Sunday 24th Debs Birthday!

Today was an exciting day as it was Debs birthday and Ian was throwing her a pool party at the house. We got up and started to help out getting things ready. First things were to get tables and chairs ready and all that sort of stuff. Myles was in charge of doing the BBQ this afternoon which was a very big job! Luckily he didn't have to start straight away and was occupied with putting up a marquee over the shallow end of the pool. We all set out to get last minute bits and Ian went to pick Debs mother up whilst we started the food. Once this was done Myles joined me in making canapes for when people arrived. The first was a rocket, salmon and cucumber with aoli mayonnaise on a fork. The second was a prawn fork and then oysters to go on the platter around this. All very pretty and fancy stuff. By the time we had started guests had started to arrive. The weather was perfect for a BBQ nice and warm( which didnt help our seafood canapes! ) All done and put on ice we carried on getting drinks for people and getting introduced as Debs Pommie children.

 Once everyone had arrived and had enjoyed the seafood portion of the party Myles moved onto the meat. There were 5 different types of sausages, steak, burgers, chicken wings & legs and more seafood to be cooked! 

Along with sides like halloumi cheese, this was very big job for a lone pom! 
Myles made a start looking very daunted but there was no time for that and he soldiered on. I was in the kitchen still doing other bits like salads and sides as well as finding space for puddings people had brought along too! It was quickly realised by those who offered to help that I spent far too much time in the kitchen and knew where everything was so for the day I was the go to girl!
By about 2 O'Clock everything had come together nicely, Myles and I sat down cider in hand with everybody else to enjoy the fruits of our labors! It was a fantastic BBQ and everyone seemed to enjoy the food but we were still left with a good 20 sausages left over! (This was then 3 days dinner & lunches!) 

Clean up in progress we had a well deserved rest and got changed for swimming, before we got into the water it was time for cake. Debs daughter had made her a swimming pool cake, It was a carrot cake with blue jelly topping for the water and looked beautiful. Singing and photos done it was time to find all the deserts I had hidden away in fridges and freezers to then be served.

 Bellies very full it was time to relax. This meant I was pushed in the pool and bullied for being short whilst playing volleyball. The pool today wasn't too cold and we stayed in for a good hour and a bit. After getting very cold I got out of the pool and Myles did too resentfully. Shower and some warm clothes on and it was just family left so we started the final clean up and loaded the dishwasher for the final time. Everybody shattered we relaxed and played a game of outdoor bowling which was great fun and Myles somehow won! He got 72 Aaron and I both got 58 and I forgot Deb and Ians scores (Sorry) :S

Left overs for tea starting the consumption of the sausages! 
Time for bed not long after. Very long day but so worth it everybody had a great time and most importantly Deb did too! 

Tara during bowling being an added obstacle <3