Last night was Son’s 18th birthday PARTY! I didn’t mention it earlier because of my blog’s link to facebook; i.e. we didn’t want gatecrashers. Son and I spent all day manically getting the place ready, then went to visit Husband, then stopped at the local shop to buy a trough to put the ice and drinks in. I had let Son invite as many as he wanted but he kept it down to around 40, thank goodness.
Anyway, it was a resounding success with most of the kids staying the night in tents and swags.
This morning there are around ten kids still here, all sitting around one of the picnic tables out front, drinking copious amounts of water and eating leftover pizza (I over calculated on that one!) And this is only half of the pizza order.
Many of my friends thought I was crazy having that many teenagers all by myself, so I was pretty nervous, but there were no incidents. I solicited the presence of two older males for ‘crowd control’ but no control was needed. Instead they provided me with some adult company because, for some reason, I was overcome by shyness of the youngies and I don’t recall ever having felt so ancient as, for the first time ever, Husband wasn’t here to be the old person – hehe!
Son, dressed up for the occasion, was in heaven, as you can see!
He encouraged his friends to have a dip in the pool, and several had a swim since it was such a hot evening.
Okami and Uluru, the alpacas, decided to hide in the old dairy, then Okami thought the greenhouse might be safer.
Uluru wasn’t sure. He wanted to keep his options open.
The surreal thing about Son’s party is that, 11 months ago, we had one for Husband’s 75th so there was a little bit of deja vu going on in my head.
That was a very hot evening too but, strangely, none of the people at Husband’s party wanted to go for a swim!
jmgoyder 
Congratulations to Son on 18th, u get used to the mates Julie, as Robbo away a lot I spend many hours as taxi or offsider and love it. For ‘new years eve’ the eldest (27) and mates arrived back at ours. At 4.30 am they invited me to see the first sunrise of 2012 on our roof! What a lovely way to start the year, definately different and much better view!
I need to learn how to be ‘cool’ like you!
Hi,
Happy 18th Birthday to your son.
Looks like everyone had a great time, had to laugh about the Pizza, but the old saying is true, better to have too much food than not enough. I’m glad it all went so well, this makes the night all the more enjoyable for everyone. 🙂
Re the pizza, I think this is a matter of too much of too much! None of those kids will probably ever want pizza again as that’s what they got for breakfast too – ha!
Looks like a lot of fun. What’s son planning do to now?
That is a very good question. He actually wants to be a famous actor + musician and he’s done a bunch of short courses. Husband and I encourage him, but most people say: you need to get a proper job.
And a good time was had by all, its looks great, I pleased the birthday boy, and his friends, had a good time, even though they were pizza bound, I love it, you can nver have enough pizza….or can you?
The world of entertainment is an overcrowded arena, he must trust in luck, most of the time. However, pushing himself forward, leaning on the right people, promoting himself in anyway he can, can help. Get some videos out there, post them on the net, Youtube etc.
Fantastic advice for the boy – thank you!
Glad to hear Son’s party was a great success. Better to over-cater, rather than under-cater.
In this day and age of uncertain financial futures, if he can get a secure, steady job now, well and good (and do acting and music, which may have an uncertain income, as a hobby or weekend job).
But if he can’t, well, do a course in acting & study music and find out if it is truly a passion (or just a passing phase which only deserves ‘hobby’ status in the long term).
I suggest that he do whatever makes him happy (& with the loving support of his parents, he’s sure to do well whatever choice he makes).
Thanks Vicki – yes, I have every confidence in the brat!
I come from a long line of entertainers, from Vaudville, forward. Half my family are entertainers of some kind, but their success was only brought about by promoting themselves, and getting out there.
If you cast your mind back to the 60’s, the USA wondered what had hit them when the Beatles landed on them, as did the rest of Europe, the British invasion, mainly from Liverpool at the time, hit the world like a plague, why? because they were different, the rest is history.
Idols like Elvis, Freddie Mercury, and the like, did’n’t reach the high status with talent alone, they were also showmen, it was their showmanship that the world adored. But today, things have changed, musicians use equipment to enhance thier skills, not raw talent.
Write a good song, perform it, video it, and get it out there. Video all his talents, his work, everything. Put some thought into it, write a script, plan everything, it may take several attempts, but given time, hard work, and patience, success follows.
This is absolutely fascinating and wonderful advice for Son – thank you so much!!!
Good on you, Julie – you are a very brave lady, indeed! 😀
Still cleaning up!
Looks like a great time. Hey isn’t that the duck’s pool?
It’s the alpaca’s drinking trough!
Don’t worry, the stories will roll in years later! Hahaha! How fun was that!
Yes!