General News
12 April, 2025
The Greatest of Gatsby
After a new world record for me – 23 days without seeing one of my daughters – last weekend I reacquainted myself with the crazy chaos!
It was my little sister’s costume party in Mt. Waverley, Melbourne.
Thank goodness I took down that crate of feathers, faux fur, glitzy gloves, dress options, earrings and peals – both plastic and real, because all of Tam’s guests were dressed to the nines in the theme of The Great Gatsby.
Tammy had requested my attendance a little earlier than the official start time so we could smash out a brilliant charcuterie after popping the first cork.
Alas, it was not to be.
Luckily an interstate relative stepped into the void, as I was lost in the logistics of three glamorous daughters, one boyfriend celebrating his birthday and my hardworking husband.
Our cunning plan was to all pile into our trusty seven-seater to travel to the event together by picking up a person at each location on the way, then carefully depositing each one home safely again at the conclusion of festivities.
When I hadn’t arrived to help heap the chocolate pretzels and start stacking the macaroons, Tamara Sheehan called to see how things were coming together.
I reluctantly reported that it was like herding cats.
Tiani was still around the corner at her student residence applying make-up, but she was due any minute for me to help her into her wig and other headgear.
Yasinta was rushing to get ready at her rental after a lovely birthday lunch with her boyfriend who was perfectly prepped and at his place ready for pick-up.
For some inexplicable reason, after checking for an oil leak in Yasinta’s car, Kym had taken a ride in Katianna’s new car to her home and then to her running track for a jog, before fixing her mower and cutting the grass on her front lawn while she worked her way through the shower.
So, when Kym walked into our hotel room unwashed, but with all his passengers safely picked up, our eldest daughter brandishing her curling wand and looking for a power point, it was game on.
Hot curls, hair clips, dry towels and quick changes all happened at once.
We were slightly slowed down by the gangster white tie and pistol holster and there was that one terrible moment where I thought Kym’s white braces over his black shirt weren’t going to fit!
It was me, not them.
Moving at top speed, we were all finally primped and primed and ready to party, so we sprinted to the car and frantically loaded up, then rushed off into the traffic with Katianna finding the fastest route online…only to sit there slowly inching towards our ability to merge onto the freeway.
And I even forgot the present!
Tam’s party was a blast, she is so good and making and keeping the best friends, ensuring there were plenty of familiar faces from her 50 years and all of her siblings to help her celebrate.
Hip-hip-hooray!