Like so many people over the past 18 months, we have been unable to celebrate some special occasions in the way we had envisaged. Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary last year and my 60th birthday in February, were both celebrated behind closed doors. However having a large household bubble, enabled our family to still make both events wonderful, and there were socially distanced visits from other family and friends to make the days complete.

With the hubby now galloping towards his 60th birthday (even though he likes to constantly remind me he’s still only 59 – irritant!) and with restrictions continually easing, the Besties recently treated us to an anniversary/birthdays Mowtown and Soul weekend.

After a long, traffic jammed trip, we arrived in Hayling Island and checked into our accommodation for the weekend. Opening the door to our room, we were greeted by a wonderful surprise collection of balloons to mark both of our birthdays and our anniversary. And with one of the Besties also celebrating his 60th birthday that weekend, he was also greeted with balloons in his room.
So thoughtful.

With the majority of our fellow campers being of a certain age, we felt like the newbie young upstarts as we settled down to beat them in the first quiz of the weekend. Ha ha and we got a lovely certificate to prove it. After our victory, we scuttled off for a hilarious tour of the villages facilities (yes including the location of all the necessary facilities) by Martin one of the more mature members of staff, but who had a wicked sense of humour.

The weekend was a mixed bag of weather, but our days were filled with walking to enjoy the local sights and activities provided on the village. There was archery, with the hubby very smug at hitting a bulls eye (almost on the center mark) and pitch and putt, which kept us very amused, as there was quite a bit of scrabbling in the bushes to retrieve our miss hit balls. Unfortunately Nordic Walking and Petanque were cancelled due to the weather. Bit disappointing but gave us time to enjoy another cocktail 🍹. In between showers we strolled to take a look at the local yacht club and took a walk along the seafront, with a return trip on a little steam train.

We made the most of the sunshine we had, enjoying a tipple or two outside our rooms and met some of our neighbours, having some hilarious conversations with those heading back to their rooms, after partaking of a few too many and in need of a lie down before embarking on the evening entertainment. 🤣🥂

Our evenings were filled with delicious dinners, wine and cocktails, followed by some fabulous music. With DJ Dave, the oldest DJ in town, (possibly in the country!) getting the crowd warmed up each evening. Old he may have been but he did however play some great music and get the dancing started. With three brilliant acts singing wonderful tunes from the Mowtown era, over the weekend, the dance floor was filled to capacity each night. The older generation (of which I presume I have now become a member) certainly still know how to party, and we headed to bed pretty tired each evening.

Memories of the Four Tops were the band on our final evening. We spent some time in the afternoon with the Bestie playing some of the original tunes on her phone. We didn’t recognise that the Four Tops had played some of them. Not surprising really as we later realised she’d been searching for the Drifters 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

As we packed our bags and loaded the car on our final morning, we had the realisation that we had to find room for our collection of balloons! We managed to get them in on the back seat, but if me and the Bestie wanted to talk we had to stick our heads through them to find each other.

 

The final stop before the journey home was a visit to Portsmouth. What a beautiful city. We rode the lift to the top of the Spinnaker Tower, for some amazing views of the City and across to the Isle of Wight. The Bestie and I receiving our first “senior” concessionary tickets. (Once again the hubby reminding me he’s still only 59). Three of us braved a walk across the glass floor to peer down the incredible tower. We walked along the seafront which cleverly embraces both the history and the modernity of the City. Far too much to see in such a short trip. It may just be another City to pop on our return to list.

Having thought our anniversary and my birthday were done and dusted, we had a fantastic weekend belatedly celebrating them, together with celebrating the Besties 60th and pre celebrating my hubbys 60th.

With lots of laughter, new experiences and some fabulous entertainment, we are incredibly blessed to have enjoyed a very special weekend, with some very special friends.