My Week Away
I have just returned from a week away in Melbourne. I spent the major part of my week with my eldest daughter and her family.
My daughter is ‘someone important’ in the banking industry and her husband is one of those guys who can do anything evidenced by the amazing work he has done in renovating their house which is just wonderful considering it was a rubbish heap the last time I went there.
They have two children, a boy 11 plays on his x-box most of the day, headphones on talking to some kid who I am told was living nearby. Daughter 9 only stops talking to draw breath and occasionally eat but is a lovely girl underneath it all.
We took them to a Science works place one day, lots of hands on things for them to play with, we took in two shows one about the stars which I am guilty of sleeping in and one on lightning which I didn’t sleep in as there were sparks and lightning bolts flying everywhere.
One highlight of my trip was a day I spent with my artistic son. I met him at his studio and from there we went into town. Took in a great exhibition at the Art Gallery Of Victoria, one featuring the best of Melbourne’s contemporary artists.
We ate, shopped, and had a good time just hanging out the two of us.
On our return to the studio he suggested I try some screen-printing. Never having done so before I accepted the challenge.
I chose a design, cut it out and after a minor hiccup, he ruined it and had to do another. Here are some photos of our afternoon and our finished product.
My son Lucas and I at the screen-printing stage then the drying stage.
Well here I am painting on the lips of the figures, each hand done, impressive eh?
The final product: A high quality T-Towel, every home will want one I am sure.
The other highlight of my week was my visit to fellow blogger Jenny on the weekend
You’ll agree she has a remarkable resemblance to a famous actress.
Needless to say we had a great weekend, Jenny is a great cook, Saturday evenings meal was mouth wateringly wonderful.
We spent a great two days discussing everyone in WP and exchanging stories some of which may have been true.
But much of our time was taken in assisting her to prepare for her Funeral service this week. There is far more to this than meets the eye I can assure you and she does a great job. So if you are planning your demise in the near future you couldn’t find a better celebrant than our Jen.
So far I have met two fellow bloggers and both have been delightful company.
So in a nutshell that was my week that was.





I so look like Julia *sigh* …. I wish. Look at you and your gorgeous boy – love the shots! Glad that you were able to come down to SUNNY Melbourne! Equally that we met, that we talked and talked, then you talked, then I got a word in, then we both talked 🙂 Thank you for the compliment on the cooking too! Mostly thank you for your help with the Service, you know how much I appreciate you ICE VO-VO, ZERO COKE much!! Thank you for not being too scared to come and meet the real me, we enjoyed your company and hopefully one day we will do it again. 🙂 (hugs matey)
Thanks Jenny it was an excellent weekend. Thank you for having me.
aww you are welcome 🙂
I was well brought up.
yes you was
Love your art Michael and that is so awesome you met Jenny she’s amazing =)
My “art” Yves received a lot of help. But thank you so much and yes I spent some time with Jenny, she is lovely young lady…..I say that as she is a year or two younger than me.
Well the result is wonderful Michael and I’m so glad the two of you had a great time
Thank you, I did have a great time. Shame it came to an end. Like all good things.
That is the sad part. I met Sam online and when he had to go home after his first visit my mom and I just sat there crying in the airport. I think my mom was crying mostly because I was crying but I was a wreck
Well it wasn’t that sad for me, but I shall return, my two kids in Melbourne will always be a reason to return.
=) I think so
I live so far away from my blogging buddies
You can come on down anytime Yves, we’ll look after you…
Thank you a lot of my blogger buddies are in Australia actually Jenny, Helen, you, Bianca etc.
well say no more, there’s enough for a party already….
There really is hehe
Well Helen and Jenny are party girls, we will have a lot of fun, maybe a BBQ in my backyard? There’ll be streamers and balloons……bloggers going crazy….lol
lol that sounds awesome
I really hope someday we can do that
No reason why we can’t.
For me it is the financial side Sam and I are looking for a house (first time in our lives). Not sure if we can get the requisite loans if not we will have to look at apartments either way that is going to take a lot out of us. Once we settle somewhere then we can think of travel!
Yes i well understand a roof is a big priority over travel. Hope you get that sorted out soon.
Me too we looked at a nice place the other day =)
Well I hope it is all you want, good luck, getting a house is nerve wracking and exciting all at the same time.
It is and we have no idea what we are doing on the paper side of things, Sam is extremely handy but the business end is a mystery
Well take it a day at a time and you’ll make good decisions.
=) thanks for the encouragements
I sincerely hope it works out for you, we all want a place to call home.
That sounds like a wonderful week, Michael. I’ve met a couple of blogging friends, and I hope to meet a few more sometime later this year. It can be lots of fun 🙂
It was for us, thanks for the comment.
What a fantastic time you seem to have had. And even had time to help with the new Haibun blog Jenny is a great person, and your family sounds fantastic.
Thanks Al, always time for the new haibun. Looking forward to it..I am lucky to have a great family. And I did have an excellent time.
Fantastic
It sounds like you had a great time, Michael! I like the photos of you and your son. In addition I am sure meeting Jenny was a wonderful experience for the two of you.
Thanks Gabriella, it was a wonderful week all round.
How wonderful that you got to spend time with your family!
And – great that you got to meet another blogger too!
Love the 2nd pic of you & your son. Although – I cannot see his face as it shows in the 1st photo – love both of your smiles. A nice happy moment captured. 🙂
Thanks RoSy I did have a great week, and having a day with Lucas was magic.