The end of January

January is just about over - its back to school next week and the excitement of a new year is about to get underway in earnest. Ella and Abi both start new schools and new stages of their learning from next Tuesday and the full routine of after school activities, homework and regular dates with friends is about to get underway again.

Our January seems to have flown by. We had 5 days in Coogee, three birthdays to celebrate (Rob's Tania's and Joshy's), lots of catch ups with friends and good times with Ella and Abi in between their two Coogee stays.

We see plenty of Abi driving to or from Redlands, but for a complete change of pace she spent the day with us last week - just doing regular Thursday stuff with us ......

..... and making a beautiful batch of cupcakes (mostly unassisted) using whatever ingredients we had on hand, in the afternoon.

Abi is such a sassy, confident and capable  person these days - she is more than ready to take on the joys of high school- singlehanded!

This January has been relatively mild in Canberra with lots of rain and many cloudy days. Despite the weather we're fully back into our regular walking schedule as my feet continue to recover their equilibrium. Early in the month we had a very eventful walk up on Mt Ainslie - thereby meeting Australia's most renowned cellist, as we assisted him in a medical event. We've had quite a dialogue since and even met up for breakfast once (he's fully recovered!) - only in Canberra do you get opportunities like that!! 

Sonoma in Lonsdale St is a pretty regular coffee break for us on our morning walks too and it's been exciting this week to see our iconic Braddon rainbow roundabout has had a beautiful makeover to start the year right!

Rob even managed to finish his new Christmas jigsaw before the month was done and I've squeezed in quite a few sewing sessions in amongst our social engagements.

January ends with a long weekend and the uncomfortable holiday that is Australia Day. We didn't do the Invasion Day march this year - but wore our Yes T shirts with pride as we walked the lake in the early morning, to the accompaniment of a 21 gun salute and the sight of a helicopter flying the Australian flag over the lake for the annual Citizenship Ceremony at Rond Terrace. 

All good things - but just on the wrong date!

Friday night we were invited to our friend Julie's new apartment further down Constitution Avenue - to admire the view and enjoy some lovely company and good food and wine. Our visit coincided with the most dramatic amazing sunset we've seen in Canberra in many a long year!

We got these shots from Julie's balcony on the 8th floor as the sun was setting.

We were in a wonderful position then to admire the special long weekend holiday drone show over the lake - 3 performances from 8.30pm - 10.30pm. 600 drones all especially programmed to create moving pictures in each 10 minute show. It was actually much more amazing than I expected.

Julie's partner Eric created this montage of the 10.30pm drone show - all with an Australiana theme (of course)

Its been a good January and we're all feeling ready to get this year underway now - bring it on! .......