Long weekends are in the mind.

I have made a conscious effort to stick to the one thing at a time philosophy and found myself feeling so happy this week, almost euphoric. I didn't sleep so well but it didn't impact on my emotional state. I think it is also the sense of spring that is almost here. So many trees are in blossom and the wattle is coming out everywhere. We are so lucky to have flowers through our winters and spring then becomes such an explosion of blossom.

I finished last week by going out to a bar, the Gin Palace with Bill and Irene and then having a Chinese meal to follow. It was such a pleasant change of routine. We took the tram from Kew and when it stopped at the top end of Collins street we thought to have dinner at Mamasita because the queue seemed small. It is one of these trendy Mexican places but because there were three of us we had to wait till 9:30 pm before there was a table! Over two hours for goodness sake.  Anyway we dutifully left our mobile number and set off for the Gin Palace.

Irene and I had been there on our Phryne Fisher walk and it has a great atmosphere with couches and a bohemian feel. It was a buzz with youngies but undeterred we ordered our gins. We needed the torch on the phone to read the menu mind you which I felt a bit awkward about until the youngies next to us did the same! It was a very impressive gin cocktail with a price to match. All up two gins, a wine and a small bowl of olives cost us $70. Then I suggested this little Chinese place in Mid City arcade a as we were too hungry to wait till 9:30pm so by the time our call came we had already ordered and were receiving our food. It was really tasty especially the eggplant which was super delicious. The whole meal with rice. And tea came to $70!  Better value than our drinks for sure.  We wandered down to the tram stop, enjoying the city ambience of buskers and laughing groups.  We were home by 11 pm. I stayed the night and left after breakfast and the Age quiz in the morning.  That used to be a Saturday tradition when I was staying with them prior to moving into my apartment. 

I had gone prepared for a walk on Saturdaymorning but Irene was too tired and I needed to go on to lunch at Donvale(about 40mins away). 

The Wild Women of Warrandyte (where we all used to live once), have been getting together for nearly 25 years but our gatherings have become a little spasmodic over the last three years. This lunch included husbands and was a time to check in with Rebecca ( who lost her son about a month ago) and Lorraine who has just won a court case against her husband's GP who failed to diagnose his cancer and from which he died very soon after it was discovered. Life has challenges for everyone and as you get older the sense of limited time grips us all. It was a fantastic lunch and very convivial.

I was home by 6:30 pm and started preparing for Monday when I remembered it was only Saturday! What joy. I spent Sunday selecting photos for my Via de la Plata photo book. It was so enjoyable revisiting the Camino  again.  

Made a few phone calls and settled in to watch Dancing with the Stars. 

A great weekend.