In the last month, Steve' had his birthday celebrations as have many others back home and here in Australia. There's the usual UK Summer birthdays that fall namely, Peter, Richard, Andrea so warm birthday feel good wishes to everyone. We've also missed out on young Carine's (my cousin quasi sister) 30th celebrations that took place this weekend.

We have managed to celebrated birthdays with Rachel and Christine here in Melbourne over food and drinks. And for Steve's birthday....well unsurprisingly his celebrations stretched out over various weekends and dinners.

Other celebrations - a fun filled hens' day for one of my team members Sam. We started off on a Saturday morning at 9:15am with a minibus to the Mornington Peninsula where we visited a few wineries and had lunch. The weather was beautiful and Spring was in the air. After the wineries we headed back to Melbourne for dinner and some late night mischievous activities. What goes on tour, stays on tour! Sam is now away for a month getting married to Richard (who coincidentally is from Hull!) in Santorini and then to Vegas for her honeymoon. Sam and Richard have corporate jobs but also have a farm about an hour's North of Melbourne and she brings us eggs from her chickens and Steve and I also recently bought half a lamb from them!

One of Steve's clients is based in a country town called Mildura which is an eight hour drive or 1 hour flight North West ish of Melbourne close to the NSW border. He visits twice a year and we've always talked about making a weekend of it particularly as there is much lauded 2 hatted restaurant there.

Steve flew up mid week and I joined him on the Friday taking a small plane (40 seater) that barely got up to the clouds but it was a smooth flight and the Sky Bus to the airport was much rockier!

We enjoyed blue skies and sunshine and a two night stay in a very dated hotel aptly named The Grand although Grand it was not. Mildura is definitely a country town but not a charming or delightful one. It's much more rough and ready but we enjoyed dinner at the brewery and walks by the river. We also spend an hour at Orange World where we were serenaded by a man and his guitar with his "Welcome to Mildura. Mildura is magic!" song and a tractor ride through the citrus orchard. I don't think they'd had a visitor swing by since 1986 so rolled the carpet out for us!

Steve and I have worked hard the last few weeks with long days at the office but we're not the only ones. So a weekend in the country was welcome respite and we joined the Timberts (Jon and Shern) and the Demerys (Stacey and Andy) in Healesville. Our cottage was lovely just behind the main Healesville strip and behind the pub and was well equipped. We arrived on the Friday evening and Steve and I cooked for everyone as we toasted the weekend.

On the Saturday morning the cottage turned into a bit of an office as laptops came out to complete some weekend work. But as the sun continued to shine on, we enjoyed some lovely weather and visited a few wineries before a late lunch at the White Rabbit Brewery.

Just like Steve and I enjoy time with friends; it appears Amelia loves it too and she has spent the last month doing things with her friends. This includes a party with her two cousins hiding beneath the table, making friends with a mannequin when out shopping and then playing at home with Eddie and Pooh bear.

I have been so neglectful of this blog and I am so behind. There is so much to write about. One thing I've been planning to post his about two months old!

My wonderful friend Andrea married her dearly beloved on 21st June surrounded by friends and family. They have two gorgeous boys, Aiden and Ethan and held what looks like an amazing reception to celebrate. This wasn't just a wedding celebration bringing together two people in marriage but about uniting a family for their very own happily ever after.

Congratulations Andrea and Simon, Aiden and Ethan. Steve and I are sad to have missed your special special day but your special special place in our hearts is there forever.