Blog for Saturday 11th October 2025

“It’s my birthday and I will do what I want to!”

My goodness gracious golly gumptions I turned eighty years old today! I am so excited to be so old - it means in many years I have managed to climb over, through or around many circumstances which felt impossible at the time. Eighty years of loving people and being loved. Eighty years of goals, adventures, and some serious learning curves. Eighty years of joy, sadness, and regrets which have been outweighed by fun, love and laughter - the kind of belly laughter that doubles you up and makes tears squirt out and which makes you happy to be alive.

Yes, I have enjoyed my life so far … immensely.

I must apologise to you all for not writing my blog on Friday but I had no internet at the B&B where we were staying, and I thought my popularity with family and friends would plummet seriously should I wake them to get the internet password at before four in the morning today,

My wisdom kicks in occasionally.

Wow! What an incredibly happy day today has been for me and I have enjoyed every second of it.

I was inundated with phone and video calls, text messages and inbetween all the busyness of today even had time for deep and meaningful chats with different people.

This morning was a swirl of activity, so much so it was hard at times to know who was where or doing what! Robert and Adrian (a cousin by marriage of Robert’s and who had driven down with Melissa his wife from Brisbane for my birthday) went into Wauchope to pick up the four high tables and bar chairs, an urn and my birthday cakes.

Oops! I almost forgot to mention that first thing this morning Robert, Adrian, Melissa and Ethan (Robert and Mich’s youngest son) went for a walk as you do when visiting Port Macquarie.

Then Mich’ and I went to Coles where we bought a huge trolley load of food for the party later in the day.

The day was spent creating, making or arranging food and decorations, and one could see “Many hands make light work” actually in full swing!

Oh! I love our family and friends.

Sometime before my guests arrived (they arrived at 6pm) our friends - Cathy and Chris - came across (they drove up from the Central Coast) to help set up, bake quiches, and create salads.

This B&B was a hive of activity and so much joy.

I am so grateful to our family - especially Paddy and Ren’ and Mich’, and Robert for paying for all the food and drinks, and hiring this B&B - everything was perfect from the first “Hello!” to the last “Good night!” It was a wonderful way to celebrate turning eighty!

During the evening, Mich’, Paddy and Ken made speeches about me which were beautiful, and blessed me outta my socks, then I made a short off-the-cuff speech in reply - totally unprepared as in all the busyness of the day speeches had not crossed my mind,

Wow, What can I say about the food? It was simply delicious. Our good friend ‘Runee who is a qualified chef made a lamb Masman; (which was a light curry); plus a creamy chicken, mushroom and coconut dish; plus some Barramundi dish - all served with rice and three tossed salads.

That was followed by vanilla cake slices, ice cream and fruit.

Slowly-slowly everyone peeled off to return to their respective homes - many having travelled from far for the party. They left behind a pile of birthday gifts for me which I decided to open tomorrow.

I went to bed smiling and feeling ever so loved.

It had been a wonderful way to celebrate turning eighty for sure!

What lesson did I learn today? That I am loved way beyond my understanding!

What am I grateful for today? All the love and care that went into making my birthday SO special,

My saying for today is …