Life as an audit widow...sigh! This means that Steve is super super busy right now and so I have to fill my time with other things. This last week, I've caught up with an old friend from my Hays Yorkshire days, Sally. Sal's on tour and has a 7 week trip including a reunion with her brother who is in Port Hedland and she's not seen him for 10 years! Anyway it was lovely to spend a Tuesday evening with her even if it was a rainy and cold night.

There was also a "A Team Dinner". Usually it's an A Team lunch but this time we decided to push the boat out and make it a post work dinner at a restaurant in the same office block that is due to close and re open as something else.

There was also a night out on Friday and Steve made it this time although after a long week, he was pretty tired. Good thing our friends are chatterboxes though and no need to work hard to make conversation. Instead, very relaxed with lots of giggles and laughs.

So today (Sunday) Steve spent the day in the office and I planned to have a lazy day. The morning was chilly but sunny so I decided to take a walk around the neighbourhood. It was about 10am that I ventured out and the chilly edge had dispersed but the Fitzroy streets were still relatively quiet and the popular breakfast cafes still fairly empty. 

I enjoyed a solitary breakfast and a mooch around Rose Street Market before a quick Coles visit to pick up some groceries to make dinner. Blue skies and sunshine make everything better.

The rest of the day was spent in the ezy chair on the balcony enjoying the sunshine. In spite of the chilly start, it reached 29 degrees before a sofa snooze, some TV and dinner prep.

Tonight's dinner was Greek style roast lamb from Jonathan's Butchers on Smith Street. We've been past this place so many times but only recently became customers and there's no looking back! Amazing meat. I made a  potato salad to go with this and we also had some tzatsiki and fresh cucumber and there's a lot leftover to have for lunch!

On Saturday, Steve and I had lunch at The Commoner and it was one of their Producer's Lunches. This meant that there were three large tables in the front room and we had a delicious lunch of duck from Great Ocean Ducks. And Steve and I sat next to Jodie who runs the business out at Port Campbell. She brought her delightful young daughter Maddie who told us all about their duck farm (1000 ducks!), their dogs and life of the farm. 

Given we were only at The Commoner at Christmas and I've recently reviewed that meal, I didn't think it was necessary to write another review formally. But it was a delicious duck treat beginning with duck liver parfait amuse bouche and a duck charcuterie board followed with rillettes, terrine, duck "prosciutto style", sauteed duck heart and pickles and pastes. Main course was delicious duck breast with beetroot. And dessert wasn't duck but a white chocolate and vanilla creamy concoction with passionfruit and honeycomb. And duck goes well with pinot noir; two bottles to be precise! So unsurprisingly the rest of the day was spent on the sofa and Steve had a 2.5 hour nap!

And my favourite pictures of Amelia this week include her and her koala that Steve and I bought her when she was 6 months. Apparently she's discovered a love for him and likes to sleep with him. I like the idea that she has a little part of Australia with her.

Amelia likes to bake. This reminds me of her mum, my sister. I-Lin can't cook for toffee and I don't really think she's a baker either (this is likely out of a box) but she did always like to stir and mix things. I'm thinking Amelia has inherited that.

And Easter is around the corner! This means our UK trip is 2 months away! Apparently this time 2 years ago, we were in UK and look at how the Easter bunny has grown! Can't wait to see her again!

I'm definitely noticing that the mornings are becoming darker when the alarm goes off and it's less rise and shine and more rise and really is it that time already and do I really have to get out of bed! The morning this photo was taken was a bit of a surprise really and no more hot air balloon views or at least I suspect the frequency I see balloons will now diminish.

Whilst the mornings are beginning to feel cooler and the breeze during the day has an Autumnal pinch to it, there are still the last vestiges of Summer. I spent this morning on the balcony reading and today has been a 30 degree day! The weather forecast for next week predicts temperatures from as low as 17 up to the high 20s. It's enough to keep us on our toes.

Last week I walked home from work most nights as although temperatures were different each day, it was never particularly cold and it didn't rain. Although one evening the iPhone weather app predicted 90% chance of rain at 6pm and I left the office at 5:55pm. And not one drop of rain so stupid iPhone!

And during one of those walks, I was treated to this beautiful sunset.

The working week has been a long one for Steve. He's been leaving home at 7am and not getting home till 8 or 9pm and then continuing to look at his computer screen until bedtime. Apparently it's going to be like this until our UK trip in 9 weeks. Yes 9 weeks until our 5 weeks off...that is coming round quickly.

So after such a long week, Steve and I had an impromptu date night on Friday with a drink in a city bar and then we walked home and had a pit stop drink as we reached Fitzroy before going to Belle's Hot Chicken for fried chicken! Seemed an apt choice for a Friday and it was less busy than some of the places in the CBD. We had a table outside which whilst it wasn't particularly warm was bearable especially when chowing down the spicy chicken.

Saturday we had a lunch date with the Demerys and Jon represented the Timberts. It's been a long time since we've seen these guys what with work, holidays, family and all sorts. Whilst on the whole things have been pretty much same same for us, the Demerys have a new car, a new house, a new baby on the way and Mr Demery has a new job. That's a whole heap of change but all good news.

Saturday night was spent at the theatre where we saw "Strictly Ballroom" and were transported with glitter and sequins to the 80s and small town Australia. Even the seats had been covered by brightly coloured, shiny spandex and there was colour and pizazz galore. We ended the evening with late night munchies at Mamasita before heading home.

And over in Sunderland, what has Amelia been up to this week? The cheeky little fox had breakfast in bed as a treat but apparently never again as crumbs amassed on Mummy's side of the bed. It was not one of Daddy's better ideas!

Amelia also likes to drive and here she is in charge of the wheel taking great grandma home! I love this picture that shows the young one with the old one! My grandma is well into her 90s.

For UK Mother's Day, Amelia baked chocolate cupcakes with her mummy for por por (grandma i.e. my mum.) I think overenthusiasm for chocolate cake mix meant it ended up all over her face and in her hair. According to Aunty Joanna, Amelia must have accidentally faceplanted into the mixing bowl. I'm not convinced it was accidental. Not many things are accidental with this little fox!

These wonderful people arrived just before Christmas. My mum arrived first on the evening of Friday 19th December followed by the Halls the next morning. A 24 hour journey with the very active Amelia can't have been easy but we're so glad she made it. Our Christmas break would not have been the same without her! Daddy Chan arrived the following Monday morning.

We did so many things over Christmas and New Year and the pictures only show part of it! We spent our time:

• Sunbathing and swimming
• At the beach
• Pony ride for Amelia
• Shopping in the CBD and around Fitzroy
• Daytime napping
• Playing hairdressers with Amelia
• Baking cakes with Amelia
• Lots of daytime drinking in pubs
• Daily ice lolly eating
• Visit to Healesville Sanctuary to see some Aussie wildlife
• At the Children's Garden in the Royal Botanical Gardens

During the day of New Year's Eve, I packed off the grown up visitors to a local day spa for some relaxing and Steve and I took Amelia for a day out. We went to the Children's Garden and she paddled in the stream as well as had a walk around the lavender maze. We had lunch at Jardin Tan there where she enjoyed fried chicken and fried rice. Truly she was so well behaved! We also had a babycino and a macaron at Zumbo's before heading home where Stef came round to see us and the grown ups returned all blissed out. In the evening we had a steamboat / hot pot party and watched Chinese movies until 2015 arrived.

We did have an incident whilst at the Children's Garden where Amelia needed a wee wee but wanted Steve to take her and he had no idea! So he carried her whilst we raced to find a toilet and luckily there was a family room so we could all troop inside including the buggy so I could do the dirty work but Steve was there so Amelia was happy!

I think another highlight was the fact that my sister I-Lin celebrated her Boxing Day birthday here and it's been so long since we've been able to do that. The other thing is Winter birthday in the UK equal Summer birthdays here which is always a change. During the day, Mum, I-Lin and I spent the morning at a day spa in the CBD and then headed into SOuth Yarra where we met up with the menfolk and Amelia and had a light lunch and cake at LuxBite. 

After that the grandparents and Amelia went home and Steve, Graeme, I-Lin and I went to watch Grease followed by a late dinner at Gazi. Definitely a special day!

We enjoyed so much food too - meals out, meals in, cakes and treats! Daddy Chan toiled away in the kitchen! We had steamboat one afternoon which was very warm work but a lot of fun. Christmas dinner was superb with lamb and beef and prawns and dumplings and lots of side dishes. My brother in law, Graeme's parent were also in town and joined us for Christmas celebrations which included a morning at Brighton Beach and afternoon sunbathing. So different to a British Christmas.

Whilst Graeme's parent in town we also had a superb lunch at The Commoner where we had a private dining room and had some delicious food. Other treats included afternoon tea at the Langham, lunch and cakes at LuxBite, beautiful roast chicken at the Marquis of Lorne, Zumbo cakes for my mum's birthday on New Year's Day.

After New Year, we headed to Sydney where we stayed in pretty Manly and were joined by my three cousins; Carine, Wesley and Aaron and also Carine's fiance, Dave. Such a happy reunion!

In Sydney we spent time at Manly Beach building sandcastles with Amelia. We saw the sights around Circular Quay and had a great lunch at Cafe Sydney in their private dining room. On one of the hottest and sunniest days of the season, we visited the zoo.

It was a lot of fun catching up with the cousins but too soon it was time to say farewell to I-Lin and Graeme as they returned home via Hong Kong. It was bittersweet as I didn't want to see them go but they left us their most precious prize; Amelia stayed behind for a bit longer! 

After 5 days in Sydney, the cousins, my mum and dad, Amelia, Steve and I headed back to Melbourne.

When back in Melbourne, it was time for Steve to return to work. So sad! But it was a Thursday so it meant the weekend was not far off. That same weekend the cousins toured the Great Ocean Road so it was just Steve, my parents, Amelia and I in Melbourne.

Steve and I took Amelia to Collingwood Children's Farm where she walked the whole day and stroked the ponies, sheep, cows and held a guinea pig. She was very keen on getting into the chicken coops and pig pens and kept asking why she couldn't go in!

We also took Amelia to see "The Tiger Who Came to Tea" at the Arts Centre. We weren't sure whether she'd sit through the 90 minute show as it was recommended for 3 years and up and she had just turned 2. Steve took time out of work too to join us. It actually clashed with morning nap time too but the show completely enthralled her. Although I think she was a little daunted by the human sized tiger when he turned up and she crawled into Steve's lap to watch the rest of the show. We discovered she's not really one for audience participation but watched intently and very seriously! There were tears from other children because of the loud noises and clapping but Amelia seemed to cope with that so all in all a successful morning out.

Whilst the cousins were in Melbourne they took a walking tour with Hidden Secrets and said it was fascinating. They enjoyed discovering the understated coolness of laneways and alleyways as well as delicious food from pho to Gazi to parmas and the highly recommended Marquis of Lorne roast chicken! It was wonderful to see them enjoy Melbourne and also Fitzroy and I never thought Australia would be the place to do lots of shopping but a more favourable exchange rate plus the January sales meant that many bargains were had and there was many a discussion of how they would manage to get everything home within their weight allowances. Oh the drama but it was accomplished.

All too soon, everyone (except for Daddy Chan) returned home. All the noise and activity died down and it was time for me to return to work too. But Daddy Chan was around for another 4 weeks and it what a lovely 4 weeks it was. So low maintenance and such a pleasure to have him with us.

Every evening I would return home and dinner would be ready and a cup of tea. Daddy Chan would wash up, clean up, make us more tea. He spent his time travelling around and he visited Port Melbourne, St Kilda and Docklands on different days on the tram with his backpack and fishing rod. He is so cute! He'd take pictures and videos using his iPad and tell us about the people he met when fishing. One morning when Dad was at Port Melbourne fishing there was a man from Taiwan who told my Dad that he'd been in Melbourne for 10 years and at his sister's restaurant. Dad told him he was off to St Kilda in the afternoon and this man decided to follow him! So here is my Dad who is a visitor in Melbourne taking a 10 year resident to experience new places!

Dad would also head to Richmond and walk up and down Victoria Street shopping for groceries so that we had fresh food for dinner. Dinner was always delicious and whilst his washing up skills are dubious; I didn't care as I enjoyed being looked after too much! And Daddy Chan also cooked for our friends too and we had a couple of occasions when Rachel and Tim came and also Ling, Stef, Noah and Bunty. Leftovers would be enjoyed by Steve and I for lunch. Biggest shock was that Steve never takes leftovers for lunch as he doesn't like reheating food at work but this food was so delicious he was first in the queue to take it to work!

During the weekends we would go grocery shopping with Dad or other activities. Two early Sunday mornings we hired a small boat and went fishing. Both trips were well worth it as we brought home snapper and flathead which Daddy cooked for dinner. It was very pleasant to spend the morning on the water. I remember the first time we did this; during the first year we were in Melbourne and we celebrated Cam's 30th birthday all organised by Karly. That trip whilst still fun wasn't quite as lucrative fishwise and I recall the huge starfish Karly caught. Starfish sashimi anyone? We also had no idea what to do when we did catch the odd little fish and were so unprepared. I remember Karly scuttling away to a corner of the small boat to avoid the moving fish exclaiming, "I didn't realise there'd be real fish when I organised this trip!"

Fishing with Daddy Chan was a different experience. He had all the gear, knew what he was doing and there were so many fish caught. Most were thrown back in for being under size. On our second trip I even held a hand reel which was small enough that I could still hold my Kindle and read. Even I caught about 4 fish using just a simple line.

We also had a day out at the tennis where we saw Serena win her match and Stan Wawrinka play on Rod Laver. We also watched the Legends game where Goran Ivanisevic and Mansour Bahrami entertained us until the sun set and it was the end of the day.

Having Daddy Chan around was a true delight and pleasure. I think he enjoyed it too. He told me on the day he departed that he left behind some Summer clothes, shoes and his fishing rod ready for his return!

January was also Noodle Market time and Stef and I headed there one evening after work. The atmosphere was festival like and the queues weren't overwhelmingly long. Very pleasant to sit outside at a picnic bench and dine al fresco. We enjoyed the lobster rolls, the meat dishes by MeatMother and the Messina canned ice cream.

It was also my birthday in January and this year's theme was most definitely floral as I was shown love and best wishes through floral arrangements! Steve made me toast and tea which was a real step up as midweek breakfasts at home are non existent. We celebrated with dinner out at the weekend and have tickets for Strictly Ballroom for a date in March.

On the actual day I was at work but had post work drinks with one of my oldest friends Kirsty. I met Kirsty in Hull when we both worked at EY which was our first job following university graduation so long ago! Careers and life have taken us overseas so interesting twist of destiny that we are both in Melbourne now!

As we headed into February, Day on the Green took place at Mt Dunneed Winery in Geelong where we saw Sting and Paul SImon. It was a fun day spent outdoors with good chat, good music and frivolity. The bus journey back was not quite as pleasant as it took us an hour to get out the car park, we watched someone throw up in his backpack and there was an obnoxious drunk making too much noise and trying to kiss the man being sick!

Right now it's Saturday afternoon and again we're just relaxing in front of the TV. I'm trying to shake off the cloudiness of a hangover brought on by a night out with these ladies. Oh the giggles we had over bubbles and cocktails and Frangelico. The conversation did not stop and we jumped from topic to subject and back again in a desperate bid not to leave out any news!

Kim and Michelle - it was a pleasure as always.

In the two months since Amelia left Australia, she has grown up so much and is a proper little girl now! She is still a little quiet on Skype although chatters non stop to her mum and dad about it but when it comes to crunch time, she shows less interest! We normally have a chat whilst she has breakfast on a Sunday morning and last time, she said she wasn't going to talk as she had her mouth full! 

Apparently she missed "gung gung" (grandad i.e. Daddy Chan) a lot while he was in Melbourne with me and since his return she has stuck to him like glue which I am sure he is loving! We can't wait to see her again.