• Barley Background
  • Farewell UK
  • Melbourne Magic
  • Restaurant Reviews
  • Guestbook

11th Wedding Anniversary

28/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Our 11th wedding anniversary fell on Friday and we had plans for a long weekend away in the Dandenong Ranges which is less than an hours drive away from home. It's a popular weekend location but we'd never been in all our 5 years here in Melbourne much because Steve always says it's 10 minutes away from one of his biggest clients so is hardly a location for a mini break.

But they're not my client and I'd heard how pretty it was so went ahead and booked a cottage for 3 nights. Traffic was bad on Friday night so it took us twice as long to get there but we arrived just as the sun was setting and enjoyed the greenery around us.

​The cottage was cute and cosy tucked away amidst giant ferns. It was very peaceful and relaxing and we could feel the leisure of the weekend arrive and stay with us once we'd set foot inside!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture



Dinner was delivered by a local company called Flitterby's and we enjoyed a Moroccan feast that was flavoursome and made better with minimal preparation and washing up!

Picture
The next morning was all blue sky and sunshine and we made plans to explore the neighbouring villages and perhaps a stroll around the Rhododendron Gardens in Olinda where we were staying. And we got to see the front of our little cottage in the daylight. It was a like a fairytale cottage in the woods!

Our morning adventure was a walk around the National Rhododendron Gardens where we admired some pretty blooms and enjoyed the blue sky and sunshine. It was also interesting watching various amateur photo shoots and the efforts people go to with props and costumes!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
After the walk around the gardens we visited Sassafras and Mt Dandenong and found a pub that offered beer, gin and sunshine all of which were on hour checklist of course! We spent a couple of hours there reading the newspaper and enjoying a leisurely lunch. Coincidental reading too!

Our evening was spent in the cottage with the fire on as in spite of the warm day, the night was pretty cool. And we enjoyed a home cooked dinner thanks to Steve.

On Sunday morning after an enjoyable breakfast we headed to the Tulip Festival as we had free tickets that came with our accommodation. It was surprisingly busy and by the time we left 2 hours later, the queues at the entrance were pretty crazy.
Granted the tulips are very pretty and it was pleasant to be able to walk between the rows of colourful blooms but given the Rhododendron Gardens are free and this costs $25 per adult, it seems a pretty expensive option. At least it was free for us. I don't think I'd pay for it.

There was live music and Bavaria beer sponsored a lounging area with giant bean bags and we were able to secure one so relaxed for an hour laid out in the sunshine. The free wine tasting and beer for sale was definitely very welcome!

Our next stop was SkyHigh which effectively a look out that you can drive to on Mt Dandenong. We thought the Tulip Festival was busy but this was even crazier. It cost $6 per car and we were there for about 10 minutes!
Picture
Here is a view to the CBD from Mt Dandenong and we could spot our old home Eureka. There were lots of families enjoying picnics on the grass and was definitely a popular place to be.

The rest of the day was spent back at the cottage and again Steve cooked a delicious dinner and the fire burnt brightly.

Picture
And we had Monday off so after breakfast in the cottage we headed to 1000 Steps also known as the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk in commemoration of the Kokoda Campaign which was part of World War II between Japan and the Allies; mainly Australian troops as they battled to keep the Japanese from advancing to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.

The Memorial Walk here is an uphill track that was tiring before we even got to the bottom of the stone steps!

There are plaques along the path depicting the lives of those who fought and died on the trail during the Kokoda campaign and some rest stops too. Believe me I needed plenty of those!
Picture
Picture
Picture
It's a pretty walk following the path as it twists and turns uphill amongst the towering trees and giant ferns.

People apparently go up and down the steps several times; don't know how they can manage that! It's a popular fitness activity with local athletes too.

The journey up gets the heart pumping and the thighs working and coming down a different set of stone steps challenges the old knees and ankles.

Poor Steve rolled his ankle halfway down.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​​I managed to be injury free and was pretty impressed with myself. Just as we were about to get to the car I decided to pop to the ladies and as I walked across the flat lawn, what happened? Yes I rolled my ankle! At the last possible hurdle! We were a right pair by the time we got to the car both with sore ankles!
Picture

​And so to console ourselves over our injuries and to reward our strenuous activity we undid all that good walk with a naughty but oh so delicious lunch at Jimmy Grant's! This was a fitting end to a lovely weekend getaway. Although the Dandenong Ranges are only a 45 minute drive away during off peak hours (2 hours on the Friday night due to traffic), it felt like we were far far away and it was definitely good for the soul to have a weekend of R&R.

Whilst we were away for the weekend it was my granny Boo Boo's 93rd birthday and there was a family meal as a celebration. Amelia enjoyed playing with Goo Goo (Aunty Carine) but she also had a fun weekend of soft play and lunch out too.
0 Comments

More Spring Shenanigans

20/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Springtime in Melbourne is always quite unpredictable with some days that are really beautiful and then they disappear like a dream and dreary Winter returns.
It's been lovely seeing the times when Spring triumphs though and these last two weekends have seen her victorious. There are blossoms on trees, gentle breezes, blue skies and sunshine and it's even been warm enough for a spot of sunbathing during the last two Sundays.
Picture
Picture
Last Saturday, Ling, Stef and I had lunch together and then we spent some time at Ling's house where we caught up with the delightful Bunty who enjoyed eating yoghurt! Ling and I had a lovely foot massage at her local shopping centre before we did a clear out of a lot of her beauty products. She was so kind to gift them all and I could take them to work to share with the girls there in return for them going onto her blog. The Wednesday morning that I "opened up shop" was a riot of giggles and fun and they were overwhelmed by Ling's generosity. By the end of the day there was a bottle of foundation and two boxes of blonde hair dye left!
Picture
See all those goodies!? There were products for hair to the feet and everything in between!

Picture
Stef's partner Kerem kindly invited us to Sunday lunch and he cooked up a storm! We were so lucky. We started off with champagne and oysters and moved to this amazing roast rib of beef with truffle mash, asparagus and roasted shallots. Take a look at the thick slab of beef that was my treat and the phone there is for thickness comparison! And yes I ate it all along with all the accompaniments! Thank you Kerem and sous chef Stef. You are awsome hosts.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture




Friday night was a girls' night with Shern and we met after work for a spot of shopping, got our nails done and followed that up with cocktails before an amazing dinner.

Picture
Picture
Picture


Talking of amazing; it was baby Luke's 1st birthday this weekend and he's not a baby any more! Look at him on his trike and in his wigwam. All smiles and cuteness.
And as for amazing Amelia; she's another one growing up too and becoming such an adult. We had a chat over FaceTime this weekend and she wants to go on holiday again with us as it's all about ice cream and getting her nails done! Girl after my own heart really.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

So Much Activity...

7/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Obviously I spend too much on handbags because Myer invited me to the launch of their new designer handbag department one Friday evening a couple of weekends ago so I took along fellow handbag lover Kirsty and we admired some lovely leather delights and had some free Champagne as well as some sugar treats.

After the handbag browsing Kirsty and I headed to Carlton and we met up with the Timberts and their friend Yvette and we enjoyed some pre dinner drinks and some delicious pizza followed by cheese and chatter. Certainly a busy Friday night.
Picture
Picture
The following morning, Steve and I ventured out to the suburb of Mitcham where we met up with Jacqui and Richie and 20 more of their friends and we enjoyed a party bus to the Yarra Valley and visited wineries, had pizza for lunch and finished up at a brewery and cider house all in celebration of Richie's 40th.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
And here's the birthday boy making us birthday speech on the birthday bus!
Thursday last week was good fun for Steve and I as we attended the first Private Dining Room event held at a mystery location we were informed about two days in advance and in the theme of black and white. Steve and I had signed up because the chef for the event was Matt Butcher and we love his food.
It was a great evening of delicious and interesting food and we were seated opposite a couple of journalists from the Sydney Morning Herald who had eaten and been everywhere. We were had a chat with the producer who provided the drinking water; rainwater from Tasmania no less so the chatter was interesting.

It's been Amelia's 3rd birthday and she has so many celebrations with plenty of cakes and parties with different people. Lucky lucky girl!
Picture
Picture
I bought her a pink princess cloak and a floral wreath so she could dress up as a fairy princess but certainly I didn't imagine she'd resemble more of a psychedelic vampire bat!
0 Comments

    Authors

    We are Steve and Minda and we've been given the opportunity to move to Melbourne for two years. We arrived November 2010 and passed that two year milestone and are now Australian citizens! This is a blog of our experiences as we move to this new country, settle in and have fun!

    Follow @mindabarley
    Blogging Buddies

    An American in Liverpool
    Beauty Ling
    Lovely Ling
    The Demerys
    The Keenes
    Talented Katie
    Tom and Katie
    Zoe's Culinary Adventures

    Archives

    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.