spring updates

Hey yall, I know it's been a while, but if you follow me on facebook you've probably been keeping up with photos. Here's a short summary of what's been going on the past couple of months:

Mostly worked like crazy for the entire month of August. Last month of winter, and Melbourne made the most of every minute, with lots of crazy rain and wind and cold. Went to a couple of fun restaurants with dinner club, a German sausage Haus:


super authentic Indian food in Richmond, beloved by Melbourne's cab drivers:








Also went to see my co-worker/friend Jack's band play a gig at the Brunswick Hotel, which was fun and wildly amusing:


they call themselves The Thrusts
 
In September I took a couple of days off and went to Sydney for some fun in the sun. Stayed with my friend and fellow citizen of the world Amber, who is doing her masters at Sydney University. We met for the first time 3 years ago in Sydney on the Boston University semester abroad we both did. It was great to be reunited in "our place." I tried to make a point to do some of the touristy things I hadn't gotten around to before, including going to the Opera House!
It's definitely really cool and intricate up close! I also decided to splurge and bought myself a ticket to see Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro while I was in town, and it was $100 well spent! Great seats, beautiful venue, beautiful show! 

The other highlight of that trip was doing the 6 km Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk. The weather was great, and so was the scenery:

the view of Bondi, the start of my walk



finishing up in Coogee Beach


Then resumed working like a crazy person, gearing up for the big 2-5! Started celebrating early with the arrival of one Miss Anne Fuquay, one of my best friends from the great state of Texas. I was unfortunately sidelined with a wicked cold for the first couple of days of her visit, but I got my game face on in time to host my birthday party last Sunday the 10th! Decided to keep it low key and have a backyard barbeque - not exactly Aussie style, but somewhat of an Aussie/American hybrid. A very fun cast of characters was there, the weather was gorgeous, and good times were had by all.

cutting my cake: I requested and received a yellow confetti cake with chocolate icing and sprinkles. Yum!

Brendan, Jack and Alex - basically the only people who choose to come in costume. Of course, according to them, this is what they wear all the time.

 


Incidentally, when the cake came out with candles and the works, everybody sang Happy Birthday, of course. But then followed "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" - nobody bothered to alter the gender specific lyrics. It should be noted, however, that I always thought the song went as follows:

 "For he's a jolly good fellow
for he's a jolly good fellow
for he's a jolly good fellow...
that nobody can deny"

BUT! Here in Oz the lyric "that nobody can deny" is changed to "and so say all of us." Just a funny tidbit, I guess.

And finally, took Annie on a drive down the Great Ocean Road on Monday and Tuesday. Rented a car (the day before I turned 25, so we still had to pay extra, boo) and we both took turns driving. Not to scary once you get the hang of it actually! Pictures and more to follow!

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