Mum's 80th :)

Hi all and I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend :) I wanted to do a quick post as this time last weekend I was in Sydney celebrating my mum's (that's mom's for most of you ;) 80th Birthday, we took a heap of shots but seeing I didn't get image releases signed by all family & friends (just kidding) I just wanted to share a couple of moments anyways... 

It really was a bit like Babette's Feast, we do not eat like this all the time believe me, more likely a home cooked meal or a fish & chip dinner wrapped in newspaper if it's take-out, but this was special, this was magic, My beautiful mother was an only child, well loved but never had an easy life, although I have never heard her complain, and she actually exudes peace & joy, she and the love of her life (my father Frank) had 5 children, and we lost my father and my younger sister Bernice when I was still in high school... it was devastating, mum kept our family together while the banks banged at the door and she keep us fed and well cared for sewing into the wee small hours to pay the bills with the support of her mother & a (very) small circle of friends. My mother is inspirational, she gives freely, is strong, doesn't sweat the small stuff, is humble, she knows how to party, she is a legend, adores her family & I love her!

We had high tea at Sydney Harbour with little sandwiches, petite cakes & champers... the Opera House was our backdrop & although I got there half hour early & I parked 3 minutes away, I have no sense of direction so mum & I arrived exhausted 45 minutes later after getting lost & met the rest of the gang!! We went for a drink in a 'pop' up organic restaurant & bar (made out of empty shipping containers) on the wharf after stuffing ourselves, it's all recycled, glasses are jam jars & check out the pic below to see what they serve the almonds in... 

Next day became a comedy of errors when my youngest brother Pauly (our designated driver for the day) took us to the wrong restaurant while the rest of the party waited on the other side of the city to say "Surprise" as mum walked in... mmm... I just assumed he knew where he was going, & brother Terry & sister Paulette assumed I had told Paul about the change of venue... we even took photos outside of the other restaurant before we were told there was no booking in any of the 8 names we gave them LOL, the queue was bunching behind us & Pauly was standing with the cake trying to give it to the maitre d'...

We laughed all the way to the next restaurant, yep 30 minutes of idiocy... man it was fun ;)