Birthday Surprise

While everyone else spends their Sunday lazing around or getting organised for the new week, We got other things we can do with our such valuable time, such as celebrating our gorgeous friends birthday!

Our idea of a gift turned into a clue filled trip away lasting a mere 12 hours filled with incredible memories and so much fun!!!

How it all went down:

We were invited to her birthday celebrations in the city recently and there she got her very first clue … instead of a present as the surprise was yet to come.

CLUE#1

October 15th was your birthday,
Hip Hip and Hooray!
We have a surprise for you,
This is all we can say.
Please pick a day – an entire Saturday will suit best.
So Us three can head North, South, East and West!

We (Andrew and I)  both knew she is similar to Us as she loves beauty as much as I do + the outdoors just like Andrew does, so we came up with organizing a trip filled with clues which she would need to solve in order to find out what the surprise was. The entire trip took place in Healesville, Victoria – Australia.

Yesterday our friend Katherine came to my house at 8 am before we headed to my boyfriend’s place to pick him up and have Us all drive to our first destination. Katherine got blindfolded as we knew she used to live along the way, plus it would have been a bit ‘too boring’ without a blindfold.

Clue #2

Today is the day of the surprise to come true,
We hope you are ready to figure out your next clue.
It comes with a selection of a wide range of foods,
Which without a doubt tickle everyone’s individual mood.
With locations in yet only two states,
But a great place to catch up with your mates.

The answer to this clue was Breakfast at the well known Beechworth Bakery in Healesville, this surprise was of course well received too, as she had only ever been there once before. Don’t get me talking on the food, it is absolutely delicious.

After breakfast it was time for the next clue 🙂

Clue #3

Now it is off to a location very nice,
Yes, it is another part of this great surprise.
Your wallet, phone and keys you won’t need, but a good mindset indeed.
It is time to unwind and leave the daily chores behind.
Enjoy this special moment to refresh and re-energize.

Her grin when we arrived was priceless. It was a 1 hour Aroma Therapy massage, included with hot stones and the best masseuses available of course at no other location than Piaf Day Spa. She absolutely LOVED it. She was so super relaxed and glowing after her treatment! By then the next clue was already on it’s way:

Clue #4

But wait there is more – believe it or not,
Few places we can go, while owners await,
Our verdict very fast – before it ‘s too late,
Too many to taste  – “Oh my … what will be?  “,
Too dry, too sweet before you pick.
A glass or two of course changed to a bottle,
But please make sure you do not waddle.
Yes, here we are – let it begin.
 ‘Prost’ and ‘Cheers’ is your next hint.

This clue allowed plenty of time and variation, as the hint suggests it included the travel to almost every single winery in the area (LITERALLY!), where we tasted some wines and picked a few favorites 😉

Some of those wineries included, are Boat O’Craigo, a small Australian distillery at Four Pillars before we moved on to another magical place which you might be able to figure out through reading this next clue below.

Clue #5

This place has locations across Australia
and will take Us away on a journey so far.
Young children everywhere will like this one too,
with offerings and tastings that brighten your mood.
From light to dark and sweet to sour
while others rush here every single hour!
It comes with passion and indulgence … let’s not forget creativity
The word has nine letters and tastes super sweet.

After our trip to the Chocolatier at Healesville off we were for some more wine tastings 🙂

Yarrawood Estate, Balgownie Estate Vinyard Resort & Spa, Fergusson Winery and Restaurant , De Bortoli which allowed some space for a mini cheese factory allowing Us to taste some of their cheese, we then  Sutherland Estate

We then continued on to visit Shantell Vinyard right next door… then it was off to the last two wineries, Dixons Creek Winery (Graeme Miller Wines) and last but not least Mandala Wines

We had the most incredible time, chatting to the winemakers and vinyard owners and getting a whole heap of knowledge from them and how they operate in this so diverse yet competitive industry.

By now we were all a bit tired and wanted some time to simply relax, so off it was to Maroondah Reservoir, before the last surprise was announced:

Dinner at Yarra Valley Harvest.

It was amazing, the entire trip was so much fun and we definitely created the best and most amazing memories yet, in addition we set the stakes quite high too  😉

 

For anyone wanting to know some details:

The riddle was written by myself and has copyright restrictions!

The trip was planned by both my amazing partner Andrew (applause for him please) and myself

Biggest thanks to Andrew for this amazing day!

AK. xx

Growing up with City Skylines

What becomes of us once we travel away from your own comfort zone?

What happens when we get in the car and travel to a nice country place, hours away from the city?

Will we be happy to find out where we are or what can become of us?

Having just recently been on location in the country side has certainly given me a new understanding of what this beautiful country has to offer. Yes, I have lived in the city all my life, dealt with the millions of train and other transport commuters on a daily basis inclusive of the sprints to the train station or buses in order to get a seat on the way home, grown up to the beautiful skylights of various cities around the world and have never thought much about traveling away from it all. The city is my ‘comfort zone’ – along the way having come to know most train timetables off by heart, bus routes and most of all know how to find my way in a large city where the traffic is as bad as owning two-thousand dairy cattle that all need to get milked at the same time.

The question on everyone’s heads….

How do you even begin to deal with it all?

Good question that one, I could not possibly give a good enough answer.

Have I ever thought much about life in the country? No! I do not know all too much about living on acreage or a ranch and dealing with cattle stock, horses, farm animals and the overall running of the business such as fertilizing paddocks for hay and silage, harvesting fruit trees and looking after vegetable seedlings, while in the same thought trying to organise contract workers who help you move your business in the right direction by simply lending a hand.

I get the shivers when told to drive a tractor, but smile when flying across the paddock on a motorbike. I squeal when finding a huntsman spider in my bathroom but thinking they are “so cute + fluffy” when finding them in a wood heap on the land.

How odd is that! 

I throw a tantrum because I have no phone reception + therefore can not update my social media status but had the most amazing time constructing a new fence, yes three star steel pickets, wooden posts to strain, klip on bolts for electric fences upon rolls and rolls of wire.

What on earth is happening to me!

It kind of makes me wonder, if an amount of me does actually like this new found country adventure and all that comes with it.

Yes, no doubt!

While wondering if those living in the country would like the city with the lifestyle it brings.

 Probably Not!