Easter and Brother's Birthday

Sisters & Aunt on morning walk
Kim look - Peckle has laid an Easter Egg

Looking familiar? Another family meal

The Birthday Boy with wife Yudian (seated) and daughter Kate standing behind him

In our family we can use the flimsiest excuse to arrange a gathering of the clan. This time however not only was it Easter Monday, but we were celebrating my brother's birthday. My niece Claire came down from Brisbane with her family. Her youngest is only 2 and was excited to see an alabaster Easter egg laid by the cement chicken in the garden! My brother Tony (birthday boy) and sister Ret drove down from the Gold Coast with their spouses. My sister Gemma, her husband and our Aunt live here in Ballina, so not much of a drive for them. The furtherest attendee came from Darwin - Australia's most northern city. She was the birthday boy's daughter so it was wonderful that she was able to attend. I should also mention that one of my Claire's sons lives in Alice Springs, Central Australia, and we don't get to see him too often, so it was great that he was visiting his mum for Easter.

We started Easter Monday with a 5km walk at 7am. I was joined by my 86 yr old aunt, my two sisters Gemma & Ret, and brother in law Bill. It was lovely walking along the river, and we nearly made it all the way home. We spied a cafe not far from the end of our walk and without hesitation, we pulled up some chairs and enjoyed a coffee to kick start the day's festivities.

By 11.30am everyone started arriving at Holden Lane where colourful balloons were gently swaying in the breeze. Gem & Bill provided peeled tiger prawns served with two different dipping sauces and fresh bread slices as the appetiser. Murray cooked up a storm on the BBQ - scotch fillet steaks, lamb loin chops and beef sausages. Salads, hot potato bake & garlic bread were side dishes. There were three desserts: Yudian had made individual meringues, served with fresh passionfruit coulis and whipped cream. Gemma had made a rich ginger cake that contained 3 tablespoons of fresh, grated ginger. Then Ret & Pete had bought the birthday cake - a marble mud cake. It did have 'Happy Birthday Tony' written on it in icing, but we added bunches of bananas (lollies). Tony lives across the road from our 93 year old mum, and he often buys bananas and takes them over to mum. She loves them. We don't call him 'Banana Boy' for nothing!

After my nieces Clairie & Kate made quick work of the dishes, people started heading for home. As the Gold Coasters needed somewhere to have dinner, the six of us walked up to a nearby Chinese restaurant and spent another enjoyable few hours chatting, eating & drinking. Well, someone had to finish off the bottles of wine leftover from the lunchtime celebrations! The weather was still mild enough to not need a cardigan - just a short sleeved shirt. Thanks to all concerned for a most enjoyable family day.