Saturday 9/11 or 11/9 (depending on where you come from) was the day Laura chose to fly to Osaka, Japan. Her plan is to spend 12 - 18 months there. She has been working towards this day for around 2 years (probably a little less). Bryce and I drove to the airport with her at around 4 am in order to catch the 6am flight. We were all calm and enjoying our last coffee together for awhile.
Laura left. (but we will speak to her in the evening - thank goodess for SKYPE). Bryce and I then drove to Orange. Our last trip to Orange was 18 months ago. We had not seen Gem's new abode yet. So this was a long overdue trip. We brought the perfect weather with us. Orange has had a long and particularly cold winter, so the warmth of the sun was welcome. A brief breakfast stopover at Leura at a lovely little deli/cafe. Hmmm! Hot chocolate. Then onto morning tea at Orange. Gem's house is really nice. Neat. Tidy 3 bedroom house which she has furnished really tastefully. Morning tea in the sunroom. Coffee and walnutty bun/cake, fresh from the food market.
Gem's back garden was bathed in sun, and the chance to get washing dried by the sun was a rare treat. Lunch out at a healthy cafe (delish pea "n" ham soup) for us. A tour around Orange. Then back to Gem's place. Late dinner at a new restaurant (Asian inspired) and then home (Gem's) to chat to Laura (skype) and then to sleep. Next morning, sunshine again. Breakfast at a local popular cafe with Gem and Ro. Then a trip to a local winery for some sampling of their grapes...(and a purchase). Then pies for lunch at the Orange Botanical Gardens. And then the long drive home (3 hours). A really packed full weekend... it was lovely and it felt like a few more days than it really was. Home to Grace :)
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