Christmas 2012 and Depot Beach (far away in time...)

Christmas was fabulous.  Apparently I was even having too much fun to take photos.  Luckily my Mum snapped this one before the kids got to the crackers.

Followed by a trip to the beach house for New Years.

As we are on tank water this is the most convenient and fun way to wash off after the beach.

I spent a lot of time doing this.... (nothing).

Will someone please take me down to the beach!?!

oh okay.....  R teaching them to surf.  Me, still doing nothing.  It was a lovely break.  Happy New Year all.

                       

Life lately....

... has been busy. 

A shopping trip to Brisbane.

Nicasso's latest art work.

School holiday activities.  (...that would be the Colosseum made out of Lego)

The Mummy of a 5 year old boy who was missing a tooth (discovered recently via x-ray apparently).  Both were fascinated.

Armchair Collective.

Dinner at Hugo's Manly.  Beef carpaccio is back on the menu, thank you universe for answering.

Peonies from my parents garden.

Looking perfect in my kitchen!!!

The view from my bed when the Jacarandas are in flower is magic.

Love that they are still not too old to try and build these crazy towers out of wood blocks.

A darling little friend for a sleepover.

Admiring street art.

There's also been a trip to Melbourne.  The boys are quite the fans of the pool at The Olsen. I wanted to steal the towels.  I didn't though.

Admiring the Christmas windows at David Jones in the city.

This child is impossibly cool.

This child is still impossibly cute. 

A trip to the Opera House to see 'Twas the night before Christmas.  

and much, much more.... to be documented at some point soon hopefully.  

Merry Christmas to all. xx

Byron Bay....

Not that we really spent any time in Byron, apart from a quick walk through a couple of the shops and one visit to Watego's Beach.  We actually spent most of our time in the pool or lounging about near it....

.....it was hard to motivate yourself to do much else, it is possibly the most impressive pool I have ever seen at a private house.

Then around the other side of the house we had this view.  It was a struggle to leave.

The house is on a working cattle farm, complete with a miniature pony called Gypsy, who was an angel with all the children...

One evening Gypsy had to be "exercised" as she had made a glutton of herself that day.  Crimes included raiding the chicken seed and also the veggie patch. The show she put on was a performance that none of us will forget.  Thank you Gypsy for being such a character!  

The girls came to visit us everyday and were equally as charming. 

We did manage to drag ourselves out of the house a few times.  Bangalow was fabulous and well worth a visit.  Loved exploring all the little shops,  favourites were Bangalow Lounge and brauerbirds.  

Food highlights included Cafe Marius (Lennox Head), probably the best coffee we found in the area and outstanding food.  I can't stop thinking about the breakfast chimigchanga!  Delicious!

... and an absolute must is a meal at Harvest.  A divine restaurant in Newrybar, about 20k out of Byron.   Amazing food, atmosphere and service. Afterwards pop into the deli next door to pick up some fresh bread and cheese.  You won't regret it.  I adored our meal there and the people watching is A1 as well.

It was a fantastic holiday!  Thank you so much to D and V and their families who made fairly epic journeys to come and celebrate my birthday with me.  Truly special friends that I feel very lucky to have, thank you girls!