 90 mins drive back Charlie is cooked but it was a big day.

Party Vids

It has taken a few days to find a chance to get the video camera unloaded.  A lot of preparation went into the kids entertainment and I can remember back to when I had a 40th in Marysville, which was opposite this one, being an adult theme with Grand Final big screen, water volleyball and the epic fat suit wrestling tournament.  This generation is all about younger kids being had at an older age. 

This was before Marysville burnt but a lot of these wood sculptures survived.

40th for Kids

 I have never been to a 40th birthday where there was a jumping castle in residence. But it was a huge success. Kids outnumbered adults and that castle was going full bore the whole afternoon.  I had a quick trip to the airport to get Laura and Evie and Charlie to the party. James and Heidi put on a great show with plenty of food, 10kg turning on the spit.  It was along day but we have made it back to Willie and now we just have reconfigure the beds to fit in three extra.  Good old Bluey and Co are keeping things quiet but I am not sure how these kids are still awake but I am sleepy enough.

Queenscliff Gathering

 We arrived at 11:15am where there were car parks available and the shady table was also unclaimed.  Being Friday the 5th and not between Christmas New Year probably makes a big difference, although the start of town had a big surf carnival with cars everywhere and down below was Thomas the Tank Engine day so that end would have been mayhem but we were nicely in the middle.  The Clancys arrived around Noon having got the ferry at 11:00am.  The park filled up around us with more big groups. The playground got a lot of action as did the cricket set but no time for finska.  Lunch was chicken in rolls spread around one permanent picnic table and two portable tables as well as a huge groundsheet and a couple of matresses.  On the way back to the ferry, a stop was made at the carnival for a ride on the roller coaster.  All the grandies had a good time of it. The beach was right there but that is raising it another level.

 

Christmas Shift

 More decorations and other Christmas utensils are all being stacked for the switch to Williamstown and we do not want to leave anything behind. Last night a few drinks were had at Noyade in Strathmore. This is desrcribed as a grill, up a laneway, passed some bins, get to a door and there is a cave like bar there. The lobster rolls were good if small. We had it to ourselves for a few hours in the afternoon.  Debbie is on the all day, one day only Christmas spree today and then it's all done.  We have saved Christmas lights for here which are also going up today.

Noyade

My Preciousssss

 Managed to work the trains out to get to Richmond station and it took three of them. I wasn't intending to get the train back again but since Tim was getting a train and it is free rides for seniors at the weekend so why not.  Except they cancelled my train and I would have had to get off because of Flemington race interlopers anyway, so I exited Spencer St and went outside to find a taxi. I also got to use the secret code on the Village gate to get back in. Between all of that it was boys day out party time.  Some of these lads were looking a bit seedy as they had been at it from the day before. At the Cricketers Arms we had a pool tournament held on small tables which meant we had a better chance of getting some balls in. There was a guy on roller skates trying to hold the cue steady as well as a beer so good effort all around. I think mention should go to Larry and Brendon as the winners if I have remembered that right.  Next stop was the Wharf Hotel for some more drinks and yarns. The whole city was alive with dressed up race goers. This time there was a rather scary guy who kept drawing attention from everybody.  The third venue was off to the Crown Towers for more ribaldry but that is where Tim and  I left them to it.  I think after two nights of this stuff they will be a bit dusty tomorrow.

Can't even go for a wee wee without making new friends

Alice in Kogan Land

 The new el cheapo camera ($150) has arrived and it is cheaper for a reason.  EG there is no way to transfer files across to the PC as there are no external usb ports to plug in.  This helps with waterproofing but there is still a door in the side to insert a battery and a MicroSD card, so why not have a port to plug in a cable.  So the only way is to get the card out and attach it to your computer.  Otherwise it seems to record ok but I have not had it under water as yet.  It does not come with a media card so I moved the one from the old camera to this one. It turns out this is a card from an old phone in use some five yar ago.  I found photos and videos from 2018 one of which is below from a visit to see Alice.  There were no grandies around then.

After Party

 I did the morning swim and had some breakfast across the road at Beco with Tim and Julie and a lot of the wedding crew. The morning was mostly spent with Charlie until it was time for the after party luncheon.  Charlie has done well thru the whole event schedule.  We left around 5:00pm for a swim back at the hotel pool. 

Under the trees

Gathering

These gatherings are not as frequent as they once were but Bill and Bronwyn were keen to host an afternoon tea in their continously renovated house.  Bill is going to need more projects if he is in full retirement.  Many topics were raised and the world's problems solved at the same time as eating cake. The vanilla slices from around the corner are a winner and I can remember riding from Essendon via Station St to get to the Yarra trail and we stopped off for those snot blocks way back then.

Asher Early Foursome

Daniel and Asher have had a combined party after she already had a kinder kids party yesterday and of course the actual birthday in a few days.  We had some catered rolls and I think I have left the leftover roll behind and the chocolate crackle.  Daniel got a professional looking snorkel set but Asher has so many presents I lost count.  Estelle is fitting in well with the elder cousin and it wont be long before she is a similar size.  It's probably too late for a snooze right now. 

Fish Tank

Freeze