The Storm Soiree

 My plans to have a birthday bash this year at 69, so that I could spend my 70th in Oz, got swallowed up in Post Christmas lethargy. However I did decide to have a do on Friday 5th of February for all our Gisborne friends. This would be about the time we would have race day - except there are no races at our course now. Since we have such lovely sunsets out here I billed it as a Sunset Soiree. Sadly the weather did not play ball, and it was cool and windy with the odd flick of rain.

Storm clouds gather. Heather (50s F)and Brian Cochrane, Anne Harvey and John Clarke.

I asked  a friend from 50's F if she would come and help out in the kitchen and this worked wonderfully well. I have 2 gluten free friends and had gone to extra lengths to provide a gluten free platter, but neither of them came! Never mind, the sausage and dukkah mushrooms which were gluten free were the hit if the night.

First course.

Sue, Dawn, Anna, Alice, Norma, Jean, Robyn

Jean,  Robyn, Olwyn Graeme, Cliffie, Ray and Linda

Camille, Sandy, Duncan, Shirley, Vance, Sandy, Teressa (back) Judy, Rocky

As you can see they were friends drawn from the whole spectrum - old friends from bringing-up-kids days, walkers/trampers, golfers, 50s forwards, bookclub, fijjam teachers and spouses. There were about 40 in the end.

Some people even bought wine, chocolates or flowers. I think they thought it was my 70th. Cheeky! As I said in my speech - do I look 70??? No I'm only (just) 69.

All we needed was a sunset. What about this one, taken about 10 days later at Ohiwa.