Brisbane, QLD


Saturday, November 1, 2008

BIRTHDAY BEAR

For those of you who have followed my other blog, some of this post you will have seen before. This post is to catch up my new friends who haven't heard about Birthday Bear.
We are ten old, wrinkly friends, who are retired or semi-retired. Five of us all used to work together and the other five are husbands and a friend. We didn't want to lose touch when we retired so we decided to meet and..........
......... have lunch or dinner when it was our birthdays. However we got disenchanted with all buying a present every time, and decided instead to give a Birthday Bear. It gets passed from one birthday person to the next each time we meet. The fun part is, that Birthday Bear has to be dressed differently each time, usually to reflect some aspect of the recipient's personality or life.
Last month it was Paul's Birthday. He is very proud of his Scottish heritage and spends a lot of time studying genealogy. He recently visited Scotland and met his relatives. So here is Birthday Bear with his Scottish Tam on his head and a bottle of Scotch whisky in his lap and he has opened his cupboard full of skeletons. We enjoyed lunch at Hog's Breath Cafe.
When it was Chris's birthday, Bear came dressed as a teacher of prisoners, as that is what Chris was doing at the time. Unfortunately for us, Chris and Bob have left our group to join the Grey Nomads travelling and working their way around Australia. We had lunch at the Blue Parrot on Macleay Island in Moreton Bay. When it was my turn, Bear came as a blogger together with her cardboard laptop and camera. She was also sporting identical glasses and white hair. We had lunch at my favourite Chinese Restaurant, Kam Koon.


Blogging Bear



Helen had just returned from a River cruise in Europe on the blue Danube, so Birthday Bear came to the lunch dressed in her sun baking bikini , sunnies and a holiday hairdo. She is sipping a cool drink watching the boat sail down the Danube. Lunch was at Fish 52.
Kathy loves bush walking and walking her dog every morning. Birthday Bear came in her jogging track suit with bum bag and water bottle. She was wearing a black sunhat which is Kathy's trade mark as well as the long blond plait. In her hand she had the dog lead. Lunch at Sunnybank Hill's Tavern



The first time Paul received Birthday Bear he was dressed as a fisherman as Paul loves fishing. Lunch at Runcorn Tavern.



On Bill's Birthday, Bear came as a videographer,with a white beard and glasses, holding a Swiss chocolate, Bill's favourite. Bear also brought a cardboard T.V. with a paper roll of a video. You could turn the handle and get the pictures scrolling.


But Birthday Bear got distracted by some chocolate coated lychees that Kathy made for Bill. Lunch at Runcorn tavern.


Ann is always off travelling around Australia on coach tours, so here is Birthday Bear in a coach, together with her maps and crocheting. Lunch at Runcorn Tavern.


George loves reading. One of his favourite authors is Robert G Barret, he has written a series of funny books with the main character being Les Norton. Les is a bouncer and is always getting into strife. Birthday Bear came to lunch as Les Norton, sporting a black eye and his baseball cap. He also brought a sequel to the series including George as one of the characters. Lunch at Michael's Chinese Restaurant.

When it was Bob's birthday Bear came in his camping gear. He had his tent ,Esky( ice box), he even had a campfire and frying pan with fish in it. He also had an Aussie camp hat with a fly net all around. He had a map of Australia as Bob and Chris are just about ready to set off on a tour around the continent. Lunch at the Services Club.
Now Mary enjoys a good night out. So this night we went to Jupiter's Casino for dinner and a show. Birthday Bear came in all her glitter, baubles and bangles ready for show night.


So now that you have met Birthday Bear. In future posts you will be kept up to date with it's antics. (and what silly seniors do when they are retired)


5 comments:

  1. I love this! What a neat idea. I to have a birthday thing like that. There are four of us so we have a night out four times a year. I love the Birthday Bear idea as all four of us say NOGIFTSPLEASE ....everybody says yea to that....and somebody inevitably brings a gift. Every time. This would solve that. Great group you have!

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  2. How fun! That is one of the best ideas that I have ever heard of. So clever and personal. What a great group of friends that you have there.

    I loved your Blogging Bear the most!;)

    God Bless,
    Amy:)

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  3. I just love how you are all so creative with BB, that is such a fun idea, I think we might just have to poach it. ;o)

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  4. Diane,

    A great bear and you have a very active and vibrant group of friends.....a delight to revisit your bear...

    Kind Regards,

    Elizabeth

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  5. Great post Diane....

    I do love Birthday Bear.....

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