A few months ago, I joined a camera club. A place where I could learn more, talk with fellow enthusiasts and just generally be inspired.

I'm loving it.

Each meeting/catch up we have I'm learning something new, no matter how structured or un-structured the session. So when some fellow members wanted to head up to Ballarat to visit the

Ballarat International Foto Biennale

this weekend - I was on board.

I'll admit, the exhibition sounded exciting and I was looking forward to again, being inspired. However I will admit to you that the thought of having a weekend away, staying in a gorgeous B&B, was probably a little higher on my list. I'm a sucker for a B&B.

So arriving in Ballarat late Saturday morning, I wandered around a few of the exhibitions - my favourite being

Maggie Diaz

, a US born photographer who migrated out to Australia in the 60's. Beautiful black and white candid shots of people in the 50's and 60's.

Then it was time to check into the B and B and I can tell you - it didn't disappoint.

I stayed at the Silver Birch B and B with it's huge bed that you had to jump up to get on and its deep claw foot bath (which I spent over an hour indulging in (how often to get to do that!) The only problem is that I found it really hard to get back out there and view some more exhibitions as I just wanted to curl up and read my book in front of the fire.

I caught up with the guys from the camera club for dinner that night at the Craig's Royal Hotel - delicious. The food was wonderful - especially the mussels and pinot I had, sitting in pretty dinning room surrounded by some prints from the exhibition.

(gorgeous morning sunlight)

Waking up on the Sunday morning with the sun pouring in through the window was utter bliss. So was making a big pot of tea, turning on the fire and curling up with the latest 'Country Style' magazine.

(that's me waving hello to you)

The rest of the weekend was spent visiting various exhibitions as well as the Botanical Gardens.

Stopping for coffee at Lake Wendouree and then finally spending money at the Mill Markets on my way out of Ballarat.

What a weekend!