On returning from New Zealand on my actual birthday, I hung about in Sydney with my daughter and then drove home with Matthew in the evening. I was hyped. I was happy. My birthday bash was on the Saturday (May3rd) and I had a few things to organise. Tuesday was a work day, but from Wednesday it was must get a few things done. I had prepaid the event before I left for NZ, trying to finalise numbers.
While I have organised events before, I’ve not done one for myself and it’s been awhile. So I wasn’t quite getting the bar tab thing. That is you have to pay a minimum amount to have a bar and well you don’t get a refund on that. Anyway, let’s dwell on happy things.
The theme was 1960s so dress up and music too. Many thanks to Cat Sparks for finding my music list and for making it to the party. We had food and drink of course and a photobooth which is always fun.
I had a great time. I think my guests had fun. However, it was blinking cold so my indoor outdoor venue lost some of it’s purpose and space as they closed the shutters and put the heating on. The music was great outside, not so good inside. In the end we used my $67 Karoke speaker and danced to that inside. I brought games for the kids to play. I’m happy to say they did play, despite the cold and my white boots got covered in grass and scuffs after I retrieved the far flung hula hoops and coits and bean bags from the corn hole throw from the lawn in the dark.
Most of the photos were taken by Cat Sparks and I’ll try to share the ones of me, rather than other people as I don’t have their permission to post here. Matthew doesn’t get a say! Okay a few others don’t get a say too. Sorry Keri.
Me and Keri on the deck before we needed to leave. I did Keri’s pants.
Me in my go go boots. I made the dress and refurbished a vintage hat.
Matthew really getting into the groove. He appeared at the top of the stairs dressed like that and I screamed.
Traditional pretend drunk shot of me and Keri
Me and the hula hoop. I took out the background. Still it’s okay.
A lovely close up by Cat Sparks. Thanks Ca.
I really want to thank my friends and family for coming. There were those who couldn’t make it, those who I invited last minute when someone dropped out, there were people I didn’t get to invite, mostly due to budget constraints. Thank you to Keri Arthur for driving up from Kilmore to make the party. Thank you Trudi and Paul for flying in for the night from Melbourne. Thank you to my elder brother Ian Hanson for coming by train, my sister Kylie, nephew Jose, niece in law Katrina family for driving down from the Blue Mountains. Also, my ex husband, his wife, some of the kids who came down from Sydney. My daughters one who drove from Sydney. Rangi, step daughter who flew in from NZ. Many heart felt thanks and hugs. Also lots of love to my grandkids, my friends and their families that attended. Much love to Ferdi and Taamati who couldn’t make it from Singapore due to a conflicting event and many thanks for the financial contribution too. See you guys in three weeks.
Donna Maree Hanson, Author, Phd in Creative Writing 