It's a big deal for Barry Jones to make the trip all the way from Auckland to Oamaru. But turning seventy's a good enough reason to get back to his roots in north Otago, stopping off at Christchurch airport on the way through.

It's not quite the blind boys of Alabama. But when you're Kakanui born, well that's enough to make Barry and Allan Jones, who're both blind, true southern lads. And with the help of support worker Cheryl and Allan's wife Annette, the brothers wend their way to the rental car….where it's off for the three and a half hour drive to the Kingsgate Brydon in Oamaru.

Fast forward to the next day at the Brydon, and Barry's brother Allan Jones sets the scene as guests arrive and settle down to a right royal southern birthday luncheon…