Happy Australia Day!

Or happy Invasion Day. Which ever helps you to sleep at night. Without getting all political and heavy, we mainly throw our annual party to celebrate a great year of music by voting in and listening to Triple J's Hottest 100 and enjoying the company of great family and friends who are united by living in a country that provides amazing opportunities. 

For most people. 

I haven't forgotten what this day means to the Indigenous population of Australia. And it's something that is important to me too.

The beginning of the celebrations usually satrts about a fortnight before, with me and Adam putting in our votes for the hottest 100. We like to make a night of it coupled with a few beers and some nice takeaway - once the kids are in bed of course. This year my list looked like this:

Angus And Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane

Kid Cudi, Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend & Best Coast - All Summer

Mark Ronson & The Business Intl - Somebody To Love Me {Ft. Boy George & Andrew Wyatt}

Kele - Everything You Wanted

Birds Of Tokyo - Plans

Yeasayer - O.N.E

Tame Impala - Solitude Is Bliss

Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill

Gotye - Eyes Wide Open

Little Red - Rock It

And look closely people..I had 3 in the top 10 - which includes two in position one, and two.

Excellent.

The day is always great fun, with plenty of good food and plenty to drink. We were blessed with amazing weather, 29 degrees and sunny. This was just enough for the compulsory slip and slide action that this day wouldn't be complete with out. 

Side note: After slip and slide action, Tilly dressed herself - I think it was time to get physical...

On another side note. How good are mums? I asked my mum to help out by bringing a couple of salads. Check out what she made - anyone want to invite her to your BBQ?

Too bad. She's mine.

The day is held in the backyard which is also the home to Robbie's Bar. What is Robbie's Bar I hear you ask? Well, a little story for you.

My grandfather was the best bloke ever. And I mean it when I say bloke. He was a sailor in the war, he was a sailor after the war. He was the Commodore of their local yacht club and he liked his beer. He was a brutally honest man, but when he said he loved you - you knew he meant it. He was so much fun and even had his own happy hour at his place. Every day. How many of you could say that you truly partied with your grandfather? 

Everyday. 

He died a few years ago. And not long after his wife sent us some money. Adam and I were still pretty upset and wanted to use the money for something that we didn't need, but that would remind us of him. So we turned our rumpus room into a bar. Robbie's Bar (he was knows as Robbie) and started hosting our own Friday night happy hour for family and friends.

I couldn't keep up with every day...Could you?

And it's one of the best things we ever did.

One of the main Australia Day events is the Annual Robbie's Bar Pool Competition. It's for all who wish to take part, which means some games are nail biters which are over fairly quickly, and others (mine included) last 45 minutes and get cheers if balls are actually hit, rather than pocketed. Yep - all skill levels included in this competition.

Names are randomly pulled from a pot. This years first prize was a Sturt's Desert Pea...very Australian don't you think?

And the other highlight for regulars to the Annual Australia Day Festivities?

Mini Fillet Mignons. Looks closely - little steak squares, wrapped in bacon and cooked on the barbie. 

Drool factor 2000.

Funnily enough for me Australia day feels more like my New Year. I put so much into it and build it up to one of our most favourite days of the year, but unlike New Year - it never disappoints. It always lives up to expectations, but it's nothing Adam or I do - it's because we have such amazing family and friends who are always up for a good time, who will welcome strangers with open arms and make the feel at home. 

And then check out this sunset we had - now that's the sign I needed that this is going to be a great year. Because we're going to make it great.

Aren't we? YES!

xx