Brisbane, QLD


Sunday, September 18, 2011

SURPRISE BIRTHDAY LUNCH

Sonya and Fox     
It was our youngest daughter's 37th birthday last week.  Sonya is in Sydney at the moment for her husband, Bernie's work.  He is hosting Beauty and the Geek for Channel 7 again. Anyway they are going back to LA tomorrow, so we decided to give Sonya a surprise for her birthday. Together with her sister Carol-Ann, we organised for us to fly to Sydney for a birthday lunch with all of them but Sonya didn't know we were flying down for the day, she thought she was just having lunch with her sister, Carol-Ann and brother in law, David,

So, last Sunday, using our frequent flyer points we caught an early flight to Sydney. We were quite excited.
Carol-Ann picked us up at the airport and drove us to their apartment in Vaucluse. The view from their bedroom window is stunning.

They used to rent downstairs but they recently purchased this top floor apartment. The previous tenant left her balcony garden. It is quite lovely.

Bill enjoys the view from the lounge room while we wait for Sonya and family to arrive. We hid in the study until they had said their greetings and organised Fox's cot for his afternoon nap. Then we jumped out and said "Happy Birthday". They were all very surprised and happy to see us.

 Papa gave Fox his lunch.

 David made us gnocchi, mushroom sauce and salad. It was delicious.

Fox investigated every button available in Aunty Carol and Uncle David's home.

We are so proud of our little family and we love them to bits.  Photo by Carol-Ann

Then it was time to say goodbye and catch a plane back to Brisbane. (A 2000k round trip in one day. That's one good thing about being and oldie, you can do mad things like this)

That was last Sunday. Tomorrow, Sonya, Bernie and Fox fly back to Los Angeles and we are flying away on another adventure too. We are going on a Western Australian Wildflower tour with APT. Then we fly to Adelaide in South Australia and meet friends for a tour around Pt Augusta and the Adelaide Hills including a historic train trip.  We are catching the Indian/Pacific train back to Sydney. We will stay with Carol-Ann for a few days and then fly home.
Posted by
Labels:

37 comments:

  1. DeniseinVASeptember 18, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    This is an awesome post! Happy Birthday Sonya! What a lovely surprise to see Mum and Dad…and a great family gathering before they go back to LA. Super photos Diane, the new home looks great too and what an incredible view. Fox is always adorable. You make a very warm and loving family portrait. And now you are off on your travels again. Can't wait to hear all about the new adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  2. eileeninmdSeptember 18, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    Happy Belated birthday Sonya! Great post and Diane I am so happy you were all able to get together. I love the family photo. Little Fox is just adorable. Since he is walking now he must be exploring everythig. I hope you have a great trip, seeing the wildflowers sounds great to me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. eileeninmdSeptember 18, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    Happy Belated birthday Sonya! Great post and Diane I am so happy you were all able to get together. I love the family photo. Little Fox is just adorable. Since he is walking now he must be exploring everythig. I hope you have a great trip, seeing the wildflowers sounds great to me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. john bainSeptember 18, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    You have a beautiful family.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JulieSeptember 18, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    OMG, I do not think I could do all that in a pink fit!! I would be ill for the next 48 hours!!

    But I am every so glad youse did!!

    Have a lovely couple of holidays, and maybe we can catch up again when you are back in Sydney on th 12th.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Margaret DSeptember 18, 2011 at 10:08 PM

    Lovely photos and happy occasion. Great memories...great that you can fly that far in one day :)

    Have a lovely trip to WA and I do hope the flowers are blooming well this season..enjoy your train ride.

    ReplyDelete
  7. yevishaSeptember 18, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    a lovely surprise lunch indeed. enjoy your wa and sa trip. it sounds very nice. i always love to travel by train. that's a long trip. enjoy yourselves and i'll look forward to the blogs and photos when you return. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousSeptember 18, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    Your family photo is splendid and seems everyone is smiling. Was it a timer photo or did someone take it for you?

    ReplyDelete
  9. GattinaSeptember 18, 2011 at 11:50 PM

    What a wonderful birthday gift for Sonya ! I think if we would do that with Dario, Marieken would faint ! (or maybe not,lol) You become real globetrotters, this time in your own country, but it is so huge there are certainly still 1000 things to discover. Have a lot of fun ! I'll follow on Bill's blog !

    ReplyDelete
  10. MadSnapperSeptember 18, 2011 at 11:51 PM

    i loved meeting your family, they are wonderful, that is a great shot of all of you and i like that balcony and the view. i would not want to be flying with you but would love the train ride

    ReplyDelete
  11. biebkriebelsSeptember 19, 2011 at 2:34 AM

    That is quite a story, you are a travel-beast. Flying over the world as if you our a filmstar. Great you can do those thing when you are an oldie indeed. I like the freedom very much too. You can make quick decissions and not have to ask your boss for time for hollidays. Have a great time and I will look forward to your story and the photo's.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Come Away With MeSeptember 19, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    You have a wonderful family, Diane and Bill! Such a blessing these days; not everyone can say the same.

    Enjoy all your peregrinations! I shall stop by Bill's blog to follow your journeys.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The Southern Mint JulepSeptember 19, 2011 at 8:33 AM

    The wonderful adventures you and Bill share together gives me hopes that someday I will be walking again and Phil and I will do things like this.

    Wonderful birthday for your daughter for sure.

    Keep traveling and keep happy!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jo-Anne's RamblingsSeptember 19, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    What a wonderful family photo and what a great surprise for Sonya it would have wonderful for her to see you all, hope she had a fantastic day.
    Yeah a long trip but if you do it why not

    ReplyDelete
  15. GeorgeSeptember 19, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    It looks as if the birthday surprise was complete. I'm glad you were able to make the trip and enjoy the time with your entire family. The family portrait is wonderful.
    Have a safe and exciting trip.

    ReplyDelete
  16. DianeSeptember 19, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    You are just so jet set! No wonder you are proud of your lovely family. xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Joan ElizabethSeptember 19, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    A wildflower tour in WA ... I am sooo envious.

    ReplyDelete
  18. DianneSeptember 19, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    What a wonderful surprise for your daughter and I'm sure you both slept well that night after your long day - I'm sure it was worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  19. GardenOfDaisiesSeptember 20, 2011 at 6:06 AM

    Those are the best kind of surprises! Have a wonderful time on your wildflower tour!! I can't wait to hear about that!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sallie (FullTime-Life)September 20, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    Have a great trip! I can only imagine the beautiful pictures you'll come back with.

    That was a great birthday surprise. I loved seeing your daughter's view and apartment too! That is so different from any way we've ever lived I just love imagining what it would be like!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Colleen - the AmAzINg Mrs. BSeptember 20, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    Oh I'll bet she loved hte surprise soo much! Good for you and good for ehr and yes, you have such a darling and wonderful family and with another beautiful baby on the way..well, can life be any sweeter than this? I think not :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. SquirrelQueenSeptember 20, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    I'm glad you got to visit Sonya for her birthday. The photo of her and Fox is wonderful.

    Have fun at the Wildflower tour!

    ReplyDelete
  23. DesireeSeptember 20, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    How wonderful you were able to pull this off and spend a lovely day together! Such super pictures as always of your precious family. Enjoy your trip! See you when you return!

    ReplyDelete
  24. VeronicaSeptember 21, 2011 at 1:03 AM

    what a great surprise and treat! Fab family pics to treasure!
    thanks for stopping by my blog and your lovely comments

    Veronica

    ReplyDelete
  25. What Karen SeesSeptember 24, 2011 at 5:05 AM

    Diane, love this post. I have to say I absolutely love your portrait of Sonya and Fox. The lighting is beautiful (as is Sonya), and Fox looks like an angel. Did I tell you we have a Bear??? (Actually his name is Barrett but we call him Bear.) It looks like you had a great time. It is the most amazing blessing to have a close family, and I appreciate ours even more being away from them for 18 months. (Thank heavens for Skype where we can see and talk to our 5 kids and 9 of our 10 grandkids every week!)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Callie BradySeptember 25, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    You do have a beautiful family! And what a marvelous surprise for you two to fly there for her birthday. Fox is a charmer! Love your photos!
    Enjoy your blogging vacation, Diane! Rest up!

    ReplyDelete
  27. JimSeptember 25, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    Great surprise.

    ReplyDelete
  28. ValerieSeptember 26, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    A superb view from the balcony indeed and a wonderful family shot Diane - despite the distance that normally separates you all, the "connection" between you is obvious. Safe and happy travels.

    ReplyDelete
  29. JoSeptember 27, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    What a lovely surprise and what a beautiful family you are. I love the family photo. And Fox is so cute. Our little Joel says Button very clearly as he loves all things with Buttons: remote controls, cell phones, telephones, anything with a button. Enjoy your travels across your country. Greetings Jo

    ReplyDelete
  30. SusanSeptember 27, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    You're a couple of tricksters - how lovely for your family to all be together like that.

    What a great trip you're currently enjoying. Oh my goodness, those wildflowers won't know what's hit them when you start snapping Diane. You'll bring back heaps of beaut pictures I'm sure :D)
    Have fun in South Australia too.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiSeptember 30, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Happy belated birthday to Sonya! It looked like such a fun day..Fox is such a handsoem little boy.

    I hope you are having fun in W Australia. I look forward to all your posts when you return, Diane!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Míriam LuizaOctober 1, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    Gostei de passear pelo seu blog! Você tem uma família linda, e fotografa muito bem.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Marsha YoungOctober 2, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    My goodness, you do get around. I think it is just wonderful, and so were the pictures!

    Enjoy the wildflowers. Wish I were with you. ,,,Marsha

    ReplyDelete
  34. Marsha YoungOctober 8, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    Happy birthday, Sonja.

    Loved the lorikeet photo. We got to hold lorikeets at the Long Beach Aquarium this summer, and they are just wonderful!

    Have a happy day! ...Marsha

    ReplyDelete
  35. Toyin O.October 14, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    Happy Birthday to Sonya; the pictures are great. Looks like good times.

    ReplyDelete
  36. UnknownOctober 15, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    Looks great! Have a good weekend! I love the tails on the quantas planes:)

    ReplyDelete
  37. RoeHOctober 17, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    I'm missing your blog. But then I've been missing in action to for about a month. Hope you're doing well and having a good time.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)