Happy Birthday, Big Fella...

We have well and truly moved into our tenth year of love, laughter and lunacy. Yesterday, Michael turned sixty-three. In the morning, he had unpacked his untold myriad of packages that made up his brand spanking new Weber Baby Q barbeque. The whole shebang will shimmy perfectly into our little courtyard and visitors will need to be limited to six. Or we'll make dinner in shifts. Naturally, we still have the far bigger device for our Famous Sausage Sizzles. But for more intimate, albeit still rowdy evenings, we have a bbq that will at least fit into the limited space.

We ventured forth to the Big Smoke for fun and frivolity, hoping for the minimum of headaches at the extraordinarily early hour of quarter past ten. In the morning. We even had time to change out of our jarmies for the occasion. We were returning to the Good Guys (such a lovely name) in Midland to pick up the side benches to the Baby Q and purchase the last possible accessories so we can cook a roast outside on stinking hot summer nights. When I have foolishly decided we are having a roast...

The weather was definitely more akin to the Antarctic than to spring. We ignored the wind and cold and moved onto a quick lunch before a movie. After much consideration, we had decided to go to more selective cinemas that were showing movies that at least had a plot. Hence we found ourselves in downtown Leederville, a relatively posh inner suburb of Perth in search of food.

We happened upon Pinchos - a "Bar de Tapas" - just down the road from the Luna cinema complex. Oh, my giddy aunt! Bloody awesome food, excellent vino and switched on staff. The cheery Donna, hearing we only had half an hour to eat guided us swiftly to a four plate tapas deal with a glass of vino each. We enjoyed calamari, meatballs, two delectable salads, a tortilla each and a slice of chorizo soaked in honey with goat's cheese and pickle titbit. All for $35 for two. Glorious food, a hip location, cruisy music and fast service. Wow.

We staggered into the movie. "Beirut" was a classy, edgy, seat of our pants thriller. We were required to think and follow the storyline. We were entertained, rather than blown away by senseless violence. There was violence, to be sure, but relevant to the setting and era. We were delighted to have made the effort to venture into the belly of the Big Smoke to experience a movie more sophisticated than "Shoot 'em up 43"

Out into the daylight again. Even though this was Michael's day, I was not going to pass up the chance to have a proper bra fitting and buy some decent bras. Michael was directed to the ManChair in the Myer Intimates department whilst I was expertly Taken In Hand by Barbara. Through talking, we discovered she'd visited the East End Gallery a few weeks previously...

I was loaded into the Bra of My Dreams. Front opening, a rack back (straps to the centre of my back) and the Creation of a Cleavage once more. Hell, if I had become a D cup, I was going to flaunt the size of my boobs. I was delighted. I bought the two at Karrinyup, ordered another from the city store and bought another last night. As I am becoming more internet savvy, I am discovering the excitement of online shopping. At least for bras that fit.

Our final point on our agenda was being shorn by our own fabulous hairdresser, Sharon. Salon Express Midland is a little Ireland transported into the wilds of Perth's eastern suburbs and every second stylist there has that distinctive lilt in their voices. We were suitably cut and producted by five thirty.

We arrived home just before seven. I was not feeling the best, with a throat lurgy brewing, but I didn't care. We'd had a fabulous celebration of Michael's birthday.

All was well in our world.