Happy Birthday to Bill...

as September continued in it's sensational manner the most important event of the month was about to be celebrated. Yes Bill's birthday was on Saturday and this year he didn't have to share it with the AFL Grand Final though the footy did feature. Our weekend started on Friday night where we had tickets to the Olympic Room at the MCG for the first of the Preliminary Finals. The Collingwood vs Hawthorn game was an absolute nail biter and kept us all on the edge of our seats until the last minute. What a night and a great start to a birthday that went on & on.....or so it seemed.

Saturday morning it was up early for the drive to Mordialloc where we met the family for Breakfast at Seed Cafe. We had a lovely breakfast and it was good to see everyone again. Especially our first birthday breakkie with Faye, Rem & Ethan for a few years. It's surprising how quickly time passes when we get together. It was almost lunch time when we all went our separate ways, not that we needed any of course. We spent the afternoon watching the 2nd Preliminary Final on the tele and now know that it will be a Pies & Cats final next week. Why are we bothering - we are going to be there. Will let you know all about it next time.

After our quiet afternoon it was time for the big event. I was taking Bill out for dinner to one of his favourite places, a little Sardinian restaurant in South Yarra. Da Noi's tiny shopfront does not prepare you for the wonderful experience of dining there. The only way to eat is to ditch the menu and leave it to the chef who after a couple of questions as to your particular likes & dislikes will go on to delight you for the next few hours. Add a bottle of Chianti to the mix and you have a wonderful dinner. 5 courses and a coffee later we decided the only sensible thing to do was too walk home which we did. A little chilly but we had the coats.

And still there was more. A slower start on Sunday but soon we were off again this time to meet Astrid, Hans, Bianca, Susie & Bryce at Riverstone Winery in the Yarra Valley. We had a fun lunch and heard all about the adventures of the travellers. Susie & Bryce had been to Scotland in June and Astrid & Hans have just got back from Broome & Perth. We finished the afternoon going home with Astrid & Hans for coffee before turnng the car around and heading back to the city. So once more the most important day in September has been celebrated in fine style, over & over again. We have had a fabulous weekend with family & friends.

Bill did get one extra present that we were not expecting this year. Rhossie was unable to talk. A little virus stole my voice for a few days and all of this fun & frivolity was undertaken with a very quiet wife. Perhaps we should call this rhossienotalk. As you can imagine I have had all the 'nice' comments that you can think of so we'll have no more of them now thanks.

For Bill the football fun continues tonight, he's at the Brownlow Medal count as I write this. Probably just as well, not sure I could fit another dinner in. Right now though, I'm off to check the wardrobe for next weeks big event.

until next time.......