It was the most amazing surprise!!

It all started in the morning, for me that is…

...it started for everyone else long before that…

...with a secret website, secret emails and telephone calls to the “committee” - - - Vibodha, Vistara and Deb…

...they arranged secret car arrivals at specific times on the day...

...secret car parking, balloons, food…..

YOU ARE ALL SO SNEAKY….
I LOVE IT!!

Alex and his girlfriend Lesley are traveling around the world and are currently stopping in Western Australia and are staying with us at the moment before they head up North.

[Alex was the Best Man at our wedding and is one of Vibdodha [EJ’s] closest friends from University in Hull, UK].

It was agreed the night before [Saturday] that I should bake my own cake, so Lesley…who happens to be an expert in making cakes, suggested I learn to bake a cake as it is said to be a great way to pass the time in the first part of labour!!

So it sounded like fun…what I didn’t know is that I was baking my own cake for my surprise Baby Shower…

I told you they were good!!

So cake underway and in the oven, Vibodha suggested we go for a walk on the beach, it was a beautiful day and South Beach was filled with people and atmosphere.

I fell asleep on the blanket while he read…and little did I know that while that was happening around 30 people were gathering at 39 Davilak Avenue and setting up the surprise.

On the way home I stopped in with my neighbour, who was in on it too, not a word from her…

...and Vibodha is talking about what we will do for the rest of the afternoon, paint the cot, have lunch…I am agreeing in innocence...

He took this photo just before we walked into the house...

I was so touched and am literally speechless [which doesn’t happen to me too often].

I think I cried for about 5 minutes, hiding my face, hyperventilating…

Deb made me a much needed cup of recovery tea, lots of other people are crying because I am so emotional…. and I am led to the food table where I see the cake I made with Lesley and Alex...

... beautifully decorated and iced!!

The table was piled with LOADS of the most delicious looking treats!!

Everything has been set up, games are arranged by Vistara, the room is filled with flowers and there is a huge pile of presents on the floor…the kind that Santa used to leave for me!!

We have a lot of fun, starting with pin the dummy on the baby. I go first and the baby ends up with his dummy on his “third eye”.

[I am sure I will be better in real life!].

It is hysterical watching everyone else…only Amanda manages it perfectly!!

Gosia, who is an amazing artist drew the picture and it will be the first thing set up in the birthing room as my inspiration [thanks Gosia].

The next game is the “Peg Game”. How many pegs can you get off the line using one hand? Danielle is the winner with 22 pegs!!

With Danica running a close second…both have been invited around everyday to assist with nappy washing!!! [I am awaiting an answer from you both!!]

The final game is pass the parcel, we certainly got into the spirit of being children again and had a lot of fun!!!

I open up stacks of presents, they are all so beautiful!!!

THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND CUTE SELECTIONS…

HE WILL BE A VERY TRENDY BABY THANKS TO YOU!!

I want to thank Vibodha for his lead in this; he truly is the most wonderful husband and will make the most divine father.

Thanks Vibodha for coming into my life, you make every day so special for me and I love you VERY much.

And a special thanks to Deb, my dear friend. Who took on the catering and made so much of it with her own hands, whilst bringing up two children and her husband being currently in New Zealand, an amazing act of love. Thanks Deb, for being you and my dear friend, you are so special to me.

And the last minute conspirators…Alex and Lesley, who not only organised the cake, but who were there to tidy up afterwards & to help me with the presents. How amazing that you could both be there for this amazing party! Thanks!!

And thanks to all of my dear dear friends who came to be with me on this special day, and for those of you who I know where there in spirit!

YOU MADE MY DAY…THIS WILL BE A DAY I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET.

I woke up in the middle of that night in tears of overwhelm for the joy & gratitude for my life.

Gratitude for the little one about to arrive and of the joy he will bring, gratitude for you my amazing friends, my family and for my life.

Thanks for being you and for being a part of my life.

Let me tell you who was there…
Vistara, Deb, Danielle & her au-pair, Ragini, Alice & Macquire, Amanda, Kathy & Leif, Kerry, Bronwyn, Sam, Venetia and Bill, Jill, Gosia, Aya, Johanna, Danica, Karen, Helen & Christopher, Britt, Bavali, Fiona & Lisa, Lesley and Alex.

Sono and Mandana sent a beautiful gift and their apologies, and Gemma, Zalia, George, Natalie, Catherine K and Catherine B, apologised that they could not be there.

Sarah and Jo were in Bali and Sue is on a 6-week adventure trip around the globe. Grace is in Malaysia, Agiana is in Chile and Sandy is in Alaska. Manal in in New Zealand.

Melissa and Linda were at Melissa’s “Kitchen Tea” on the same day…as Melissa gets married very soon. The others of you who were there in spirit were, Louisa, Cass, Jill G, Natasha, Jamie, Robyn, Gila, Pameo, Lara, C-Jae & Di.

My Mum and Dad sent a card for the shower and called me in the swing of the party to send me their love. The whole thing has been so well orchestrated!!