happy birthday flossy

My darling Flossy had a very special birthday on Saturday. It was only fitting that we went somewhere every bit as special and as lovely as she is.

The original gates to the Mansion.

Werribee Park Mansion is beautiful, gracious, elegant, traditional and contemporary. Just like my sweet sister! Oh, and of course I couldn't fail to mention, historic - now that she's entered another decade she's that too!! It was built between 1874-1877. Flossy wasn't!!

For 50 years from 1923, the Mansion was a Catholic seminary. The wings which are now the Mansion Hotel were added during that period. I just love arriving at the Sofitel with it's grand gravel driveway.

When the hotel was developed the extension simply had to be contemporary. The top suite was where we stayed for my 40th!

meme, 2004




The Foyer




The Birthday girl with some of her guests.

Mummy, who won't be happy with this photo. Sorry!


Above the entrance to Joseph's Restaurant.

At the entrance to Joseph's

The Table

Guest of Honour

Just add the most of the most important girls in Flossy's life, some were overseas, and let the fun begin.

Moi.

At this point you may well be wondering where dear Flossy is. All my fault. I don't know what I did to the camera settings but almost every single photo of people was goofed. That'll teach me to take the big fancy pants camera without a proper understanding of it. Sorry Flossy.

View from the dining room.

And then came the meals. Yum would be an understatement.

Scallops with Coffee Crumble

Thai Beef Salad

Beetroot (duh!) soup with Baby Herbs

Good old Chicken and Mash (only I'm sure it wasn't worded that way on the menu - which I wanted to keep but wasn't allowed to! Boo to them!)

You guessed it, Salmon!

Artichoke Risotto - which gave me Buyer's Remorse. I went with the Salmon.

Flossy let me taste hers.

Now what about the desserts I hear you ask? Technical hitch. Apart from the botching of the people photos, we were given some bad advice with scheduling the obligatory postprandial massage and half of us had to disappear straight after our main course to be pummelled into a heady bliss. The rest ate delicious desserts, I think, and chatted some more.

Again I give you photos demonstrating my lack of training. The anteroom of Le Spa was washed with a gentle amber glow. Promise.

Mmm, that'd be another badly set up photo.

Happy girl post-pummelling, still in heady-bliss!

Clever us, managed to bully our way into having desserts after our pampering!

I didn't have the ability to do anything other than lift fork to mouth so no photos of the Chocolate Fondant (oops I think I just dribbled!) and Berry Sorbet nor of the Pumpkin Parfait with Coffee Crumble (they doubled down on the crumble with the scallops).

I hope you had a lovely day, Flossy.

She really is the most special person I know. We are beyond close, we go way beyond finishing each other's sentences. We can do that without having to say a word.

She is made of all the best things you'd ever look for in a best friend and sister. I'm so proud of her and her achievements. Mostly though, I'm proud of her kindness, her good heart and generosity, her gentle nature, fun spirit and her ability to laugh with mirth. When we get going we can no longer breathe. I panic sometimes because I don't know how to stop the laughter long enough to suck in a breath. It's wonderful to have my Flossy. We have been by each others sides for 40 years now. She's more than precious to me.

I love you to the moon and back Floss.

My wish is that everyone has a Flossy in their lives.