The weekend with a huge birthday celebration

Hi,

Friday saw me busy with work and hosting the Friday meeting.  OMG - I used up all my pretend extrovert genes with that effort.

Friday iced latte with Khemry and Davy

But I did catch up with some people to find out their news and fill them in.

Catching up with Rami

Cheers Rami!

Gilbert logistics kicked in at 5pm with me picking up the car from Te Papa and collecting Mike's mother from the airport, then Toby and Tessa from her house.  A "quick" stop at McD's at the BP (we actually had to negotiate the drive through twice) and Toby jumped out to pick up Krispie Kremes.  Then we were off to Featherston.  The delay meant smooth traffic north.  Yay!

Checked into Featherston Motels and Motor Camp.  The woman running it was lovely.  We pitched the tent and Toby and Tessa and Polly got the unit.  #5.  Brand new at Christmas time.  Excellent accommodation.

Mike and I had a reasonable sleep next to two other tents (they were cycle touring).  I was on his flat camping mat and wrapped in his warm sleeping bag.  He was on my great mat - but only had one indoor sleeping bag.  Halfway through the night I asked him if he was warm enough and he was very non-committal.  No - was my guess.  I cuddled into him after that. 

Everest cafe - hi Vicki!

 Up to have brekkie at Everest cafe.  Very nice.  Caught up with most people ahead of the big birthday bash.  Got jobs allocated and left to take everyone to the Kiwi Memorial Hall where the 120th birthday was about to kick off.

Iona made excellent cakes

Toby and Tessa were the bartenders.  

Iona and Andrew opened the day in fine form and set the scene for family and friends enjoying Aidan and Sally's big day and reflecting on their lives so far.

My thoughts:  if everyone could look back on their lives and see they made the best decisions possible, as Sally and Aidan have, then that is #winningatlife.

Toby holds baby Jacob

Col and Janne have a cuppa

Dessert all gone!

After lunch and dinner (leftovers from lunch) we settled into a sing along with Alistair and Glenis on their ukuleles and the rest of us singing away.  (Me, poorly and off key - but with enthusiasm)

Andrew did a solo effort of a Bruce song - Mary, don't you weep.  Exceptional stand alone performance. 

The musicians were stoic in their strumming for sustained periods of time.  Thank you!

Mike headed away to sort out Toby and Tessa with takeways and we stayed and sang a bit longer before packing up and heading back.

Helen decided to stay over and took the spare bed in our unit.  Yay!

I slept even better in the tent than the night before.  Woke with motorcycles revving their engines after coming over the hill.  Fell back to sleep.  Mike got up and found me an iced latte.

Sat outside Iona and Col's room drinking it and chatting away.

Sunday iced latte

Back to Kiwi Memorial Hall for brunch.  Tidy up and then away by 11.15am to take Toby and Tessa back to WLG.  Mike took Helen and Polly home in the Focus.

The Kiwi Memorial Hall - superb place

Best weekend ever!  :-)  Such a lovely way to celebrate two wonderful people that contribute so much to family, friends and work. 

Enjoy your week ahead.  This is my last week at my workplace.  Then one week off ahead of a new job.

Oooohhhh.

Love,
Angela