(Camera) Light

I made some tiny advances (like really basic) in understanding the new Fujifilm X-T3 this week - and decided to try for some low light, more moody shots to test out my exposure compensation functions etc (so many function buttons to get familiar with!).

Front window view at 5.45pm (cloudy day) on April 4...….. and a dusting of Autumn colour on our Hassett Park trees.........

 Apartment interior view same time of day ........

 Just testing focus capacity in dim light (it's pretty good I think!) .……...

 I wanted this shot to look really moody! .........

 We've had a very social week with lots of lunches, (French) movies, and coffee outings too. It culminated last night in another dinner out at the Kingston Foreshore to celebrate Maddie L's 22nd birthday.

This is not my favourite part of the Foreshore - but I thought it looked very pretty last night in the dusk light (6.30pm) looking back towards the Carillon in the distance. Well done Fujifilm X-T3!

 Two gorgeous sisters: Maddie the birthday girl and Sophie just a few hours off leaving for Vietnam on her ANU study tour.

 Group shot at Le Rustica Kingston Foreshore - not bad for such low light!

 Happy birthday Maddie! - glad my camera was up to capturing your birthday celebration last night.

Christmas Sunday 2

A pre Christmas get together at the Fischer's is one of our favourite traditions of the season. This year we started earlier than usual - but all the usual suspects were there! Jurgen's new shirt (from Vietnam - thank you Thomas) was the star of the show. 

The young ones: Maddie, Sophie and Thomas have been part of these celebratory get togethers for as long as the rest of us (at least 16-17 years?). We're so happy they're still prepared to be part of the fun!

Maxie and I contributed the appetizers - we went light fresh and pretty looking this year.  Judy did her usual Clyde River oysters entrée (thank you Bernie's at Charnwood), Jennie did a fabulous main course: confit duck with all the trimmings …………………………….

 ...and Anke did dessert - one of those rich and luscious Gumtree chocolate cakes with fresh summer berries ….. and expertly served by Maddie.

I was a bit slow and missed getting a nice pic with Sophie in it too - but she was definitely there - although a late starter because of her work commitments

The vineyards on the hill are looking lush and green although Jennie and Wayne may have some misgivings about the amount of canopy. Times have changed at Bush's Lane and the vineyard is no longer their day to day responsibility - it's a time for travel and taking stock for them.  We are so lucky that this pre Christmas celebration tradition at Bush's Lane still continues despite the other changes all around us. 

Turning 21

Turning 21 is not quite the milestone it used to be, but it's still a great excuse for celebrating being a proper "grown up" at last - especially when the grown up is as special as our young Maddie L.

We've known this gorgeous young woman all of her 21 years (and Sophie all her nineteen years) and her Mum Judy and Dad Jurgen, even longer than that.

The family birthday dinner was at Belluchi's last night. Phoebe and Thomas drove down from Sydney for the occasion. 

Cutting the cake (made by Maddie as part of a family effort) was celebrated after, at home.  The Dad speech is always a lovely part of big "grown up" birthday celebrations. Jurgen's are always very dignified and loving....... as you would expect.

We've been very lucky to be included in lots of big occasions in Maddie's life, and watched your grow and evolve into the smart, funny, spirited individual we all know and love today.

 And she's a great cake maker too!

 Just so you can see what 21 years looks like .......this is Maddie with big brother Thomas way back in 1997.

 I took the pic below of Maddie and Thomas in early 2000 at the vineyard dam at Murrumbateman.

 Sweet Maddie aged 5 and a half ..........

 Maddie and the family spent a term at school in SW France in 2005. We stayed with them for a week and saw a lot of that beautiful part of France with them .....

 Maddie, aged 9 in 2006 at Rosedale.

 And a year later aged 10.....

 Maddie aged 15, with Maggie the Jack Russell.

 Aged 16 and all dressed up for the Year 10 Formal.

 Sweet seventeen .....

 .... and aged 18 at Kirra Beach, Queensland.

 And aged 20 at Christmas drinks at the Hyatt.

Here's to many more happy birthdays Maddie and thank you for including us in so many good times over the past 21 years.

Birthdays here and there

We're enjoying a birthday bonanza here (and there) this month .........
Last week there were three reasons to celebrate. There was Sophie's birthday on the 14th ....

With a gorgeous cake made with big sisterly love ......

 It all reminded me of a sisters' picture I'd taken a few years ago (11 to be exact) - they really haven't changed all that much have they (still gorgeous)? 

Judy's birthday was next (on the 15th)...... and then ...... on St Patrick's Day in Melbourne it was time to celebrate James's BIG (ending in a zero!) birthday.

The venue was the Union Club Hotel on Gertrude St in Fitzroy (Offspring territory) - Richmond Tigers territory too!

 The Canberra mob was well represented...

 And all James and Fiona's gorgeous family were there .........

 Bib zero birthdays call for funny speeches from the kids .......................

 James and all the family are the fiercest supporters of the Richmond Tigers!

 Happy birthday dear James!

We had to say goodbye yesterday morning in Fitzroy after a wonderful breakfast together. The pic below is special to me .... probably the last time I will see James and Fiona and their lovely family in Melbourne together for quite a while (they're New Zealand bound!). 

We stayed on in Fitzroy for the weekend, loving being in the centre of this lively, hip and happening part of Melbourne. We headed out to St Kilda Beach yesterday afternoon - drinks at the Stokehouse on the beach and then back to town to enjoy fabulous Japanese food at Ichi Ni Na Na on Brunswick Street. This is a wonderful city!!

Christmas 2 & 3

We've had one of our busiest Christmas weeks ever: dinners and drinks with various friends, a spectacular Indian themed party on Friday night, breakfast with neighbours here at Saint Germain on Saturday...... then our traditional pre-Christmas celebration at the vineyard near Murrumbateman on Saturday night..... and then actual Christmas Day of course

We took these two gorgeous young women to drinks at the Hyatt on Wednesday night, a great way to kick off a busy week of revelry.

.... and out to Murrumbateman on Saturday night........

 The vineyard looks particularly lush and beautiful at this time of day.........

Our meal was another triumph: Clyde River oysters and Riesling , slow roasted pork belly (with potatoes and cabbage) served with a very special French cider and a delicious tea smoked duck (with bok choy), followed by Anke's chocolate cake from Berrima and hand dipped chocolate strawberries - YUM! Another wonderful night at Murrumbateman!

We were lucky enough to be invited to actual Christmas day with my dear friend Irene and her family and friends.. Irene found lots of necklaces under the Christmas tree this year and wore them all for this pic......

We started with oysters and sashimi in the garden (served with a beautiful Joseph sparkling Cabernet Merlot from MacLaren Vale) before moving inside for lunch: stuffed veal roast, ham and pork, lots of vegetables and my mango salad. It was a big happy crowded table with lots of laughter and a great mix of generations .....

 Rob was best mates with Kim (two cool, old dudes) by the end of this beautiful, happy lunch.............