Happy birthday, Carla!!!

Two-and-a-half months ago, I got the following save-the-date message from Phil:


Block Friday, 4 June on your calendar to celebrate Carla's birthday!
More details to follow later.
Phil
PS The party will be in Basel.
PPS Yes, we will be reliving the past. Did the 1980s ever go out of fashion?

I pretended to play around with the idea of flying in for the party in my mind. Later, I admitted that I simply wanted to be there for for the Big O (as she herself described it) of one of my dearest friends.

I met Carla for the first time in August 2000. I had just joined the bank and was sent to Basel for training for one month. Carla, who used to work for the same bank, welcomed me warmly. Among other things, she organised a barbecue at the sports club so I could meet all (alright, "most") the pinoys in Basel. Since then, we have shared so many more happy occasions.

I knew that her Big O will be a day to remember. And, so it was! The party was trademarked Wooldridge: the food, the party, the theme, the alcohol (gulp!), the music, the lights, and the people! The party was held in a real farm. The disco was in a barn (for goodness' sake!). Everyone came in 80s garb. The colours, the smiles, everything and everybody made it special!

It is impossible to choose the right combination of pictures -- but I hope that the following would help tell --- The story of Carla's birthday party! It all started with the Wooldridges preparing the farm...

Chiara on a tractor Chiara and Alain moving the hay
Carla a.k.a. Madonna making her entrance

The barn being converted into a disco

The food- Summer salad with apple-mustard dressing

Veal T-bone steak being grilled (later served with fried potatoes and seasonal vegetables) The guests started arriving at 7:30pm -- I just love the 80s!
Our birthday girl welcoming everybody!

I can't get over Laura's electric blue hair! It is so terribly 80s!

There are Cindy and Oliver.. with matching hats!
More guests...
I just love the colours here...
Me (& my big hair courtesy of Carla), the birthday girl, and Cindy -- sitting down to dinner
The hungry lot
Big smiles everywhere
Carla blowing the candles on her cake
More pictures of the party animals


The youngest guest (looking very cool and collected there) with the Rockers and the Rockers' chick The groupies
Carla's family had flown in especially for this evening
Uncle and Chiara -- ever the perfect little hostess

A number of lovely portraits by Bjoern

Dirk here would have won the prize for the best costume (as decided by Chiara) except that the festivities overtook us and so the awarding did not happen. Loved Dirk's Rock-Me-Amadeus look! These two 80s chicks even found time to cool off in the tub!
Carla saying thank you (when we should be thanking her for such a fab party!!!)...
Proud hubby
Many happy faces in the audience
Alain looking every inch the proud son -- (he was our DJ that night)



The ever gorgeous birthday girl I love this "The Rocker and his chick" (or "Madonna and her latest fling") photo by Bjoern...
Happy, happy birthday, Carla! I will remember this forever!!! It was yet another happy event...and I shared it with you. Shall we do a 70s theme next year???

I would like to close this post with a very Filipino comment: A family that parties together, stays together! Lots of hugs and kisses from HK!

Photo credits: Bjoern, Carla/Chiara