COLIN’S SPECIAL BIRTHDAY – THE BIG 50
Hi, I have finally got around to doing a special blog post for Colin’s Birthday. I can’t believe a week ago today on the 4th of February he turned the big 50! 🙂
I tried to do the best effort possible for him although he said he didn’t want to have a big event or anything flash. He said “I’m just glad to be alive” 🙂
Colin is such a practical, low fuss sort of person. To think last year he was told he had two weeks to live if he didn’t start Chemotherapy Treatment the very next day after our nightmare and shock of being told he had an aggressive uncommon type of Leukemia.
So we went with his request of no party or anything, he just wanted us three to go out for tea…I booked Etruscos near the Octagon in town. This Italian restaurant is very popular, and they have a few Gluten Free options for us Girls.
We all chose the Pasta, yum, I am sure we all stunk of garlic for days after.
In my rush before work on the morning I made him his favourite – Pavlova, a Kiwi Icon of a pudding. The Aussies reckon it was their idea 😦 and try to make claim to it.
Colin’s Mum use to make it for Colin and his four other siblings when they were growing up. I have laughed for years as she always put banana slices on top, often they had gone brown. 😛 Traditionally people use strawberries or Kiwi Fruit to decorate the cream on top. I guess there is no ‘one and only way’ to do anything.
So for the laugh I made one …just like his Mum’s and he loved it.
Normally if I try to make a Pavlova they turn out crap and flop in the oven. This one worked. 🙂 He was impressed.
Colin’s favourite – Pavlova
Looking good
This is how his Mum made her pavs, with bananas on top = very weird.
The beautiful stained glass window we sat beside while having our tea at Etruscos in the centre of Dunedin City
I had been making Colin a Sterling Silver ring at my Art Class for a couple of weeks. I was a sneek and conned his wedding ring off him to get his size without him suspecting anything. I wrote AROHA on the inside with stamps and put the ‘H’ around the wrong way, then tried to correct it. It ended up looking like a hash tag # = ARO#A, sort of funny and proves it is really handmade. We all found it amusing even though I cocked up. 😛 Aroha means Love in Maori.
I made this picture /image for Colin too as I thought it was cute. I wrote the saying above it.
Then I arranged the most special thing to make him smile, sorry for all you vegans and vegetarians reading my blog….but.. Colin loves meat. I didn’t really know what to buy him for a special present, we normally have two cattle beast on our 5 acres at a time, along with our sheep. They are not pets, but are reared for the meat. I myself, are almost a vegetarian as I wouldn’t thank you for a steak and I hate the fat and gristle on meat.
Because we weren’t working due to our health reasons for a long time, we are still trying to catch up financially therefore this is the first time ever we haven’t been able to buy any calves. They are $400 each. He has been annoyed about it.
I had a tax refund come recently, luckily, so I saved the money and organized with the local farmer to buy a cattlebeast off him. I gave him a blue bow to tie around it’s neck, and asked him to drop it off in the front paddock so Colin would see it when he arrived home from work. It was a hard secret to keep.
He is very happy, although will have to wait 16 or so months until it is of size. I actually feel a bit mean, writing this as I know it will offend some people, and the calf is actually cute, but people have to eat sometimes and we never think of them as pets. Also Colin has to build up his strength while still taking the chemo pills for another year,therefore the iron in the meat will be ideal for him.
I know, he looks sad 😦
Colin was pleased anyway, when we can afford it, we will get another one.
And a photo of our sheep that came for a nosy 😉
Well I’ve written a blimmin book.
Colin had a good night after working all day, he was spoilt by us too.
He is a great Father, Husband and also my best friend.
It is a big milestone him turning half a century. And now I can have him on about being an old man 🙂
I still have two years to go before I am 50, nigh night, time for bed.
dunedindonnyjeandesignz 