Birthday Boys

June is always an exciting month for us with both JB and Tyler celebrating birthdays. JB's was the prelude to the "Big One" so we played it safe this year with a quiet dinner at home and some good fun with the boys and Ashley. Since this is his last year in the 50s, JB's saving up his energy for the big blowout in 2007.

Tyler's, however, was another story. It was the big THREE-OH so Ashley organized a surprise party at the restaurant on Saturday night. JB and I made it for the first half-hour, but it was well past our bedtime by the time the party started rolling. I do believe there was very little beer in the reach-in and no tequila on the shelves by the time they were done celebrating. Conor and the "Goof Troop" were working that night, so they joined in the festivities. By about 3am Conor was picking up the pieces with the Goof Troop attempting to help but causing more harm than good. Poor guy had to open the next morning - ah, the things you will do for your bro. Once everyone ponies up with the photos I will put them together into an album and publish for you all to see.

We take possession of our new store in Newmarket on Thursday. All of the plans are drawn, contractors arranged, furniture chosen, designs sussed, and we are ready to rock. There is quite a buzz surrounding the Nuffield Street project in Auckland and it's starting to get exciting.

Last Monday the lights went out in Aotearoa (that's Maori for NZ and pronounced "ay-oh-tay-ah-row-ah) and we didn't get the restaurant open until 2pm. I was attending a training seminar to become an assessor for the national hospitality industry (more on that in another post) and it took us 2 hours for a trip that normally takes 20 minutes. All of the traffic lights were out! Seems there is one and only one power line into Auckland. There has been much hand-wringing and finger-pointing about who's to blame, and fears that we will be perceived as a 3rd World country if we cannot provide redundency for our power supplies. Hmmm, ya think? BTW, we now have extra flashlights in the restaurant.