RIDE ON, WE'LL TRAVEL!

Silver Spur Steak Ranch
It was my daughter's 13th birthday and it was held here at the Silver Spur Steak Ranch. It was a dinner because it was a school day as well as a working day for us, we just drove down to this place which is about fifteen minutes drive from our place. More photos here.


Aqua Golf
Then after dinner at Spur Steak Ranch we drove to the Aqua Golf. We played for an hour here, hitting the balls into the targets that were set out on the water a few metres from the driving range. There were prizes offered when hitting those targets. More photos here.

Yesterday, my family and I attended a birthday celebration for my friend's daughter at their house ten to fifteen minutes drive from our place, she turned 18 years old. My friend handed me an invitation card a month ago to calendar the date on my diary and to make sure that I will be attending it without any reason why I didn't. That's how my friend invites his visitors.

Dinner time at the party
There were heaps of people already dining when we arrived so we were ushered in to some vacant seats at the backyard. Foods were fantastic most of them were Philo foods, some sliced fruits, cakes, drinks, and many more.

At around half passed seven in the evening when the celebration started. I was surprised when it was announced because I didn't expect that there was a program prepared for this occasion, what I knew was, only dinner.

There was first, a presentation of a choreographed dance bya group of teenagers, girls and boys paired together dancing gracefully to the tune of the music. It was lovely! Then, it was followed by a girl singing a love song while playing her guitar. Well, quite a mellow one but captivating to the hearts of the teenagers.

Choreographed dance number presented by some friends

To the delight of the visitors, there were a couple more of dances presented. The party became more and more intense, there were more shouting and hauling, laughing, everyone now, enjoying, obviously!

Then came the 18 flowers dance with the celebrant. Some 18 selected close friends at school and some relatives were given each a rose flower, and as a music was played they took turns in giving the flower to the celebrant and danced with her, too.

A flower was presented then danced together, that's her Dad
A slide show of her precious moments and activities together with friends at school, etc., was shown next, and then with her family, from childhood to her most recent activities.

The finale was, the lighting of 18 candles. Again, some 18 selected close friends at school and aunties were given each a candle. The first guy lighted her candle, and while standing a meter away from the seated celebrant, shared a speech, her memorable moments with her at school, play, etc. This was done until to the last guy, who was her mom. Her mom recalled the greatest day of her life with her, the day she was born. It was a tear filled moment of revelations I had to control my emotion, else tears would have fallen down my checks, too.

Friends/relatives holding candles while each one took turns narrating their experiences with the celebrant
Topping the event was the singing of the happy birthday song by everybody, accompanied with a guitar, really wonderful!

I really enjoyed that party, actually it was my first time to witness such a celebration. I attended one before but it was a plain dinner party and a presentation or a slide show of how she grew up until to her recent photos, that was all. Ah, there was a ball room dancing too, I remember!

Anyway, what was more important was my presence, to be among their family friends who witnessed, celebrated and enjoyed the party!

More photos in my photo gallery.

Where do you celebrate your birthday, usually? Is it at home with your family, or somewhere else with your friends? Do you enjoy celebrating it more with you’re your friends than with your family?

For me, I would rather celebrate my birthday with my family than with some friends.

Birthday is a celebration and thanksgiving of the day we were born and the very first people that were with us at that instance were our father and mother or our sister or brother that’s why it is most appropriate that we share this very moment with them. Our friends can come or be invited to attend and witness the celebration at home, and should never be away from our family. Celebrating our birthday with other people such as our friends or co-employees is alright if the possibility is hard enough being that too distant from home.

My eldest son will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow with his friends and girlfriend at Jervis Bay, four hours drive south of Sydney and it hurts me. Of course, his reason is totally different from mine.

Way back, my place of work was seven hours drive away from home. From home, I would ride on a bus and then transfer to another bus again (five hours drive) that would take me here, traversing a winding (dusty during summer and muddy during rainy days), and treacherous road on mountainous terrain.

It was my 22nd birthday at that time, one goat being pitched in by my friends, was being cooked, and everybody were very busy, the rest were at the lounge room drinking wine, singing with accompanying guitar, sharing jokes and laughter, and eating finger foods when all of sudden a man in his early forties knocked at the door and was looking for me. One friend called me up for I was at the back of the Bachelors’ Mess House with some friends helping the guys preparing the goat’s meat for our celebration.

I ran immediately into the lounge room and looked for the guy whom they said was looking for me. I was totally taken aback and really surprised when I saw my father wishing me happy birthday. I was indeed amazed; he travelled that far and endured the trip just to be with me during that day. Well, I was of course very happy at that time seeing my father celebrate with us, my friends and other guests, and the celebration lasted till dawn, most of us were drunk and snoring and some slept at the lounge.