Our Fifth Day

Although we had a late night due to the Michael Jackson concert , Danny picked us up at 6.30' for our road trip to Floriade in Canberra. Luckily he is such a fast driver as the journey down went very quickly in our minds. We stopped at Maccas for an apple pie and coffee for Dan and I and Mali had a sausage and egg McMuffin and a hash brown . A real point of interest on the way down was Goulburn , I remember  going there as a four year old to pick peaches with our extended family . 

I never knew that Goulbourn was the first inland city in Australia. And although we never saw any peach orchards we did see many picturesque buildings . I absolutely adored the little cottages with the temperate climate flowers . 

Canberra was only about 50 km away and we were there before we even knew it! We pulled in at a car park across the road at Lake Burrlie Griffin and walked back across it to Floriade. Our first stop was the markets section where I spotted Steve Parish doing a book signing . Since  Eric is a devotee of his photographic books I chose one for him which Steve kindly signed . I even made a little video of him saying hello to Eric ! 

I know we should have gone to look at the flower displays straight away since that was the whole aim of our visit . However we were hungry so we went to the food displays where we decided on a mixed plate of Brazilian churasco - it was divine the lovely young server even gave us crackle on top ( our entire family are crackle mad ) . 

Eating complete off we went to gaze in wonder at the splendid tulip displays which were interspersed with Iceland poppies, parsley, ornamental kale and violas . The tulips made me think of my dear Tante Zus who adored tulips especially yellow ones.  There were also a pair of black swans in the lake that attracted a lot of attention, I admired their elegance but Rumali didn't like their necks ! 

We sat on the grass with churros and a hot chocolate and listened to the various bands it was very restful. After several hours we thought we should make tracks so following a quick detour to pick up Eric's book and a quick stop to buy Erica and myself a resin painted orchid necklace we were off.

Dan took us on a tour past all the embassies ,'I guess the thing that stood out the most for me was that the Aboriginal embassy was as small as my garden shed and the American embassy was as large as Cairns Central Shopping Centre . Danny and I were keen to stop at the Malaysian Embassy to eat some satay but Rumali was too tired to leave the car. 

We drove homeward bound, we stopped at Lerida Estate Winery it was opposite Lake George and from where we were seated on the terrace we looked over the budding grape vines all the way out to the wind turbines on the other side of the lake .  We shared a delightful cheese platter which I was compelled to have a glass of Chardonnay with , which was recommended by their sommielier . Hmm it was a perfect match , it was also the first time that I enjoyed blue cheese . I bought Will a trio wine pack as a thank present for having us. ( I have since dranken some which absolutely exquisite) . So after a quick relax here , Danny and I collected Mali from under a tree where she had been sleeping and headed back to Sydney . Somehow the way home seemed a lot further , I don't know how Danny copes with driving this distance every week for work . 

When we got home Will made a BBQ for dinner because Erica was at the theatre with her friends it was great , especially the steak ! I was so tired and am ashamed to say I had dinner in my PJ's . We said goodbye to Dan and I toddled off to bed , I was almost asleep when I heard Erica come home so I gave her the Orchid necklace which she loves - it was purple her favourite colour.