I'm Back Blogging After Two Weeks Without Posts

The best meals are often the most simple. We used two different methods to cook the prawns. The ones with shells on were barbecued.

Method One

Barbeque green prawns.Top a slice of bread with a lettuce leaf dipped in seafood sauce.Top with shelled prawns.Add another slice of bread. Eat.

Follow up with a glass of pinot gris.

Method Two

Shell green prawns and remove digestive tract. Saute in butter and garlic with a dash of white wine thrown in at the end to create a sauce for dipping bread in. Drink more pinot gris.

 

 

We enjoyed lots of foodie experiences over the 10 days of celebrations. Here are a few of them.
Seriously good hotcakes for Sunday breakfast at the Surf Club.

 

Breakfast at home in the sunshine. Clafouti is so easy to make.

 

Beach picnic at Byron Bay.

 

Late night pizza at home.

Thai take aways at home when we too tired to go out.

Of course everyone was in town for the big birthday party.

The Main Event - The Party.

Set the scene with candles

Invite some friends and open the champagne.

 

Presents for the birthday boy.

Hire taxis to take everyone to the restaurant where the room is decorated with tea lights and a sea of yellow daffodils in blue bottles.

 

Provide place names so everyone sits where they are told. We used CD's of some favourite music.

 After the main and before the dessert came the official speeches.

The funny one from Michael.

 

The more serious one from Chris.

Then the toast. Believe it or not I'm drinking water. I didn't drink any alcohol until dessert. Someone had to stay in control.

I had some help on choosing the wines to accompany the meal from my favourite winosapien.

He made some excellent choices for us. The big hit of the night was the Seppelts DP33 Muscat which was served with the desserts. Other favourites were De Bortolli Shiraz Viognier, Sandalford Verdelho, Mt Langi Ghiran Billi Billi 2005,  Thorn Clark Shotfire Quartage.

The weather was fabulous. There were a lot of walks on the beach.

and drawing in the sand.

And indoor events. Boys and their toys 

- playing games and checking emails.

Girls having fun without boys

- doing a jigsaw puzzle.

And finally after 10 days I think we've eaten enough, drunk enough and crammed a lot of living and laughter into the time with our family and friends.

Thank you to everone who sent birthday wishes here and at Twitter and Facebook. I apologise if I didn't send a personal thank you.