Similar?

Morning tea at a school review-chocolate eclairs- August

 I was looking through my photos and the similarities of these two photos struck me.

View from the bridge during our Revolutionary Walk July 4

Dinner with mates

 Anne invited the NYC mob to dinner- it was lovely to again be sitting around with these great mates. The friendships formed in NYC have been wonderful. I miss the mob that have returned to Melbourne and have settled back into life there. Visiting Anne's place was great to see what she has done with all her New York things. The things she got while traveling or while living in the city.


Julia and I tried to find fresh flowers to bring to the dinner and drove up and down High St to no avail so I popped into one of the many cheap stores and got these lovely fake flowers which Anne loved the silliness of and proceeded to place them in a vase and on the table.

 Julia offered to help hence the apron. Annie regaled us with recounts and reminders of her medical forays in NYC- we can now laugh heartily about the Kelation Therapy, more importantly how her cousin helped her get out of that "cycle". 

Sue helped me get some closer photos of the meal by opening the lid at the right time for the photo.
 The meal no surprisingly was delicious and a great night had by all.

 Anne's place is right opposite the railway crossing- I loved the light when the gates were open and then getting the blur of light of the train.

Visitors at Aireys Inlet

Blue Wren

 A week working on writing the reports- what better way than to hole up at Aireys Inlet. The fire going full pelt ( so long as I remembered to put a few logs on) and my camera beside me in case I could capture the visitors to our garden.

Satin Bower bird

 I really only spotted the bowerbird in this tree because I was so taken by the lovely sky and trees!

Through the kitchen window

The kookaburras weren't so obliging they were sitting behind some very leafy branches. And the magpies tended to chortle from some distant place.

Sisters

Celia & Michele

Sandy and Chez organized the "Beauie block kids" lunch and again it was great catching up with people we played with over 50 years ago. 

Our parents had built the houses in an area "sooo far out of the city in Beaumaris- unmade roads and few amenities" to begin. While we were growing up there were so many places to play and meet up with those who lived in the little street that is Bruce Street. We think there were about 34 kids in the small street and its environs. Three families of six helped build the numbers!

Sandra and Cheryl

 Sandy and Chez and their little sister Linda were our next door neighbours. We like to try to catch up each year but this year was particularly important to meet and raise a glass to Tony who was at the last gathering out the group. It was also our chance for a "wake" as none of us had been able to go to my borther's funeral in Perth, WA nearly 5 months ago.

Alan and Gerry

 Alan was the brave bloke to come along to the lunch and her brought his sister Gerry. But as he pointed out his whole life has been surrounded by women as he has four sisters.  Hopefully next time at least two more of his sisters will make it to the lunch back in Beaumaris next time!

We had an early birthday celebration

Michele planned and executed a lovely afternoon/ evening with family and friends to celebrate the upcoming big birthday. Four months early but it has meant that I have been able to celebrate with friends and family in the lovely setting of Michele's and my home.

I went rural...

and the sun eventually shone.

A trip to visit a school not far out of Melbourne. An easy drive and a lovely little spot (to visit) for a school.

Sunday lunch

 Spending time at home is great especially in winter when Michele whips up her soups.

The wonderfully chunky and tasty pea and ham soup

She prompted me to take the photo having taken loads of photos of our food at Merricote

 

We "had" to finish up the cupcakes from afternoon tea with Annemarie. The green tea one was scrumptious- light and fluffy- the cake and the "frosting".The chocolate one ended up being afternoon tea. quite restrained really.