50 years young

Turning 50 is certainly an achievement and we are spending several days helping son-in-law Robert celebrate.  Our caravan is parked on a sea of mud on the family’s small holding, with the squelchy stuff getting everywhere and oozing up through our rubber mats laid outside.  And of course some of the mud is getting inside too, but hopefully staying on the old washable mat which we keep just inside the door.  It was so muddy that Robin had to buy a pair of gum boots (known as wellies for those in the Northern Hemisphere).  Young Bounce the pup decided that these were a new toy just for him and took off with the mud covered gum boots while Robin wasn’t looking.  Such is life down at the farm!

Parked in the mud

Robert decided that he really needed two nights out to properly celebrate turning 50.  Six of us drove up to Hansen’s Cafe a few miles up the road at Kimbolton of Friday evening.  A cosy fire was burning in the huge fireplace, to keep the chills away. 

Large fire place at Hansen’s Cafe

The food was delicious and our choices ranged from steak, prawns, and chicken with Heather having the vegetarian option.  Mud cake and ice-cream sundaes finished our meals off nicely.

Hansen’s Cafe, Kimbolton

A group of 20 met at Bethany’s Restaurant in Palmerston North on Saturday night.  It was quite moving to read on the menu that the restaurant is so named in memory of the owners young daughter who passed away from cancer at the age of twelve a few years ago.  Bethany’s Restaurant was quite upmarket and the food was wonderful.  Most of us decided against choosing a dessert to finish as the starters sounded so nice.  I had seared scallops for a starter, beautifully presented and oh so tasty.  Robin and I chose the same mains of roasted belly pork.  The servings were so generous we couldn’t do it justice and asked for a “doggy bag” to take the rest of the delicious tender pork home with us.  We certainly weren’t letting it go to waste and I’m sure it will be just as delicious made into a pork sandwich one lunchtime

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Huge servings of pork.

Birthday boy Robert with his siblings

Grand-daughter Emma and daughter Nicky

We were really impressed with  this restaurant.  Having a large group of 20 diners was no trouble to the staff at all.  The food was divine, and the service was excellent, we can certainly recommend Bethany’s of Palmerston North.