My Aunt the Carnivorous Moose: Swimming Pretty in the Glass-Half-Full 2012: Day 166

Well technically her birthday was yesterday but we celebrated today when she arrived into Sydney at about 1pm for her birthday dinner that night at Cafe Sydney in the City. (The catch cry for the weekend became "Why are we doing this? Because it's your birthday!")

But first, the every lovely Fahmi graciously agreed to help me pick her up - I still haven't fully figured out the Goget whys and wherefores - and on the way back home we stopped off for lunch at a new pub 4143 at James Barnes. We were going to go to a very popular new cafe called The Grounds but frankly it was so crazy busy that we gave up and went next door. Very glad we did as the food - all salads; mine was a delicious haloumi, rocket and fennel salad ... grabbed something light as my something was still feeling quite upset able - and the warm service was wonderful. We also ended up briefly sharing a table with a very friendly couple from The Shire who were a delight. It was a lovely start to Kerry's weekend. (Unfortunately my gorgeous guy couldn't be there as he had to work on stuff at home ... contractor work stops for no one alas.)

We then headed home, talked a lot, napped and got ready to head out for dinner at the gorgeous Cafe Sydney. Our plans to catch the bus in - trains were cancelled due to track work - were cast asunder when the bus we needed pulled away from the kerb before we got there so we took taxis in and out.

The night was sublime. Kerry adored the view, the service was as usual faultless from the greeting at the front desk to the serving of the cocktails in The Lounge while we waited for our table to service at the table itself. Everyone who looked after us was warm, friendly and made us feel very much at home.

And the food and wine (which Kerry picked) were superb. Everything we ate was perfect and I only wish I could have all my meals here!

A waiter even took photos of us against the city backdrop, going to a great deal of trouble to do so.

*** in other news I finally removed the sticky strip of paper and saw my scar sans stitches and was pleasantly surprised at how minimal it is. Now begins a fortnightly regimen of moisturising and massaging until I switch to a scar-minimising gel.