#michaelsbirthdaydinner

[sandjsbeachbumbonanza]

Day 88 – Michael’s birthday

Even though S still had a dodgy stomach from the day before, he managed to accompany J to breakfast. Of course we ran into Michael, Nina and Liam/Otto at breakfast. Michael also has a dodgy stomach. Allegations have been made about the ice and the filtered water provided by the Hilton. Liam/Otto was also having a bad day and threw a plate in sympathy (it didn’t break). His mood improved dramatically after J gave him the rest of the gummy bears. S told J that there is a word for adults who ply children with candy – it begins with a “p” and ends with an “o”.

We learned today that S’ little bro has COVID and isn’t feeling too hot. We hope he gets better soon. We chased up the hotel about our COVID tests, only to discover they had forgotten about them, so they are now scheduled for tomorrow.

J tried her hand at snorkelling off the beach, but found it difficult to use the short flippers, which the dive shop recommended. There was a tide that was restricting her ability to get closer to the fish. However, she did spot some Picasso fish and unidentified tropical fish. S spent his afternoon at the clothing-optional pool. J joined him later.

We had a quick drink for happy hour and bought a bottle of Veuve Clicquot for Michael’s birthday. Michael, Nina and Liam/Otto picked us up in a buggy at 7pm. In honour of the event, S wore the Samburu kikoi around his waist. After suffering a mild wardrobe malfunction at the bar, we googled how to wear a kikoi and were able to figure out how to keep it around S’ waist. For those of you who are wondering, given the high likelihood of it coming off, he did not wear it Scottish style.

We were taken to a secluded part of the beach, where the hotel had set up a private barbecue and bar on the beach. The bar was set under a canopy of palm trees lit with fairy lights. It was spectacular. We gave Michael his birthday present – a ‘blue Hawaiian’ shirt. Nina was very pleased as she said she’s been trying to get him to buy a Hawaiian shirt for years or at least wear some brighter colours. He changed into it for dinner.

We started the night off with a bottle of Laurent Perrier rosé. Apparently his friend Otto from Munich called the hotel and ordered it for him. While we drank champagne, Liam/Otto was content playing with his beach trucks in the sand. Dinner was a 5-course blowout with lots of red and white wine. We had a salad and a pumpkin coconut soup, which were very nice. Then came the meat fiesta, consisting of chicken kebab and ribeye steak. None of us could finish our meat. When the waiter came to take our plates, we told him that while it was good, it was too much food for all of us to eat. He then told us there was another main course coming – the pork chop and sausage platter. We tried our best to get through it, but were thoroughly defeated. That is when the waiter told us normally there is a third main course consisting of fish and lobster, which Michael didn’t order as he doesn’t like food from the sea. J was very happy to meet a fellow picky eater. Dessert was blissfully a light fruit plate. The entire dinner was spent listening to the waves crashing upon the traditional Seychellois rocks and listening to Liam/Otto watch his favourite show, the Stinky & Dirty Show. Despite what you might think, it is a kid’s show about a garbage truck and a backhoe loader, and not S’ unwashed clothes from the safari. Nina decided to take the excess meat back to their room to feed the little jungle cats that live behind the villas.

Stuffed, we headed back to our rooms to sleep off our food comas.