Today's Manning River Times

The Indian Night at Manning Regional Art Gallery:
We might have missed out on the showbags, but we did get our photos in the paper...
SM

Dear Diary

I have neglected you I know, but there has been so much happening!

Last week I had the most wonderful birthday. First I took my lovely children to see the African Childrens choir at Laurieton. I didn’t tell them where we were going until Molly discovered our destination via my iphone when we were half way there. I guess I just didn’t know when the best time to tell them would be, because - as I predicted - they were overwhelmed with emotion about it. …They had the shits big time!

We arrived in a cloud of misery and could barely exit the car for all the old people going pushing their way into the club. Or at least that’s how my kids saw it. Only old folks were allowed to inhabit Laurieton, I told them. You had to be at least 75 years old before a residency permit was granted here. Gosh, we were outside our comfort zone.

Then having to endure the support act - a Primary School kids choir - really knocked their socks off. Sitting amongst the elderly and having to watch little kids sing was enough to send them over the edge.

But slowly they started to bend. They started to warm and soften when they could see the odd kid outta time, outta step, some daydreaming, some kicking their thongs off mid song… the usual primary school choir stuff. Enough to lighten the mood.

And then the African kids came on and the party started. They were brilliant! Those kids can sing. But not only that, they dance like they’ve just discovered it and it’s the best fun ever! You can’t imagine there could be so many different dance moves! And, of course, the smiles are huge, permanent and real.

Those kids were a blur of smiles, colour and song, you couldn't help but be moved. In fact, the mood was considerably lighter on the return trip. By the time we were half way home Molly had us convinced we should adopt a refugee. Nice.

And you know how the rest of the day panned out (as per Annie’s Bollywood post). The funny thing was that we missed out on the food, the films, and the showbags... But it was the best fun ever! Just goes to show you don’t need all that stuff – you just need a great bunch of friends in order to have a good time. (the free champers may have helped too!)

And, lastly Dear Diary, the last 3 days have been the most empowering and uplifting days ever. I have been to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People course. While I was there I had to think about what’s important in my life and during my stream of consciousness session (where you write whatever comes into your mind down on paper) things like friends, fun, laughing, family, love, colour and connecting all those things together formed a bit of a theme. This blog kept coming to my mind. I kept picturing the photo from last Sunday of us on the carpet (see Annie’s post below). Thank you to all the Surfermums who connect/contribute/communicate their wonderful ideas/experiences here. I love it. More please :)

And if you have the chance to do that course, you should do it! It was brilliant.
SM

Bollywood Birthday Bash or MOB Goes to Bollywood.... by Annie

Learning the steps

Bollywood Surfermums going for it.

The planets lined up for August....  this months Birthday Surfer Mum was to celebrate Bollywood Style!  What a night.  Now we know that in India there are the starving...but watch the Taree Hoi Polloi chase down a waiter with a tray full of Samosa!  Get your running shoes on gals.  Not to mention Party Bags..... "none for you" - feel like we're at the Seifield Soup Nazi....soup kitchen....
Buuuuttt what a fun night!  Surfermum and Bel showed how to Bollywood Dance like it's 1999! Wow.... we saw the lawn mower, the sprinkler and other Bollywood moves.... yes it was a happening place.... great music, drumming, sitars and champers.....We had a blast.... then it was time to leave..... tried to catch car #2 by doing laps around the roundabout....  so we could let them know about our detour on the way home, but to no avail.... we got a bit dizzy........AND the FINALE.... to top off a night of nights... we had to have the annual Sufermum Birthday KFC 11 herbs and spices.....(I'm sure the Colonel visited Bombay sometime).

So today I'm still laughing at the fun that was had... and yes... we nearly have a birthday to celebrate every month..... with breaks before the Christmas rush of fun....  What a lovely bunch we are... Thanks so much Girls, and thanks too for all your 50th wishes..... and my lovely card and gift xoxo.

KFC Samosa!

One surfermums milestone

Well what do surfermums do to celebrate a 50th birthday ? Ski down the snow , visit the relos in Sydney.....miss their own birthday cebration in Wylie Breckenbridge park ..... Catch up with the girls at Gobblegutz .... Mmmm yummmm .
Yes it has been a busy week for Annie!!
She is off shopping for a gold bracelet this week courtesy of friends and family donations ...
One very talented friend has immortalized our Annie , and completed an amazing portrait in acrylic paint . Annie has taken up posing nude for a photographer on the beach , hopefully after she had finished surfing the reef .. I have been hounding her , texting 10 times a day for  a snapshot of the now hidden away painting to no avail.. Please request she post the picture . How many hot 50 year old women can boast a six pack , great bod  and of course that hairdo !! Lyn has captured those multicolored highlights beautifully.... Someone tell me .... Who is her hairdresser???
Happy birthday Annie !!
Ps a very talented journalist has a birthday coming up next week - more reason to celebrate !!