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Geoff had long wanted to go to Cambodia, seeing Angkor Wat has been something he's wanted to do since he was a little boy.

When our brother in law Paul died in June, at his funeral there were so many wonderful photos of the four of them together on various trips, within Asia, Africa and further afield.  They shared some amazing experiences, travel was a huge adventure that Cathy and Paul shared when they first met and they extended that into their family life with their children.

Just after Paul died, his son, our nephew, went to Cambodia for four weeks.  It was a trip he'd been planning for over a year, first committing to it before his dad even knew he was sick.  He'd raised over $2000 himself through various fundraising activities to give to a local family in Cambodia who he would assist in building their own home.  He completed extra classes at school in TEFL and would act as a teacher and mentor to young Cambodians during his stay.

The trip was challenging for him in many ways.  He had lost his father only a week earlier, and left behind his mother and sister to cope with those early days alone.  Paul, his father, was a determined man and took his commitments extremely seriously.  He instilled that same sense in his children and we all believed that Paul wanted Dan to go on the trip, to complete what he'd committed to over a year earlier, and to have fun in the process.

We booked our trip on a whim, because life is too short and we want to have those experiences with our children.  We want them to have vivid memories of a wonderful family life, together in our home, doing nothing in particular, and being lucky enough to see another side of the world, where they can truly appreciate the reality of all they have.

In SE Asia, life is lived on the street.  A huge part of it's appeal to me is that aspect of it and all that you see, not hidden from the public eye, but there right in front of you.  It can be confronting at times, but often those things that surprise you most are the things that you remember longest.  Mothers nursing babies, young children playing with nothing in particular, seemingly always laughing and pushing each other.  Their life seems simple but happy.  At times it's hard not to judge, many children are shoe free, very dirty, but always smiling and laughing.  The differences are so vast, between our everyday and the average Cambodian's everyday that it's too much to list here.  It made us thoughtful though, very grateful for all we have, or just the good fortune of living where we do, but also I felt how wonderful to share that with our children, to have the luxury of that travel with them, it was very special.

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 A lovely weekend away with friends to a gorgeous part of Victoria.  Clear crisp days, lovely light.  We dipped our toes in the ocean for loved ones.

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I've fancied making it to the Cider Festival for the past few years and we finally got organised today.  With friends in tow we drove to Kellybrook, made sure to get there at the start of the day and enjoyed it all before the crowds got too crazy.

Perfect autumn morning, crisp and cold even, but sunny and dry.  The setting is gorgeous and I'd love to go back for a meal at the restaurant, positioned perfectly at the top of the winery site.  Great set out, with areas to sit in, face painting and balloons for the kids, delicious cider for the parents, good food.

I had a lovely time, we all did, and a photo of me that isn't too far from capturing me as I feel I really look!  Ahh what a view, I've had my afternoon coffee and imagined how lovely it would be to sit and enjoy it from the verandah with those vines below me.  Perhaps one day.

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I breathe deeper just looking at these photos.  A beach we had all to ourselves; aside from sharing it with the thousands of sand flies that rode on us, unbidden, the whole time.

 It usually takes us about three days to settle into a holiday.  If I'm totally accurate, Geoff and I relax into the holiday mode quickly, but we can't truly relax until the girls catch up, get familiar with their environment and stop the constant bickering!

We slept in late, waking completely only when both girls joined us in bed, where we'd draw or read for a while, or just chat until our tummies called.

We all rinsed off each day, but the girls only washed twice in a week.  Ella both freaked me out and made me proud in equal measure, body surfing and wave jumping adult sized waves with her dad.  We all witnessed firsthand the invaluable contribution of the SLS when we witnessed two rescues on a beach that turned unpredictable and was subsequently closed.

The girls wore free HWT Australia Day hats on the day, that smelt of steak....?

We shared another of our country's national holidays with dearest of friends who have a house nearby.

I enjoyed my shorter hair and last precious days before our babe becomes a school girl.

So, today, tomorrow and then a new life begins for all of us.  What a good time to have had a holiday and clear my mind.  Stay tuned as I morph into a mum with no kids at home!

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Another lovely sojourn at the house we visited during the early summer, just before school started this year.  We just manage to switch off here, it's everything I imagine owning your own holiday house would be, but without the need to clean gutters and arrange for septic tanks to be emptied.

These snaps were captured by Leila at Venus Bay, not sure what was entertaining us so much, but clearly it hit my funny spot.  I rarely like photos of myself, but I can now look at them and say that clearly, that's me, so what the heck.

See you again in January Rusty Gate.

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One bowl of homemade pesto, so many memories.

Over 16 years ago, when Geoff and I had decided we were officially going out, he met my parents. We had dinner at Toofeys in Carlton. That was the first time I ate and liked olives, Geoff and my parents also. Small tasty ligurian olives.

When we were first married and travelling around Europe on our honeymoon, we were in Italy when the new olive oils were released. We were in a small village, perhaps Vinci, and they were releasing the new olive oils. There were a few local producers who had set up stands within the shadow of the town's church. There was a charcoal grill where they toasted bread, bruschetta. At the end a lady picked the pieces, rubbed a garlic clove across them, tossed them on a plastic plate and passed them to the next lady who liberally doused them with the vivid green olive and handed them to us. No hard sell, just taste. Peppery, grassy, olivey absolutely delicious, our first taste of new season's oil.

A trip with Geoff's parents through Provence, gosh in the early 2000's. A visit to Arles and the linen bought from a store near the bull ring.

My first herb and vegetable gardens, my own, growing basil, the pleasure the joy of making pesto myself, although my mum's is still better.

These are some of the reasons why food brings me so much job. Thankfully I can resist the eating, keep that within check, but it's the making and the memories that brings, that keep me in the kitchen.

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What a lovely break. The only downside about 5 days at the beach for Easter, is the unpacking and washing when we return home - but I know I'm not alone with that thinking.

Highlights. A lovely house that was so comfortable, quiet and kept the girls entertained no end. They jumped from trampoline, to hammock to swing set.

The Easter bunny found us again and the girls loved every moment of their hunt. Leila still had pictures to work out this year, but Ella's was made up of words jumbles in 2011. Clever bunny.

Flying Easter kites on the beach - the adults literally begging turns from the smaller ones.

St Andrews beach as lovely as ever.

Geoff and sneaking a quick hike, this time down to Fingal Beach. So much good walking in this area, just not enough time. (A heck more steps on the way up than on the way down - or so it seemed!)

Walking the Millionaires Walk in Sorrento and marvelling at how the other half lives.

Toasting marshmallows in our outdoor firepit.

Watching Ella enjoying her half day horsey adventure so very very much.

The obligatory trip to Montalto only to discover they'd sold out of their lovely basil oil.

Enjoying nan and pa's company for some of our stay and playing every board game from solitaire, to tic tac toe and ultimately to Monopoly.

A perfect break - we must book in something else soon.