The food was really delicious and I was adventurous and opted for a King Island Wallaby entre. It was much gamier than Kangaroo but tasty and beautifully cooked. I opted for the beef too for main course. It was baked and just oerfect.
They had a special kid's menu as well which I thought was a great idea. Roberts long term friend from work (40 years!) Michael and Annabelle and their daughter as well as Gary's friend Gregl and Vicky and their son Emille, along with Gary, Micky and Mitzi and Rob's wife Wanda made up the party. Wanda had bought a birthday cake for which we were charged $40 to cut and serve. I thought that was a bit rich. Still it was a most enjoyable day and we later visited at Gregl and Vicky's place for awhile before going to Chinatown for noodles. On the way to the Chinese restaurant we passed through the park alongside Parliament House and found a poor little ringtail possum that had been savaged. It was still alive and both Gary and I were trying to work out how to help it when a woman arrived with a towel and a box to pick it up and take it to the animal rescue vet. It was so distressing to see it struggling and such a relief when the woman arrived. Micky and Mitzi were squealing and huddling together as if it was going to attack them.
We went to the Empress of China which was a fancy restaurant once but now is seriously shabby. The buns and noodles were delicious and it was very cheap. We had passed this fancy Chinese Smorgasbord place which was charging $69 for dinner( all you could eat of course). Everything looked amazing including the food but on the way back we saw a woman had collapsed on the floor. The rest of the table was still eating but they indicated that they had rung for an ambulance and all was under control. I was thinking I might have to practice my first aid! I was rather shocked that the rest of the table seemed unconcerned and went on eating. Micky kept pointing out the overweight people who were in the restaurant. That is the problem with those smogasbords. They charge a fortune and then people feel they can eat way more than they should. It is a bit gross. However Micky is determined to try it out sometime. She is stick thin and eats very moderately so I doubt she would get the value.
Monday was Australia Day and I fell in a heap. I was so tired from all the social whirl. I managed to do some housework in preparation for my visitors due on Wednesday. A bit of drama when Nick and Bec came for dinner and Nick was cleaning out his old wardrobe. We discovered a water leak that had caused mould in the carpet and swelling of the skirting boards. We surmised it may be from the airconditioner. All I can think is $$$$!!
Tuesday was a return to Mini maestros for Ziggy and I. I was somewhat perplexed when I turned up and there was only Ziggy and a little boy named Slater. I had expected to see all the group from last year. The teacher Jennifer said we could change to the earlier session but that they expected the class to build and the other class is very noisy. It is a bit weird to be just two kids and two mothers, yet also very personal so hopefully Ziggy will really benefit musically from the instruction.
After a full day babysitting I had Jonathan and Nick back for tea and working. It was a very long day.
Wednesday I contacted the building manager about the leak and he gave me the name of an airconditioning technician who I contacted and arranged to come.
Wednesday Tara and Patrick arrived to stay for a few days. Tara is my niece by marriage and from
Adelaide. She has a speech pathology job here in Melbourne and Patrick is studying honours in Economics at Monash so they are over looking for an apartment to rent. It was fun having them because they looked after themselves and gave me an excuse to cook interesting meals.
Thursday was the skin specialist . Gail is very good and checked me all over with only one bump causing concern. She excised most of it and sent it to pathology but all else was remarkably good. I need to go back next week for the pathology results. Skin doctors really charge, so more$$$.
Back to the aircon guy and he needed to cut holes in the wall to determine the cause of the leak. $$$ more repairs though the aircon does not appear to be the issue and I need a plumber now. SIGH. The insurance company was contacted as I may have to claim.
After all this I decided a facial was long overdue and I haven't had one for over a year. It was gorgeous and it used Dermatologia products. The mask was mainly vitamins and my skin looked amazing. I will definitely be using that one! The Skin specialist has given me ReTrieve again but with a lot more explanation so I will continue to use that. It is effective in smoothing out fine lines and blotchy skin caused by photoaging( sun). A girl needs all the help she can get especially if it really works which apparently this does.
Friday the plumber was supposed to come but it turns out that we have a new building manager and so I get three 'musketeers' who were not plumbers and more concerned with me not blaming the builders. I felt quite bullied. So no plumber to solve the issue till next week. I felt quite cross with their attitude to me. The previous building manager was very personable so I hope this new guy improves.
I got notice of some cheap seats for the musical Once and so booked for Tara and I. We loved it and delighted in a taster plate pre show and pre-ordered dessert for interval; very civilised.
Saturday Jan and Gavin, friends from Maffra in the La Trobe Valley had an impromptu drinks party in her Family home in Hawthorn, which was lots of fun and then Maree my long term ( since the cradle) friend from Darwin rang to say she was in town so she came for lunch and dinner Sunday. We haven't seen each other for about two years so we had lots to catch up on. Maree is the sort of friend where you just pick up like it was yesterday. Never an awkward moment. She and her husband Peter spent 3 months in the States and Canada last year and have decided to spend 4 months there this year. Since she has survived a cancer scare they don't put off till another day. Made my feet itchy.
Well that was the week. Phew. No work done again. And classes drawing closer.
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