Together at the Castlemaine Jazz Festival

Us three sisters have been planning to spend the June long weekend together for months. The Jazz Festival in Castlemaine gave us a good excuse for the venue (nicely placed between Canberra and Geelong) and it seemed like the stars were aligned when Maxie was well enough to enjoy the trip too.

Maxie & Rod and Rob and me drove down the Hume Highway (and a huge number of back roads) on Friday and settled into the quirky Newnorthern Art Hotel in Castlemaine, just as the sun was setting.

Early Saturday morning we drove down the road to Daylesford so Maxie could drop off a load of art works at Stony Creek Gallery and so we could meet up with Ros and Pete driving up the road from Geelong.

While we were in Daylesford we took the chance to check out the famous Lake House (with its two chefs hat restaurant). Aah we're so near and yet so far from ever staying here! 

 There were a lot of very fat geese on the scene - but that's the name of another famous restaurant I think!

 But back in Castlemaine there was a three day program of Jazz to enjoy - and we were ready! 

 One of the best venues for enjoying the vibe was the gorgeous old Maurocco Bar - we hung out there on two of the evenings of the festival.

 Some of our favourite acts included: Yusupha Ngum & the Affia Band at Phee Broadway, Jungle Fusion, ade ishs & eMotion Band, and the brilliant Shirazz  ...... such variety and amazing talent!

 Yesterday morning we were good tourists in Castlemaine - taking a walk in the Botanic Gardens.....

 The Mill in Castlemaine (opposite the Botanic Gardens) is a real drawcard - a place for great food and craft makers - and it has a huge vintage precinct ……….

..... the Castlemaine Vintage Bazaar  and Platform No 5, the home of all things vintage, re-purposed, hand-made and second hand.

 We all enjoyed checking out this amazing space in the old Castlemaine woollen mills - what a great use of a historic old working building.

 We settled in for lunch at The Mill foodie precinct - Das Kaffehaus to be exact. The boys were all happy with their Polish sausage and us girls enjoyed our roast cauliflower & truffle béchamel toasties, served in bright sunshine and crowded tables under the watchful "eye" of the old mill chimney.

 Castlemaine has streets full of beautifully built Victorian era cottages and substantial public buildings - all legacies of Castlemaine's eras of prosperity (gold and wool). It made it an interesting place to walk to and from each venue and our quirky Art Hotel on Barker Street.

 Meeting up in Castlemaine for the festival was a first for us and a wonderful way for the sisters and Rod, Rob and Pete to be together. Here's to many more!

21 years

We were lucky enough to be invited to Aine's 21st birthday party this weekend - at her home on Sydney's north shore. It was a lovely party with the sweetest, quietest, smartest bunch of young people I have seen together in a L-O-N-G time.

We've known sweet Aine all her life but only got to meet one of her biggest fans (Charlotte) last night. Charlotte and her little sister Olivia delivered confident, articulate and passionate speeches that were a highlight of the night - in tribute to their fave (ex) neighbour.  I found it hard to believe Charlotte is only 16 years old.

 A picture of Aine, with some of her besties (fellow students at Sydney Uni). You can just tell they are bunch of troublemakers can't you?

 I have known Aine's Mum Tania for over thirty years - from when she was fresh out of ANU Art School herself. Now there's the real wild child of this party!!!

 There was a big crowd to feed - and everything handmade and delicious.....

 ... and a perfect birthday cake for Aine ..........

 .. and hours of dancing after with these gorgeous young (and not so young) things. My feet are very sore today (but at least my head isn't!).

 Tania was in fine form (of course).

 The pool area was deserted tonight. Sydney has had the same cold snap that we've had in Canberra this week - but it was a very pretty backdrop to the main party scene....

 We just had an overnight stay in Sydney this weekend - at the Meriton in Chatswood (for the first time ever). Apart from a bit of a shopping session in the CBD for me and a delicious brunch at Maroubra's Pool Cafe this morning we didn't do much else in Sydney, other than enjoy Aine's party.


We're going to really enjoy watching this special girl launch herself into the world - just as soon as this Uni degree is done!