In October, we got to go back to NZ for a wonderful 2 weeks, namely for Dad’s 70th Birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!
We had 2 parties for Dad’s birthday. One with the family and one with Mum and Dad’s friends. The family one was on a sunny spring day at home with all the cousins and my Aunty and Uncle. Dad’s cousin in Spain delivered a gift over with Rob and I – a delicious looking bottle of Spanish cognac. Wonderful!
As my present for Dad’s birthday, I spent the previous year putting together Dad’s family history, including transcribing his Dad’s British Naval Service Record, all the family’s birth, marriage and death certificates and stories told by his Mum about her family. Uncle Bob has the book open at a page showing both Dad’s parents dressed in matching naval uniforms – so cute! It was really satisfying putting this book together and getting to know all these relations we’ve never met. There’s more work to do on it though, but it was great to get this major draft done for Dad’s birthday.
It was a lovely sunny day for a party and it was brilliant to have all the family around to celebrate. It was great to see you all, whanau!
The next day we had a party with Mum and Dad’s friends at Stable & Yard in Remuera. It’s a lovely little venue owned by Rob’s cousins that has a great low-key kitchen and delicious wine selection. The foodie theme was wine, pizza and fish’n’chips. Perfect!
Since many of Dad’s friends are (or were) lawyers, its unsurprising that there were speeches, and they were wonderful! People talked about Dad’s love of watches, fascination with cars, his witty sense of humour his long lunches he used to have with friends, but also remembering their wonderful friends who weren’t with us any more.
The party went on late into the night drinking the bar tab dry! Was great to catch-up with many of Mum and Dad’s friends. It was a wonderful party!
Happy Birthday Dad! It was great for us to be home and celebrate with you.
While we were in NZ, it also happened to be Rob’s grandmother’s birthday too! But that’s a different post.
Until next time…