Eli's birthdays always land in the school holidays here in Australia and that makes it slightly strange as he then doesn't go to school to celebrate with his friends. I've never worked on my own birthday (I always take a day's leave from work) and this year it felt appropriate that I should take the day off work for Eli's birthday as well.
I have a Friday lunchtime football kick around in Yarralumla with some guys. I've played with them for the last three or four years but the group has been playing for much longer. People come and go but the core group of probably around eight or nine of them remain and it's usually a competitive (if slightly over-serious game).
I offered Eli the option of going to the zoo or Questacon (Canberra's science museum which we haven't been to for years due to covid) but he opted to come along and play football with me. He invited one of his mates which was nice. Both the boys ran their legs off and as it was a warm and sunny lunchtime and I wasn't having to dash back after an over-long lunchtime to a work meeting we all had a good time.
In the evening we went to Guild in the city. It's a board game and pizza place and it's always packed. I'd luckily booked before we went. I'd read that Canberra locals had been a bit slow in returning to restaurants and cafes but this wasn't the case with Guild.
Our friends kindly bought Eli an incredible cake and we were one of the last tables to leave at the end of the evening.
Eli had a football game on Saturday morning (the next day). His team won 5-2 against Cooma in a hotly contested game. Eli made a couple of great saves. I'd made cupcakes for the kids to help celebrate Eli's birthday and Eli enjoyed sharing them round.
As a footnote it was lovely to receive cards and presents from people all around the world. Some quite amusing ones too. Sadly nothing from Eli's surviving grandparents who haven't been in contact with him or Audrey and I for several years.
Eli handing out his cupcakes
Eli and his team celebrating a hard fought win
Enjoying cake at Guild
