Tracy (Fiona and Robyn) turn 50

We had a lovely beach party on Mils to celebrate Tracy, Robyn and Fiona's joint birthday.  It was a delightful day and evening, and Kevin had built a little burning man horse, for their year of the horse arrival.

Loading boats for the trip out.  Best part of it all was a DJ had been arranged who had already set up there
with a generator and some big beach party speakers.  

Michael Abbot and Tory wade out to the boats.  They used to live here, but moved back to Western Australia
13 years ago, and it was a delightful surprise to see them.  Tory after a decade and some has changed quite a bit.

Ange and Jordan enjoy the trip out - and it was a fabulous day, high level cloud to keep the lash of the sun's whip at bay.

Fiona, Robyn and Tracy in front of Kevin's bonfire horse.

Nicolas' beard is looking fantastic; its perfectly balanced blend of dark and grey.  Always divine to see him.

By dusk the party was happening in the sea, which was perfectly languid and warm.

Later on, getting down on the beach around the bonfire, Giles in expansive mood

Ev's party - super surreal - bubble soccer

Science-fiction like it was; gravity-less and completely surreal.  And rough, rough. rough.

Next generation beauty

Some time ago we had to cut down a rubber tree that was growing into and destroying the wall, at the neighbour's request.  But it couldn't be removed, because it literally had grown into the structure. So a guy came and cut it down, and painted some creosote sort of stuff on the top of the stump, but then it sprouted again, so he cut the shoots back and painted it again.  Then among the bushes I saw now that it had presumably died, because it was covered everywhere by these little lampshade shaped mushrooms.  Anywhere along the wall that it's visible, its covered by them - long trails of little mushrooms along the wall.  Super beautiful, and somehow sinister.

Clearing the view

I hit the garden with a vengeance today, chopped back the bush and trees that had grown across the view, and now I'm wondering what took me so long.  It's so lovely.  I asked the boys out for a pic. They decided on these.  It started well enough, but then descended into a sword fight.

Colours of summer

Hisako on the patio

Jacques, Hisako and Robyn came for a post-rugby dinner last night; before descending
into chaos, this photo of H.  

Tuesday evening

Liz and Pete's house; boys in pool, Buddy so keen.

Aiden on the skimboard - Dai Long Wan

Dai Long Wan for sun, sand and food

It was the nicest possible Sunday: hot and clear, though the air somewhat hazy with Typhoon Nida headed our way.  On days like this you think, ooh, cool, lets hit the beach - Dai Long Wan - a long way off by boat, should be pretty quiet?  

Pete on board for a ride from the bay out to his boat anchored offshore; Captain Kev at the helm.

Dai Long Wan is special, in the middle of no-where in  Hong Kong terms; with Sai Wan the little cluster 
of beach restaurants - pumping out a small menu of great food to those willing to head ashore.

And frankly, most people aren't willing - so this perfect beach is very largely empty, whilst the bay looks like a
Central parking lot on a Wednesday afternoon; lots of boats, clearly we weren't the only people with this idea.

Aiden and Ev take a break from beach action for a dose of  tasty hot e-fu noodles and an obligatory ice cream.
Slight looks of hostility?  Nope, just the way it seems.

Aiden on the camera, Kev and yours truly kicking back.

After a bite, Greg and Pam head back across the beach, matching Canadian hats.

And the kids back to the board - Ev letting fly with his particular brand of chaotic enthusiasm.

While Aiden sets about putting on a show for the camera - this child really can ride anything that moves,
just fabulous balance.

But of course there has to be some sort of a show, tongues and gangster-surfer finger gestures...

including this beauty of  "hey check this out, I can skimboard sitting down, with my tongue and
gangster-surfer stuff at the same time.  The waxfoot version of chewing gum and walking.
Much excitement about the pending typhoon, equals surf you see, and so we enter negotiation mode.  

Evan getting there

Evan with his omnipresent sun hat is getting the skimboard too, here heading on his own run up the river

Easier than stepping off ...

and then back to the mouth for another go.  Interesting thing about a skimboard - can get kids to do short sprints all afternoon.