Friday, February 6, 2015

Birthday Lunch, Bowling Birthday Party

2015-02-04 12.37.34-1Woo hoo, it worked. He was gobsmacked (love that word) and really taken aback that all these people were there to celebrate his birthday. We were short two or three people (one because, horribly, she died during the last two weeks, long story). I didn’t know her well but it was a shock. However, on a happier note – first of all came Matt’s free birthday meal at the Mandarin on Wednesday. I overdid the dumplings, it’s Chinese New Year so they were on special. I tried everything I could find that was newl for the New Year. I was a tad disappointed, when it was my birthday several of the staff came to sing Happy Birthday and they took a photo which the presented me. For Matt our waiter put the hat on his head. Presented him with a cup cake plus candle which he lit and then we had to join in singing. I had to grab for my tablet, which I am not really used to using, in order to get a pic. 

Then Thursday, with the co-operation of one of the alley owners, I IMG_20150205_120221convinced Matt that they were feeding us lunch. The owner had already emailed me and said we would have to go downstairs to bowl as he had a big group coming in. We got there and whilst changing shoes Matt was commenting on the shoes and coats with nobody there. He still didn’t click. Finally I took him into the room where everyone was hiding. He was absolutely staggered. I was so pleased it worked. Not until it was all over did I realise how exhausting it all had been. Matt couldn’t believe I had managed to keep it all from him. Without email, it would have been a darned site more difficult.

The caterer did a wonderful job. This is the cake.The Cake Nope, the woman beside Matt in the centre is not me, it’s Matt dressed for a Hallowe’en party some years ago. All those pictures were printed on icing and were totally edible by the way, although I found them impossible to cut. Don’t know if you can see it, she, the caterer, had even included bowling pins and a teeny bowling ball. Under the Union Jack Buffeton the right. 
We hadn’t discussed what kind of cake so she had made a carrot cake, couldn’t have been better as far as I was concerned. It was delicious and the remains are now freezing in my kitchen and will be wrapped tomorrow. This is one end of the buffet table. We had stacks of delicious sandwiches and wraps, cheese and crackers, vegetables and dip, pickles – think that was it. Guess who ate too much again!! We sent a large dish of sandwiches up to the girls bowling on their Thursday league. The rest, hopefully, were consumed by the guys of a later league. 
Matt
The friend who was taking most of the pictures got this splendid one of Matt, one of the best I have seen for a while. Makes me want to marry him all over again. He had a super game bowling too. Even I didn’t do too badly today either. He got lots of presents. Wednesday he was given a large bottle of gin, today he was given a bottle of wine, two vouchers for the liquor store, another for Tim Hortons, a large box of different Macadamia nuts, a scratch lottery ticket (didn’t win sadly) and a lot of birthday cards. It all went splendidly and I was pleased as punch.

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No, I’m not doing a recipe today, I am way too tired, sorry. I am off to bed toute suite. 
Have a great day
Jo

26 comments:

  1. Sounds like quite the triumph, Miss Jo!! I'm so glad everyone has a great time. You tickled me saying you felt like marrying Matt all over again! So sweet. Rest well. See you later.

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    1. It was Dixie, I was so pleased. I was also knackered at the end of the day. Better this morning.

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  2. Great surprises and eats!!!! Funny, I am craving carrot cake too. Matt looks great; way younger than 80. Happy Birthday to him!

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    1. Pop up here JoJo, I have lots of cake left. Thanks for the good wishes.

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  3. How lovely, good on you for making it happen. He looks like he loved it! Can see why you'd marry him all over again. I think that about my hubby every once in while when I take a moment to really look at him! He's aged well, but more importantly, he's done it while putting up with me. LOL

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    1. He did love it Yolanda. He was surprised I managed to surprise him.

      Nice isn't it?

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  4. Sounds like you both had a wonderful few days. Birthday wishes to Matt. He is certainly a young looking 80 year old.

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    1. Trouble is the scales didn't like it Helen. Will have to do some work to lose a few extra pounds. He definitely enjoyed it which was the point of the whole thing after all.

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  5. Happy Birthday to Matt! Isn't it fun when you can pull off a surprise party and it really is a surprise. Cherish these happy times, Jo.

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    1. Thanks Natasha, you're right it is. First time I have managed to do it.

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  6. I'm happy that the surprise party worked out perfectly well, Jo! You did take a lot of trouble trying to keep it from Matt but it sounds it was all a success and he enjoyed himself very much. Dragon hugs!

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    1. Thanks Al, it was a lot of work, I didn't realise how much until it was all over.

      Grandma Dragon hugs to you.

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  7. Obviously he was pleased - he's looking at you in the photo!
    That cake is great. You did an outstanding job for his birthday surprise.

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    1. True Alex. It was/is a great cake. Funny eating pictures though.

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  8. Fabulous! And what a handsome rooster Matt is! He doesn't llok 80. I'm so glad the party worked out for you both.

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    1. He liked t hat description. So am I Pinky.

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  9. Jo, this is fantastic! I agree that Matt doesn't look like 80. Your photos are lovely. :)

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  10. They printed the pictures on the icing? I didn't know that was even possible! This post (and everything you did) left me all grins here. Kudos to you and huzzah to Matt. Happy times!

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    1. Nor me Jeff. The pictures feel like a cloth/paper texture, but it's icing. I am not quite sure what the "inks" are made of. Apparently the caterer has her own printer for doing this but hers was broken and so she went to a local grocery store to get them done. She told me several stores will do them for you.

      Wish you had been there it turned out a fun afternoon - I would have beaten you at dwarf tossing though, I bet.

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  11. Just catching up with Blog Posts now wer'e back in England (temporarily). Many Happy Returns to Matt - and as others have said, he certainly doesn't look 80 years young! Sounds as though you all had a wonderful time and well done you for keeping it a secret from Matt.

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    1. Thanks Sue, welcome home, temporarily. We did have a great time. Still got a dinner to go to on his kids, not sure when and where yet.

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  12. That cake's so pretty I don't know if I would have been able to eat it. Also, it sounds like your surprise party turned out really well. And what a turnout! I wish half that many people showed to either of our most recent birthdays (we all have the same friends, surprise surprise).

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    1. It's funny, I've set out a piece for us tonight for supper. One bit has my picture and the other Matt's. Maybe you need to entice people to the bowling alley.

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  13. Sorry to hear about the lady being dead, but glad to see you guys had fun.

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    1. Yes it was rather sad. But it was a good party.

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