Our 49th Anniversary Lunch

Robin and Christina - 18 Feb 22

When 49 years have passed and you've lived with the one person for all of those years, it's time to have a celebratory lunch.  There's no point buying a present because both of us have everything that shines, opens, shuts, buzzes and rings. Every previous birthday, mother or father's day and, Christmas has seen to that.

There's only so much bling one can have in one lifetime. Unlike many billionaires and other over-wealthy people who can find a reason to buy a couple of airplanes, a few launches, several houses and dozens of cars, we only need one house and one car. We're simple people.

So, the only thing to do is have lunch and perhaps reminisce about all the lunches one has shared during those many years, many at much lesser venues. Think Mcdonalds!

We did that today, the day after our anniversary by heading to the Monkey Nut Cafe at Kries Wines, Lyndoch, not far from Tanunda in the Barossa Valley.

Christina chose a Drunken Chicken meal (?) and I had a Salt and Pepper Squid and a glass of delightful Kries shiraz, labelled as a "Soft Wine" on their drinks menu. Both meals had plenty of food and the time it took to get served after we ordered pleasantly surprised us.

The venue has excellent ambiance as you can see from a couple of photos below and is well set out with both inside and outside seating available.

You can arrange a wine tasting before or after a meal, or simply do a tasting without eating. Several people who attended at the same time as us obviously did a tasting and bought a few bottles of Kries wine.

The Barossa Valley has around 72 wineries, many with restaurants, so there's plenty to choose from here. We decided we'll probably do one a month just to see what's out there and then when friends visit, we'll know the best places to take them.

I rarely do any tastings, usually because I don't imbibe during the day (except on rare special occasions) and I don't drink and drive. Christina doesn't drink alcohol and is always happy to drive, but wine tasting alone during the day doesn't appeal to me, so I don't do it and I don't want to rely too much on Christina.

When daughter Meredith visited over the Christmas-New Year period, I drove and she tasted at a few different places including a gin distillery. It's always lovely to spend time with our daughter.

Occasionally, I buy a couple of bottles of red wine without tasting because I know that the quality of wine produced here is excellent. You won't get a bad drop of wine here.

The truth is, I'm more interested in the architecture, surrounding gardens, and character of the wineries than the wine. Some of the wineries are hundreds of years old constructed from stone with beautiful polished hard wood and blacksmith shaped metal fixtures such as gates and door fitments.

Wineries that have been built more recently or consist of old and new are also fascinating. Some of the architecture and landscaping is excellent as is that at Barossa Valley Estate as you can see from a few photos on their site.

Next year of course will be our 50th anniversary - half a century of happily married bliss. For our 50th, we plan to have a much larger celebration with some of our friends and hopefully our son, daughter and grandson.

Keep on keeping on.

Robin

for both of us

Our Wedding of the Year

On Christina and my 40th anniversary (17FEB13), son Dale married Ean (Yen Ngoc Than) at Lagi in Vietnam.

It was a spectacular occasion with several short formal elements where grandparents and other senior family members grant approval for the union to take place. The remainder was like something out of a celebrity event with fireworks and all.

Three hundred relatives from Ean's family turned up for the feast at midday and there was much frivolity and laughter as those who had not seen each other for a year or two whooped it up. A table of young people was rather loud and got louder as the intake of the dreaded drink beer took hold. But not to worry, the music from the karaoke type machine was so loud, my teeth shook and Dale, being hearing impaired had no chance of hearing anything but the music.

The session lasted until about 2:30 pm and almost immediately after the last course of food (fruit) arrived, the   guests began leaving slowly like crabs on a beach. As we were to find out, another marriage was planned and a reception starting in a hour. The workers at the venue had a tonne of beer cans and other stuff to clean up in a hurry before re-setting the tables.

By the time we departed from the venue, all I wanted to do was to crash for an hour or so. I had been "forced" to engage in a couple of "YO!" sessions and even though the beer has ice in it, it was beginning to take its toll. A Yo session is where you are challenged to drink a full glass of beer in contest with another. I had last done that when I was in my twenties ... now that I'm a responsible drinker, I'm out of touch with these rites of passage.

A good day was had by all and it was a joyous opportunity for families to get together. As you can see, Dale looked like a celebrity as did Ean in her traditional dress. Both had a couple of changes of clothes. Dale went to a white suit and Ean to a lovely royal blue dress.

Obviously we wish them every happiness and hope they live long, prosper and look after us when we get old and difficult.

Robin