This time 10 years ago I was enjoying turning 30 in the beautiful surroundings of New Zealand. Ten years on and it's Australia this time round as I enter decade number five.
A stark reminder this morning of just how short life can be when the news of the untimely death of the apparently happy 42-year-old Wales football manager Gary Speed hit the headlines. Definitely a footballer of my generation.Very sad.
On a happier note...what a month of celebrations that was.
It started with the aforementionned surprise appearance of Miss Cherry Devine. A one off event if ever there was one - not even a sniff of a reappearance since then.
Celebration stage two involved a quite blissful weekend in the sunshine up in Yarra Valley. Thanks to Roger and his new girlfriend (is this the one?) Amy for joining us. With hot weather, blue skies (most of the time) and some lovely wine in fantastic settings it was hard to imagine a better way to finish my thirties. Highlight of the weekend was undoubtably the Tempranillo at www.sevillehill.com.au accompanied by the live Sunday afternoon jazz band in the gardens overlooking the vineyards. Easily the best tempranillo I've had outside of Spain. Please check it out.
Accomodation was at Blairgowrie estate. This also comes highly recommended.
Back in Melbourne I managed to rope in the client to a mini celebration on the roof terrace of the Emerald Peacock.
Finally, the weekend after the main Yarra event we managed to throw a BBQ for some 30 adults and 20 children in the pouring rain. Thanks to everyone for turning up.
Somewhere along the way this month we also found time (thanks to Lydia's favourite Groupon website) to pose for some 'professional' photo shots. Needless to say, the children came out best.
So there we are. 40 years old.
I can say with great pride that every decade has thrown up diverse and interesting experiences, but surely the thirties will have seen the most variety and meaningful memories of them all.
Thanks to all my wonderful friends and family for giving me so many memories to cherish
14th November 2001 - Bungee jumping with Olly in Queenstown, NZ
30th June 2002 - World Cup Final, Yokohama, Japan
24th December 2002 - Bullseye Coleraine, the night I met Lydia
25th August 2003 - Moved to wonderful Madrid for my MBA
July 2005 - Lydia joins me in London
25th August 2006 - down on one knee
7th May 2007 - Married
February 2008 - Honeymoon #2, Argentina and Chile
1st september 2008 - two became three - welcome to Celia
April 2009 - A few months in Geneva
28th June 2010 - The family is complete? Welcome to Max
31st August 2010 - A new chapter - off to Melbourne
21st February 2011 - A lucky escape from the Christchurch earthquake
13th November 2011 - The last day of my thirties, in the Yarra Valley
Too many people spend too much time worrying or complaining. I much prefer to keep moving, growing and enjoying. Here's to the next 10 fantastic years and the next round of wonderful memories.
Love you all
AK.
A stark reminder this morning of just how short life can be when the news of the untimely death of the apparently happy 42-year-old Wales football manager Gary Speed hit the headlines. Definitely a footballer of my generation.Very sad.
On a happier note...what a month of celebrations that was.
It started with the aforementionned surprise appearance of Miss Cherry Devine. A one off event if ever there was one - not even a sniff of a reappearance since then.
Celebration stage two involved a quite blissful weekend in the sunshine up in Yarra Valley. Thanks to Roger and his new girlfriend (is this the one?) Amy for joining us. With hot weather, blue skies (most of the time) and some lovely wine in fantastic settings it was hard to imagine a better way to finish my thirties. Highlight of the weekend was undoubtably the Tempranillo at www.sevillehill.com.au accompanied by the live Sunday afternoon jazz band in the gardens overlooking the vineyards. Easily the best tempranillo I've had outside of Spain. Please check it out.
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| BBQ lunch at Seville Hill |
Accomodation was at Blairgowrie estate. This also comes highly recommended.
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| Roger relaxes at Blairgowrie Estate |
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| All the boys together...Healsville Hotel |
Finally, the weekend after the main Yarra event we managed to throw a BBQ for some 30 adults and 20 children in the pouring rain. Thanks to everyone for turning up.
So there we are. 40 years old.
I can say with great pride that every decade has thrown up diverse and interesting experiences, but surely the thirties will have seen the most variety and meaningful memories of them all.
Thanks to all my wonderful friends and family for giving me so many memories to cherish
14th November 2001 - Bungee jumping with Olly in Queenstown, NZ
30th June 2002 - World Cup Final, Yokohama, Japan
24th December 2002 - Bullseye Coleraine, the night I met Lydia
25th August 2003 - Moved to wonderful Madrid for my MBA
July 2005 - Lydia joins me in London
25th August 2006 - down on one knee
7th May 2007 - Married
February 2008 - Honeymoon #2, Argentina and Chile
1st september 2008 - two became three - welcome to Celia
April 2009 - A few months in Geneva
28th June 2010 - The family is complete? Welcome to Max
31st August 2010 - A new chapter - off to Melbourne
21st February 2011 - A lucky escape from the Christchurch earthquake
13th November 2011 - The last day of my thirties, in the Yarra Valley
Too many people spend too much time worrying or complaining. I much prefer to keep moving, growing and enjoying. Here's to the next 10 fantastic years and the next round of wonderful memories.
Love you all
AK.
