May 19 - High Tea At The Terrace

  Mr Smart and I woke up after a nice longish sleep in and I got ready for my high tea with the girls.  I texted Masterchef and determined that I would meet her at her place to be collected by Miss M.  Mr Smart decided to walk me over which was nice.  We went up a street that we wouldn't normally and our reward was a kitty!  The poor little thing looked rather frightened as we two humans happened past, but it's mother didn't fret or move, so it followed her lead.
  We passed some beautiful houses and gardens and mused on far off possibilities of running a suburban bed and breakfast.  It was fun just postulating the vast array of opportunities the future might hold.  It's not a terrifically short walk, but it seemed over in no time at all.  Mr Smart and I arrived just as Miss M did, so off the three ladies went.  Destination: The Terrace in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
  We arrived a little early for our booking so we strolled around the ridiculously expensive gift shop and watched with interest as a chap set up a harp and began to play.  We went in early and were seated and given a glass of champagne each and shortly after, our stands of goodies arrived!

Masterchef and Miss M - Cheers!

   On the top tier were little cakey goodies: chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries, macarons, a teensy cheesecake, a teensy sponge cake and a coconutty cake.
  On the middle tier were scones, both plain and date.  These were served with the traditional accompaniments of cream and jam.  The jam in question was coincidentally Miss M and my favourite jam, Yarra Valley Preserves rhubarb, raspberry, and vanilla bean!
  On the bottom tier were the savouries, baby quiches, house-made sausage rolls, chicken and avocado finger sandwiches and smoked salmon and cream cheese finger sandwiches.
  We were originally to be a group of four, but regrettably FlyGirl was unable to attend in the end, however it was a pre-paid event so we ended up with food for four anyway!  We gave it a red hot go, but there were still a lot of leftovers.
  The scoffing of goodies was interspersed with that sort of really good supportive girl talk.  Sharing joys and woes alike and celebrating and commiserating such things as a united group.
  I always feel I'm very lucky to have the friends I do.  I seem to have been happily able to surround myself with loving and supportive people.

  After our champagne was drained and the goodies disappeared, the good old tea pot came around and I enjoyed two cups of tea with a splash of milk in each.  After such a delicious spread we felt happily full and content.  It was a beautiful day outside and the gardens were a vivid green so we decided to go for a stroll before heading off home.


  We wandered up towards Gardens House, back down through the Camellias at which point we happened on a fun looking tree that I had an urge to climb.  I didn't have very grippy shoes on though, so I resigned myself to simply sitting in it for a photo.  Shortly after the photo was taken, a pair of black swans began walking across the nearby lawns towards us intently.  This made both Masterchef and Miss M rather uncomfortable, both have experienced troubles with big birds such as geese, and I'll admit the similarities between swans and geese in temperament are a little unnerving at times, so on we went!  We walked down the Anderson street side of the gardens, past the relatively new arid and Californian gardens which are quite pretty, if like me you believe cactii can be pretty.

jessinatree

  Miss M returned me to Mr Smart's place.  He'd been studying hard all day and was ready for a bit of a break himself, so we went for another longer walk gazing at house porn and hard rubbish being put out for the upcoming collections in his area.  I did rather a lot of walking today which was coincidental but good nevertheless.  I like walking, particularly in company.  I find it a very achievable form of exercise and it seems to make conversation flow, tongues seem to wag more easily when unencumbered by familiar surrounds.
  I headed home after our walk, to leave Mr Smart to study and to complete my own housework and things in time for the work week to begin tomorrow.  Once home I brought in my laundry and hung out another load, getting numb fingers again in the process, retreated inside to the computer room with my little fan heater and wrote three back blogs.
  I did get hungry late in the evening, so I made a quick dinner.  Two toasted sandwiches, each comprising two slices of Helga's soy and linseed bread, two slices of Bega So Light tasty cheese and a fried egg, two dried peach halves, one dried pear half, five Brazil nuts and a 375ml can of Pepsi Max.
  After dinner, just before bed, I played three games of Ticket To Ride with Mr Smart.  We always play three games so that there can be a clear winner.  Unfortunately, tonight that wasn't me.  We played the Asian map, the European map, and the Swiss map.  I won the first game but was soundly defeated in the next two.  Ah well.. I'll get him next time!
  Jess