Hi Everyone,

I have to confess that with all this trip preparation, I haven't posted anything new since 20th July. Slack I know but the house has never looked cleaner, the windows sparklier and the hard waste patrollers are now the proud owners of a broken wall oven, a clunky clotheshorse, rusted old power tools circa 1970 and a huge bag of bottles of nail polish!!! I had booked a hard waste collection through council but was nearly regretting that decision because each time I took stuff out onto the nature strip, yet another car had passed, stopped and souveniered yet another piece of our unwanted junk.

Only 9 more sleeps to go and we are off on our holiday. First stop London, then Paris and then to Bella Italia where I will see in the start of my fifth decade.

Yesterday we had my birthday lunch with the footy crew as I will be away. We had a terrific time at the Terminus Hotel in Clifton Hill - food and wine is great and the company was a hoot. Ms Viviette was an unfortunate scratching due to a debilitating back injury that prevents her from sitting down for any period of time. So in a show of collegiate support we ate and drank her portion of everything on offer!!!!!

After lunch some of us went to Sally's new abode. A very lovely home indeed with the best lounge room not to mention the walk in robe.......the crew gave me a stellar birthday prezzie which I just love and Viv also gave me a £10 note that used to entitle Poms to come here but she tells mee is only likely to buy us a cup of coffee in London these days. Who knows though, with this much talked about downgrading of the american credit rating and the likelihood of Italy coming close to the brink, perhaps we may be able to buy a castle that Betty and Phil no longer need or perhaps a Tuscan villa going cheap!

Someone might put some good gear out on their nature strips! You never know!

Ciao

Kelly