The Salami, The Seaside and The Small People

I’m no monarchist by any stretch of the imagination, but I am all for saluting Our Liz when she turns another year older: here’s cheers for the long weekend your majesty! In June you can usually place a fair bet that we will be by the sea, our home-away-from-home due south from us at Matt’s parents home. The blustery beach in the middle months of the year is my favourite, over Christmas and Summer it’s all a bit hectic and busy and hot and bothersome. We are not beach people, so Winter at the beach suits us just fine. Eleanor with her cousins, aunties, uncle and Opa braved the windswept beach, lots to explore and find, dogs to meet and teepees to admire…

The June long weekend also marks an important date: salami weekend. We actually had two offers of salami making working bees, such is the popularity of the Queens Birthday weekend to partake in such activities, if you are that way inclined. Matt’s cousin’s husband (still with me?) is a purveyor of all things charcuterie, and last year was crowned first place in the Melbourne Salami Festa (go Team Saddleback!) Matt is a welcome useful set of hands in the mammoth effort each year. Perhaps next year I might be more help myself, or get some better shots of the whole process, but this year I was wrangling the bossy toddler and shouty baby as per usual.

I got to indulge in a ‘just one child’ coffee break with Harriet whilst Eleanor was entertained with her cousins (so many cousins, so little time!) and can report back that the new cafe The Local in Inverloch is spot on: good coffee, good service, that’s pretty much my only two criteria ticked!

Back in the warmth of Mumma and Opa’s house we cooked dinner for the tribe, we built block towers, we scooted around the deck, we played with Daddy’s old cash register: “You be the customer Otis, I be the shop keeper. Hello! Nice to see you, how may I help you today?!” We even opened a very special present for our Harri-girl from Mumma and Opa – her very own Alison Lester print to hang in her bedroom, like Eleanor has but this one featuring our favourite pony friend, Noni.

Another long weekend done and dusted with the salami, that wild southern sea and the small people. So many small people! It’s chaos with 2x four year olds, 3x two year olds, 2x under 1’s and a few big kids thrown in for good measure, but it’s a big beautiful mess. I hope, well I know, we are creating some pretty special memories for those small people with all their cousins in our home by the sea. I just hope Josh and Michael and Matt made enough salami and sausages and assorted pork goods for everyone – there’s some mouths to feed!