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Five Photos Five Stories — Day five

Back to Day one (books) and introduction to the challenge

Back to Day two (writing)

Back to Day three (Break out)

Back to Day four (My retirement jetski)

Happy birthday to me!

I had a wonderful day today. It was both my birthday and my final day of work for Education Queensland, my on-again off-again employer for more than half of the forty+ years since I began my teaching career.

My work colleagues spoiled me with kind words and wishes and generous gifts. We celebrated with lunch yesterday and morning tea today and shared stories, laughs and wishes for each other for the future. They made me a beautiful photo book filled with their thoughts and wishes. I think it is my new favourite book and will remain so for a very long time.

It was quite overwhelming to have such a demonstration of appreciation for my contribution to the team, especially when my intention was just to flutter out quietly as if carried on butterfly wings. They are a wonderful group of people and I was very fortunate to have the opportunity of working with them. They definitely belong to S.M.A.G. and I showed my appreciation for them by having some magnets made up to tell them so.

For morning tea I took along a marble mudcake in remembrance of the marble cakes my mother used to make for my birthdays. I intended to post a photo of the cake but got carried away chatting and totally forgot until it was almost all gone.

However I have something more special to share.

I had dinner with my family at the home of my son and his partner and children. Bec and Glenn were there, and Bob, and my sister Ruth. We had Thai take away, one of my favourites. But what was very special was that Rob and the children made a chocolate self-saucing pudding for dessert. It is Rob’s speciality. I’m sorry there’s not enough to share, but I assure you it was delicious!

Rob's self-saucing pudding 18 June 2015
Rob’s self-saucing pudding 18 June 2015

Of course my family spoiled me too with wonderful gifts and birthday wishes.

This is my last post in a series of five in response to a challenge by Geoff Le Pard. Thank you, Geoff. I enjoyed the challenge though I wrote more than I thought I would.

My week has been extremely busy with things to organise for my last week in this job as well as respond to this challenge so I have not kept up with reading posts and responding to comments on mine. Hopefully I’ll be able to remedy that real soon. Thank you for your patience.

I invite my sister Ruth Irwin to participate in this challenge. Ruth is just getting started with blogging, inspired by the flash fiction challenges by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch, and may find photos easier than text at this stage with just a phone for posting.

The rules of the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge are:

1) Post a photo each day for five consecutive days.
2) Attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or a short paragraph. It’s entirely up to the individual.
3) Nominate another blogger to carry on the challenge. Your nominee is free to accept or decline the invitation. This is fun, not a command performance!

Thank you

 

Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.

 

 

Comments

24 responses to “Five Photos Five Stories — Day five”

  1. Bec Avatar

    Happy Birthday, Rob’s pudding was very nice. What a momentous day for you this year !

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Definitely! To both! 🙂

      Like

  2. Annecdotist Avatar

    A belated happy birthday to you, glad you had a fabulous day. I didn’t realise that your busyness this week was about actually retiring from work, which you’d mentioned here not long ago. So wishing you a long and happy retirement too.
    As for marble cake, the only time I’ve ever had it was courtesy of a somewhat depressed friend of a friend in Bordeaux in my student days – very tasty it was too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Anne. I appreciate your wishes. I’m pleased you enjoyed the marble cake all those years ago!

      Like

  3. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist Avatar

    I hadn’t heard of marble cake for years. It sounds like you had a yummy day with not only the edibles but all the warmth and beautiful people around you. Have fun in your retirement and be warned, you’ll wonder how you ever found the time to work. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thanks Irene. It was a wonderful day as you say surrounded by family and friends, on- and offline – members of S.M.A.G. everyone! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Charli Mills Avatar

    What a wonderful day full of SMAG, friends, family and chocolate! Happy Birthday, and Happy Journey for what comes next after Education Queensland!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thanks Charli. It was a wonderful day – and many more to come! 🙂

      Like

  5. macjam47 Avatar

    Happy Birthday AND Happy Retirement!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thanks Michelle. LOL 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Ula Avatar
    Ula

    Happy Birthday, Norah!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Ula. I had a lovely day. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. TanGental Avatar

    What a confluence of events! All mixing together to cook up a treat. I have no idea what a self saucing pudding is, and this from a committed baker and pudding eater so I’m off to Yumly to find a recipe. Well done on all your achievements today!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thanks Geoff! Let me know if you would like Rob’s recipe. He has been making it for years – since he was about 12, I think. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. TanGental Avatar

        Please Norah. It sounds just the thing for my tribe

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Norah Avatar

          Will do! Might have to wait a few days though. 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

  8. Sarah Brentyn Avatar

    Happy Birthday, Norah! 🙂
    Sounds like a wonderful day all around. So glad to hear. And a fantastic way to end your Five Days blogging marathon. (I’ll have to check out Ruth’s blog, too. I always enjoy her flash at Charli’s. Thanks for sharing that.)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Sarah. I did have a wonderful day; and I was pleased with the timing of the five day marathon. I thought it worked in very well, although I did get carried away writing more than I intended. I much prefer your haiku poetry – beautiful! Ruth hasn’t got much on her blog yet. She has only a phone to work with as yet, but she thought she might be able to add some photos. I don’t think she has yet. I’ll have to let her know I’ve nominated her perhaps! 🙂

      Like

  9. desleyjane Avatar

    Happy birthday Norah!! It sounds like a wonderful day all round. Leaving on your birthday – that’s a sweet way to go out, I like that! And yum! Self-saucing pudding is one of my favourite desserts. My mum makes it when we need comfort food and I’ve made it a few times too 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thanks for your wishes, Desley. It was an awesome day! Very special. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. desleyjane Avatar

        So glad to hear it 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  10. marjma2014 Avatar

    Happy Birthday! And leaving work day! Enjoyed reading your post. The self saucing pudding isn’t come I’ve come across before! I’m doing a five day photo challenge soon too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you for your wishes. I had a wonderful day. I hope you enjoy doing the photo challenge as much as I did. I look forward to reading them. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. marjma2014 Avatar

        Thanks Norah, yes it will be fun. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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