Seventy Celebrations, Staycations and Surprises

[Flyfrequently]

Last year my niece set the bar and hosted her 50th in February at her home in Queensland.
Pilot nephew followed in December with his 30th in Cairns, so I figured time to bring the Qld clan to Melbourne for my 70th in June.
Initial plan was for the extended Flyfrequently fam to head north to the Sunny Coast and my brother would play host - but his house is on the market and our gkids were in the middle of year 10 & 12 exams.
Time to rethink this celebration.

Now, I haven't always had a good run over the past 20 years with my birthday. Mum died for my 50th (made for a ripper of a wake though!)
Ended up in ICU for my 55th, 60 wasn't too bad, though it was Dad's last party and of course 65 brought Covid - remembering I live in Victoria !

Times in between though, I have been very fortunate to be well and celebrate birthdays in Paris, Valencia, Ventimiglia and Bali.

But family is important, so the plan was hatched - Melbourne it is.

 

[Seat0B]

I’m on board for your big day @Flyfrequently - and a very happy milestone birthday to you

 

[I love to travel]

I’m on board for your big day @Flyfrequently - and a very happy milestone birthday to you

On board and congrats

 

[Flyfrequently]

Ok, where to gather in Melbourne???
We are 100 minutes from the airport and 85 km from the CBD.
My house, been there done that - nope.
Local restaurant, my "Hapi" place - nope as QLD Fam would need accommodation and hire cars.
Finally my "Light Bulb" moment came and by February had locked in a favourite place that we used to take Dad to, on the Yarra in Port Melbourne.
Equidistant for our Melbourne family, apart from Surfer × 2 Flyfrequently as they live around the corner.
Can't please all the people all the time!

My baby sister, Party Aunty, offered to house the 8 fly-in guests, all systems go.

 

[VPS]

Looking forward to this

 

[kookaburra75]

This has the makings of a great party - turn it up to eleven and enjoy

 

[Flyfrequently]

Time rolls on.
I organise a catch up with school mates, one who shares the same birthdate. We have managed to celebrate our 16, 18, 21, 40, 65 birthdays and others in between when we could. Now can tick off 70!
As she doesn't drive, I thought time to use my Stay Plus night at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins- easy to get to via tram.
Locked in birthday eve

No objections from Mr Flyfrequently, he was happy to stay in the room playing his guitar - more about this later....


whilst we sipped on Sparkling Rose in The Atrium Bar

 

[kevrosmith]

I read the title as “celebrating 70 times”, not “celebrations for my 70th”, and wondered if 70 parties was too much… but why not!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Of course there has to be a hiccup!
Restaurant hadn't responded to my email or phone calls over the past few weeks. Eventually had a response.
New owner, new manager and no, we don't have your booking for 25 for lunch.
But to their credit, they agreed to all previous arrangements - whew!

Thanks to Pilot nephew, all flights booked - no one bumped, guess Qld to Melbourne isn't a popular destination for winter solstice!

 

[ellen10]

Happy 70th Birthday!
Best Wishes for the family celebrations and sharing special memories together, whilst you celebrate your special milestone.

 

[Flyfrequently]

After catching up with the other birthday girl on birthday eve, Mr Flyfrequently and I enjoyed a delicious dinner in No 35 and birthday acknowledged by wait staff.

And I wake up to being 70!

A leisurely breakfast and I am glad no one thought to give me a balloon ride.


On our way home decided to swing past the lunch venue, the sunny morning had vanished and the dark clouds rolled in


We met the new manager.
All sorted, rather than exclusive use of their marquee on the deck, we made the decision to hold our lunch event inside - the predicted winds would make for a less pleasant and much colder experience, the Queenslanders would struggle with the elements!

 

[I love to travel]

Happy Birthday.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Happy to see that the postie had arrived.
I do love getting cards in the mail and nice to know our local MP acknowledged the occasion


48 hours pass, apparently some secret whispered phone calls..... but more on that later.

Lots of laughter, singing and a few drinks with our local friends, then our quiet dinner in my "Hapi" place


before we gear up for the "Here's Cheers to 70 Years" Lunch on Sunday.

Saturday is spent monitoring Flight Aware.

All passengers from Adelaide and various locations in Qld arrived on time, with most of them bunking at Party Aunty's home.

I found ourselves a great deal at Pullman on the Park - "Time to Enjoy" package and even though the Carlton supporter was a bit we had another quiet evening and delicious dinner in the Cliveden Restaurant



Whilst they had beers and pizza, typically no photo, what goes on at PA's stays at PA's - if only those walls could talk!
Saturday done and our next task was to collect Pilot nephew and his +1 from the Southern Cross Skybus terminal in the morning.

In the scheme of logistics, we actually had it pretty easy!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Sunday dawns with a spectacular sunrise

A 5° welcome to Melbourne for Pilot nephew and his +1.

Breakfast in the Cliveden Restaurant, not that we needed it, was included in the "Time to Enjoy" package.
Only had congee (no pic) and a delicious Pandan and Coconut friand


Picked them up from Skybus and it was lovely to get some quiet time in the car with them, hearing about their recent 5 week road trip through NT, the Kimberley, Alice Springs back to Queensland.
Funny, the Pilot likes road trips the way we like F/J, Lounges and all that goes with being on AFF!

Lunch guests arrive on time apart from Surfer Flyfrequently x 2 - there was a longboard competition on that morning of course! (she did come 2nd)

After a lovely 3+ hours of chatter, this was to be a no fuss/ no speech event......until coffee came out - and the
Mr Flyfrequently whose love language is music had written a song and enlisted the help of Surfer and Missy's Mum to do backing harmonies

With Missy holding up the lyrics for her GPA


Lunch should have been called " Here's Tears to 70 years"!!

They are clapping and I am crying!

And then out came our traditional birthday cake

Chocolate Ripple Cake - Australian food history timeline

Brockhoff's Chocolate Ripple biscuits were introduced in the early 1930s and the first recipes for Chocolate Ripple Cake appeared in 1933.

australianfoodtimeline.com.au

Maybe 20+ years ago when we needed more than one, we would make two making it the year birthday


Party Aunty excelled herself and went with an extra one O L D

Naturally, her excuse was the D was the non alcoholic one

 

[ellen10]

Wow what a wonderful 70th Birthday celebration! And how special to have a song written just for you, from your husband in his love language and performed by family.

Beautiful memories and blessings. A lovely celebration of you.

 

[kevrosmith]

I see what she did there (Party Aunty...)... just when you thought that was a 7! How clever.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I see what she did there (Party Aunty...)... just when you thought that was a 7! How clever.

Yep, was a tad confused @kevrosmith

 

[Pushka]

Wow. What a wonderful family. I can't even imagine anything like this in ours.