Joe turns twelve in Lakes Entrance, has his first birthday with a party… and more

We headed down to Lakes Entrance for Joe’s twelfth birthday and completion of one Chinese 12 year cycle (He was born in the year of the snake and this is his first full cycle of the twelve animals.)

We decided to spend the day in Lakes Entrance for his birthday and return for his first traditional birthday party in Melbourne. Normally it is the three of us in an exotic location, celebrating birthday and wedding anniversary as a team of three.

Apart from other activities we enjoyed a round of mini golf where I was able to share my extensive experience on the circuit with the youngsters who managed to card a respectable 57 on a challenging circuit with a very strong Northerly wind to contend with.

This year we had Joe’s cousin with us enjoying the summer holiday flavour of Lakes Entrance before returning to Melbourne for a great meal, cake and red packets that are the traditional fare of Chinese birthday parties.

Having journeyed with Cecilia along the Great Ocean Road to Warrnambool last year, it was fitting that we headed East from Melbourne this time to experience the Gippsland countryside.

In the Saturday before this event I caught up with some military colleagues from a life many chapters ago in a place that was both beautful and terrifying. All of us carry memories of OCS Portsea that cannot be erased due to the intensity of circumstances under which they were engraved. I was very happy to be able to share this reunion with Helen and Joe as my year at Officer Cadet School in 1983 and subsequent graduation are certainly an achievement to be celebrated… especially with colleagues who have survived the ensuing 30 years in what seems to be very good health and spirits.

The parade ground is empty now, but the returning cadets recounted the many hours we spent perfecting our drill moves and suffering for the smallest imperfection in execution.

So although only out of the office for a couple of working days, we managed yet again to pack in more than the average day’s holiday on a special set of dates for us.

I will be catching up with most of the small readership of this blog over the Christmas period and for those we will miss… Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.