We got into Hamilton Island Marina about 4.30 pm on the afternoon before my birthday. On the way there, sailing over from Airlie I had suddenly felt very homesick, missing our girls and our friends and wishing that I was at home for my birthday.
I had been very good up until this point and hadn’t felt sad and had told myself that it’s just another day and whatever happens, I’ll have a good day and I’ll celebrate with everyone when I get home!
However that afternoon my resolve dissolved in quiet tears and I kept leaning outside the cockpit on the pretext of looking for whales so that Greg didn’t see my tears and ask what was wrong. I didn’t want him to feel bad that I was sad about my birthday.
Once we arrived at Hamo Marina, Greg wanted to wash the boat, but I was feeling overwhelmingly sad and needed a good cry without letting on to Greg that I was sad or why, so I told him I really wanted to go for a walk by myself if he was happy cleaning the boat without me. I followed our usual route and when I got to the duck pond, tucked away in a quiet part of the island, I sat under the pergola and cried for about fifteen minutes until I felt that I had it out of my system! The ducks took no notice of me as soon as they realised that I wasn’t there to feed them any bread, and left me to my cathartic tears!
Thursday night, Kerrie Killingly texted to wish me happy birthday for the following day as she would be in a medical conference all day Friday.
Meanwhile, Greg had been planning something for my birthday for quite a while – and had told me as much to reassure me, but told me not to ask any questions.
He told me that he had booked a dinner for us at the lovely little Italian restaurant on Hamilton Island, and that he had booked us into the marina for a week so that we could have a ‘resort’ week for my birthday.
He also told me that my birthday celebrations wouldn’t really start until Friday night but not to worry, he had something planned, and that the day would possibly be a bit boring in the lead up to the evening as he had some things to take care of.
None of that bothered me at all, and we started the day with our customary Hamilton Island walking circuit including four uphills. I wanted to watch the sunrise on my fiftieth birthday, so we left our boat at first light and made it to One Tree Hill to witness the first golden rays before sunrise and stayed until the sun was well clear of the horizon.
We then completed the three remaining uphill sections of our walk, before heading to the marina café for our coffee and then back to the boat.
Hardly a day goes by without a wedding on Hamilton Island. The wedding buggies outside the honeymoon suite.
I’m sure my Dad will be able to tell me . . . “What bird is that?”
We do so many ‘uphills’ on our Hamo walk, that I have to stretch my hamstrings and lower back at least once in between hills. Greg never has to stretch anything – what is it with boys?! When I get home I’ll be looking to duplicate our Hamo walking route and include as many hills as possible! This photo is actually from the Tuesday morning after my birthday, but it fits in with the story here!
Greg gave me some decoy gifts including a pair of ‘pyjamas’ which he said I would need for the weekend … I began to wonder! Had he booked us into the very upmarket Qualia Resort for the weekend? The pyjamas turned out to be ‘one size fits most’ haha – biggest myth in the clothing industry – there is no such item! They were huge on me with the armholes gaping down to my waist – not that Greg minded, but he had said that perhaps I would need to possibly wear them in public!! What?!!! They were clearly not appropriate attire for wearing in public and happily Greg said I could take them back to the shop at Hamilton Island where he had purchased them and exchange them for something else, which I did later that morning, and replaced them with two sun dresses.
Yep – he’s still the world’s worst present wrapper, haha! And of course – I’m such a dog person – not!
The birthday text messages and phone calls started coming in.
About 7am Aileen texted Happy Birthday and that she was already at work. A bit later Jenine texted happy birthday and that she was at work. Robyn texted later in the morning saying she didn’t realise it was my fiftieth birthday, but happy birthday and we would have to celebrate when we got home. There were several other texts, calls and plenty of facebook messages. All good things for a sanguine!
I told Greg I was happy just going to the resort pool for the morning and back to our boat for a simple lunch as I wanted to save my appetite for our yummy dinner that night. That suited Greg as he said he had to run around and organise some things that afternoon. By this stage I knew that he was organising more than a simple dinner at a restaurant! When we left the boat to walk to the pool, Greg directed me to a waiting buggy which he had hired for the day, because he had so much running around to do – now I really knew he was up to something!
Beautiful resort weather for my birthday . . .
Greg told me that I had to be ready to leave for 5.30pm cocktails at One Tree Hill that afternoon.
I had bought a new dress when we were in Brisbane, and had bought some new shoes and a bag during the last week we were at Airlie Beach.
Off I went to the marina shower block to get ready including wash, dry and straighten hair and put on makeup – for the first time in months! Meanwhile Greg was nowhere to be found!
I had bought an iron (for about eight dollars from GoLo or similar) to keep on the boat and use if needed when we had 240v power in marinas, but so far hadn’t had it out of its box. I used it on a shirt and jeans for Greg, and to lightly steam my dress which had been squashed in my tiny wardrobe now for a couple of months!
We were ready to go! I was getting quite nervous by this stage as I knew Greg was up to something way more than just going out for dinner! But he was obviously so enjoying his scheming and organising that I didn’t want to ask him questions and spoil his surprise for me. I did tell him though that I hoped there was no public humiliation involved! Outside, our neighbours Ross and Denise were apparently in on the whole thing, as they were waiting for us outside their boat ‘Circe’ with phone cameras at the ready to take pictures and offering to take pictures with our camera too. Denise gave me a lei which she had left from Hamilton Island Race Week, and said I had to wear it to the end of the marina but then I could take it off!
I’m probably trying to give instructions – as usual! Nicki, Ali and Kel had given me beautiful Mimco earrings and a bangle which both went perfectly with my dress, but I forgot to take close ups of them.
We buggied past the restaurant as Greg said he had to check something (I found out later that this was a stalling tactic as he was waiting for a text to say all was ready at One Tree Hill). We did a U turn and came back past the restaurant! This was very weird. But eventually Greg said all was in order and we were off to One Tree Hill.
Due to the beautiful weather there must have been fifty or more people at One Tree Hill, all congregated in little groups, having cocktails, watching the beginnings of the sunset, talking and laughing. We joined the queue at the cocktail bar and were examining the menu when Greg decided we should go down to the viewing area instead.
There was a group of women huddled by the railing looking out over Fitzalan Passage. I had noticed them when we first arrived as they were very nicely dressed, not in casual resort gear like most of the tourists (and how I was usually dressed too) but they had their back to us and I didn’t pay any attention. I was feeling extremely nervous by now, wondering what on earth Greg was up to. As we got closer to the four women, I suddenly began recognising them one by one even though they had their backs to us and in the same split second that I realised these were four people I knew, they turned around and shouted “SURPRISE” at the top of their voices!! Everyone at One Tree Hill was surprised, not just me, and stopped talking to look at us! I stood there, stunned, speechless (for a few seconds anyway) and then took each of their faces in my hands one by one saying “look at you all, look at your beautiful faces, you’re really here in real life!” I turned to Greg and hugged him and thanked him for my ‘real’ birthday present!
Greg wins Best Husband of the Year Award (in my books)! He had secretly planned and organised to fly these friends to Hamilton Island for the weekend and had booked a holiday unit for us all to stay in so that I could have a girls’ weekend with friends for my fiftieth birthday!
Now before I go any further, let me just say I know that quite a few other friends would have loved to also be there that weekend, but due to work and life commitments, were unable to make it. I love you all and am very grateful for your friendship and look forward to celebrating with you all once I return home from this epic adventure!
Once the initial shock had worn off the talking (shouting!) and laughing began – and didn’t end for the entire weekend! Everyone talked over the top of each other explaining all the cloak and dagger shenanigans that had been going on for MONTHS to plan this whole thing. I cannot explain how happy I was in that moment. One of the hardest things for me about going away for most of this year had been leaving home, family and friends. I really hadn’t realised how much of a home-body I was until I had to leave.
I gradually pieced together the story of how Greg and the girls had planned all of this for months. Someone gave me a cocktail, someone said we should be watching the sunset but I said I didn’t care about the sunset having seen hundreds of them since leaving home! I just wanted to keep staring at the beautiful familiar faces of my friends! Now, here was Aileen who said she was at work, Jenine – likewise, Robyn who said she didn’t even know it was my fiftieth, and Suz – who I must commend for not lying to me at all as she had facebooked a happy birthday! I told them one by one that they had lied to me! It took me a while to get my head around the fact that I was having a holiday with them in a unit for the weekend, even though they kept telling me.
Turns out that afternoon, Greg had met the girls at the airport, got them and their luggage on buggies to the holiday unit, made sure they were settled in and knew where One Tree Hill was, and that they had to be there at 5.30pm sharp. He had also been chasing around trying to find the gluten free birthday cake that he had painstakingly organised for that night, but which had been lost somewhere in transit!
The only gluten free cake available on Hamilton Island was at the corner coffee shop and it was a plain orange and almond cake. Greg had to order one of these cakes about a month in advance, however the café doesn’t ice cakes, that had to be arranged with the bakery and then the bakery was to deliver the decorated cake to the restaurant.
The day prior to my birthday (when we arrived at the marina) Greg had checked with the café, but no one knew about the specially ordered cake because Jordan wasn’t there. So Greg had to wait until the following day when Jordan was at the cafe, and he assured Greg that yes, he had sent it to the bakery to be iced. However, when Greg checked with the bakery no one knew about the cake and no one could find the cake! So Greg checked with the restaurant to see if they had received it, it was now about 3.30 pm on my birthday afternoon. No, they hadn’t received it but they assured Greg that the bakery would certainly deliver it before our dinner booking that evening.
However the bakery closes at 4pm daily (and sometimes a few minutes earlier if trade is slow!) so Greg decided to go straight back to the bakery and try to track down the missing cake. After quite a few enquiries, someone miraculously found the missing cake, which was already iced and decorated, and Greg immediately took over the delivery of the cake from the bakery to the restaurant so that it was ready for our dinner that night!
Meanwhile back at One Tree Hill … lots of photos and storytelling and cocktails later, we pretty much missed the sunset but eventually it was time to buggy to the restaurant. The holiday unit booking included the use of a buggy so the girls piled into one buggy, Greg and I in another and we convoyed to the restaurant where we were shown to a lovely waterside table.
I was completely oblivious to everyone else around us both at One Tree Hill and also at the restaurant, but the girls were observing other people’s reactions to our boisterous table and laughing about their reactions. Apparently it was clear that one lady just wanted to join our fun table – she was stuck with her husband (presumably) without much conversation – the girls decided they had probably been away sailing together for months and here they were sitting across from each other yet again and had run out of conversation! Haha. Others were openly curious and just smiling at us enjoying ourselves. Greg was the envy of half the restaurant at a table with five women!
After some lovely speeches and the traditional ‘reading of the cards out loud around the table’ we enjoyed a beautiful dinner and great laughs and company. I thanked Greg for knowing my heart and knowing the best possible birthday present to organise for me! And the girls spoilt me with a beautiful Tiffany bracelet which I will wear every day once I’m back home, but I’m not wearing it on the boat in case it catches on anything – too many obstacles to wear jewellery on a boat. They had also brought a card and lovely earrings from Sal. Totally blessed!
After dinner and dessert Greg had left the table to visit the mens’ room and while he was gone about six restaurant staff came to our table with the beautifully decorated birthday cake, loudly singing Happy Birthday! Greg was nowhere to be seen! Oh dear, and after all that organising of the birthday cake! Again, all eyes in the restaurant were focussed on our table!
Greg returned, and I felt so sorry for him, because we were all so full from a delicious dinner that we couldn’t possibly eat any birthday cake even if we tried! Some of the girls dug their spoons into the cake for a taste though! The waitress removed the cake and boxed it back up ready for us to take when we left. However with all the arranging at the time of leaving no one remembered to get the cake! Greg and I headed back to the boat so I could pack an overnight bag – it still hadn’t really sunk in that I was having a weekend with the girls so my packing was not very comprehensive! We hoped the girls had found their way back to the holiday unit in the dark! Greg and I remembered the cake and returned to the restaurant to collect it on our way to the holiday unit.
The little oval ‘buttons’ on the side of the cake were made of the yummiest dark chocolate! The cake was a flourless orange – beautifully citrus-ey. It was truly well worth all of the effort that Greg had to go to.
The girls were well and truly settled in at our weekend ‘home’ when I arrived and they showed me to my room. They were all twin sharing but I had a room to myself, for which I felt very guilty. We sat up that night eating a few more spoonsful of cake and with the girls telling me more and more details about how they and Greg had schemed and planned this whole surprise. I was blown away at the extent to which Greg and the girls had gone to plan and make this weekend happen! I was also losing my voice after having talked so much for the last five hours or so. There’s only so much (very little really) listening quotient available with husbands, so my words and talking quotient has been very under-used since I left home in April, so lookout once I get home!
The morning after!!! All of us (except the person still in the pj’s! who shall remain nameless!) went for a walk down to the little village, across to the marina to see where our boat was parked and say good morning to the skipper, and back to our unit to get ready for our resort brekkie which Greg had booked for 10.15am sharp! You’ll be glad to know that my voice had mostly recovered. It would have been cruel irony to lose my voice for the weekend!
Before we left for our walk . . .
When we returned . . .
You would think that by now my deception radar would be on high alert, but I was completely oblivious to anything except having fun hanging out with girlfriends! We got ready for brekkie and because I’m used to Greg saying a time but meaning ‘be there earlier’ I was hurrying everyone along out the door telling them that Greg doesn’t like to be kept waiting and we can order a coffee while we wait for him. The poor girls apparently were trying to delay me and texting Greg saying “We’re on our way now, there’s no holding her back!” Haha, well if someone had let me in on the plan, I most certainly would have co-operated!!
After fiddling around choosing this table then that table, and deciding where everyone was sitting I said I’d go and get the coffees but everyone insisted “No, you stay there, we’ll go get them”! Well, ok then! Apparently I was making it very difficult for everyone to conceal my next surprise guest! Someone came up behind me and put their hands over my eyes . . . and I guessed correctly – Kerrie Killingly!! Haha we’ve had several conversations about how big her surgeon-hands are compared to my tiny hands! Again I was so surprised. I had no idea that everyone had still been keeping another secret. Kerrie had indeed been at a medical conference, in Cairns of all places, and had flown to Hamilton Island from Cairns that morning. Greg had met her at the airport, taken her to the holiday unit to drop her luggage and change and then they met us at brekkie.
By now I was having to double check with everyone – is that it, are we all here, no more surprises – I don’t think I can take any more! Ahaa, that’s why I had a room to myself last night, my roomie hadn’t arrived yet! That’s one of my birthday dresses that I exchanged for the ‘pj’s’. Kerrie’s wearing a top she bought in Rose Bay last January when she and Bruce sailed to Sydney with us for the New Year’s Eve fireworks (just trivia I know)!
Group photo – Greg’s very pleased with himself for all his conniving and surprises! Kerrie gave me the most beautiful bracelet made in Israel, which I also won’t be wearing while on the boat! I’ll have to go out lots when I get home so I can wear all my new bling! I have been so blessed with quality time with friends, beautiful words and gifts this weekend. My heart is full to bursting!
We decided that Saturday would be a resort / pool day, and that Sunday we would have a boat day and head out to Whitehaven or a snorkelling spot somewhere. Amazing how quickly we slip into relaxed, resort mode! Only need a sunlounge, magazine and swimming pool and we’re totally resort girls!
Water shots are always so flattering! Suz had the right idea, or Jenine who took the photo rather than be in it!
Buggy! Waiting for the others in the grocery shop.
On friday afternoon when the girls had arrived at the unit, Jenine – lover of all creatures great and small – immediately made friends with the local wildlife, feeding the cockatoos on the balcony railing. “They’re cute!” she said.
On Saturday morning before we left for breakfast, I made sure I closed the shutters along the balcony so that the birds couldn’t get in, however when Greg and Kerrie stopped in at our unit, Greg thought it was rather stuffy inside so he would do us a favour and open all the shutters to let the air flow through.
By the time we arrived home late afternoon the cockies had been feasting on everything available in the kitchen!
The girls had brought several kinds of chocolate, lollies and corn chips, I had my GF cereal in a container on the bench, and I can’t remember what else, but the birds had a feast! They had opened the unopened blocks of chocolate, the corn chips packet, my cereal container and eaten their fill! The messy critters didn’t just stay in the kitchen, they took their spoils to the lounge creating mess all through the lounge cushions, there was melted caramel chocolate all over the floor not to mention cocki poo here and there! After taking photos, Robyn and I set about cleaning up before the others got back.
I had to eat birthday cake for breakfast each morning after that! Oh well!
Later that afternoon . . . please let me in! I’m cute remember! “No, Jenine, you can’t open the shutters!”. Haha.
Suzanne and Kerrie are the ‘foodies’ in the group and happily cooked up a storm in the kitchen while the rest of us relaxed. We dined on baked artichoke dip and other delicacies including warm olives. A few of us seem to have had a bit too much sun! It was so good having extended time to talk and catch up on all the news from home and just chat and laugh about anything and everything. Perfect girlfriend time.
While grocery shopping, Kerrie found the little boutique where I had exhanged pj’s for sundresses, and liked the grey version of my black and white dress! Lookout, we’ll turn up in matching outfits when I get home!
Sunday was boating day. We set off early with glassy seas around us. I loved hearing the girls all saying “look at the colour of the water” over and over again – as that is what I was like when we first arrived here in the Whitsundays.
And that’s my other sundress!
We were on the lookout for whales, and spotted a mother and calf a fair way off, but Skipper kindly let us motor off-course for a closer look! In the meantime a little fishing tinny had sped over to where the whales were and someone was standing on the bow taking photos within fifty metres of the whales. We couldn’t believe that they were that brave? Stupid? Ignorant of the 300 metre rule? We stayed a safe distance back and watched – the girls were mesmerised and all was silent except for the oohs and aahs whenever the whale did a whale thing for us to look at! Greg cut the motor and because the water was so still we could hear every breath that the whale exhaled, including snorting noises sometimes! It was an amazing experience and I’m so glad the girls got to see a whale.
Our destination – Langford Reef, as it is good for snorkelling while still having a beach to relax on. Whitehaven is a beautiful beach but there’s no coral right there for snorkelling. The dinghy process begins. Skipper had to run a dinghy shuttle service to and from the beach, carefully picking the way through the coral bommies to reach the beach.
Jenine and I jumped straight into the water from the boat, to snorkle away from the beach towards the point where, apparently, the best coral was to be seen.
Robyn and Aileen were left on the boat waiting for the next dinghy shuttle! Don’t sail away without us girls!
I’m not sure what this red and black thing was that was in the coral, but it looked interesting.
Some of the coral has a luminous quality, this large white coral glowed like a night lamp.
The second dinghy shuttle came via Jenine and I to check we were ok! We were totally ok – we were loving ourselves silly out there, not tired in the least and happily snorkelling our way parallel to shore up towards the point.
Just checking you’re ok! Yep, all good thanks!
Meanwhile, back at the beach . . .
Robyn always reads books on holidays and this weekend was no different!
It was time for the first dinghy shuttle back to the boat. Suz and Kerrie went first – being the foodies, they could start preparing lunch for everyone else!
We ate lunch on the homeward journey.
Reading that book again Robyn – and Suzanne!
Poor Aileen got sunblock lotion in her eyes and had a nasty allergic reaction. Luckily Dr Kerrie was on hand and I had eye drops and saline solution in my on-board medical kit.
Bravely smiling through the pain!
After a long day out on the water, no one wanted to cook dinner that night so we went to the local pub. I had washed my hair but no time to straighten it, oh dear!
Monday morning, and it was time to pack up – can’t believe the weekend is coming to an end so quickly!
Kerrie had to fly out about 12.45pm and the other girls about 2.45pm-ish, so we headed to the resort pool for the morning. I shouted Greg an iced chocolate!
We said an early good-bye to Kerrie and Greg took her to the airport.
These are the gorgeous earrings that Sally gave me!
We had an early lunch before heading to the marina showers so the girls could shower and change ready for their homeward flight.
A quick stop at the reef view hotel to take the girls up in the glass elevators for views across Cats Eye Beach.
Buggy!
Robyn and Aileen still needed icecream after lunch! Well, it’s not holidays unless you have ice cream!
After finding out that their flight was delayed till about 3.30 pm, we had one last drink together in the airport departure lounge before saying a final goodbye! We celebrity spotted Brett Lee in the departure lounge but none of us were game to go say hi and get a photo with him.
I was extemely good and didn’t cry when the girls left.
Robyn texted me later that night to say I’d be glad to know she finished her book!
The following day Greg and I had another resort day together. It’s a bit lonely now with only one set of feet in the picture instead of five or six!
Well, ok it’s nice with two sets of feet!
Panorama shot of Cats Eye Beach at low tide.
While the girls had been here for the weekend we had tried to book into Co Ca Chu Restaurant for dinner, but they were booked out (as is often the case). However, Greg and I managed to get a booking there on Tuesday night. The food was incredible – Asian flavours, but no specific nationality. Lots of chilli. We had to choose the mildest dishes on the menu and only sampled from those that were gluten free of course. It was almost a full moon and I took a photo across the bay at Cats Eye which would have been lovely without the masts of the little catamarans in the foreground!
I liked the bird cage lights.
Forgot to take photos before we destroyed the plating! This was the first of our entrees.
Hmmm should’ve done a better job with the straightener! Haha!
What a lovely hubby, organising all of that for my birthday! Thanks darl xxxxxxxxx
Ok, so I just couldn’t resist – if I can’t wear them yet, I can get them out and photograph them! Thanks everyone for making my 50th birthday such a fun-filled weekend, and a birthday I’ll never forget!
Sabbatical II 