My eldest child has turned 40. My "Precious #1" had a serious dinner party in the wool shed at the farm where she lives.
The farmer/land lord had a major clean out to accommodate her guests, and sent a pile of scrap farm machinery away in a very large semi-trailer. Then he set up the "bonny", aka bonfire using tree cuttings and other burnable rubbish. To top it off he used a bale of pea straw to set is going, and as a party trick he drove the tractor and front end loader around the yard in his dinner suit to push the fire up to a neater heap. He stole the show.
There was no time for reminiscing. It was all go, setting up, picking up, rounding up and washing up. As "mother" I helped and stood by to make sure her plans were successful. Even though the meal was served on plastic plates with "silver" plastic cutlery there was still a mountain of dishes, not to mention the huge hire barbecue in which the roast was cooked.
It's a milestone for her, and a reminder for me - I'm 22 years older than her. So while I have a 62 yo head, I still have a 45 year old brain.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Know how you feel CG. My eldest turns 43 tomorrow 13th Sept. I was 21 when I had him, my gosh, there's been a lot of water under the bridge since then.
Well done CG. I wonder if the farmer realised he was probably sending away a lot of money? I recently had a collectables fan tell me that one of the chaffcutter wheels I had on the wall was probably worth $80-100!! To think the farmer I got it from also sent his 'junk' away in a truck. Sounds like the land lord is a great guy though to go to all that trouble for her. My eldest is also 40. I gave him a surprise party - and he was surprised.
Glad it all went well CG - sounds like a good night was had by all!!
Gave my daughter a surprise party for her 40th - two years ago now - the look on her face was worth all the effort, we couldn't tell her young twins - they would have blabbed to her, but her older son made a special beef vindaloo for her - super hot as she likes it.
I love surprise parties - for someone else, not me!!!!!
-- Edited by jules47 on Thursday 13th of September 2012 08:10:11 AM
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Yeah ... how time flies .... I have a 42year-old and a 40 year-old ... I also have a 27 year-old and a 25 year-old - they really help me to keep thinkin' young.
Unless I look in the mirror, I reckon I am the same age
I sounds like a great time was had by all CG ... and 'milestone' birthdays are great to make memorable. However, I now try to make every day memorable rather than just the 'milestone'
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Chris, glad to hear that your daughter's "milestone" party went off so well. Sounds like everyone had a great time. The farmer seems like he would be the life of any party.
Like many of us here...I don't feel any older than my kids... but...I really want to know how that woman in the mirror managed to sneak into my house and swap my body???
My eldest turns 40 next June, and his wife 3 weeks later, so they're planning a combined party like they did for their 30th birthdays. That one was lots of fun, so I expect this will be too.
I had turned 19 three days before he was born. It's hard to picture that little baby in this 6 foot tall man.
The farmer is fairly savvy when it comes to utilising financial opportunities. He sold all the old rusty farm equipment to a scrap dealer. I think the "keepables" are stored in another shed. He's a farmer - never a shortage of sheds. His son grows field peas, and the landlord bales the pea straw for mulch. He also has a small mob of sheep which he sells and shears etc. He also is a mad keen fisherman of the Yorke Peninsula coast. There's plenty of life in the "old boy" yet. He's in his 60's too. I just love the smell of the wool shed on the morning after. No amount of barbecues will ever eliminate THAT smell of sheep.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
We loved travelling the dirt roads of the Yorke Peninsular and we saw some of those lovely farms. Looks like they are all pretty savvy farmers down there. It was great to see the dirt turn into barley green by the time we left - helped along by a bit of rain we had while there.