At Home

I was on a museum visiting walk today
Started at the Immigration Museum and then to NGV at Fed Square.
In the Foyer of NGV Fed Square was an exhibition
But to wasn't until I saw THIS

 That I realised what THIS was.

The Hotham Street Ladies are a group of five women who make street art, installations, public art, recipe books and cakes. I had seen some and some articles about them before.
The rug is entirely icing: individual squeezed drops. and the living room, cushions. pizza pieces, rug afghan etc are all cake and icing! There was a dining room table covered in what looks like the ends of Xmas dinner for 8.

Kate's Birthday

I went down to ANdrew and Lynne's for Kate's 15th Birthday Tea.

Kate wa shaving a real Kate day still in her PJ's

Lynne's folks are in NZ so it was just us with roast lamb and a cake that Kate and Lynne made.
There was a lot of laughter and talk about how big the cake was; How Heavy and how long it took to make
When we had finished the meal Nick and Andrew headed out to the outside fridge (to get the crane to lift it?) and came back in with the cake.

I went to lift it and assess its weight based on my skill of a baby's weight. I would have said 5kg.
So a tall cake with Smarties (M&M's I think) on top and Kit Kat on the sides.

So Nick emptied the dishwasher to find big plates for the cake serves, as Lynne prepared a knife and candles for the CAKE

Much deriding by Nick of Kate's skills as she lit the candles But she did get them all out in one puff!

Then she cut the cake, and my surprise at the inside was worth it they said!

A rainbow Cake.

Beautiful to look at, but rather heavy and sweet. We all only had one slice, if that and Kate was taking it to school next day 

So a fun thing, more than Bake off Competition!!

Then finished the evening off in the Spa on a  balmy evening!

White Night

Celia and I experienced Nuit D'Etoile when we were in Paris (on my birthday even!) and I missed White Night here last year so decided to go in this year.
The main feature is the illumination on buildings and music everywhere and CROWDS.

The sign on Princes' Bridge

The Footbridge arch lit up.

 There was an announcement as I got off the train saying the 'crowded concourse' so take care.  So I exited at the west end and walked over the footbridge over the river.
Later  in the night  trains were only departing  the city from Flinders Street only. All City Loop stations were closed.
It was still light but the crowds were building already .
Pity anyone who had not heard of it, getting caught up on their planned theatre visit or similar

The stream was thick both directions.

The roads were closed to traffic on Swanston, Elizabeth and Flinders st (as well as the Lanes)

The Station was glorious and the intersection PACKED

The buildings along Flinders St from Fed square

 The crowd at the busy areas was solid.  It took me 10 minutes to cross the road from Fed Sq to the Station!
A Family were moving in opposite direction beside me and the Dad said "Maybe I'll catch you up" And mum said "I'll never see you again!"
A rescue boat driver left the Club saying he had to meet his friends at Fed Sq at 630;  I hope he found them!!!

http://media.theage.com.au/news/national-news/white-night-preview-5182825.html
Last year the crowd was estimated at 300.000 with out as much adverting as this year, so perhaps 500.000.
I think the fact that it is spread over a bigger area this year would make the crowds better.
It was the crowds that decided my return home even though I hadn't seen half the things . I certainly didn't see the best but what I saw made for a magical evening! 

Melbourne Star

I have been considering a photo (while driving over Bolte bridge ) of The Melbourne Star, the  Re-constructed Observation Wheel, but decided much too dangerous so I desisted .
Then tonight at North Melbourne Station a perfect view!!
Had just finished my pics, when a guy came up and asked if I would take his photo with the wheel on his camera . So we both enjoye dteh sight.

from the platform

A colour change

Then view from top of walkway

A Catch up

Before Celia left after her whirlwind visit we managed to fit in a visit to the ever hospitable Andrew and Lynne. We went home from the airport to greet Mary who had been looking after Spencer, then headed off to Patterson Lakes.
Bridie and Dylan were there and Celia was able to give them her Christmas Presents Dylan's were all on a Pirate theme, and he went and planted his pirate flag in the stone garden and buried the treasure box! Then he was in the pool for the rest of the time!

Showing me the Treasure, with one eye shut!

Hydrating some pirate boxers with Kate his best friend who takes him int he pool!

After they went home we had some home baked Pizza and then a spa!

The Wedding and King Island

What a great few days Celia and I had as we went to previously unvisited King Island, for the wedding of her god daughter Annemarie Hartz to Michael Francis.

The added bonus was we missed all Melbourne's days of 40+

We made our bookings back in July when the Invitation came and Celia was home to plan. We flew with Rex airline from Tulla but people came many ways by air. Over 90 people flew in from the mainland and when the friendly King Island residents asked 'are you on holiday' they all said 'Oh the teachers' Wedding!" Annemarie and Michael work on King Island at the campus in Grassy.

Chairs set up on the beach and an Aisle marked in stones and flowers on poles

Annemarie and Michael did all the planning and preparation as there are no caterers on the island except a woman who does salads. Michael caught all the crays we had (rationed amount caught each day!) and they roasted pork and lamb in fire pits

They had a lot of help but planned everything to the last detail.
The wedding was on the beach at the back of a rental house one of two fabulous adjacent properties (kingislandbreaks.com.au) that housed the families, with some campers in between. The owner had agreed to the use, as long as the 130 guests did not roam into the house! So it was all set up outside on the spacious grass area and was a fabulous, casual, happy, fun event.

Some of the wedding guests

A catch up for Celia with some long time friends from Teaching and studying days. Great Fun!

The Groom  Michael with his 2 brothers Tim and Matt

Annemarie's Family Pauline, Grant (Tara's fiance) Tara, the wedding couple, Fran,
Meagan (girlfriend of) Liam & Michelle, and Blue the dog.

Tara (Annemarie's twin) was one bridesmaid 

Cutting the cake

Signing the register

My god daughters Pauline, Michelle and their brother Liam's girlfriend Meagan 

Resting on covered hay bales or at the tables set up.

Flying Ants

The week I got back form Santa Fe we sponsored the Flying Ant Regatta at Port Melbourne Yacht Club. These are a small dinghy sailed by young people usually 8-15yr olds. They have 2 crew with a spinnaker and a Trapeze.

Celia pointed out the blot on the lens But not before next 6 pics!

The weather was definitely not friendly the first 3 days but after that they managed to get a regatta of 9 races completed. While the weather started windy ++ it ended up HOT so a typical Melbourne week.

Then had to wait for the wind to come in!

The tables set for the Spit Roast Presentation Dinner

There were Prizes and awards for almost everyone!

One of the table mats that proved a great Hit

It was a week of hard work for the canteen staff Hayley and Thea

The organizing  drive was from the Hunt family whose kids had been some of the early Port Tackers at PMYC  All 3 children, now living in Perth are sailing.

Christine Hunt