40th Birthday BBQ...

Graham is on there in the middle...being pushed over!! This is everyone!

Mum...don't panic...that is the garage in the background...not the house!

English closest to camera and kiwi's furthest away!!

Graham doing a fine job on the bbq...

Surprise...Happy Birthday!!

We all sang Happy Birthday...even Baby Holland whom you can see quite clearly on the photo!!

Let the battle commence...an english rose in between to Kiwi thorns!!

The english watching rugby looking concerned!

Watching the match....

Wow...what a night! We invited around some friends on Saturday night to celebrate Grahams 40th Birthday. We had a huge bbq...and people brought along food for the buffet...bbq etc. I decorated the garden with balloons and banners and the weather was lovely. People started arriving around 6pm and I think the last person left at about midnight. We spent half the night in the garden...eating and chatting. After the bbq we all sang Happy Birthday to Graham and I gave him a cake...at the same time a load of fireworks went off in someone elses garden...perfect!!

Outside it was quite interesting...there were the Kiwi's on one side and the English on the other..so funny, and a lot of friendly banter! The banter got a little more heated when at 9.30pm the Rugby League started...ENGLAND versus NEW ZEALAND! We thought the boys would just go inside....but everyone went into the lounge to watch the match...

Graham was vocal from the start...no surprises there then...and everything he said people just laughed...the kiwi's were winding him up so much and calling him 'Pom Pom' throughout....and the more points the kiwi's scored...the more vocal and colourful Grahams language became!! It was a really good night...everyone seemed to enjoy it...although England lost...and we definately ALL heard about it!! Lesley sat next to Graham during the second half and before she left she said 'she was concerned for Grahams blood pressure'...I said that that was nothing, and she should see him watching saints!

All in all, eveyone had a great night...and most importantly Graham had a fab time!

Kayaks first outing!!

On Saturday...with all the final preparations being made to the garden, food etc...the boys thought it would be a good idea to go out kayaking!...conveniant!! They strapped kayak to the top of the car and headed to Napier Port. They had a close encounter with a large ship...which left them both shattered from paddling so hard to avoid it.....AND flipped the kayak twice!!! Not only did they end up in the sea...but also sun glasses, sun cream, fishing rods...you name it, it went in the sea! They came home having had a great time, laughing their heads off...and Graham had no sun glasses...oh...and NO FISH!!!!!

Birthday Dinner- 'The Old Church Winery'

Helen and Jon came around after work and we went to the Old Church Winery in Meannee at 8.00pm. Again, this was fantastic, very gothic and ornate and all the tree's in the vineyards had fairy lights it looked amazing.

The food and atmosphere was great and the service was top notch!

Took a few pics.....

Birthday Lunch- 'Elephant Hill Winery'

At lunchtime Graham wanted to go to Elephant Hill Winery. It is about a 5 minute drive from our house in a place called Haumaoana, facing the beach and it cost 37 million dollars to build! It hasn't had its official opening yet....but was open to guests. What a treat!! It was absolutely magical, the views were amazing, the decor was great and the food was fantastic. We sat outside facing the vineyards and the plunge pool, with a view of Cape Kidnappers in the background.We

We stayed there for a few hours as there were lovely seating areas where you could just lounge and have a drink. Coulnd't have chosen anywhere better for the lunch, we will visit again.

Hopefully the pics will do it justice!

After lunch, we crossed over the road and went for a walk on the beach.

Grahams 40th Birthday-7th November 2008

The nextdoor neighbour was sooo exited!!

All prezzies and cards waiting......

Hi all,

It was Grahams Birthday on Friday and we had a great day. The night before was a bit of a mission as I ended up crouched down on the floor on the corner of a street and crawling down the next door neighbours driveway ( pregnant I might add!!)...but that is another story! I bought Graham a 2 + 1 kayak...and trying to hide something that size is a challenge!

We got up in the morning, put the music on and Graham started opening all his cards and gifts. Thanks to both mums, Gavin and Egan...Graham was absolutely over the moon with his hot air balloon ride that you paid for, this is something he has always wanted to do. He got a voucher and he just has to ring up, say a date and hope the weather conditions are right!! I will take lots of pics when he does it. Thanks to Nanna Yvonne for donating money to the Special Wish Foundation on Grahams behalf aswell.

Thanks to all those that sent special lovely cards and lovely thoughtful tokens, Graham was really touched. Part way through opening prezzies I announced ' Weve got to leave the house for the next part of your prezzie'....we went next door, he opened the garage door ( probably expecting a sports car-lol!!), and saw the kayak. He was really pleased. He also got 2 life jackets, roof rack, I had had 2 fishing holders specially put into the kayak, fishing rods....the job lot!! This kayak is great as the bambino can sit in the middle when we go off camping! or...Graham can sit in the middle seat and go kayaking by himself if he wants. There is compartments all over it for phones, picnics, bait etc....or as Graham says 'beer'. It can be used in the sea or river/lake...wherever. Graham is off out in it with Jon next weekend.

As usual I was armed with the camera!! Baby Holland behaved in the morning although I was feeding him/her chocolate orange to bribe them!!! lol

See next pics for what we did during the day....