Austin's 25th birthday

Hooray! Austin is a quarter of a century old! Hippo birdie two ewes!

Although it might be best not to ring him quite at the time we got up!!

Mind you, that was unusually late for us. WE had assured Matthew and Belinda that we would be up by at the latest half past seven. The Builder had been press ganged into making tea for them. We didn’t wake up until nearly ten to eight! Belinda had tried to make tea for us – but could only find the decaffeinated tea bags. Blurk!! Happily The Builder knew where the proper tea bags were. So, everyone sat about and drank tea and chatted, and Sage and William played with the rocking camel and the Biggest Toy Camel in the World, and I tormented them, until it was time for them all to go away to Kaniva, where they are visiting Belinda’s mother for the rest of the school holidays.

We were peacefully sat about, playing with the computer, vaguely thinking about making Yorkshire pudding batter, pondering in our minds various things, when Lindsey came in and said: “Right. Are you ready?” Ready? Ready for what? Lunch? We’re going out for lunch? It would seem so. Because it’s Saturday. Apparently I should have known that Saturday is Going Out To Lunch day. It’s not Going Out To Lunch Day in Bridge Street. That tends to be Sunday. But I’m more than willing to go on a Saturday if the need arises. Always happy to go out to lunch. First, though, we had to go to Yummy Cakes to buy a quarter of a century mud birthday cake. Then we went to the Boatshed by the lake for Nasi Goreng (which apparently comes with a Nazi sauce!) and a glass of wine, before making our way to the supermarket for Birthday Tea provisions. Then we implemented The Plan.

Now, this was Austin’s plan. We had communicated earlier in the morning and established The Plan. Which was to meet him and Julia at the ten pin bowling alley to go a-bowling. I came comprehensively last in each game. My knee hurts. My groin hurts. My wrist and arm complained mightily. And it was great fun. Do you think I might play slightly better if I did it more than once every four years? The Builder and Lindsey had a little, mini-competition going to see which of them could outdo the other (The Builder in the first game, Lindsey on the final round in the second). Austin, Ian and Austin’s pal Zoy had a proper competition to see who would really win (Zoy, just, in the first game; Austin quite comfortably in the second). Julia occupied the middle ground. Was a good afternoon. Then Ian took Austin, Julia and Zoy away for hot chocolate, and Lindsey, The Builder and I went off for yet more supplies and to go home and prepare for the feast.

Ant arrived.

Potatoes were peeled, peas were podded, Yorkshire Pudding batter was made, things were proceeding nicely. I decided to take my achey body away and give it a spa bath. Filled the bath with water and bubble liquid. Got in. The Builder brought me a glass of wine. Luxury! Turned the spa on, the bubbles formed. And formed. And FORMED! Was like swimming in a giant cappuccino!!! Got out of the bath to tell The Builder this by text message. Got back in to find, to my alarm, that the bubbles were now just over the top of the bath. Turned the spa off. The Builder came in and laughed. Lindsey came in and also laughed. Then showed me how to have the spa going without turning the bathroom into a giant cappuccino.

Julia’s parents came for the Birthday Feast. We had tempura vegetables and prawns, followed by a giant shepherd’s pie with Yorkshire puddings and vegetables, then rice pudding, and profiteroles and mud cake. Was a magnificent feast. The boys played a kind of racing snooker. There was much wine, chat and merriment Rod rang from Melbourne to wish Austin a happy birthday. Tabitha rang from Sheffield. I think he had a Good Time.

It’s been raining on and off today. And there have been lots of big black clouds. But not enough rain to fill the lake.
Oh, and Simon and Karen didn’t get the house. Not by a long way, it seems. He sent me a text message to say that the bidding had taken off and lef them standing right from the start. Went for lots more than they were willing to pay. Pity. But nil desperandum. Their house is out there somewhere, just waiting for them to find it