Mark's 50th birthday

The day started with a lie-in for Mark and Jack.

The table was set for breakfast, with cards and presents laid out and ready to be opened. Jack lay in his favourite spot under the dining table to supervise proceedings.

And then it was off to DFO for Mark to spend his birthday money at the end of financial year sales... he got some great bargains!

Then it was time for cake: Jay tried something new. Strawberries and cream cake covered in fresh strawberries and strawberry intense Lindt chocolate... delicious.

We took Jack to the oncologist for his monthly check up and restock of his chemotherapy pills and his test results came back great. The oncologist was really pleased with how he is looking and his general health and demeanor.

Back home and it was time for Jay to start cooking Mark a soecial birthday dinner. Entree was feta puffs wirh zesty tomato salad, while for the main course we had grilled haloumi on hash browns, baked broccoli, and lamb stew with chilli gremolata. A big dessert was planned too but as we were all full and it was getting kate we decided to give it a miss and have it Sunday instead. 

Jack's 12th Birthday - Picnic By The River

Jack's 12th birthday was a fun day full of family, friends and fans of the two, three and four-legged kind. There were lots of canine friends in attendance and everyone brought something to eat and it was a long, lazy day by the river. Jack was exhausted by the time we got home, but really enjoyed making lots of new friends and basking in the attention and adoration.

Mark worked hard on a three tier cake for Jack's birthday

The finished cake had two tiers of fruit cakes for the humans and was topped with a cupcake for Jack, with bacon

Doggie treat bags for all Jack's four-legged friends

Jack, in the car and ready to go to his birthday picnic

Opening presents, but also keeping an eye on the his guests

Mark with his amazing creation, topped with a sparkler

The birthday boy

Party animals!

Relaxed and peaceful, long and lazy afternoon in the park by the river

Keeping an eye on what the other four-legged guests are up to

Family, friends and fans, of the two-, three- and four-legged variety

Mark's Birthday (part 2 - 25th August)

We finally managed to reschedule the whale watching trip, originally organised for Mark's actual birthday, on Saturday the 25th of August (over two months after his birthday!!!). After several weeks of wonderfully sunny weather the day before the scheduled day was overcast and gloomy and we were worried the expedition would be cancelled again. Luckily, however, the Saturday of the trip dawned without a cloud in the sky and we had a wonderful time and saw turtle, dolphins and plenty of whales.

Our captain and guide, from Whales in Paradise, was very informative about the houses of the rich and famous, even if he did crack some terrible jokes ("Kylie Minogue owned an apartment there... I should be so lucky!").

Trawler going out for the afternoon.

The birthday boy enjoying his belated birthday outing. 

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The day ended with a quick bite to eat at Surfers and then it was back home.

Mark's Birthday (part 1 - 5th June)

Jay had everything planned for Mark's birthday: a flying lesson in the morning and then a trip to the Coast for an afternoon of whale watching.
Unfortunately the whale watching was cancelled for the 5th of June due to weather and low booking numbers, and it wasn't until over two months later that we had time to reschedule.

So, after his flying lesson, we still went off to the Coast and had a seafood buffet instead.

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The flying lesson started first thing in the morning on Mark's birthday (we had both taken the day off work) and Mark was in the air for about 45 minutes.

 View from the revolving restaurant during lunch.

When we got back from the Coast it was time for cake and presents!