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Sunday, 13 May 2012
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Sunday 13th May
We were all rather dozy after the late night.
I was awake earlyish so worked away on my blog which has been getting very out of date.
Got it all caught up now!!
When Jesika woke up she started unwrapping her birthday pressie.
Evan arrived around at 10am - we were all still very sleepy.
This is her birthday juicer
being put to good use immediately.
And this is what she bought for herself.
Tim sat up in bed and watched a movie for most of the morning.
It was called 'Warrior' and sounded quite violent whenever I went near the bedroom.
We managed to drag him out of bed to share in a Mother's Day brunch that Jesika & Evan prepared for us.
It was mid arvo before we were all up and showered.
The day was wet and cold - really cold!
We hopped int he car and went to visit Robyn & Ari.
They are excitedly expecting baby No1.
I was feeling really sick most of the arvo.
When we came back I Skyped the children.
The other 3 watched 'One Night with The King'
I caught my blog right up to date and then we had an easy Sunday night dinner.
Have to pack our bags tonight as we are flying back to NZ tomorrow.
I am so very tired.
Melbourne life is exhausting!!
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Saturday 12th May
Saturday morning was beautiful so Jesika and I put on our walking shoes and headed off out the door.
Left Tim to sleep in after his late night.
The autumn colours are so lovely with the sun shining on the leaves.
We stopped to admire a garden and found feijoas on the path so of course had to pick them up.
There were heaps of them just lying there and on the edge of the garden.
As we were picking them up the lady came out and tore a strip off us but then after we talked for a while and she realised that we were also Kiwis like she was and that Jesika loved feijoas and would definitely not be wasting them she insisted we come into the garden and gather up more.
She gave us a bag to carry them in so all was good.
She also offered Jesika more later on if she wants!
Apparently she has had problems with people actually coming right into her garden and taking them and trampling her special plants, that is why she was very much on the offensive!
We carried on walking the trail.
It was very pretty.
When we got home I made a fritatta and Jesika made feijoa shortcake.
Evan helped!
Tim supervised when he finally got up.
We got Tim up and ate and then he and Evan headed off to rugby and Jesika & I went to shop at Good Guys.
I wanted to get Jesika her b'day present as she will be in Italy on the day.
We found a very helpful young man there who kept on discounting the products we were looking at.
Finally Jesika came out with not a camera, but a cake mixer, and I bought her a juicer.
Then we zipped into Gloria Jeans at Forest Hill to grab a drink before heading to watch the rugby match.
We were a tad late getting there but if Evan had been paying attention to the game he wouldn't have noticed us arriving late
Nothing like a sweaty smelly hug & kiss - yuck!
Then Tim & I took Evan's car and went to find the health shop, which was right by Gloria Jeans, so I was a bit annoyed we hadn't realised he wanted anything!
So we got him some colloidal silver and he was happy.
His nose has been troubling him really badly during this trip.
It is nearly 5 months since the hospital did the CAT scan and we still have heard nothing from them.
I will be making big noises when we get home!!
We just had time to quickly change before heading out the door again.
Jesika wore her dragon slaying boots!!
We whizzed into her work to meet Romina.
Jesika is going to Italy with her at the end of June for 7 weeks.
It was very slow traffic as we made our way to the Sat arvo church service so I had time to ooh and aah over the buildings some more.
We went to Bridge Church.
It was a really good service.
Of course Mother's Day was the theme.
The senior pastor, David Doery, gave an excellent message.
I was close on breaking down when he touched on a few tender topics but managed to hold it together.
Afterwards they had some lovely things for mothers.
I had a manicure, was given some yummy treats and then a photo taken with Jesika.
It was soon time to go meet some friends at Pizza Religion.
We all ordered and feasted.
Me with Carlamia & Andrew
Nick, Jesika & Evan
Luciano & Francesca
Francesca & Angela
Betty & Bernie
We had a great night and left there after 10pm when they were cleaning up and trying to close the doors!
We came back to Jesika's and talked until we finally went off to bed around 1am.
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Friday 11th May
We had to get up earlyish to be at Jesika's dancing lesson by 9:30am.
It was fun to watch her and Adriano going through their moves.
We then went to the Caribbean Garden Markets for a while.
Jesika specifically wanted us to try the Poffertjes - a small Dutch fluffy pancake covered in butter, icing sugar, lemon juice and maple syrup.
I made the mistake of having 2 plate fulls!!
Evan came out to meet us as his classes finished early.
I only had the 2nd plate full because he and Jesika were in for more!
I wanted to go look at cameras so we drove to Northcote and talked to the people in Digital Warehouse.
I loved all the new bright colours, but the model that succeeds mine is in silver.
So I now have a new silver Panasonic Lumix TZ25
We had an hour to spare so Jesika battled the 5pm traffic, finally found a park, and we walked to Brunetti's.
It is a sugar lovers heaven!
They make Tiramisu to die for!!
Tim & Jesika had a ricotta and pear cheesecake each.
I was in heaven too with all the wonderful old architecture in the area.
We overshot the turn off to Andrew & Annette's place in Ascot Vale so Jesika dropped us off and we walked back as she was late for her ballet class.
We had a wonderful evening with them and their two children.
Imogen took an instant liking to Tim and showered him with wee letters and pictures.
Andrew made pizzas for dinner - we chose our own toppings.
Then it was strawberries and ice cream for dessert.
Delicious dinner and wonderful company.
After the children went to bed Andrew introduced us to their pets.
Australian Spiny Leaf insects.
I had never seen anything like it before.
Strange creatures.
The female was huge and full of eggs
The young are quite small and very interactive.
When Jesika gently blew on it, it would raise it's front legs up and dance.
The male was smaller and deeper coloured.
We talked and laughed till around 11:30pm when I made moves to go, as we had at least half an hour to drive to get home.
We really really enjoyed getting to know the cousins - a fun night all round.
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Thursday 10th May - part 4
We drove to Castlemaine, parked up and walked a few blocks until Jesika located the wee cafe she was looking for.
It is owned and operated by her Italian friend Luca.
It is called Origini.
When we arrived Luca was very excited to see Jesika - they had worked together 2-3 years ago at the Veneto Club where he was a chef.
I was directed up the steps out the back of the cafe to find the bathroom.
It was a small tin shed out the back.
I was fully expecting to see a long drop but was pleasantly surprised to find a modern, clean & tidy flushing loo!
When I returned Luca had seated Tim & Jesika and was chatting to them.
The food is deliciously authentic Italian.
Of course we couldn't leave without trying some of his wonderful deserts.
After an hour or so we had to leave.
Luca's wife Ingrid and their youngest son arrived - t was really nice to meet them too.
Jesika & Luca promised to meet again soon.
On the road out we found this memorial to all the miners who worked the grounds around here.
I thought it especially well designed.
This really amused me.
On the front it reads
'Post Office
Receiving Pillar'
We had to make tracks as it was getting late.
It was a long drive back to and through Melbourne.
We finally stopped in at Jesika's work to pick up some feijoas.
Then it was back to crash, we were all so very tired.
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Thursday 10th May - part 3
We carried on into the city centre to find an atm for Jesika and Gloria Jeans for general sustenance - well actually that move was sorta driven by moi but I didn't notice the other two complaining too bitterly
This fountain is right in the middle of the city.
Jesika and I walked across the road and then realised Tim had gone awol.
He had found an outdoor shop so diverted off track to explore.
Without telling us!
Seriously! I am threatening to get a gps collar for him!!
He also walks so incredibly slowly when on holiday that we were talking of hiring a wheel chair too
We couldn't find either shop but talked with a lovely lady who told us where to go to find them.
A tram went past as we got back to the car.
Next time we ride!
There is a curious juxtaposition of buildings new & old side by side there.
We located Tim and headed up to the railway station and the Market Shopping Centre.
Got fuel for car and body there and were soon on the way.
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About Me
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I am a mother of 10, a home educator - still teaching the youngest 4 children, wife to farmer of sheep, cattle & mussels. We also run tourist accomodation. Secretary and business manager to same. I am passionate about my art - collage, altered books, journals, rubber stamping, card making, etc. I love reading a wide range of literature - esp enjoy historical fiction and biographical works.
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