The great 41 hour birthday

From midnight October 6th here in Sydney to midnight October 7th in Boise, Idaho- my birthday lasted longer than one day this year. I think turning 22 merits that.

My Mum had a wonderful week down here in Manly, and at the end of it, we got all my favourite foods (smooth pate, smelly cheeses, olives, french bread, leg ham, its making me salivate just thinking about it!) together and had a home dinner and a movie. It was delicious! Tree surprised me with a birthday cheesecake with trick candles that kept lighting themselves!!

Fastforward to my actual birthday day- Tree took me into the city for some Yum Cha in Chinatown, followed by a pavlova at the cafe at Circular Quay- I've never had a pavlova with a better view!! We ferried back and picked up the lovely Banana who is over from London- what an awesome surprise! We showed up to my birthday drinks with all my lovely Aussie friends and I got a few more surprises- Naomi from Positive Puppies was there! That was so exciting because I really wanted to see her again, and I never got to say goodbye after the company basically decided they didn't have hours for me to work. And then Jess brought out the most amazing cake I had ever seen!! It had two layers with a chocolate muffin/cupcake on top, with strawberries and blueberries and Rolo.... it was incredible! I almost cried I was so surprised. I got some lovely cards and wonderful prezzies. I am so touched and grateful to everyone who was involved at that party- I have always, ALWAYS wanted a surprise party! I love having great friends!

Then at the weekend, I went up to my Nan and Pop's house, and they cooked me a birthday BBQ- delicious as always!! I got some great presents from my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousin, and another surprise birthday cake! It was none other than chocolate cake, my favourite! It was absolutely delicious and a wonderful surprise- the cake was eaten pretty quickly!

My amazing Mum and Dad got me a whole bunch of cards, that of course made soppy Laura tear up a little *sniff sniff* and they are buying my flight to New Zealand in two weeks- how wonderful, now I will be able to do everything I want to do there! I'm very excited for that holiday!!

And FINALLY, Tree's present- on Sunday we went up to Port Stephens and got on a boat to search for dolphins! We saw a whole bunch of them really close up (they are so difficult to get photos of!) and then went in the boom net- we were the only ones who were brave enough, as it was quite cold outside! We climbed in as people were yelling things about hypothermia at us, but it was so great- the water was warmer than the air! We hung out there for 15 minutes or so, and when I went to get out, was greeted by a big wave that smashed me against the other side of the net! The poor little man looking out for us had no idea what to do. I got myself out of there and laughed it off, but I now have 31 (I think I have found another, so it could be 32) bruises all over my body!!
Then we went to the sand dunes in the area, took a bif 4WD to the steepest area and walked up to the top of the dune with a plastic board, before sliding down on our bums! It was a bit nervewracking at first, very steep, but it was SO much fun!! Of course it was SUCH hard work getting back up there every time we wanted to slide down, and my final time Tree and I got our guide to film us as we raced (I won!)- we got to the bottom just to be told he filmed the whole thing with the shutter closed so we'd have to do it again! Some people, I tell you!
Finally, we went to Bob's Farm, where you can get in the water and feed sharks and rays! We got big water waders on, and sticks with prawns on the end of it- got in the water, and the sharks circled around us and we got to put the prawns in their little toothy mouths. The rays were my favourite, because they'd come up to you on the bottom of the pool and swim up your body, so it looked like they were giving you a hug! There was one manta ray who had an entire pool to himself- he was probably as big as our car, and so black- you'd just see this shadow coming towards you then all of a sudden he'd be hugging you! They are very heavy too!! It was probably one of the most interesting things I've ever done!! Such a great birthday present.

In conclusion, it was a pretty amazing birthday. Fitting as it is the first birthday I've had in Oz since I was 5! I hope this next year goes slower than this one did, because I am nowhere near ready to turn 23!! xoxo