Geoff's 30th Birthday Party!

Sooo, the birthday party / Gursel's first braai was a huge success. It started off with a trip to Geoff's new best friend, the super-Afrikaans butcher only a few minutes from our apt. He gladly recommended what meat to buy and how to prepare it and confessed his love for the art of grilling. So we walked out of there with a HUGE "butterfly cut" of lamb, a rump roast and 10 chicken skewers with different seasonings. It was fantastic and threw it all together with our corn, potatoes, rice, coleslaw and fabulous birthday cake for our 15 guests. It was really a great day and we are now fully confident of our grilling skills on the new BBQ's by the pool. Great weather and great people!

The chef for the day - 30 year-old Geoff Gursel

Look at those colours! Geoff felt like 30 was when he would like to change his profession and become a professional "braai" instructor.

People started to dive in to the fine cuisine...and the massive amount of SA wine.

Lauren made a great toast/blessing before cutting the birthday cake - taking a page from her Irish heritage.

"May those that love us, love us. And those that don't, may God turn their hearts. And if He doesn't turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles, so we know them by their limping."

Trick candles. Unreal. And left Geoff dizzy and faint.

Geoff thought it was entirely appropriate to teach South African's an intense beer drinking game called "Flip Cup" on his 30th birthday. And it was a hit! We even had other people who were having a BBQ come over and join us because "it looked like you were having so much fun!" Our conclusion was that Flip Cup was hugely successful and has found a spot in the local community. Geoff said, "this is my gift to SA on my 30th birthday."