The week before

We're leaving for Ireland and the UK on Sunday, via a four day stay in Tokyo Japan. So we've been quite busy with final arrangements and working through our to do lists. We're very aware however that we're leaving Canberra at its most beautiful time of the year. 

Our morning walks around the lake are just sublime at the moment - with subtle, ever more beautiful changes in light and colour as the peak Autumn month of May draws nearer.

Our weekly sunset visit to Redlands with Abi are just as beautiful too ......

The big event we're going to miss while we're OS is Ella's 17th birthday in May. To make up for our absence we celebrated with her, a month early, on Sunday, with a family breakfast at the Hyatt. 

What a stunner this girls is and what an amazing young woman she is growing to be. Nothing is going to hold this one back!

We weren't game to risk the dining room smoke alarms with the full set of 17 candles for Ella on this occasion.

Although we're very excited about the trip ahead of us - our first foray into long haul OS travel since 2018 we're really going to miss these gorgeous girls (and their Mum and Dad) while we're away .......

We had a farewell dinner together tonight - and fittingly, Canberra turned on  a spectacular sunset.