Brought to you by Olympus.
My heart just feels so full right now.
This week I flew down to Melbourne for the last of three lunches with readers {I’d love to do more, but at this stage we don’t have any planned}.
When we first talked about having reader lunches, I can’t tell you how uncomfortable that made me feel. Asking people to have lunch with me? Weeeiiird.
At the first lunch we had 10 people, and then for the Gold Coast lunch Olympus came to me and said that we should have 30. I immediately said no. There was no way that thirty people would want to come. We settled on twenty, and more than that wanted to come. Phew.
I’ve said at the lunches that getting to know my readers is my favourite part of blogging. Over the past year with having Luella it’s been hard to reply to every email, I know I have some unanswered in my inbox now {sorry! I will get there}, but getting to know everyone in person has been more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.
I am struggling to put it into words, but writing from the comfort of my own home is one thing, but getting to meet people that connect with what I write, and who I feel like I’ve known FOREVER… it’s pretty much the best thing ever.
One person in particular who I was so excited to meet was Donna. Donna is a beautiful woman who lives in Melbourne. We’ve been chatting on and off for almost two years now. She has this knack of knowing when I need a little pep talk, she’ll pop into my inbox with some lovely words of comfort or kindness. She was one of the first people I messaged when Luella was born. I just adore her.
Getting to meet her was a highlight of my life. I was excited. And being around her felt like home. I know that sounds weird. But it was so lovely. I am blessed.
We’ve been promising to share a champagne – virtually for over a year now – for me after giving birth and Donna after finishing chemo – and we got to do it in person.
The location for Melbourne was The Langham hotel. I knew nothing about it, but I now know that it’s fancy. The porters out the front wear top hats and big coats, and blow whistles to get you a taxi.
The Langham toilets have stickers on their paper. F-a-n-c-y.
The menu! I went with the risotto, the beef and the cheesecake. What would you have picked?
I totally got in trouble for only snapping half of my face in this selfie with Carly. Rebel.
I played around with a new selfie camera {PEN E-PL7} that Olympus are bringing out. It’s the baby sister to the OM-D E-M10.
Here’s the whole gang…
It was such a great day, in fact all of the lunches have been amazing. Thank you to everyone for making such an effort to come to lunch. I hope you all had fun, made new friends, filled your tummies {and your souls}.
I was so lucky to get sooooo many beautiful gifts from everyone. It filled my suitcase and then some. People are kind! Thank you to my new friends for all the beautiful, thoughtful gifts. I know I’ve only got around to emailing my thanks for some of you. My heart is full, thank you for filling it with such joy.
My biggest thanks of all has to go to Olympus. At each lunch people have come up to me and said, “How nice are those Olympus guys?” And it’s because they are. They just get blogging. They’re people I now actually call my friends. At each lunch we have all learnt a bit about the camera {the hero of the lunch the OM-D E-M10} and had a play with it, and it always makes me so happy to see how fast everyone falls in love with the camera. I’ve had to dial down my love for my camera when talking to people, because it’s a full-blown love affair. I’m crazy about it. I’m not alone, because everyone at the lunches has done the same. We were snapping photos and uploading them straight to Instagram {using the wi-fi function}.
Thank you to Olympus for believing in me, for shouting us lunch and for just making really good stuff happen. You guys rock. Thank you.
Hopefully I get to meet more readers in the future. I think we should just make it happen. Don’t you?
How posh is the Langham? We went on a love weekend once and I was all poshed out. The lunch sounds amazing and you looked absolutely fab! Thanks for introducing me to the Olympus EM 10 because now I have one of my own and how I love it so! I’m pleased you got so spoilt – you deserve it! xx
A love weekend? That sounds raunchy! I love that you love the camera. I am so in love with mine. Ah, what a wild ride these past few months have been!
It was a wonderful day and it always surprises me when you say you’re nervous speaking in public as you seem so cool calm & collected! Thanks for having me there xx
I was more nervous there than at PB. Go figure?! Thanks for coming. So lovely seeing you again. x
Thank you Chantelle and Olympus for an amazing lunch. I met a wonderful bunch of ladies too. And that camera, seriously I’m converted. It’s kicked the Thermomix off my ‘gift list’. xx
I am so glad you and the readers had a wonderful time:)
You need to come to the U.S.!!!
Looks like fab day…come to Adelaide 🙂 oh and I would gave had risotto, salmon and cheesecake x
Looks lovely. Would definitely like to be on the invite list one day! 🙂
I am more overwhelmed now than I was on Tuesday. Thank you just seems inadequate. You are a very Special girl that has shone a light in my life and I love you for that. Meeting all the other girls was so much fun, playing with the Cameras was like Christmas and the crew from Olympus were so lovely! Big thanks also to my great friend Kim for making it possible for me to be there. Whatever happens going forward in my journey THIS will stand out always and forever as a joyful day! ❤️
Donna, I know exactly what Chantelle means, you are to me a new friend but I feel like I’ve known you forever .. it’s clear you just “gel” with people <3 it's "good people" who do that! thank you Chantelle for a lovely lunch, it was really lovely to finally meet you and thank you for giving us the opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones 🙂 xoxo
This looks lovely! Donna seems like a doll and how nice that you two got to hang! I still think these lunches are the coolest thing ever! It’s so nice to make new friends in unexpected ways. You’re totally living your life inspired!
Thanks so much for lunch, it was a lovely afternoon. The camera was great and alot of fun. It was nice to meet you, and also to meet other readers from Melbourne with similar interests.
Chantelle (and Olympus) thank you so much for a beautiful lunch. I loved meeting everyone (it was my first face to face with some other bloggers) and the Olympus crew were wonderful! The OM-D E-M10 has just hit my wish list, Santa maybe (don’t tell Canon)? Cx
The Olympus guys are so rad! I’m glad I got to see you for eight microseconds xx
It was so wonderful my only complaint is that it felt like it was over before it even started. How time flies when you’re with great people. Not only was it totally AWESOME to finally meet in person but the other lovely peeps I got to share a couple of cheeky lunch time vinos with, were so lovely as well.
The Langham was so fancy schmancy and the Olympus people were wonderful as well. The biggest problem now is deciding which camera I want/need more. The OMD E-10 was beyond words but the narcissist in me has to have the selfie cam!
Thank you again, let’s do lunch again soon xx
Oh and I love our selfie SO MUCH
I definitely think you should continue the lunches – Adelaide! Adelaide! 😉
Looks like everyone had so much fun!
– Taryn Elise xx
Oh you ladies look like you had a blast!! I loved my olympus camera – it sure took a beating (and a few close calls with beers and cocktails!) what a great team!! I hope you do more lunches soon xx
staceylives.blogspot.com
That camera is the one I have been using these past months on OurBigLoop around Australia. I used it every day and night and got to know it a lot better for having done that. Joining in with ABC Open free workshops has helped me a lot too. I learned that the ‘pro photographers’ are also always learning about cameras. These get togethers are invaluable.
What a brilliant time, wish we did more of this sort of networking our here in WA (wait awhile) I so want that camera, it hurts xxxx
Oh, I know that ache! I hope it happens for you. I’m doing another giveaway soon too. x
The Langham is SO fancy! You should go there for a massage/spa treatment – AMAZE! So glad your lunch turned out amazingly and love the camera 🙂 x
I would love to do that. Putting it on my bucket list! x
Hi Chantelle, you are so sweet! I’m sure if you had lunch on any continent there’d be people delighted to meet you! I don’t read blogs as much as I’d like to lately, but I pop over to yours every once in a while and I’m always pleased to find that happy place, and that lovely bright cheery style that I adored when it was new to me. I was just telling my husband how well you’re doing (with the app & everything!) And you know you’ve made it when the menu for lunch is named after you! 😀
Oh that menu looks divine! Risotto, salmon & chocolate torte for me thanks 😀
Looks like another fabulous lunch 🙂
Looks like it was a super special day! I notice another couple of ‘Adeladian’s’ have commented that we’d love to have you here in our beautiful city for one of your lunches. I’m sure you’d have people lining up to come along!
Oh and just want to quickly mention how much I adore your photography – definitely one of my favourite blogs! xox
Thank you so much for having me to the lunch! You have me giggling with the photo of the toilet roll sticker, I checked the bathrooms out after you mentioned them. The lunch was wonderful and it was great to try out the OM-D. Thank you! x