Ron's Surprise 30th

About mid-way through 2018, it occurred to me that there was a milestone birthday approaching for Ronald. Although I was already deep in the weeds of planning our wedding, our trip home to the States and two additional summer trips before that point, I decided to also start planning the best surprise party he'd ever seen! 

Step One: Throw Him off the Scent
Ron's birthday was a Thursday, the day immediately after we were scheduled to land back in Newcastle after our wedding in the States. So in advance of the wedding trip, I floated some birthday ideas with Ron to set his expectations. I suggested that we may be exhausted after all the travel and excitement of the wedding, and that we should have a calm birthday dinner for him on that Thursday. We could always go out that weekend if he was feeling up for it... He agreed! 

Step Two: Prep the Party
I booked out a party room at a bar in town for Friday night, and sent out all the invitations to our British friends. I ordered the decorations, coordinated the arrangements with the friends helping out, and also wrote up a personalized scavenger hunt. I had a few goals with the party: make Ron feel young (as he was a bit nervous about turning 30), make him feel at home at Newcastle, and make it very personalized to him! The party theme would be "Frat Party" and the scavenger hunt would highlight all of our memories so far in our new city. 

​Step Three: Decoy Birthday
​We were both off work on his actual birthday (Thursday), so I woke up and made him his favorite breakfast: peanut butter pancakes with maple syrup. I gave him his presents (including his very first "husband" card since our wedding 6 days prior!) and let him choose a nice relaxing takeaway dinner for that night. I also made a second birthday card (for Friday), but kept that one secret it for now. He loved the Thursday birthday treats, and was completely unsuspecting of any more upcoming surprises... 

Step Three: Surprise!
​The next day, Ron went to work but I had the day off. I spent that time picking up final decorations, bought the cake, and planted all of the scavenger hunt clues around town. I had also planned for a few of the clues to be given out by specific people that we knew, so I also made arrangements to meet up with each of them to hand out those specific envelopes in advance. I packed up a bag of all of the party supplies and a fratty change of clothes for each of us, and handed it over to our friend Paolo, who was tasked with setting up the party room at the bar. Then, I went home and waited... 
Ron got home, where I had made a quick dinner for him. He could see I was giddy and giggly, so I went ahead and gave him the secret birthday card... 

Clue #1 
If you want to relax
Seek out these scents.
From here is where our bear
Brings the presents. 

This first clue led us to Lush, where our friend Paolo works. Paolo is nicknamed a bear, he smells like Lush 100% of the time, and often spoils us with new bath bombs to try! He had already left work at this point to go back to our house - unbeknownst to Ron, Paolo went over to get ready for the party right after we'd left! He was then going to set up the party room, so he left clue #2 hidden under a bear-shaped soap bar in the store. 

---

Card #2
Our first trip to Newcastle
We had a seat with a view
With a cocktail and a Geordie
At a bar that literally grew. 

This clue refers to our first visit in Newcastle, when we sat on the rooftop patio of The Botanist getting to know our new friend Lee. When we arrived to the bar, Lee himself was waiting with the next clue to give to Ron! We hung around for a drink together, and caught up for a bit. I had implied to Ron previously that the scavenger hunt was leading us to a romantic dinner reservation, so without knowing about the awaiting party, he invited Lee to help us with the next few clues. Lee masterfully declined, as he had "some other plans" waiting.

---

Card #3
​A lighted alley with history,
We've stopped in for a few.
It's the toon's oldest pub
Since 1582. 

The third card led us to the Old George, a great piece of history right in the city centre! We'd been there before for drinks and food, and Ron had loved learning about the old building's lifetime. The bar staff were not able to hold this next clue for Ron, so I had hidden it in the courtyard near one of the tables. (I had to help him spot that one!)

---

Card #4
You like your coffee
And cakes up to your eyes...
Here you can have both
With whiskered allies 

In town there is a cat cafe, Mog on the Tyne, that we have enjoyed a few times. They serve coffees, cakes and brunch dishes, and it was one of the places we visited during our very first trip to Newcastle in 2016. By this time of night the cafe was closed, so I had preemptively hidden the next clue under a stone near the front door. Ron found that one straightaway!

---

Card #5
​A bridge overhead
A cobbled inside.
​A flag in your pie
Along the quayside. 

Next we were off to the Quayside, to another pub that we loved to frequent: Redhouse. This pub was still open, and the manager had even agreed to hold onto the clue card for me. Ron walked inside to order us a couple of ciders, and also asked the bartender if they were holding onto any scavenger hunt cards. They seemed amused to be part of the fun! 

---

Card #6
From port to the fort
Climb every step
Here stands the gate
Where prisoners were Kept 

Next to Redhouse is a steep set of stairs, which we have climbed many times after drinking by the river. It's quite the workout! We made our way up to the Castle Keep and played a little game of hot/cold until Ron found the little crack behind the hand railing where I'd hidden the next clue. 

---

Card #7 
The mascot wears skates,
And the pizza is superb.
For work lunches or for dates,
​Just seek out the herb. 

Ron works right across from the Castle, and beside his work is another restaurant he often visits. We made our way down that street to the front door of the Herb Garden. While Ron was planning to ask another worker about the clue, our friends Sarah and Paul stepped outside with the next envelope in hand! Similar to Lee, they delivered a great alibi about where they had to go next, saying goodbye and Happy Birthday to Ron. In reality, they were heading straight to the party room for our imminent arrival!

---

Card #8
Our first arrival point
In the North East
​Also your ticket
to a grilled cheese 

This clue led us to the Central Rail Station, just around the corner (there happens to be a grilled cheese stand just inside the front doors that he also loves to pick up for work lunches). At the risk of looking suspicious hiding an envelope inside the train station, I had opted to keep this one with me and handed it directly to him when we arrived. 

---

Clue #9
Think back two years,
To our first Newcastle toast
And we also went here
For our first Sunday Roast 

Upon reading the clue, he knew immediately that this was The Town Wall, another pub just up the street. This would be our final destination (which he still thought was a dinner reservation). Along the way he commented that he was still full of beer and wouldn't have much of an appetite, so I assured him that was fine, we could just get some nibbles and rest after trekking all over town... :)  

---

Throughout the scavenger hunt, I'd been secretly texting Paolo to make sure everyone was ready in the room. He'd let me know that the reserved room was the first room on the left, hidden behind a heavy black drape. So as we walked in, I told Ron that I thought our table might be behind this curtain... check out the videos below to see what happened next!

Not only was this Ron's birthday party, but it also happened to fall exactly 1 week since our wedding day. It was the first time we got to see most of our friends since coming back from that trip, so it was a great chance to catch up with everyone and share our happy stories from the wedding.

As making Ron feel young was the ultimate goal of the party, I'd venture to say that the evening was a great success!