Merv turns 60

There was much preparation before the big day, but it lasted so much longer than a day!  Merv finally turned 60 on Thursday.  I had been planning it for awhile with crazy, zany ideas coming to mind with most of them quickly swept away.  This is what we ended up with:  on Wednesday Merv went to his HD social group and was treated to cake and cheers.  I left them to fend for themselves, my energy was only in preparation.
Sneakily I had contacted friends and arranged a surprise morning tea at Cape Lavender in the Swan Valley for Merv on Thursday.  For his birthday celebration I had promised him a mystery tour of the Swan Valley and he expected morning tea only for the three of us (Mel included).  "Fancy meeting you here,"  I shrieked as we parked and a crowd of guests gravitated towards us!  We were soon seated at a long table.  I laughed to myself as the lady Pastor of Merv's church sat at the end surrounded by eleven others.  Only one guest isn't a Christian!  We delighted in lavender scones while Merv and a few others stuck to the regular type.  I ordered one serve of lavender ice cream and pulled out a packet of plastic spoons for everyone to indulge in a taste-test. We joked, chatted and ate but just after an hour the crowd began to disperse, getting on with their day's errands and appointments.  I was really chuffed to know they choose to spend time with Merv on his special day.  We spent the rest of the day visiting chocolate shops, the Mash (boutique brewery) for Merv's favourite beer with fish and chips, pub style.  We visited All Saints church, the oldest church in WA.  It was built in 1840.  There are services still held there most Sundays, it seats about 50 people.  We drove to Bell's Rapids and enjoyed the view; a break from eating and drinking!   We finished our day at the Honey Farm.  The next day Merv had a chocolate birthday cake at his day centre group.  I took the cake up before their expected morning tea time.   I kept busy chatting and helping with cups, teapots and savouries.  I took photos of Merv blowing out his candles and cut the cake into thin slices, allowing everyone to enjoy a little cake.  Merv finished off his celebrations on Saturday with a family lunch at Zizzi's Italian Restaurant.  They opened their restaurant just for us; I was impressed.  Once again there was twelve of us, but no pastor present and only a few Christians!  We enjoyed having the run of the place.  It was nice not having to compete with a crowd to be heard.  We joked, chatted, caught up on news, took lots of photos and enjoyed Merv's special birthday.  I gave out lolly bags (now they're known as 'loot bags').  No loot in mine, just lollies, a whistle and a birthday joke.  Today we are having a well deserved rest!

Family Photo at Zizzi's

One Busy Fortnight

It has been a big fortnight, bigger than most. 
Dustin and Grace have announced their engagement and they have already celebrated with a small group of close relatives and members of the upcoming wedding party.  I suppose I had expected it but with there has  been so many other issues creating havoc in our lives to consider and sort out.

At the Engagement Lunch

Merv had a fall in the kitchen yesterday.  Fortunately he did not hurt himself.  This comes on top of the ongoing swallowing problems.  The BBC (Provale Cup) is cumbersome and difficult to transport especially when going out for lunch etc.  Our speech pathologist came up with 'Safe Straws' from the US which provide a regulated amount of fluid which prevents choking.  I found a local distributor in Willeton WA, therefore saving on extra costs.  In theory the safe straw sounds like a sure bet, but in reality a whole range of problems surface. The straw attached to the plastic part which delivers the regulated fluid does not allow fluids with additives (chocolate milk, tea, beer etc) to move smoothly up the straw when sucked.  I came up with the idea of using the tubing in Merv's sipper bottle (the sports type).  The tubing is wider and solved this problem, except it is not flexible.   The speechie suggested aquarium tubing which is flexible.  This sounds fantastic until I visited the pet shop only to find the tubing was not wide enough!  I am now on a mission to source a wider tubing and have a range of stores which might deliver.  The journey begins tomorrow.  In the mean time I am also arranging Merv's 60th birthday next week.  More on the various celebrations to come. Over four days there will be four cakes and four celebrations.   Hopefully next week wont be quite so busy.  Oh! the garden needs weeding, the windows need washing, the list goes on.....

Merv using the Safe Straw