Perfect Timing

This year is whipping by at an extraordinary rate of knots.  It has been so eventful and busy that in some ways it feels like it has been going forever but the fact that we are two months into 2013 and summer has ended seems to have snuck up on me.

Autumn is arguably the most beautiful season in Canberra.  The many varied deciduous trees that line the streets of this city turn the most glorious colours - be prepared for my numerous shots because I love them.  And while the change of seasons may have snuck up on me, it seems mother nature was well aware of the passing of time.  All of a sudden I can see the leaves around the city are starting to turn and the first of March arrived with a cold gust of wind that had us all reaching for jumpers and jackets.

All of which was perfect timing because look at this divine pashmina a dear friend of mine brought me back from her recent trip to Vietnam. Usually it would be too warm at this time of year to wear this gorgeous scarf but this little taste of the season to come has me swathed in its gorgeous cobalt and pink.  What more can I say except that sometimes timing just doesn't get any better.

Girls Night

One of my favourite gatherings has to be the girls night.  After all what can be more fun than gathering with a group of your best girlfriends over delicious food and heaps of drink for all the catching up and gossiping we can manage.

Last year was a little short on girls nights.  It isn't that I didn't see my gorgeous possy of girls, it was just usually in the context of one on one catch ups or larger gatherings.  So I decided to kick things off early this year and we have made a promise to hold them more regularly.

I nearly always serve tacos.  They are so easy to make, simple to have gluten and/or dairy free (essential in my circle) and you can dress them up to suit yourself.  We drank Pimms and lemonade, white wine sangria and caprioskas - with some alcohol free punch for the drivers.  We chatted about what is happening in everyone's lives, workshopped wedding scenarios (there are 3 upcoming) and discussed various snippets of news.  All pretty much our standard fare.

The thing about a girls night, however, is they are always so relaxed.  I never worry about what to wear.  Food is casual, conversation is flowing and the laughter rarely stops.  They really are truly relaxed gatherings.  And more to the point these are friends I absolutely trust, so it is the perfect group to talk through anything that is on my mind.

I feel really grateful to have found such a gorgeous group of girls and can imagine these nights will continue till we all have to arrange to be in the same nursing home together.