By way of some history, back in the day, I spent some of my youth working at a very glamorous discount department store known as Big W. Ah those heady days when shops were only open half a day on Saturday and there were no scanners and only two registers had an EFTPOS machine and credit card payments were processed on paper on a "click-clack machine". Oh the memories....It was then back to my teenage home for more food and a little rest before the evening festivities began. Our wonderful friend Brett had kindly invited us and the lovely Kate over for a pre-Christmas BBQ at his villa - what could be better. Me, being so excited to have my car thought I would drive. Well, who is the sober fool! The food and company was top notch and there was exchanging of gifts - what more could you ask for? And can I just say could S, B and K throw back the champagne and wine...the catch cry of the night was "I could go another bottle". There was discussion of leaving my car there and I was questioned on why I drove - I still have no sane answer to this! At least there would be no hangover on Christmas day for me. I am trying to find a positive in my foolish behaviour. It was a fantastic night and a great prelude into the festive season.
Christmas lunch was at Ma and Pa's this year and S and I were roused by my father telling us that the rest of the family would be there in 30 minutes....it was 10:30 am. I knew that meant three little excited tykes who would be eager to get at the presents Santa and others had brought them. I also knew there would be Lego for me to play with!! Some I had bought for the nieces and nephew and others I would be receiving for me (two more Lego Architecture series). So they all arrived and general chaos ensued with wrapping paper everywhere and squeals of delight....yes, mainly from me.
It was then time for lunch which my mother had been slaving over for days and it was delicious - so good, I tell you. Lunch was accompanied by quizzes and word sleuths as supplied by my niece Sophie. They were a bit challenging! It was then back to the lounge room to immerse myself in Lego heaven. I helped Hayley with her Lego Friends set and then started on a mammoth fire station for which one young Ethan, who was a little impatient, kept asking when we would finished - geez!
Highlight on the dessert front was Mum's alpine profiteroles with snow!
Late afternoon we ducked up to Brett's parent's place for another festive glass of bubbles and see how they had fared this Christmas. It was then home to welcome the delightful Penny and Darren for a light dinner. Mum is not so big on the word light so there was ample! The picture below is of them in Paris...I forgot to take a festive snap.
It was then all over for another year and time for some rest, but maybe slip in another wine before bedtime.
26 December 2012
It was 'up and ad 'em' at a relatively early time for we had to sort ourselves out for the day ahead. Of course the first stop was breakfast and then it was up to my brother's for more Lego building. There were three sets to be made - goodness. We made some good inroads but we had to drop in to some friends before our journey to the south west. We dropped by to see Melissa and Mike (and family) and managed to catch up with a few folk there.
By now it was about 4:00 pm and time to take the Audi A5 convertible on its first journey to Margaret River. It was a bit too hot for the roof to come off unfortunately. After just under three hours we arrived just south of Yallingup to Cape Lodge. I have always wanted to stay here.
At reception we were met by Stephan eating stollen, from Germany...we were to discover that there are very few Australians working in the South West. Off to our Forest Spa suite we were taken and although the setting is beautiful the rooms are a bit underwhelming and the furniture feels a bit IKEA like and they were obsessed in vacuuming stripes on to all the furniture. On the plus side when we arrived we were told that in our rate we had a dinner included (which was that night), and a winery tour and tasting at Voyager. Who knew - we love free surprises!!
So off to dinner we shot again to be looked after by the United Nations of waitpersons. This included a French wine waiter who was "'orrified" to be serving a chardonnay at 2 degrees when we mentioned that all the white wines were too warm - clearly we are plebs! I like my white wine to be crisp, especially when it is so hot. The view from our table was wonderful (bottom right, above). The restaurant had been rated one of the ten best in the world but I think the person rating it had only been to ten restaurants as it was not that great!! Still, we ate and drank quite happily!
27 December 2012
We hit the breakfast buffet with gusto and a coffee was definitely needed. It was then off to enjoy scenic Caves Road to Voyager Estate Winery for a little tour, tasting and lunch - not that we were hungry. We had a lovely little journey through the vineyards and then to the tasting. Lunch was advertised as two courses but it seems as if "bread" is now a course as there was only one course...hmmmmm.....
After this we hit the road again further south to Augusta and through some of the beautiful marri and karri forests....which S observed mostly through the back of his eyelids. We made it happily to the gusty Augusta Lighthouse and it was time for some Kodak moments. One of the guides was very excited to tell us that Switzerland has a lighthouse which of course is odd for a land locked country - I think the Swiss just want to have everything. Apparently it is in Lake Geneva and is there to ward off foreigners, well, maybe not.
I had been missing my cow friends and they erected a statue for me.
The famed lighthouse where two ocean's meet.
Trying not to get blown away (but loving my Bally loafers) and before S went exploring on the rocks which to me looked very "verboten".
It was then back up the highway to the hotel for a little pool time before dinner which was to be in Busselton with my good chum Wynn at the Goose Restaurant. I had driven so on return to the hotel we managed to sneak in a quick night cap at the bar.
28 December 2012
Somehow we managed to sleep through breakfast but they did ring us to see if we would be joining them - a nice touch. As Kath and Kim would say, it was then "wine time" but not before a quick visit to the Dunsborough Bakery for a meat pie which I coupled with a meat pie - obviously I was having some sort of tradie fantasy. Closest I will get is calling one to install something.
Then we tootled off in the Audi to Pierro and Cullen wineries. As we had a late-ish start we limited ourselves and we wanted a little pool time. I also managed to get in touch with the debonair Patrick who was down at his south west retreat and so we also took ourselves for a visit and a champers. So lovely to catch up with Patrice and hear all his goings on.It was then back to the lodge (roof down, wind in our hair) for dinner where we tried the a la carte menu washed down with a wonderful local red wine. Wine was excellent as was the truffle butter and the food was fine.
29 December 2012
Much to our mutual disgust it was an early start today as I had organised a myriad of social catch ups on the way back to Perth. We did manage to get a decent breakfast in before we hit the open road. First stop, Dwellingup where the delightful Simon was with his partner Robert. This drive was stunning (and for those with their eyes closed, really dark) and really showed off the WA countryside. We made it in record time and enjoyed a natter, some bubbles and laughs.
As they say in the classics, it was then time to hit the road and this time to Yokine to see Jo and Suzanne, with whom I started my accountancy career with at Price Waterhouse. They are now all happily married (one for the second time...) with kiddies. Our friend Sharon was also there who I used to work with. Again wonderful to see everyone and a great afternoon tea spread was provided with prosecco and coffee. Really it has been been just moving from one meal to the next!
As if this was not enough it was time for drinks with the boys at The Cabin in Mt Hawthorn. The funniest thing was that the manager asked us what the occasion was with all these "blokes" getting together for a drink - he asked if it was a "buck's night". Yeah, something like that! It was so wonderful to be able to see Mark, Simon, Ian, Michael, Brett, Donald and Mehmet.
I am such a good son and had agreed that I would have our last night at home with Ma and Pa. Another culinary treat was in store and it was a wonderful way to finish off the Perth stay.
30 December 2012
Another day, another jet as they say. 10:00 am departure meant an early rising. Ma and Pa took us to the Perth Aerodrome Qantas Domestic Terminal - full of flouro vests and bogans. Thankfully we took ourselves to the Chairman's Lounge for some tranquillity before our long journey across the Nullabor.
It was then time to board the luxury Qantas A330 and settle in to 1A and 1B to Melbourne's Tullamarine. Crew were great and very accommodating and happily kept the glasses topped up. There was even a new Australian sparkling on board.
We then were whisked to the Hilton on the Park in a lovely Audi A8 where would lay our hats for the next few days.
No comments:
Post a Comment