The day I met Abraham

At 2:10am this morning I finally met Abraham. Despite the build up and anticipation it turned out to be a bit of a non event. In fact I was fast asleep when the old man with the long white beard finally came to visit me.

Folks… today is my 50th! I was born at 2:10 am on the 12th of March 1959 at Hornsby Hospital in Sydney. After a short wiggling struggle by yours truly and a lot of work by dear Mum – I was born a healthy baby boy at 7lbs 2oz.

Incidentally, my conception took place on the night of the 16th of June at the Union Hotel in Gosford – Mum and Dad’s wedding day. Don’t ask me which room!

Memories!!

The Dutch have a tradition…

Abraham & Sarah tradition when somebody turns 50. When somebody turns 50 in Holland people say that they have seen Abraham or Sarah. If it’s a man who turns 50 they say he has seen Abraham and when it’s a woman they say she has seen Sarah. To celebrate b0th birthdays the Dutch decorate the front yard of the house of this person and put an Abraham or a Sarah doll in their front yard. These dolls represent something that the birthday person is attached to or does. Like when somebody is a carpenter they dress up the Abraham doll as a carpenter. The front yard is mostly decorated by family members when the person who’s turning 50 is not around so it’s a surprise.

We organised a BBQ in Fagan Park last Sunday for family and friends. Although the actual turn up on the day wasn’t that great – it’s probably fair to say that a fantastic and relaxing time was had by all.  If there’s one thing that I dearly miss living and working in Papua New Guinea is regular contact and interaction with family and close friends.

Here’s a few snaps from Sunday’s BBQ and also today…

BBQ at Fagan Park - Uncle Ben & John having a chin-wag (8/3/09)

BBQ at Fagan Park - Daniel with an "angry" Trent (8/3/09)

The birthday boy makes a wish (12/3/09)

At Pearl Beach Cafe with Mum, Yolande & Madeleine (12/3/09)

For other photos from today, last Sunday’s BBQ and my trip Downunder – please visit the “Australia > March 2009” photo album.

And tonight…

I’m going out on “date” with Mum to the LayCock Street Theatre at Gosford to see “The Pajama Game“.

The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7-1/2 Cents by Richard Bissell. It features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven and a half cent raise are going unheeded. In the midst of this ordeal, love blossoms between Babe, the complaint committee head, and Sid, the new factory superintendent…