Friday 11th to Sunday 20th October.

Wow, what a weekend! Unforgettable family time. Why? Our children became teenagers! I can’t believe it.

I remember my pregnancy, their births, their first birthday, their second, their third, their tenth birthday……. actually, every birthday. I prepared an individualised party they wished for,  with practical party bags presents not ending up in the bin (hopefully), I made their birthday cake in a theme which was their interest at that time and Steve was the photographer of the events. Two parties, two birthday cakes, separate birthdays, always a lot of work.

This year, both their birthdays fell on a weekend, so we decided to go away to celebrate in the luxury of the amazing Shangri-La hotel Golf Resport & Spa in Hambantota, about 140 km / 85 miles from Colombo, down South – and I didn’t need to do any of the above.  It was a completely different celebration.

For the first time in their lives, kids woke up on their birthdays with balloons and a pile of presents in a hotel room – and not only that, their OWN hotel room being trusted as young adults!  How special is that?

On Friday after an afternoon tea with our English friends and their 2 children at the Galadari Hotel, we spent 4.5 hours in a comfortable hired mini bus, all excited and happy to be experiencing something different, checking into a lovely hotel rooms at midnight. I was wrapping presents and blowing balloons till 4am, secretly going next door where kids chose to share a room together and arrange the balloons and presents.

Misa’s day was Saturday, with Emilka waking him up at 6.30 ever so excited for him, presents to open, delicious breakfast, swimming, chilling with computer, having chocolate mousse cake delivered to his room, dinner in the quiet tranquillity of the 19th hole (the golf course club house), away from noisy children and the loud music of a party.  It was an inspired choice as we were the only customers so it felt like a private hire. Both kids had pizza, but later regretted not having chosen sumptuous Australian Tenderloin steak with pepper sauce and blue cheese dip for the chunky chips, like Daddy.  Ordered medium-rare and cooked like this to perfection, Steve was in heaven.

Sunday was Emilka’s day, she waking-up at 6.30am as predicted, but politely forbidden to wake us up earlier then 7.45! Balloons in the hotel room like her brother and presents too, even one from her best friend Eleanor back in the UK.  A delicious breakfast, chilling with PC, swimming, cake brought into the room.  Similar to her brother, however she had some extra surprises as it turned out; a Trapeze experience before breakfast that Míša joined in too, and the pool attendants dancing to DJ Bobo’s “Happy birthday to you. May all your dreams come true” playing over a PA system in front of all the other guests – and she got a special lunch by the pool of pasta Carbonara with a bowl of fries. All in all, not bad for a birthday celebration!

It was a special weekend doing nice things. Steve caught up on much needed sleep, falling asleep on the balcony to the rolling waves, I took myself to explore the resort soaking up the golden sun and breathing fresh sea breeze, we all swam in the  infinity pool – minimum age thirteen as it happened! at sunset – and relaxed between the palm trees on my own with kids having gadget time and Steve processing photos.  Everyone was very, very happy.  Two days in stunning weather, any rain being overnight or – torrentially – as we arrived back in Colombo.

We did have a little party one day after school when Emi invited one of her school friends and her Turkish friend Lorin for a play and rainbow birthday cake (bought from the cake shop at the Hilton Hotel) and crust-less sandwiches. For Misa’s birthday celebration, we had an afternoon tea with homemade wholemeal pizzas and 4 different cakes when a Sri Lanka’s friend Aruna and his wife Shameera visited us.  Delicious birthday velvet cake (shop bought from Marina Mall!) was shared this evening with Steve’s friend and colleague Prabath and family who have been very kind to all of us over the years; I cooked a chicken casserole and vegetarian curry for dinner.

All in all, we stretched the celebration over ten days, so I hope the kids will not forget it.  Steve and I certainly will not.

Happy thirteenth birthdays, Míša and Emilka.  

Rennie

PS – Spot the choccies around the children’s birthday cakes, Grandma!  Thank you very much for them.  A nice treat not only of their favourites but because local chocolate is too sweet for our tastes.