Summer staycation
Happy New Year! So my staycation is over and this is my second week back at work now. I had such a nice week with family and friends, it just went way too quick!
My holidays didn’t start too well with a bout of gastro coming on at my work Christmas dinner the night before my last day in store. It ruined my plans for the night and the rest of the weekend’s Christmas functions – I wasn’t back to my normal self til Christmas dinner!
It was a more relaxed Christmas than usual. We had Christmas Eve at Dad’s which was a seafood feast, and Christmas night at mum’s which was a summer BBQ. It was actually the first Christmas without any pasta which is strange for our heritage. And with no plans all Christmas day, it was the first time we spent it at the beach with my nephew who loved the water.
Christmas Eve at Dad’s
Christmas morning at the beach with my cousin
Christmas dinner table at Mum’s
Christmas entrees
Christmas dinner date
Christmas cheer with my mum and sister
On Boxing Day morning I went sales shopping in the city. It was a successful morning, I managed to buy my entire outfit for New Year’s Day, among other items. In the afternoon I went for a relaxing drink at the Cottesloe Hotel with a girlfriend.
Aperol Spritz at The Cott
Cottesloe Beach
I got around town enjoying breakfast, lunch and dinner catch ups with girlfriends.
Breakfast omelette at Finlay & Sons
Chicken salad at The Breakwater
Burger at 3Sheets
Breakfast at Tropico
We took my nephew on the ferry for the first time from South Perth to Elizabeth Quay, had a walk around and enjoyed an ice-cream.
Elizabeth Quay
City view from South Perth foreshore
My favourite part of my week was visiting Rottnest Island, which I hadn’t been to since my Canadian friend visited in 2009. We took the ferry from Hillarys which was a 45 minute journey, hired bikes and rode around to some of the different bays including The Basin and Longreach Bay.
I was working on my New Year’s Day tan so I was happy soaking up the sun at one of the bays for most of the day, which made it feel like I was on holiday. We enjoyed a late lunch at Frankie’s on Rotto where I had a healthy salmon salad, before the ferry back.
Rottnest Island
Longreach Bay
The Basin
Enjoying the serenity
Rottnest Mall
The quokkas are so friendly
Salmon salad at Frankie’s on Rotto
New Year’s Eve was a quiet one at my brother and sister-in-law’s house. We ate smoked meats, drank punch and played Cards Against Humanity which was a laugh. We saw in the New Year with party poppers and sparklers and were able to enjoy some of the city fireworks from their balcony.
New Year’s Eve girls
NYE platter
On New Year’s Day I went to Cuban Club with some of my girlfriends. It’s an annual all inclusive day event on Dalkeith foreshore and I enjoyed vodka waters and tasting literally all the food on offer. There was food by La Cholita, Pleased to Meet You, Pinchos and Sweetlips. Once the music got better I spent most of the evening on the dance floor.
Cuban Club with Emily
Squid Tentacles from Pleased to Meet You
Vegetarian tacos from La Cholita
And now we dance…
Then it was straight back to work for me the following day, nine days off gone just like that. I really value time off during this time of year now and hope to keep doing it. It’s a good time to stop and reflect on the year that’s been and set goals for the year to come.
Tomorrow morning I am off to Melbourne and Portsea for a weekend of catching up with family and polo with the bestie.
LWL xxx