A wet day today. Added more things to the “stuff to go into storage” pile, mooched about the campsite and took a stroll along the beach.
Had a lovely evening at the Leiper-Bonnin house, Mark and Penny were hosting a Birthday dinner for their friend Anthony who was visiting from Perth. Mark and Penny are always excellent hosts and it was nice to meet Anthony and his family, and Rosie, originally from New York but now living in Albany.
Charles Darwin aboard the Beagle stopped off in Albany in 1836. He was less than impressed with the town, describing it as ‘dull and uninteresting.‘ Well, he obviously didn’t go to dinner at the Lieper-Bonnin’s residence! If he had he would have had a splendid evening with excellent cuisine, fine wine and good-humoured banter. There was even a Birthday Cake with real fireworks on it! Highly recommended… should be in the Michelin Guide! I’m sure Mr Darwin would have loved it.
Incidentally, Charles Darwin stayed with Sir Richard Spencer, the then British Government Resident in Albany (his story is worth reading – he fought alongside Nelson!). Mark is one of Sir Richard’s descendants.