Saturday, January 18, 2014

Healesville Holiday

Hil and Rob generously gave us a night at the Healesville Hotel with an elegant dinner in Quince dining room. We tried to line this treat up with our wedding anniversary which happened to be the fourth day of a massive heatwave.

When we arrived in Healesville power outages had caused the closure of all shops, the hotel had just cancelled lunch, the bar was closed and a guest was complaining about having no power in his room. Uh oh.

Our very spacious king room

Checking for local attractions

Trying to cool off in nearby park

 
Power failures had obliged the hotel to throw out all its food on the two previous nights. Tonight they were going to honour existing bookings but were taking no more. So we were one of a select group of three tables at dinner.

And it was brilliant. salmon, duck and 'financier' (looked like an ice-cream cone but tasted like blackberry shortcake) for Jim and heirloom salad, lamb and raspberry mousse for me.
All three courses were wonderful though my dessert was so rich it kept me awake all night. Or maybe it was that final glass of champagne. But it was worth it. Thanks Hil and Rob.

Ready for dinner


Dessert of financier

This morning at Innocent Bystander for breakfast.




Friday, January 10, 2014

January 10 - Elwood Beach

Meredith and Madeleine fly home at 11.00 PM. The last day is always so emotional and distressing but we do manage to squeeze in one last beach day.









 



And now the Ms are at the airport. Misery

January 9

Half Moon Bay





 










Fish and chips at "Hooked" for dinner













 


Two Days Earlier - Jan 7 - Meredith walked Werribee Gorge


 
Mere Grylls

Sunday, January 05, 2014

January 5

Flippering at the Harry

Off to the Harold Holt pool with Mads's new flippers. She's great in them!



Rellie catchup

In the afternoon almost the entire extended family had a picnic at Hil's garden in Elwood to meet Romy and catch up with Mere and Mads.


Meredith

Caspar

Caspie and Mere

Jim, Liam, Freya

Steve is left holding the baby

Steve and Aileen

Steve, Hil, Romy


Hil introduces Romy to Jess, Orlando & Gavan

 
Bailey, Isobel, Mads

Cricket match

Gav bowls

Fielders 3


Liam bats

And so does Freya
 
Isobel & Mads

The rain begins and we retreat inside

Mads gets the music going

And the dancing follows

Bonnie and Barney sit this one out

But others keep bobbing