What a busy week has just gone by.  We have been planning two events to celebrate.  The first was a cocktail evening.  We invited community groups that have supported us, and the health professionals we interface with. The second was a big birthday dance for the clients, their families, staff and volunteers both past and present.

What's more they were two days in a row!  I won't give up my day job to become a wedding planner.

There were two invitation lists and two reply lists.  Catering for both events, plus sparkling wine to be bought.  Valloons are a must for a party and we had ordered lots from the hire centre.

With a small car, Giz the K9 therapist and I set off on the afternoon of the party to collect everything.  She was exhausted and fed up after the umpteenth time of "quick get in the car Giz.  Quick get out of the car Giz."

The grass was mowed, armfuls of flowers were picked from the Beacon garden to make the house look lovely and at last all was ready.

It was a lovely evening and a timely chance to say thank you to the community for keeping faith with us for ten years.  We could not do it without them.

Next day we were off again to deliver everything to the Blue Water Hotel in Ahuriri, Napier for the big party.  We had a smashing band that came up from Wellington to play for us.  The band played classic dancing songs that everyone knew the words to,  the Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Kinks, sixties and seventies music.

It was a wonderful sight to see people in wheelchairs and walkers twirling and jigging with huge beaming smiles.  There was no sense that people were watching and judging.  We were among friends and could let it all hang out.  Two people stood spontaneously from their wheelchairs as the beat of the music caught them up with cries of "look at me, I'm standing!!" 

We danced our socks off for two and a half hours.  A few pairs of high heeled shoes came off, plus cardigans and jumpers.

It was a great party and a great venue with many people catching up and chatting in the bar and outside patios.  The views were marvellous over the harbour with all the yachts bobbing on their moorings.

We celebrated in style and are all now recovering.