A Birthday Lunch at The Potting Shed. 41/43 Bourke Road, Alexandria, NSW 2051. Photos taken with Canon D70 DSLR and Google Pixel 3XL.
So, the other week I was sad that I couldn't take my friend out for her birthday like I did every year as our little tradition. I considered cancelling it due to Covid-19. It has really put a damper on everyone's 2020.
But at the last minute, I asked my friend for permission to take her out anyway. I tried to find some joy in 2020. Making sure we weren't sick and practising social distancing guides, I booked lunch at The Potting Shed. We are currently lucky in NSW Australia that we have loosened the strict lockdown because our cases have slowed down.
Life is not always made up of grand gestures or the big milestones. It's the little moments really, like spending some one on one time with your bestie and getting excited over some delicious food. And being in lockdown for months now, it's something we both needed.
When me and Betty are together, we share our thoughts on everything going on in our lives, even when we think its mundane it's surprisingly nice to know when someone cares. We are both genuinely interested in the little details, especially when we get the time to share them in person.
I learnt that Jasmine (Betty's first daughter) has sweaty feet exactly like her father, which Betty probably can't understand, but finds funny anyway. She constantly takes Jasmine's socks at the end of the day drenched in sweat. I reminded Betty that I don't have that problem because I don't sweat (which is true) and Betty teased that I was weird (which is also true).
Hai has been calling me way too 'cool' for him lately and that he likes to playfully beg me not to leave him. I tell Betty I don't know what is with him lately as I haven't done anything different but Betty just declared that I've ALWAYS been really cool and then we have a laugh about it and I tease that it might be true.
I've been into BTS lately so I've been watching alot of their variety shows where the members feed each other food with spoons or their fingers and putting it straight into someone else's mouths. In Korean culture I understand it's a way to show they are looking each other well and a good sign of close friendship which is really sweet. But in Australia, we just don't do that, we never grew up with it and I can also understand its an intimate thing we are not used to. We show affection by teasing and giving each other shit. Or shouting each other food or drinks. Betty and I talked about these cultural differences in awe. And then I attempted to feed Betty some cake with my spoon - and the spoon wasn't even halfway across the table before we shrieked "no we can't do it!" and had a good fit of laughter about it. Since then, I haven't attempted it again. Not even to my own husband.
Lastly, we wondered what our lives would've been like if we had not met each other. We did not want to think about it! We've been friends for so long and my 20s and now 30s have been influenced by Betty's everlasting friendship. We talk about the extension of our friendships, like how I would've not met Jaye and Erin if it weren't for Betty. Or if I would've turned out just as strong as Betty is. What our weddings would've been like without each other by our sides or even our birthdays.
I didn't even want to think about, instead just be grateful for what I have today with Betty.
Let's remember to be grateful and appreciate the little moments that make up our lives. It also helps to have good food to fawn over as well. The Potting Shed's menu, ambience and service really help make Betty's birthday lunch one of the highlights of the year.
