The weekend of 13th, 14th & 15th of March 2020 included my 70th birthday and it was the most exciting few days I have had in many years.

Enter Kent and Kathy with a surprise destination – a 10th floor apartment for two nights at Kirra with beautiful views of the stunning hinterland and high-rises of the Gold Coast.

Amazingly I was taken to Burleigh to an extremely crowded Vietnamese restaurant in an Uber (that was a first). A delicious meal ensued then Rob and I were led (literally) down a dodgy dark alley to an equally suspicious doorway that opened to a somewhat gloomy ‘Speak Easy’ bar with 1920s Prohibition theme.

After much consultation with the bar person we ended up with four personally constructed cocktails 🍹 mine was green, minty, and sweet. Yummy.

Afterwards, again venturing through the back alleys of Burleigh we Urbered back to Kirra all safe and sound. The following day we fought through the crowded esplanade of Kirra for a few supplies then enjoyed lunch at the Kirra Surf club along with GRAWH, L and G, K and K and Dr Heather.

The 14th culminated with snacks, wine, good company, and as an afterthought, a late evening walk to the Gelato shop, again wading through crowds enjoying their last Saturday night out for the foreseeable future, as unbeknownst to all of us celebrating whatever, the worldwide Pandemic (Coronavirus) during the next few days changed our freedoms for however long. 

I am sitting here barely a week later thinking firstly how thankful I am to have experienced last weekend’s celebration and for the unusual and generous gifts from my husband and sons, but also importantly how grateful I am to HAVE such a loving family who “thinks up” such surprises.

I am truly a lucky 70 year old.