Big Night Out!

Not long now until my 'big' birthday, and the warm-up began in earnest last Saturday in Manly, famous more as a buzzing, backpacker haven than a spot for those over a certain age to celebrate their birthdays, but hey, I don’t feel too old for a bit of lively fun yet!

Clive and I had done a ‘reccie’ a couple of weeks previously and decided that Charlie Bar next to the Novotel Hotel was stylish enough for us to hang out in for a few hours, so invites went out and we were really pleased when only one couple couldn’t make it. We took over a corner of the bar and 14 of us chatted and emptied a few bottles of their best sparkling until late.

Not wanting the evening to end, the few hardy ones amongst us who were left at 11pm (yes, I know that’s not late, but we had started at 7!) decided to head for the town’s renowned pub, The Steyne. Sadly, renowned for all the wrong reasons, but we wanted to see if the reality lived up to its reputation. We queued up with the stylish young things, and didn’t get asked for ID, which was a little upsetting.

Once in, we by-passed the drug-dealers and asked where the 80's dance floor was (the decade, not the age). This request was met with blank faces, but we were pointed politely in the direction of the only dance floor in the bar, currently empty. If 80's music had been playing, I’m sure we would have been up there and gyrating, but there was just a loud noise coming from the speakers, so we sat with a drink (water this time!) and waited to see what would happen. Shortly afterwards, kids old enough to be our grandchildren (but only just!) took over the dance floor, at which point we decided to head for home before turning into pumpkins.

It had been good to experience what Laura and her friends live out their weeks for, but I’m more than happy not to have been there at 3am when the bars close, and Clive and I were safely tucked up in bed by the time things really got going. The evening had been good fun and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and in our books, that made it a success.

Now Clive and I are looking forward to 2 nights away in Mudgee on our own, for some more serious, sensible entertainment, before coming home the night before my birthday. Life’s just one long party!