This week’s Sepia Saturday theme brought back a fond memory of meeting up with friends, and work colleagues, at Burnett House in Darwin for a high tea. I was stunned when I realised 14 years had flown past, and writing to get my mates’ permission to publish the photo set up a flurry of chat on Messenger. Sadly, we’re now scattered to the corners of the country, miles apart.
High Tea at the National Trust property was a real treat back in those days, with a variety of home cooked cakes and scones, and Anna’s delicious lemon curd tarts. On this particular day we got adventurous and had bubbles as well as coffee (or was it instead?). The laughter was not down to the bubbles however, rather our ability to giggle our heads off when together. Our IT guy was included in what we called the Dream Team but being a bloke he just wasn’t in to High Tea. In the Dry Season it was common to have to share a table and the woman sitting near us looked at us as if we were demented. Ah, special memories.
Throughout high school I was part of a trio of friends who stuck together over the four years, and for two of us, when we went on to university. Sadly our work and life took us far away from each other and the connection faded. I don’t have a photo I can share without their permission but this is my recognition of their importance in my life through those years. Thanks Maria and Sue for those special times and your friendship.
When I started blogging, I could never have imagined how many friends I’d make from near and far. Some I’ve been lucky enough to meet at conferences, and in November last year three blogging buddies met up to tour Kew Gardens’ Chihuly exhibition. What a treat it was to spend time with these friends, Sharn from Sydney and Angela, the Silver Voice, from Ireland. You wouldn’t credit that we’d rarely met in person…we had such fun and we were in awe of the magnificent glass displays. The grey weather certainly didn’t dampen our spirits.
The theme of three continues to my own family with three daughters. Three very special, clever, gorgeous women. Looking at this photo I see that it was during my applique phase and was during our trip to Sydney for the Bicentennial celebrations.
And where did it all start? Perhaps with being an only child and part of a family of three, not the larger dynamic groups that most kids grow up with. It had its advantages but it also had its downsides…I’d have loved to have siblings to grow up with, to play (or argue) with, and now to share memories.
I wonder how other Sepians have approached this week’s topic…why not skip over and check out their stories.
Family history across the seas 
Such a touching post. I love that you started out with your adult self and ended up looking backward to childhood. All the photos are beautiful in their own way — and I know what you mean about fellow bloggers becoming friends from afar!
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Thank you for your delightful comments. I guess as bloggers we get an insight into the other person which creates a connection.
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A lovely post and a good match to the prompt! Giggling & being silly is the best kind of fun. My mother and her best friend used to giggle about silly things all the time. I can still hear her friend, after a good giggle and still laughing, saying “Oh Lil.” (my Mom’s name was Lillian) I was in my mid teens when I realized, because of their fun at silliness, I could still giggle and laugh over silly things when I was “old”. “Old” in that case, being around 38. Oh, to be that “old” again, now!!! 🙂
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It’s so special when we have friends like that isn’t it?! And yes “old” is all in the perspective of the time.
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When I visit my brother in Darwin I must remember to go and see Burnett House. I don’t think of Darwin as having older building because of the cyclones they’ve experienced in the past. Love your post and the photos. Thanks for sharing.
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I’m not sure that they’re still doing high tea there but the houses are there. Also some residual buildings or part thereof in the CBD…worth a look around.
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Some lovely photos there Pauleen. The three sisters at Katoomba has a special place in my heart. When I first moved to Brisbane we spent a lot of time at a friend’s place at Upper Brookfield and it was my dream for a while to live there until I found out the price of real estate ;). He was renting a farm at Upper Brookfield – it was appropriately called End Farm. We’ve spent many happy times at Mt Cooth-ha summit – eating icecream when the kids were hyper on a summer night or bushwalking up from our home on a Sunday to have a cup of tea at the top and share the view with visitors.
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It’s funny to think that the area is now prime real estate…certainly wasn’t back in the day. I should ask my cousin where End Farm is/was in relation to theirs. I’m impressed by your energy and bushwalking Alex 🙂
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Three sisters at Katoomba, if favorites are permitted, is wonderful. Love the way the middle one is looking up.
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Yes she’s looking devotedly at her eldest sister.
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A really special post (not only because I am in it).because I love the very simple and very effective theme. Lovely photos. You write so beautifully!
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Thank you so much Angela! Our day at Kew will always bring special memories of friends.
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