Holding the Reins of the Runaway Extrovert 2013: Day 103 - Happy 80th Part 2 day 1

Up and at 'em just after 9 am after getting to bed at 11.30 the night before.

Tired but headed off after a yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs, headed off to buy candle holders and lots of alcohol for the big birthday event the next day.

Back home to drop it all off the back out the door for lunch at Steve's wonderful mum and dad's - yummy AFL hotdog lunch - and some late Easter eggs then off to his lovely Aunty Winn's place for a 2 hour catch up over shortbread and fruitcake before racing back to Carolyn and Ric's about 5.30pm to change and take Steve's dad and mum out for a delicious dinner at Orsini in Camberwell, opposite the Rivoli cinemas where Steve used to work.

Lovely relaxed 3 1/2 dinner over 3 course meal and had a ball talking to his mum and dad who are delightful company.

My Dad gave Steve's mum a lot of old Westerns he didn't want as a birthday present

Swimming Pretty in the Glass-Half-Full 2012: Day 357 -

After a busy night the night before, which translated to late to bed, we were up at 5.30 a.m. to get ready for an 8.30 flight to Melbourne. That involved the usual showers, and last minute packing of course but also included wrapping up two camp chairs in newspaper and bubble wrap (presents for Noah and Matisse) - I nicked Steve's fingers with the scissors which gives you some idea how tired I was from the get go, after weeks of 4-5 hours sleep a night to get all my blog posts done, and errands performed - and then a walk down to the front of the building complex to get a taxi.

We got one in no time flat, and arrived to an almost empty departures halls which gave us tons of time to have some $10 cheese and bacon Turkish bread sandwiches, buy some painkillers at Guardian Pharmacy and of course the extra-big Christmas issue of The Economist which a festive tradition.

By a great miracle, the flight left on time, arrived on time and we had a fun crew. Carolyn met us, drove us back to their place where I snapped these shots of her amazing Christmas decorations, was given an ABBA book for a birthday present and then we set off for Steve's mum and dad's for lunch.

I got a birthday gift from Steve's parents, then we ate hotdogs (a Saturday tradition that has run for 30-40 years since Steve and his brothers played AFL) and his mum's famous "faces" which are YUM. It was lovely to see them again - they're so warm and welcoming and lovely to be with.

Off to Steve's Aunt Win's place - she's 96 and still lives by herself with the aid of 2 carers and some appliances which help her look after herself. She is a feisty, delightful lady who is totally with it, impressively intelligent and well-informed and was a past commissioner of the Girl Guides who brought in programs with girls with disabilities. 

An amazing lady - I can see why Steve loves her so much and is so close to her. (The only downside was how tired I was - VERY tired - and I found my eyes glazing over quite a bit; no reflection on Aunty Win who is gorgeous).

Back to Ric and Carolyn's - via Chadstone shopping centre which is HUGE - to watch a Harry Potter movie with them, and Noah and Matisse (they were staying over) and eat yummy spaghetti. We barely made it to the end of the movie so heavy were our eyes but it was a fun night and we had a ball just hanging out. A perfectly chilled end to a busy but thoroughly enjoyable day.

SOOOOO lovely to sleep!