Can you believe it is September already?

I love spring, when we can appreciate living in the country by the sight of new life. I love seeing the little foals springing up all over the hills, and the spring flowers like daffodils, tulips and daisies. Being a food lover, I am also keen to see asparagus on the menu, yum!

Going out is a lot more fun too; the warmer weather gets people out of the house, and our great climate allows us to entertain outdoors. And of course, it’s all about the great clothes; it’s just wonderful seeing all the summery gear hit the shops.

Time for donning the sandals and getting that pedicure booked, and it will be no time before we can get our feet wet at the beach and feel the sand between our toes.

We were fortunate to get a gong to the re-opening of the Bunker Restaurant at Tallwoods Verve Resort on 31 July.

Michael James is a talented chef and Leanne is a delightful host, and we welcome them back to the area with open arms. Guests included Phillip and Dusty Walkom, Amanda and Charlie Kennett and Bob and Rada Kinkade from The Farmers Patch in Forster.

A wonderful degustation dinner showcasing Michael’s new menu was savoured by all. I thoroughly enjoyed every course and can’t wait to get back there for a meal. Good luck Michael and Leanne, and thanks for the invite.

The Other Side Gallery Teahouse at Ghinni Ghinni was the venue for the opening of the fabulous CAFÉ ART EXHIBITION on Friday 6 August. Twenty artists painted to the theme, with café scenes, cups of coffee, teapots and a real variety of paintings on display.

Gallery owner Wendie Patch said she felt privileged to have children’s book writer illustrator, Stephen Michael King exhibit one of his sketches ‘coffee, tea, cake and a unicycle’, which is also for sale – a very rare opportunity to buy an original, as Stephen doesn’t often part with any of his work. It was a wonderful turnout, with an enjoyable time had by all guests.

‘That night in Rio’, held at the Wingham Town Hall on Saturday 7 August was another successful costume event. Unfortunately, I was in Melbourne for the weekend and felt extremely left out of the picture, as this is the one event that I never miss.

The Moulin Rouge, Diamond Lills Texas Saloon and A Night on the Orient Express have all previously featured, and these guys know how to put on a great party. But this year I sent the tables, my partner Grahame, and my chef Greg, who stood Grahame up as he was suffering a cold, while I shopped and ate my way around my favourite city, feeling just a little homesick.

Top Sydney band, Cassy and the Bossa Beats provided a great beat until late, and the colourful night was complete with fire eaters and dancing girls.

The 2010 Countrylink North Coast Tourism Awards was held at Opal Cove Resort in Coffs Harbour on Saturday 14 August. Twenty-seven winners were announced, with special guest, Channel Ten’s Tim Bailey as MC.

The Manning Valley walked away with four gold awards and three bronze. In the Great Lakes, Tea Gardens Hotel was awarded a gold medal in the Tourist Pubs category. A very honoured Club Forster was welcomed into the North Coast Tourism Awards Hall of Fame, as they have won their respective categories in the tourism awards for three consecutive years.

Manning Valley gold award winners include Honeycomb Valley Nabiac, Bent on Food / Bent on Life Wingham, Old Bar Beach Festival and Wingham Motel.

Bronze awards went to Artisans Retreat at Mondrook, Australis Resort Diamond Beach and Bent on Food Wingham.

Big congratulations to all, and good luck to those entering the state awards.

A group of girls who worked together a few years ago in the finance department at Taree Hospital had a reunion breakfast at Bent on Food on Sunday 31 July.

The finance department is no more and some of these girls hadn’t seen each other for a while, so there was plenty of catching up to do, with lots of laughs.

I look forward to hearing from you with any events you would like me to write about.

Send pics and info to

donna.carrier@bigpond.com

Cheers, Donna.