Chicas, Cheesecake & Cinema

A fly-by-night trip to Melbourne was not exactly what I wanted, but it was all I could wangle this time around.

This time I was lucky enough to visit Melbourne for the weekend of Elinor's birthday celebrations, whereby we invited our nearest & dearest to join us in the Espy in St Kilda for a beer or three on Saturday arvo.

Seriously, it felt like a home-coming, it had really been 4 months or so since I had frequented the pathways of St Kilda, so after flying in on Friday evening, Elinor and I set off for the cafe/restaurant with which I have somewhat of a love affair. It goes by the name of Banff - I'm sure I've mentioned it before, I even wrote a review for it awhile back! Suffice to say they're the best pizzas around that I've found, and SO cheap. The lady manager even recognised us when we ducked our heads in to order - awesome! :) It was a beautiful mix of my favourite Squid pizza
and a Morrocan Lamb pizza to give us a pizza-juxtaposition, followed by a drink in The George's Bar whilst watching a jazz quartet pootle, plink and drum their way through a crescendoing piece, and then into The George Lane Bar for a Bushfire Appeal fundraiser drink.
(Photo courtesy of Breakfast Out Blog)
Saturday started with a delightfully lazy sleepy morning, moved eventually toward a Breakfast rendez-vous at The Galleon - another of my favourite eateries in St K. As ever, it was face-meltingly tasty and just so delightfully St Kilda I was in heaven! Our rendez-vous with Galleon soon turned into an amble down Acland Street to browse the books shops, curio stores and stare laconically at the cakes in Le Bon (my fav cake shop). The time was ticking by too quickly, and we pottered on to the Espy to meet up with those nearest & dearest I mentioned.

Elinor has a lot of good friends, and quite a few popped their heads in for a glass of something potent, perhaps a bite to eat, and a chuckle with Elinor. It was great to see so many friendly faces, including Ing & Doug (El's folks) who I was able to bestow upon a tipple and have a friendly chat and catch up. Very kindly to me they continue to be, always nice to see them. Various faces came and went during the increasing blur of a celebratory afternoon - even the hockey boys came out to play (thanks for coming down boys & related ladies!). It was a fantastic afternoon turned evening in the Espy, with the sun dropping down into yet another glorious St Kilda sunset. I've missed it.

There were many highlights; seeing friends and those I have come to think of as family at the front of it, especially seeing Elinor happy, smiling and at the centre of a throng of loving peeps. I must say I chuckle a lot these days, but this weekend had me with a smile on my face almost permanently, and a hearty belly-laugh expelling from my face for a very large portion of Saturday. It was tonic for the soul. Friends really are an important bunch, and I have some really good ones in Melbourne.

Sunday was a Sam & El day. As it should be.
We furthered our joint bank account spending with a trip to Fresh @ Elwood. I love this place - I reckon it might just be the bread, I'm in love with it. Perfectly poached eggs smothered in light creamy hollandaise over crispy bacon on top of a stack of griddled toast. YOM.

Popped our head into my old flat in Elwood to see Stephanie, were greeted with warmth and felt cosily back at home back on the sofa looking at the giant tv and chatting with Steph. El even mentioned that for a moment, it just felt like maybe we were back in my flat and that we could just potter back into my room where all my stuff would be + fall asleep together after a Sunday brunch. Sadly my tenancy is no more, and Steph found a Kiwi named Brett to share the rent - funny, a New Zealander called "Britt" (as they pronounce it) whereas I'm a Brit now in New Zealand...

The time continued to pass too quickly so we took in a film in the afternoon. Dean Spanley is a fantastic tale of a Dean who reverts to his previous life as a dog when he drinks a certain type of wine, opening up and telling those around him about his memories of his Master, and giving a loveable insight into the workings of a Dog's mind. I particularly liked the bit about barking at the moon. A tear jerker of a finish but with a happy twist. Elinor and I knew that it was almost time to head to the airport and get me on a plane back to NZ, and that is always a hard point of the visits... I became a little sad as always, and the customary lump in the throat welled up once more. The beautiful views from Brighton beach were a welcome interruption, as were the images of Elinor in her new found happiness in a pair of sunglasses.

Time was up, the airport was upon me, and I had to accept my fate once more - back into Jetstar's care - and away I went. Somehow 24 hours after that last embrace I'm back on the West Coast once again sans Elinor. Flights are already booked for the next long weekend in Christchurch. Until then I can only wish I were with my favourite Chica.


Photo Album Links - Oz Visit + Cragieburn travels