Louka is 5

We spent the weekend with my parents at a beach house in Pearl Beach. Louka's birthday happened to fall on the Saturday, so we took her present and chocolate ice-cream cake with us. And mum bought a delicious Lindt nut cake as well as a present.

We drove up on Friday, arriving just after 11 o'clock. The real estate agents seemed to be pretty unprofessional: despite the booking slip stating check-in was available from 11am, they said it was usually noon and had to send someone round to turn off the alarms. Oh well, there was a good climbing frame just across the road, so we waited till Louka had had enough climbing. We bought some takeaway banana bread from the general store to fill in the time till lunch.

We went to Pearls on the Beach for dinner. It was really really nice - the fresh fig fritters with ginger ice-cream was possibly the best dessert I've ever eaten. The room was calm and spacious, the view was beautiful (and visible from all tables) and the service was friendly but professional.

Next day was Louka's birthday. We gave her some board shorts, a rash top and a boogie board. She claimed the boogie board was just what she'd always wanted. So we went down to the beach to try it out.

Mum had heard good things about Patonga fish and chips, so we headed there for dinner, arriving just after 6pm... just as they were closing. So we went next door to the pub for fish and chips instead. It was good pub fish and chips, and the outdoor eating area was a good beer garden. Not bad.

Next morning Louka did some more boogie boarding, then we went to Pearls on the Beach for lunch before it was time to go. Well, you have to make the most of good things while they're there.