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.

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.............

The day before the day before Christmas

After a week of high emotion, speeches, tears, songs, presents, hugs, so many nice things said by so many people, I am retired, I have finished; I am also absolutely drained and exhausted as we head out to Murrumbateman on Friday night for our now traditional pre-Christmas celebration with the Fischers, Prices and Lebangs.

Thomas, Maddy & Sophie play for us so we always sing carols to get us into the Christmas spirit. We sing so well too after a few glasses of Majella sparkling shiraz (especially the 2004 bottle). Thomas gives us reprise of his amazing Mozart piece: Rondo Alla Turca.

Maggie makes the trip to Murrumbateman too but sleeps most of the night in Anke's lap after doing a bit of pony chasing in the early evening. Jenny prepares a beautiful meal - oysters of course, tender beef and her own special version of a tiramisu for dessert. All beautiful, but I feel almost grey with fatigue after my huge week. It rains in torrents at Murrumbateman, to finish off a week where we have had some of the best rain in years.

We enjoy a pre-Christmas breakfast this morning with the family; much quieter than anticipated because Claire & Jeremy have kept the boys at home because the boys aren't well. We missed them. We all gave Ella her gifts because she is having Christmas day with her cousins Amelia and Charlotte Rose.

She was in a gorgeous mood: lots of killer smiles, hand waving and showing off her athleticism on the floor. She's had her first hair cut already and has scored quite a few killer outfits for Christmas.

Josh & Jody's present to us was this speed machine - so funky and European. It certainly will add to our cache when the young set are considering a visit!

The long goodbye

Instead of another pleasant end of year music recital last Wednesday night I was treated to a "Night on the Titanic", with all sorts of special treats and surprises to mark the end of my time at Wanniassa School (only three weeks to go). 
The first surprise was to see J&J & baby Ella arriving; something they had kept secret from me. Ella made it almost until the end of a noisy night's entertainment. What a thrill for me!

Band members were all dressed in the Titanic theme. They played all my favourites: Ancient Voices, Latino Melancholia and a special surprise just for me: "Summertime"

Ann H. played Queen Ann all night with a wonderfully clever speech about my contribution to the school - all with a ship theme.

Marian and his beautiful Ivana sang "Hallelujah" just for me. Rob had requested it (in secret) on my behalf. Jody had acted as the go between. Ivana's performance brought tears to everyone, especially me!

I have never seen a bigger, more beautiful bunch of flowers. I was overcome by the night and everyone's thoughtfulness. I will never forget it!

Barely time to recover and we are off down to Rosedale Saturday for our annual lobster dinner...... It rains heavily driving down the Clyde Mt. Visibility is poor but we never complain about the rain.

Think of the 8,000 people who sat out the open air Elton John Concert on Friday night for three hours in pouring rain.

The Le... kids have grown up a lot since we last saw them in June.....must be their adventure filled lives.

Thomas and Lucy have grown very tall and are looking and acting very mature now. Chef Jane prepares a magnificent kid friendly meal for them all - lots of calamari tonight, but I think they are most impressed with the chocolate M&M mousse for dessert.

It is Maxie's birthday. We celebrate with our favourite Marjella, luscious calamari, fresh south coast oysters, lobster, fattoush and cous cous and orange salads and a frozen mascapone and strawberry cake for dessert with fantastic wines (Riesling and Sauv Blanc.) to accompany each course. End off the meal with a De Bortoli Botrytis and one of Bruce's cafe standard coffees.

Chef Jane took this picture of our magic evening with friends at Rosedale.

The possums ran riot in the trees around our dining area. They were so brazen I thought they were going to jump on the table at one stage!

This is the view from the deck on a warm sunny morning. Breakfast is a very leisurely affair after a long walk around the rocky headland and beautiful Rosedale beach. Maggie the Jack Russel cross provides lots of entertainment on the walk.

Mozart, Maggie and cupcakes

Maddy and Sophie invited us around this afternoon for afternoon tea (iced coconut cupcakes made by Maddie and rhubarb and apple cake made by Judy L. - yummy) and a piano recital by T, M and S. All three play with great skill and feeling and T's "Alla Turca" is an absolute show stopper. Their playing is a credit to the Suzuki method, Gabrielle's skill as a teacher and unending support from Judy L & J. Sounds even better too on the new baby grand!

It was a privilege to hear a preview of T's performance at the Australian National Gallery on 9 June.

T, M & S play like angels but in between performances quickly revert to their earthly selves. Maggie the 6mth old puppy brought back from Bright Victoria is a constant diversion. No wonder she sleeps so soundly in her basket whenever she finds a quiet moment. The Bali bling looked great on S & M and T will be kept entertained by his new books. It was a lovely way to end a beautiful weekend and our first week as proud grandparents.