Birthday weekend 🥂🎉🎈

My 4th blog is simply to share with you all how I spent my birthday last weekend. Not an exciting age by any means but 34 years on this earth is definitely something to celebrate. I love birthdays, the fact that they only happen once a year and it’s the 1 day in the year that you can do what you want (within reason!) with those nearest and dearest (also within reason…considering many friends and my family are at home). I was fortunate to celebrate with my other half, good friends here in Oz and I got to make some new friends too which is always an added bonus.

On Friday night we headed to the restaurant named Portēno in Surrey Hills. This is Argentinean food at its best. Really tasty small plates of food to share with a delicious accompanying wine list of exclusive Argentinean, Italian and American wines. Great food to encourage active social dining experiences and the service was on point. We particularly enjoyed the “wood fired animal of the day” which for us was porkbelly. I even received my own slice of birthday cake from Portēno, albeit wanting the ground to open up. I would highly recommend.

My perfect unexpected birthday cake slice 😉

After a lot of food and drinks, it was a relief to go for a short walk to a nearby bar in Surrey Hills. We headed to Button Bar. It is currently in the top ten bars of Surrey Hills and it did not disappoint. Amazing bar with a great vibe/atmosphere. Music was upbeat and certainly got the limbs moving in all directions. Quite an urban/rustic/current vibe with a seemingly nice crowd of people. Really good gin and rum cocktails too if that’s your thing.

The next day, with a slight haze over our eyes and a small hangover, that was cured by a bacon and egg roll (an Aussie favourite for some reason but tastes great with barbecue sauce) we decided to clear the cobwebs with a walk around Rushcutter’s Bay. What a delight to have nearby. A cute little bay with lots of boats, greenery, water and numerous doggies!!! So scenic and nice for a morning stroll. We were trying to find a ferry to the city but after a long walk, google map fails and many hills to climb we found the nearest terminal at Darling Point to be closed at weekends!! Slightly disappointed but the park beside the terminal was stunning. The views of the water towards the city were breathtaking and well worth the unplanned trek to find. Also the houses along Darling Point are magnificent. If you like architecture then it is a pleasure to walk around here.

Darling Point WharfMcKell Park, so glad we stumbled across this park.What a view 👏🏼👏🏼

After a walk and seeing the sights we did what most people from home would do….we went for drinks…and food 😝 The weather was amazing (still can’t believe it’s winter) so we wanted to sit on a roof top bar. We headed to the Glenmore at the Rocks. Lovely spot with a great view of the Opera House. We had lunch, some drinks to cure us from the night before, some more drinks and then made our way to pastures new to meet some more folk.

We visited a place called the Archie Rose Distilling Co. to meet some friends. Whoa 😲 What a place. Such a difference from other bars in Sydney. Basically, it is a spirit distillery, making their own gin, vodka and whiskey to name a few. Then they sell them on their own premises. Great idea and not too pricey. Plain/urban decor but very effective and warms the soul. Lovely ambiance and the sharing platters were a great accompaniment. Would highly recommend a visit, just a short distance from the city centre by taxi.

Today is my Birthday!!!! 🎉🎉🎉. Nice to wake up fresh and look forward to the day ahead. The lovely thing about your birthday is all the Facebook messages from your friends and family and anyone really who cares to wish you well. It really does make you feel amazing and adds to that magical feeling that “today it is MY birthday 😊“. I was extremely fortunate to have those around me who enjoy wanting to make me feel special. For example, preparing balloons and banners while I was in the shower, creating drinks and concoctions so that I felt special and having a new birthday outfit presented (which really makes you feel a million dollars!!!). To top it off we had drinks on the balcony, in the sunshine ☀️ Perfect! I couldn’t have asked for more. It’s the simple things.

We then headed to a newish place in Sydney called Freds. Very quaint/rustic/Downton Abbey. Lovely venue and the food was to die for. Staff were very friendly and the service was top notch. Not something I would do every day but what an experience. I can see why it is so popular.

To continue we thought it would be cool to have a drink in Icebergs at Bondi Beach. The scenery is unreal and I really wanted to experience this amazing restaurant/bar as I have heard many great reports. It did not disappoint. We loved it. Just a couple of drinks to witness the view and it gave us a chance to chat and catch up with other friends who had joined us.

what a view 👌🏼

To round the night off we headed across the road to the Anchor. What a cool little bar. Met some interesting people here and had a great nights craic. The end to a perfect weekend. Thanks to all my friends who came out for me and made it a birthday to remember. Thank also to those reading this blog. It means a lot.

Take care.

W 👋🏼😘