It's another BIG birthday....and other things

Yep time creeps up on us all and this year was Maree's ?0th.  Suffice to say she has finally caught up to me but I still won't tell. Mum says she feels very old now that the first of her children have hit the big one!

We had a lovely night with the family celebrating at a lovely Chinese Restaurant in Clayton.  Maree loved her present, one of Bill's favorite photos from Norfolk Island.  Dinner was delicious and afterwards we all drove back to Faye's place for birthday cake and coffee.  The next day we just chilled at home waiting for the working week to start again.  

Bill travelled and I spent the week meeting and greeting folk as they came into the office - sure beats solving all their problems.

On Friday night some of us from work decided that we needed a night out and so enjoyed a lovely dinner at Kitchen Workshop at Crown.  This is a buffet which includes prawns and oysters and deserts to die for.  Of course we all ate too much as usual but enjoyed a fun night out.  For me it was my last night out with the guys and girls I have worked with for many years as I only had three more days to go and then it was 'all over Red Rover'.  Yep, I was retiring!

And so on Tuesday I walked to work for the last time, walked home as usual and felt very strange not having to 'ring in sick' the next morning when I didn't get up!  I did get used to it rather quickly though so no need to worry about me.

My first weekend in retirement saw Cheryl and Shane come to stay on Friday night as we were attending a show at The Palms in Crown.  Two weeks in a row when we haven't set foot in the place for years.  We had dinner first, a yummy Italian meal at Cervo and then made our way to our seats.  The show was a Bee Gees Tribute, Stayin Alive 14, and was excellent.  Back at home we enjoyed a drink before finally going to bed after lots of chatter.

The following morning I cooked breakfast and we just relaxed until it was time for our visitors to hit the road as they had a Grandson's birthday to attend.  Bill and I then walked to the market to shop for the dinner I was to cook that night as Astrid and Hans were visiting from Chum Creek.  Goodness me I was never this busy at work!  

Our guests arrived late afternoon and we enjoyed a drink and loved hearing all about their wonderful trip to America and Canada.  The photos were fabulous and the stories fascinating.  Dinner was pretty good too, even if I do say so myself!  

The next day started bright and sunny so we caught the tram to South Melbourne Beach and enjoyed a walk along the Esplanade to St Kilda.  We ate our sandwich in the park watching the Kids enjoying the pony rides on this glorious day.  

A look at the Esplanade Market as we wandered along, a coffee in Acland St. and then it was back on the tram for the ride home via the city centre.  Leftovers for dinner meant I didn't have to cook again!

The cooking continued the following week as Sandra visited from Perth.  She was here for work and staying around the corner in a hotel on St Kilda Rd.  I cooked dinner for us all on Monday night and then each night after for Sandra and I as Bill travelled to Sydney for the rest of the week.  I thoroughly enjoyed the planning, shopping and cooking and I think I surprised our guest more than once.

So between big birthdays, retirement and visitors I haven't had a moment to stop and smell the roses - I love it.  

Looking forward to what come next............