The departure and the 6th Birthday celebrations

 

Friday 12 March

We were driven to the airport in Paul and Sheila’s Land Rover, so an auspicious start to a road trip. Jet Star requires face masks from the time you enter the airport and throughout the flight and as law abiding citizens we complied. I can’t say the same for a number of fellow passengers, who thought wearing a mask was hanging it on your chin. Why the crew don’t enforce a mandatory requirement I don’t know, but there’s always those who want to buck the system and mostly it’s women.

Although to be honest, two blokes in front of me pulled their masks below their noses and chatted like.. well you know.. all bloody flight. Then there’s those that walk around with an empty take away coffee cup and no mask pretending that they are drinking. You know they’re not by the smug look on their faces. Makes you want to smack them in the head with a cricket bat.

Nonetheless, we arrived in Melbourne to be greeted by our mate Tas and a seamless transfer to Andrew and Katies. Planning is well underway for Lucy’s 6^th birthday party on Saturday. Because of COVID restrictions, there will be one party on Saturday for a half a dozen kids and their parents – all close family. This is only a precursor to Sunday when 17 six year olds will arrive for the proper kids party.

An alert had gone out a week earlier for assistance with said two parties- cakes, decorations, games etc so upon arriving Nanny P set off across the road to Lucy’s school to collect her from ‘Team kids’ – a delightful after school program that almost tempted her to shrink a little so she could join in. Instead however, she noted a large Rainbow balloon decoration just hanging forlornly over a chair at the entranceway. It looked very lonely and just a little tired so upon enquiry it was deemed to have served its useful purpose at a school event two days earlier and was just waiting to be ‘popped by the passing parade’. Oh no, said Nanny P, this is the piece de resistance for Lucy’s 6^th birthday parties so with permission from Ali, the Team Kids supervisor, Nanny P walked home with the rainbow, quietly praying that the wind did not pick up for fear of a Nanny Poppins airborne experience. All was well and the balloons featured front and centre of all the celebrations.

Saturday/Sunday 13/14 March

Flashman knows that the safest place is in his kingdom, the kitchen, so that’s where he retreats to help make all the goodies that the parents will partake. Andrew’s three beef burger patties on mini brioche buns, gourmet sausages, dips, warmed pita breads and a selection of fine wine graces the table.

Sunday’s party was pretty noisy. Lovely polite six year old girls in party dresses can actually make a lot of noise but Andrew’s teacher voice got them seated for pass the parcel and of course we fed them fairy bread and everything we could find full of sugar.

This probably explained the relish to which they took to wacking the pinata with a big stick. Let me tell you, I’ve never seen such hand eye coordination. The old donkey was legless pretty soon. Then a remarkable if not disturbing thing happened. Flashy, ensconced in the kitchen, hears this chant, “knock his head off.. knock his head off..” Whack goes the stick. I think this was pretty politically incorrect if not a bit Lord of the Flys’ish.

When the donkey was headless, legless and gutted, all the gluten free but sugar loaded snakes and other lollies fell to the ground, it was no safe place for an adult to be.

 As I finish this report, the children have gone. Some, to another birthday party. Oh, those poor parents. 17 sugar loaded kids arriving for another two hours of mayhem. We have cleaned up, brought out the side of smoked salmon and wine and started to relax.

Some have even gone for a LLD (little lie down). And, despite a 13C start to the day it’s a beautiful 20C day out the back on Andrew and Katie’s porch at 3pm. The Wirra Wirra Church Block is a smooth McLaren CSM, perfect for a relaxing afternoon.

Monday 15 March

Today we were picked up at 11 am by Rod and Sue and headed off to the Yarra Valley for lunch. As we were a little early we dropped into Punt Road Winery for a tasting of their five wines on offer. Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, reserve Malbec and a reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. All wines were described by the staff as ‘light’, which is true but they were very well made wines. Clean, well balanced and true to the grape. Surprisingly, we bought a Pinot Noir. As lunch was now calling, we went up the road to Sumah winery for a delicious lunch in their Italian restaurant. The fried zucchini flowers with fetta and crab tagliatelle was accompanied by a stunning Sumah Viognier and the anti pasti board with a Piemonte Nebbiolo. A nice interlude to take us up to 5pm when we then went to Joanne’s flat to collect her (well her car) and head over to our home exchange flat in Hawthorn, just off Riversdale Rd.

We sourced some simple food for a light supper and all retired relatively early.