I’m lucky enough to have some of the loveliest friends any girl could ask for – a diverse crew of fine young ladies who continue to inspire me more and more as the years go by. We all came together over the years, and everytime we manage to all catch up, you just know it’s going to be a good time.

For my birthday month, the incredibly clever Gemma came up with the brilliant idea of the whole group getting together and indulging in Number 8′s Sundays with Mumm menu – set lunch with free flowing Mumm champagne. BRILLIANT, I tell you.

So we all got frocked up last Sunday, and excitedly bustled our way to Crown for what was sure to be a delightful afternoon filled with giggles, tipples, stories, gossip, catchups, and just good ol’ girl time. How very Sex and the City of us.

As anticipated, it was full of hilarious moments that only got better as the champagne kept being poured. We sat there from midday to late afternoon, and Number 8 did NOT disappoint in showing us a good time. The set menu’s food was rather incredible, for starters:

We enjoyed it very very very much, along with our Brasilian accented waiter who served and pampered us rather wonderfully. Yup. *nods enthusiastically* Enjoyed it VERY VERY MUCH, especially the rather winning way in which he kept topping our champagne glasses up every time they’d subsided even a few millimetres! WINNING.

So how does it feel to have all your girlfriends sit and enjoy a lazy afternoon with you to support you through the crisis of turning dirty thirty? JUST SWELL. As we are growing up, we’re all just geting busier, and actually having an entire afternoon with all of them is rare and pure bliss. Bliss, and being surrounded by friends? Total win for me. All the ladies distracting me from GETTING OLD FEELINGS? Well, I didn’t even cry. This time.

(Yes, I’m usually notoriously bad with birthdays and feeling inadequate and like time is running out. NOW YOU ALL KNOW MY DIRTY LITTLE SECRET).

So anyway.

As we finished our meal, I heard the clink clink clink of a knife being tapped on a glass, and before I knew it, I was being showered with affection and chatter. GIFT! SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A GIFT.

And then, there was a gorgeous wooden box laid in front of me.

And let me just tell you, I AM ONE SPOILT LADY, whose girlfriends bought me a simply lovely Samantha Wills cuff – in Anita’s words “the one Rihanna has”. FREAKING AWESOME. I recently had a few jewellery items err, lost due to err, travel, and this cuff made my day, because now I have one more sentimental piece to add to my collection. THANK YOU GIRLS, I LOVE YOU LONG TIME!

With that, I see the girls sitting across the table from me clap their hands in glee, eyes widening, and what I think is mere excitement at my happiness from gift receiving, turns into SPARKLER CLAD CREME BRULEE CARRIED OUT BY NICE ACCENTED WAITER.

HOORAY!

There was some singing (and some staring from the other patrons) and some dawning realisation that egads, 30 was most DEFINITELY HERE. I STILL managed to hold it together and not weep, though I did get a tad emotional.

Yes, I am a true LADY.

ANYWAY.

I had a glorious time. We spent a lovely few hours together, and all tottered home much happier for it, that I am incredibly sure of. And you can’t buy that kind of time or experience – you can only enjoy it immensely, and hope for its return as soon as possible.

Thank you ladies. I appreciated it SO. I’m truly SO lucky to have all of you in my life, and am constantly reflecting upon the fact that it is you all that make Melbourne my home, and a place I WANT to stay.