Bowral birthday

We'd talked about a few ideas for places we'd go to celebrate our big seven zero birthdays this year with the young ones (Hawaii was even on the planning long list at one stage!!). However, needless to say, COVID got in the way of any ideas like that - so a weekend together in Bowral, for a bit of a party, seemed like a safe option and most likely to eventuate in these strange times!

So we timed our arrival in Bowral on Saturday to coincide with an early lunch - 'cos we know the girls are always HUNGRY! 

Cafe Rocca in the Grand Arcade really delivered the goods: great coffee and delicious food - although Abi was not all that impressed with the Persian fairy floss on her French toast. Despite this our Cafe Rocca visit established a positive vibe for the young ones on their first visit to our favourite town in the Southern Highlands.

We spent a few hours then browsing Bowral's famous antique shops. I thought Ella looked a bit aghast when we first entered "Dirty Jane's" huge emporium but it didn't take her long to discover a whole range of quirky treasures that she "had to" take back to Canberra with her. Both girls found their antiques and collectibles fossicking mojo in Bowral - although we were less surprised with Abi's interest as there is so much horse/riding related stuff for her to relate to.

We were able to check in to the magnificent old Berida Hotel in the early afternoon and enjoy an hour or so of relaxation in the comfortable rooms of this beautifully maintained, gracious old hotel.

We enjoyed drinks before dinner and then a fabulous meal at the hotel's Bistro Sociale. It's such a delight to dine out with our young (and not so young) ones. They are such engaging company, and very funny, and they love their food!!

Abi attacks all her meals with enthusiasm and on this night I loved seeing her make short work of her calamari salad and her big, luscious grilled Queensland prawns (and the sourdough bread and butter).

Ella enjoyed every dish too - and like the rest of us kept an eye out for everyone else's choices (namely that luscious baked Camembert dish that was Joshy's choice of entree ........

Abi took both these lovely portraits of Ella and Rob at dinner .....

A lovely portrait of Rob, looking very happy to be celebrating his birthday with his favourite people....

We brought a fave birthday cake (made by me) with us and enjoyed cake, candles and a glass of French bubbles after dinner in one of the many cosy (and classy) lounge areas spread throughout this rambling old hotel. This is about as close as I could get to a "serious" birthday picture of Rob with his two favourite girls, and his cake .......

We are so lucky to be able to celebrate such wonderful times with these beautiful people!