Thursday was ANZAC Day which is a public holiday and we always intend on going to the Dawn service but a long tiring week at work meant that we slept through dawn!  We had a quiet day and in fact that has pretty much set the tone for this weekend.

Steve and I went to a great Sardinian restaurant for a Friday night date which we really enjoyed. Sadly the mixture of Prosecco, red wine and dessert wine resulted in a hangover from Hell for me on Saturday...so after a grocery shop that we me done in and I spent the rest of the day snoozing on the sofa whilst Steve worked in the kitchen! We certainly ate well last night!

First course was grilled Goldband snapper with a king prawn, avocado and mango salsa. Fresh and delicious - super yummy! Loved the fish and mango combo.

Dessert - we're still eating and will probably see us right through into the week! Baked American style cheesecake which we paired with some tinned peaches. Smooth and delicious.

So tonight I returned the favour and did some cooking but didn't take pictures as we're eating stuff we've had before - sticky rice stuffed chicken and I made up some dumplings this afternoon.

Today we have truly been hermits and the only fresh air we have had is when the windows have been open! It's nice to have such days though and recently I have felt the urge to find my inner recluse! Maybe it's because it doesn't stop at work so it's nice to have things stop at home.

Speaking of stopping or not stopping, little Amelia Grace is growing up so fast! I love her little jacket with the polka dot cuffs and the Hello Kitty slipper socks she wears when she zooms around in her walker. Apparently she doesn't like to crawl and sit and is all about standing!

Look at those cute little stripey leggings and pink Converse, What an adorable outfit. Her legs are getting much stronger...soon she'll be running!

It's been just over a week since our return from UK. How have we settled into Melbourne life? Well work has been demanding for the both of us so really that has been the anchor pinning us down to reality.

This weekend was welcome respite for some R&R and a chance to spend some time together as long hours during the working week prevent this.

We enjoyed a night in after a few post work drinks on Friday. Steve had to work Saturday during the day, so I took a walk around the CBD and enjoyed a massage before we had a Saturday night date. It seems like ages since we had one of those. Steve had to work again Sunday morning but promised me a boozy Sunday lunch so we headed out to Brunswick and ticked off another restaurant on the bucket list.

These days our date conversations revolve around when we go home to the UK (whenever that may be...1 year...2 years...3 years...who knows) how we'll get there, where will we stop off on the way, what do we want to see, where do we want to go... I tell you what, winning the lottery would certainly help!

Weather is still mild - this photo was taken today and we're still in short sleeves. The clocks have changed though so now it's close to 6pm, it's already dark. Next week is a 4 day week with Thursday being a public holiday - ANZAC Day.

Still missing this little one...

How ironic that Steve is watching the Sunderland v Newcastle game here in Melbourne and it was only a short time ago we were there in the North East. It looks sunnier and warmer; the day we landed and indeed that first weekend was so cold. It's been a long time I've felt that screamingly sharp kind of cold. And poor Steve arrived with no coat and doesn't actually own one having sent his back to UK after never using it in Aus for 2 years!

Now we're back in Melbourne and work for me is merely one sleep away, we miss UK very much. Perhaps not the weather or the fact that you have to pack your own groceries at the supermarket but everything else. Our welcome home to Melbourne started off well as we landed in the early hours to pleasant 16 degree temperatures.

I enjoyed a day of acclimatisation on Thursday whilst Steve went to work. Unfortunately I felt a bit out of sorts on Friday but trucked on, caught up with a girlfriend in the evening for some chit chat but at 11:30pm was hit by a tummy bug which has taken up residence ever since. I am improving but feeling a bit sorry for myself and mournful for the love and company of family.

So on the one hand I really appreciate that it's still shorts and t shirt weather here in Melbourne but on the other readjustment has not been all that pleasant when ill and I feel like the weekend has been wasted as we had to cancel plans to go out and I spent Saturday evening in bed instead. So this weekend the most exciting thing to have taken place is probably the fact that I've had mini wardrobe clear out to make room for the new stuff! Oh and Steve saw Richmond beat Western Bulldogs today so that's two sporting games he's been to where his team has won which is rare!

As I return to work tomorrow, my beloved sister does too after maternity leave and I really hope we both have positive experiences!

Day 1 in the UK and I meet Miss Amelia Grace Hall. Here we are getting to know each other and starting to bond. Amelia likes to touch everything including faces! I think it helps her understand things better.

We soon develop the ritual of morning cuddles where she comes to us after her second sleep (she wakes up from her first sleep far too early for us non parents!) I cannot describe how much I loved holding her little warm body and seeing her every morning. On the whole she is a really happy baby who likes to laugh and talk to people including herself. She soon learnt Steve and I were suckers who would pick her up once she raised her chubby little arms up and gave us a smile!

Amelia has brought so much joy to the family old and young. I love seeing my dad get all soppy over her and my grandma loves her too. All my cousins including Wes who doesn't like kids want to hold her. Most of all she's an off shoot of my sister and whilst I know mother daughter relationships aren't always the easiest, there's already so much love between them and my sister understands her the best. And although she may not always want mummy first I know when times are confusing or difficult for her she will turn to mummy first.

Amelia's christening was such a happy day. The service at Sunderland Minster was led by an incredibly likeable minister with a loving and caring nature. As godparents we loved seeing all these people come together for our gorgeous goddaughter,

During the time in the North East, I enjoyed days out with my sister and mum and cousin who took annual leave to spend with me.

This is a reminder that we were there over Easter. Amelia was a bit grumpy during this supermarket shop and I'm sure dressing up as a bunny didn't help but I think she looked adorable anyway!

We enjoyed a two night break at Rockcliffe Hall where we were pampered at the spa, ate some yummy meals, watched Middlesbrough train at their training ground and experienced 5* service.

Amelia had her first swim! She loved it in the water. I think she also enjoyed the 5* surroundings from the sun loungers through to the kingsize bed! This little madam is going to be liking the finer things in life.

We had some great family meals both home cooked (thanks Dad) and also out at restaurants. We had all of Steve's family round for lunch and dinner and we also all went out when we stayed in Beverley in a cottage on a farm. It was great for my in laws to meet the beloved Amelia and also for us all to sit round a dining table together which hasn't been done in many many years.

I mentioned the two families all had lunch together and we went to our favourite place in East Yorkshire, Artisan.

Steve and I actually paid a prior visit one evening as well as arranged this lunch where we had the restaurant to ourselves.

As always Richard and Lyndsey were THE best hostess and chef and we loved their company and food. We were so lucky and pleased we could squeeze a visit in especially as they close this month and embark on a new adventure and we wish them all the best for this and will support them in whatever they plan next.

As we said to you then, there's a spare room for you in Melbourne should you wish to come and see what's going on here.

On Easter Monday all the cousins go together for lunch and hung out for the rest of the day ending in a late night KFC escapade! It's been almost 3 years since we were altogether.

Of course I managed to fit in shopping - several days of it in fact. I actually like shopping alone more than with people with the exception of my sister. I-Lin and I have shopped together for years in many cities (I recall my 18th birthday weekend in London was one big shopathon) and it's always been good.

It was touch and go whether we would come in under baggage restrictions. Unexpectedly they were very strict at check in and even weighed and counted our carry on and made us lose 1kg of stuff! That equated to a newspaper and a book which we ended up not losing and taking anyway (shhhh!). It didn't make sense when we could have bought that weigh in duty free and taken it on the plane anyway.

During our stay on the farm we saw new born black lambs. It still felt too cold to be Spring though.

Managed to take some time outside of family and caught up with some dear friends. Loved catching up with Helen and Siobhan in the local pub over Sunday dinner.

Also loved seeing Andrea et al in a local pub and thanks to Jon and Adele for cooking a yummy dinner at their beautiful house. \

The only people we didn't manage to see that we had planned to were the Pontones but that was due to chicken pox germs and rather than put the little people at risk we decided to leave it. One thing I have learnt though is that with these friendships, the last 2.5 years feel like nothing when we get together. It's like the dissolve and it's only been 2.5 weeks and that we'll be getting together again soon. Maybe it's the history, maybe it's the friendship...I don't know what it is but I know I love these people and they'll never be replaced.

All good meals end with dessert and we were blessed in this area too with beautiful lemon cupcakes from Helen and my cousin Sam went to town with a gorgeous sponge, lots of loaf cakes and home made ice cream! Thanks for baking for us - such a show of love. And like with good desserts...we'll be back to the UK for seconds soon! xxx