September 08 – A Day in the Hills

September Ladies Day was a real highlight for me. Starting first with the Lobethal Markets which were lovely and by sheer chance the layout for a HUGE tapestry had been hung and we were there for the first strand to be pulled through, all by done by hand. I have been back to the markets since and have taken photos of the progress and the estimate on its finish date is in about a year. Maybe we should try to get back there for the unveiling? We have a photo of all of us in front of it, not started, and I think it would be great to recreate the photo with the finished product as the back drop. We'll have to see what we can do.

After the markets we drove straight through to Melba's chocolate factory. Oh my goodness, YUM I If I'm in a coma just take me there and the smell alone will give me the will to live and ill come round. A little known fact provided by Lady Holly- they have aerosol that is the scent of aniseed I its true! Lovely Lady Holly used to work at Darrell Lea and they used it there, apparently it makes you want to buy chocolate.

Well it's not like any of us needed help in that department but I do have some words of advice - buy MORE than you think and buy decoy chocolate. Take the decoy chocolate - a small amount of standard choc - and upon entering the house after a Melba's run, throw this in the general direction of husbandfpartnerlchildren, this will give you the time you need to properly stash the good stuff in a place they never go ( I suggest the cupboard that holds cleaning supplies). As for buying more, Melba's chocolate does tend to shrink and float away when you're not looking - say watching a movie, reading a good book etc. You'll be occasionally putting your hand in the bag of chocolate when suddenly, after a mere 2 or 3 pieces, you discover that the bag is empty! It can't be the others - they're still fighting over the decoy - and it couldn't be you - you're on a diet (which is why you're only taking tiny bites) so it's obviously a flaw in the manufacturing. Still, as previously stated, you can circumvent this problem at Melba's by simply adding another couple of kilos to your trolley. Sorted.

We headed for lunch to the WoodSIDE not the WoodCROFT Pub for lunch - VERY special shout out to Lady Michelle who by chance corrected my brain sprain the day before that no, we weren't going ALL the way back to Morphett Vale to have lunch - Duh l THANK YOU Lady Michelle. The Woodside Pub meals were amazing in the way that only true country pubs can be. I don't think anyone finished a schnitzel, my Cooper's Beer battered fish was divine ( see Lady Chef Steph for the recipe!) and the staff were lovely and wanted to join, Hurrah for the Woodside Pub! Lady Jamie-Lee was at last welcomed to her first Ladies Day, and bringing all the news of little Sienna Kate with her and photos to boot. The main raffle prize of an astoundingly gorgeous perfume pack "Flowers by Kenzo" was won by my big little sister, Lady Holly and the raffle prize of a lovely dip bowl with matching spreader was taken home with Lady Sara ,This months LEGEND trophy winner was Lady Steph! She really made the whole day fun and just gave off a fun-Sunday-laid-back vibe that really helped make the special, Congratulations Lady Steph!