More Parties and Suzy Turns 20

 12 Viewway, Nedlands, WA 6009, Sunday 15th March

Suzy 20 today!

During the week, the main event that I can now recall was that we had Didi and Wilbur over for some Thai food and a catch up on Monday night. Was great to see them both. Didi seems well and happy in her new flat. Wilbur is between his FIFO swings so was staying with Didi for a bit. 

Didi and Wilbur visit

And then it was the weekend - its been a big one!

Friday night we hosted book club here. Mark did the cooking as per usual, and made amazing rib roast steaks. My job is always cleaning and getting the table ready. I came home around 3pm and worked flat out till 7 (yes, that is how messy our house is and Jackie our cleaner is away). I decided we would sit downstairs since it was a lovely warm evening, which needed quite a bit of work. Anyway, it was a fun evening in the end - the napkins being especially inspiring!

Jonathon

Saeed

Me

Sue and Saeed

Liz giving Mark a kiss on the cheek, cannot remember why now!

Phil and Nas

Jonathon

Phil

Indeed the evening was a bit too much fun.... I couldnt bring myself to get up and swim in the morning! 

Saturday was another big day, it was Carol Cheney's 60th party out at Guilford. We'd originally been going to camp ín the campervan nearby and then uber to the event. But we left the booking too late and it turns out all the nearby caravan parks were full! I found out subsequently that there are a lot of people living in caravan parks due to the accommodation crisis in Perth. Anyway we opted instead to stay at the Rose and Crown hotel, which is where Carol's party was, as Mark had all his music equipment and because we quite liked the idea of a leisurely Sunday in Guilford. 

At about 3pm on Saturday Carol called and asked me to be the MC. Mark had already agreed to do some songs, including a special verse of his Peaceful Bay song about Carol and Bruce. 

The party started about 530pm. Lots of people I used to go to college with were there, most I dont really catch up with very often. The only problem was Mark's equipment did not work properly which was making him very frustrated indeed. Fortunately, he got it going enough to do the Abba song he learned, and the Peaceful Bay song, plus a few others. Carol had made a crossword about her which everyone had to complete - it was good as it got people talking outside of their circles. I wrote her a poem (posted below), which she enjoyed, and her present was a glass bird. 

Carol and I

Carol doing her talk

Mark playing 

Bruce looking very bogart-like

Singing Fernando

James doing a talk

Suzy is 20 today (Sunday)! We talked to her this morning when we went out for breakfast in Guilford. She has a whole philosophy around trying not to make too much of her birthday (too many unmet expectations in the past). She is hopefully ok. Her plan was to get ice-cream with a couple of friends this evening. She had the same plan last year and the friends cancelled at the last minute, which devastated her.  Hoping this time is different. 

I am spending the afternoon watching Queen Charlotte as quite knackered after the weekend. I'll get up and do something soon.... Then again, I may not.

Happy Birthday Cheney Babe

(For Carol on Her 60th Birthday)

 

Our friend Carol,

Cheney Babe to me

is great in so many ways

Let us start with just three.

 

First… Carol is a cheap date

One matso and she’s ready to celebrate

Two matsos and she begins to giggle

Her feet jiggle and her hip wiggles

Three matsos and Carol’s doing a dance

Bruce might even be in with a chance

 

Second… Carol is always up for a doing a new thing

Like watching Mark busk in Lancelin

Star gazing on a clear night at the Bay

Talking to old drunks down Pingelly way

Hunting for numbats and a rare wildflower

Open-mindedness is her super-power.

 

Third… Carol has a heart as big as the moon

From which none of us are immune.

She is one to genuinely celebrate

happy for us when all goes great.

But when things go wrong, she is there

Ready to listen and full of care.

 

 

These three special things about our mate

are the tip of the iceberg of how she is great.

Happy birthday to our friend Cheney babe

Long may you drink matsos and misbehave.