We started with brunch at the Badde Manors Cafe in Glebe for our bridal party and other honoured guests who were playing a big part in our day so everyone could get to know each other better and thank them in advance for the insanity that was about to ensue!
Christine Knight
New Year’s Day
After only a few hours of sleep, we were up on New Year’s Day for lunch with friends. Beverly and Chris had flown in from Shanghai for our wedding and this was our first chance to hang out since they arrived in Sydney. It was the first time that we had all gotten to hang out together since Bev & Chris’ wedding in Singapore.
Since it was a public holiday, we spent the day doing what we used to always do together – eat, eat, and then eat some more. Lisa was lovely enough to host and cook, and we pigged out till we were stuffed…
New Year’s Eve 2009/2010
What a way to end and start a year. With everything going on we decided to make sure this New Year’s was fun and a bit special. We have had a lot of international and interstate guests so wanted to show them a real Sydney New Year’s.
The Year That Was 2009
I can’t believe it’s the last day of the year again already. Not just the last day of 2009, but the last day of the decade. Time is rushing by too fast.
It’s been an amazing year I’ll never forget. Getting engaged, travelling around the world, spending the Christmas period with amazing friends who flew in for our wedding. It was a really fabulous year and I loved it.
Looking forward to 2010:
* Our wedding, Jan 3 (!!!)
* Hawaii honeymoon in April
* New home (fingers crossed!)
I always set resolutions I don’t keep, so I will keep it simple this year. I want to spend 2010 focusing on being calmer and happier. I want to spend more time working on my photography skills and being around my family and dogs. 2010 is going to be a shift for me from career focus to focusing on making myself happier from the inside out. Can’t wait to see how it plays out!
Hunter Valley Day Trip
Masa was keen to see the Hunter Valley, so we decided on a small tour group so we would all get to enjoy the wine. We visited three boutique wineries and the Smelly Cheese Shop. The wineries were all fabulous, and we bought some wine at all of them. The cheese shop also had some great food, and we left with multiple local cheeses and gelato.
Blue Mountains with Masa
Masa, the first of our overseas guests, arrived on Sunday. I wanted to show her the parts of Sydney she hasn’t seen before, so we have embarked on a few epic road trips beginning with the Blue Mountains.
After a bit of a late start, we ended up for lunch in Katoomba, checked out the Paragon Cafe for their chocolate, then went down to the Three Sisters lookout. It was a stunning day after such gloomy weather, and we had a fabulous view over the valley.
We then went on one of the many bushwalks in the area – from the Grand Staircase to the bottom of the cable car back to Echo Point. We stumbled upon another chocolate shop on the way out of Katoomba, then drove home, completely wrecked!
Mel and Keeva’s Wedding
A wonderful way to finish up the Christmas period, with my friends Mel and Keeva’s wedding. The weather has been gloomy this week, and was overcast for Mel’s wedding on the 27th too, driving us indoors for the ceremony. It was a ceremony with a glorious view though – overlooking the harbour, framed by the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The ceremony was lovely, the reception lots of fun, and we met a bunch of super-nice people. What a fabulous day!
Congratulations guys, thank you for including us in your amazing day!
Christmas Day, 2009
This Christmas was the first in my life where I haven’t sat down for a traditional Christmas dinner at the Warwick Farm house. It felt a bit odd, but was fun to try something new!
Alec and I stayed over Christmas Eve and woke up in the morning to puppy slurps.
Christmas Dinner with Friends
Rosalie was kind enough to host our annual Christmas dinner. This year it was plus the next generation – welcome little Chiara to the group!
My Bridal Shower & Hens Day
My dear friends Shelley and Rosalie threw me a fabulous bridal shower / hens day on Saturday.
We started with high tea at 3pm at the Park Hyatt in The Rocks. We were given a private room overlooking the water, so we had plenty of space to wander around, and it was quiet so we could chat.
The girls put together an amazing recipe book for me with their favourite vegetarian / dessert recipes and a pic of the two of us. It was so sweet and thoughtful.
I was initially uncertain about having a hens party. The thought of having all of the focus on me is actually quite frightening. I feel a lot of pressure to make sure everyone has a good time and find it hard to just enjoy myself. This time, however, it was a lot of fun, with everyone just so happy for me and looking at me with so much love all day. It was wonderful to be around the women who are closest to me for a day of eating, drinking and much talking. Thanks to all my wonderful ladies who are always there for me.