A big 70 bash in Australia

Talk about being busy as a bee. So many happenings,distractions included,since last Christmas.My apologies to friends out there who have visited my blog and found me quiet (of which I was not!). Thanks dear blogging friend, Ram for your concern. Thankfully, it had all good endings and now I present one that took us to Australia for 2 weeks over. It was a a big bash to celebrate my sis in law's 70th, bringing together rellies,young and old and her close friends, all 39 of us. The celebration will stay in our hearts for a long time. Age is just a number and we should celebrate each year, in your own way,as an accomplishment. So cheers to your good health and well-being too! For now, I share with you the wonderful time we had at Lennox Head where we gathered under a red tent to toast to a lovely lady, all of 70.

In Casino, NSW  - several days before the party  we  made a special trip a  up north to check on the house. Busied ourselves plucking  strawberry mangoes ( real yum!)  that dangled low and forlorn. Not anymore when we relished them daily.

All quiet  before the family members turned up. 

Up early for a morning farmers' market in Ballina . Brilliant heliconias to brighten the house for the birthday. 

The welcoming colour of red. Brawny and browned men  putting up the tent . Headland of Lennox Head is on the far right of picture.

Inviting and ready to greet guests

I liked the surprise. To start off the party at 6 pm  a couple of  Indian musicians  played on the grassy slopes  facing the sea, waves lapping as we sipped champagne . Later the DJ took over and a 'cook'  sang favourite songs for the birthday girl. Good ol' Pavarotti wasn't forgotten. 

Not exactly the Bollywood kind of pose but this will do! Ready to party when dusk set in.

A day after the party, all trouped into a bus chartered to take us on a carefree outing. The young and young at heart  braved the sun to indulge in  Dream World, Gold Coast. Forget your cares - get onto the gold rush , feel the rush of adrenaline as we swooped down  and screamed our lungs out! Great!

A majestic sight to behold. The Bengal tiger, Ravi with his trainer slurping all the milk goodness at Tiger World event. What strength - man and tiger! But tiger wins, of course.

A lovely picnic area set up another day after the party. Another wonderful day of great company and food.  

Enjoying good company with free flow of  wine to quench one's thirst!

A birthday gift by one of the grandchildren, aged 12. Lovely capture of the lawn , the clumps of trees that stand like sentinels and the blue sea and sky  beyond. We promise to come again, Lennox Head.

Birthday Fun

The FUN within!

How soon another year passes! It was time to celebrate another birthday of my maturing years. Like the wine that matures with age, likewise friendship. I took the opportunity to celebrate with some close friends and relatives, keeping the company cosy. Behind closed doors, in Rama V Chalet, we indulged in the Thai ambience, cuisine and basked playfully in the warm ties that bind us.

'Come in something red , a tinge or more to wish ourselves and everyone good luck' was my email to the guests. I could almost hear the resounding ayes as they clicked the replies.

Dear Janneke from the Netherlands sprung a surprise and added touches of the masterly genius of Shakespeare to an upbeat afternoon. She had been hard at work, racked her brain and had meticulously written  quotes  to hand to all the guests, Shakespeares' works extolling  friendship. For once, she stressed, I had to listen, not speak! Yes, when the Bard speaks, listen ye well! Gamely my friends  quoted Shakespeare in a few lines. Then came the nice bit  - a gift of videos of  The Shakespeare Collection of  the 37 productions of the BBC Television Shakespeare Series. Holding and accepting it with all my heart, it was indeed a weight of gold to treasure.

Songs to remember

I made a special request for Janneke to sing  2 songs. Not likely to to let a good friend off so easily when she sings with  choirs and reputable ones in the Netherlands too. Her choice of  Early One Morning, an English folk song even got us joining in the refrain  with some acting thrown in.Was I  glad to sing it again as I learned that  awhile back during my singing lessons.

After the main dishes, it was time for everyone to break free and unshackle ourselves. Mime time. Hilarity! Spontaneity! Fun time all through. I even dangled a small prize to all the sporting beings around me. The theme was movies of the 60s. How do you mime The Big Gundown, From Russia With Love, Yellow Submarine, What's New Pussy Cat? Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?  It was a blast!

Too funny to contain.

Born Free - please hurry up and guess right!

Good things finally had to end.  The clock ticked away the hours as we shared  excellent company and more than yummy Thai  food . Ain't I lucky to enjoy a special date with my girl friends to mark another memorable  day in my life.

 Chor ladda - blue flower  dumplings stuffed with chicken and shrimp. I was too busy to snap pictures of the lovely dishes. Now I've forgotten their Thai names.

Friends for life! ' A friend  is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still , gently allows you to grow' - William Shakespeare

What's THIS?

Even if you can't guess it right, just  laugh your heart out.

It was Romeo and Juliet for  her.  In desperation she grabbed the waiter!!

'Let the wine of friendship never run dry'

Last came me - What's New PussyCat?

Dear  friends minus Rupali who had to leave earlier

Friend since the inception of The Sunshine Group.

All in the family

It is always sunny in Beccles!

The other evening I got a call from my friend, Wanphen in the UK. Beccles, calling! Where ? It's a small market town on the Suffolk/Norfolk border and is within the area of The Broads. And Wanphen, of Thai origin , lives there now after having trotted Mexico, Malaysia , Istanbul and then back to the UK with her late husband, Tony.

Wanphen called to say 'hello' As usual, she takes her time to talk, never hurrying as if to beat the seconds that tick away for a long distance call. When she heard of my son's trip to Tanzania to do some voluntary work, she was glad. 'Let me round up my friends to help donate towards the fund raising for his trip,' she said.

Wanphen left Kuala Lumpur more than 19 years ago. I bumped into her at our daughters' ballet classes. And from there , our relationship blossomed.

If she could wrap her hands round as many people as she could to bring them into her 'fold', she would. That's how I got 'caught' by her easy , friendly demeanour . She needed some help to get some activities going at Selangor Cheshire Home, a home for the disabled. After all, it was just about giving a little time to care and share. So, I joined her company. Others did too and soon there was a big group of ladies who liked her warmth.

Working with her, I found there was always room in her heart to fill it with more love and care for the disabled residents. There was one resident who wanted to hold her hand and walk with her whenever she was around. Somehow, he could not utter any word and saliva dribbled at the corners of his mouth. She always let him and talked to him with kindness as she guided him to his place of activity

It was just natural chemistry to interact with her disabled friends. How did she do it? It was her genuine desire to touch hearts and spread sunshine to others. That's just her.

She cooked and shared her wonderful dishes with as many as her giant wok could feed! That was her birthday party treat for them. Not forgetting her yummy cakes and delicious snacks.

In Beccles, she still radiates warmth. Walking round her her garden, I sense the tender care she exudes for her plants too. What I gave her , a ' keng hwa', as a cutting years ago , she took to Beccles . Mine is doing sweet nothing! Hers is a huge wicker basket of flourishing flowers.

When I was there in November, I was smack in her party planning for her 56th birthday. Her friends , all 10 came for the party. It was Thai cuisine at its best. Her food drew appreciative oohhs and aahhs. After the guests left, we both put our feet up and talked about the great time had by all.

Far from the maddening crowd of Mexico, Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul, she still retains her personal touch. A friend or two always needs popping by and checking to see if everything's alright. I remember we drove by a house to check if her neighbour's lights were on. That was enough to let her know she's ok. There were the times when her kitchen was in full swing to cook and bake for some charity raisers. A friend asked to babysit her dog for the owner to be away. So many little ways she finds to be a friend.

So, be it snow or sleet , girlfriend you shine, as always. Yes, it's always sunny in Beccles.

Birthday Smile

Hanging garden

What A feast!