Chelloooo... we're back!

You may have noticed I haven't posted as promptly as Katie promised below, but I always like to keep my audience waiting before stepping forward into the spotlight. I'm feeling very zen at the moment, having just spent three glorious days in a countryside retreat. Katie and I have just been to stay with our lovely friend Sarah (who you may remember from such posts as 'Feasting, Spontaneous Horse Adventures and Sore Bottoms'- check the archives for Febuary, it's there!) As Sarah was housesitting, we got to stay in the most amazing place ever- a house stuffed with beautiful furniture, musical instruments and books, in 40 acres of land, complete with a wolf-whistling budgie and an ex-race horse! I think we were in heaven, and we certainly had three days of bliss. Sarah was working when we first arrived in Gosford so we whiled away the hours playing pool in the coolest pub ever- we were the only females in there apart from two comely serving-wenches, and it had the most amazing jukebox in the world- Lionel RichTea, Alice Cooper's 'Poison' (for you Fred!), Blue, and best of all, 'Born to Run' by Brucie! Our happiness only increased after being fed with pizza. The next day Sarah was working again, so we spent a few creative hours writing, and then cooking. Katie made her legendary spag bol, and I had a second stab at the chocolate and rum cake, which I think was even better the second time round. Yesterday, we drove out to the Hunter Valley, in search of vinyards, hoping to come back with some fine bottles of grog too drink round the fire... at least that was the plan, until we ate lunch. We had the most delicious meal of salmon, antipasto, and incredible desserts, and afterwards we were all so stuffed that the thought of anything passing our lips, even wine, was unthinkable. So we'll just have to save wine tasting for Melbourne. By the evening we had somehow found room enough to eat lots of cheese and toasted marshmallows by the fire. And now we're back in Sydney. And I must go, because Katie is waiting for me and I need a boost fruit smoothy!