My Birthday... In Palm Beach... What A Day!

It was my birthday... Amazing how quickly the year flashes by...
But here it was again... And what a day I had...
From morning to night and into the next day!
It started here... The Boathouse ... At 7.30am.


 My daughter treated me to breakfast.

 
 It was warm enough to sit outside on the deck...
Although all the other diners were inside!
I had French Toast... Strawberries...Maple Syrup...
And of course excellent coffee.
 And my day went on...

We then stopped at this house.
Penny was working here for the morning.
I was shown through it... Amazing.
Four levels with a lift, an infinity pool and
further up the hill a yoga room.
Probably a mere $7-10 million to build...
Another beautiful, luxury, Palm Beach home.

I wandered along the beautiful beach.
It's very clean, groomed once a week with big machines.

Lots of big houses right on the beach front.
Many of these Palm Beach houses are available
to rent... The cheapest $2000 a night!

 
Footprints in the sand...
As I walk along to Cafe 2108, the bus and the rock pool.


Not many people around yet on a mid week morning.
Next to the cafe is a surf shop...
It has everything for surfing, swimming, snorkling
including some lovely clothes... Very tempting.


But... Here's the bus... The L90...


And I went to Avalon, my favourite shopping village.
My luggage was getting too heavy so it was strictly no spending!
Lunch time and Penny phoned...
Did I want to go to Scotland Island?
Silly question... Of course I did.


So off we went. This is Cottage Point where the
ferry for Scotland Island leaves from.


Scotland Island is a small island in the middle of the Pittwater
Harbour. There is a regular ferry service but most people
have their own boats. It's not far and very sheltered.


On the ferry we went to several little jettys dropping people
and picking them up.


It's a beautiful place with houses perched among the trees...


Basking in the sun.


We got off here and walked up the hill...


To another amazing house... Although this one was a real beach house
with it's own boat house and jetty.


The view was amazing... Here looking back to the
mainland, a beach called Claireville.


We sat in the sun and had a cup of tea and lunch.
I found some beautiful books to read...
Perhaps I should rent it for a week...
Wonder what the fishing is like?


Then it was home to get ready to go out for dinner...
This is my daughter Penny.
The photo is taken from the deck of the house
where I was staying... As the moon rose over the sea...
Absolutely beautiful.
And off we went again...


To have dinner with Penny's friends, Tony & Dilip.
I was greeted with hugs and kisses and escorted
outside onto the deck to... It took my breath away...
It was like fairyland.


Tony, on the left is the artistic table arranger...
Beautiful hibiscus, shells, candles...
All in the dark
Dilip is the most wonderful cook.
We ate Terryaki Chicken served with Dahl and Raita...
And drank continuous bottles of French Champagne
Happy Birthday was sung to me at least 20 times!


The table was spectacular... Like being on a tropical island.


The place mats were huge leaves...


Tony and Dilip are hilarious fun...
The evening was full of stories and laughter.
Here Tony is singing to me, yet again, and
dancing round the table. He stood in front of me
and lifted up his shirt and there was...
New Zealand $'s tucked into his jeans.
It was so funny, like being at a night club with
dancers where you tuck money into their clothing
if you want them to 'dance' on your lap...
But this was the other way around...
The money was my birthday present...
To pay my airport tax... They said.
Needless to say.. It wasn't an early night.