The long awaited showdown...

between Essendon and West Coast Eagles took place on the 8th May. Lorraine & Hans bravely crossed the country once more in search of victory. With the Bombers having had a great win the week before we were hoping that this would continue and we would be the victors this year. With 2 wins each over the 4 years we have been attending these games together neither of us was prepared to give up hope of having the winning team on the day.

What we didn't realise when we had first set our 'date with destiny' was that May 8th was Mother's Day. Lorraine & Hans arrived on Saturday afternoon and after a detour to the shops on the way home we were soon catching up on each others news. It had been a long time since we had seen each other. With an early start planned for the following morning I had decided that we would have dinner at home and had been up to the market in readiness. Salmon with a lime butter sauce, new potatoes & salad was yummy and Lorraine took care of desert making a wonderful Lemon Meringue Pie.

Our early start saw us all up at 7.00am and we drove down to Mordialloc where we joined Mum & Maree for breakfast at Seed Cafe to celebrate Mother's Day. We had a lovely morning and a yummy breakfast and soon it was time to head home to get ready for the 'Big Game'. The cold, wet day was real football weather and it is days like this when you really appreciate the game being at Etihad Stadium with the roof closed. Even though Bill had been in charge of buying the tickets we seemed to be sitting in an Eagles dominated area but it was good fun and certainly made Lorraine & Hans feel right at home. The first half looked promising for them but I am pleased to say that after the long break the Bombers went from strength to strength and it was our song that was playing as we left Etihad for another year. What can I say. We love being good hosts but this is football and we love to win. We did have to laugh when after the game our diehard Eagles fan (Hans) fessed up that he had picked the Bombers in the footy tipping competition so was ahead of Lorraine at the moment.

The continuing wet & windy weather made the where to eat decision an easy one and home won out once more. Topping up last nights cheese platter was a great starter, blue grenadier fish burgers and leftover Lemon Meringue Pie took care of another yummy dinner and before we knew it our beds were calling. We said our goodbyes that night as we were both off to work early in the morning. Lorraine & Hans got to sleep in and have a day in town before they were picked up by Lisa for phase 2 of their week in Melbourne. We had a great weekend with them both and can't wait for next years game.

The following weekend was looking good as we were going to have dinner with Bryce & Susie to celebrate our birthdays. All was on track until Bill woke up on Friday morning with the cold from hell and by Saturday it was clear that he was not going to be going anywhere that day. We were so sorry to have to cancel at such short notice and hope that you had a great Birthday Bryce. We will see you next week and share a belated birthday drink or two then.

It was my Birthday on Tuesday and we had a fun night with Mum, Maree, Jarrod & Aaron at the Edithvale RSL. Bill met us there after work and while still full of a cold he had improved enough to join us. We also met Mum's brother, Uncle Jack & Auntie Alison who were there celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary. It was great to see them both and share their night. Only 24 years to go and we'll have caught them. As this weekend approached Bill's return to health took a detour and his cold has developed into a nasty cough which has necessitated a course of antibiotics and it seems his birthday present to me was to share. Since Thursday I have been following in his footsteps with the runny nose and crying eyes - such a good look. So far no more than that and fingers crossed that's where it stops. Not happy Jan! Tonight's intended trip to the MCG to watch the Dreamtime Game had to be put on hold and we are sitting in front of the telly with the heater on. Must be better by next week as we are off to see Cirque Du Soleil with Bryce & Susie. Can't wait.

So I'll leave you all there knowing that you are all glad you can't catch our bug just by reading my ramblings. Hope you all stay healthy as Winter approaches.

until next time..........

And then it was Easter...

We both survived our four day week and with Brenda, Brad & Shanae visiting Melbourne we decided that we would stay home for Easter. We enjoyed our sleep-in on Friday morning and just had a lazy day at home until it was time to jump in the car and head down to Bonbeach. It was great to see Brenda & the kids again and with lots of news to catch up on we chatted non stop for some time. We continued chatting over dinner at the Chelsea pub where we joined Mum, Maree, Jarrod & Aaron. We had a great night and it was good to see everyone again.

Saturday was a shopping day and after a few hours of retail therapy it was time to go home and get ready for a big night out. It was Brenda's birthday and we were meeting her at the Casino to help her celebrate the big day. It was good to see her Mum again as she had come down from Qld with Brenda & the kids. A good night was had by all.

By Sunday we were ready for an adventure of our own and so had decided to head off to Queenscliff for lunch. We had been there before a couple of years ago but we had never been over on the car ferry. We drove there and at first look we thought we would never get parking or get in anywhere for lunch, there were so many people. The tourist gods must have been smiling on us as we found a parking spot straight away and the first cafe we saw had a free table on the veranda in the sunshine. Lunch was a very tasty seafood share plate and we whiled away a couple of hours just watching the world go by. People watching is such fun in a tourist town.

After lunch we wandered the quaint little town and fossicked in and out of the more interesting shops before we headed off to the wharf to catch the ferry across to Sorrento. We had a half hour wait but entertained ourselves watching the yachts coming and going. Once on the ferry you can leave the car and we sat up on the open top deck all the way across. It was a good trip, calm and not too cold at this time of year. On arrival at Sorrento we drove off and as it was now after 5pm we drove straight on home to the city. We had a light dinner and curled up on the couch for the night. A very early one after our big day out.

Easter Monday was also Anzac Day. We have always said that we would get up and go to the Dawn Service at the Shrine and each year I wake up but always manage to talk myself into rolling over again and going back to sleep. This year we decided that we had been able to get up at 5 for a sunrise cruise so we should be able to do the same for the Dawn Service. We did and while it was a little colder than Kakadu it was certainly worth the effort. We walked up to the Shrine in the dark with a heavy fog shrouding the city. It was a very moving service and the foggy morning just added to the emotion of it all.

The other big event on Anzac Day is of course the Essendon vs Collingwood football game at the MCG. Each year we go to the game with Bianca (poor misguided Pies supporter) and her parents, Astrid & Hans and this year we were looking forward to a great game. And of course hoping to go home as victors after the Bombers great start to the year. We had a great day but as you will all know by now, it was Bianca that was smiling at the end of the day - again. Still it was a good game and we had a lot of fun. After the game we all went to Chinatown and enjoyed a fun dinner in one of the many restaurants there. We really did miss Tammy & Paul who have just moved to Derby and were unable to get over for the game this year.

With Anzac Day falling on Easter Monday we had an extra long holiday and so got to have one more sleep in in Tuesday morning. I hope that everyone made the most of it because it will be 79 years before the two events come together again. I'm guessing I won't be around to enjoy another 5 day break. We had a quiet day at home catching up on housework, washing & ironing. A bit of a drag but it had to be done. And the best part was there was only 3 days to go before the weekend. What a great week.

Since then we have been busy at work but have still had time to enjoy our last weekend. We had a lovely lunch with Andrew & Vanessa on Saturday. The World bar & Restaurant on the Yarra is a great place to do lunch and we had a fun few hours catching up on all their adventures. It has been a year since we saw them last. And on Sunday we met Tim at Etihad Stadium were we watched the Bombers win their game against the Gold Coast Suns. Win wasn't quite the word, they annihilated them. We did feel for the new team but I guess in time they will find their feet and even the scores.

As we face another week at work we are looking forward to next Saturday when Lorraine & Hans arrive from Perth for their yearly pilgrimage to see the Eagles play Essendon. Our fingers are crossed for another win. I'll let you know how we go.

until next time...........