what kangaroos are doing today
Yawning. Relaxing. Taking in the good life. Happy Australia Day!
If you’re reading this on rss or email, you may need to click “view article” through to my blog to view this moving image. Thanks to my handsome IT guy, my husband, for collating my photos into this GIF.
out & about lately
Cuban fancy dress party. This part of our family always throws the best themed parties.
Yummy food in my fingers and en route to my mouth on a hen’s night.
Movie dates. I am constantly scanning my eyes all around the screen to try put together the whole picture. Fast cutting, up close action sequences are the hardest to watch because it’s all a blur to me. But I love going to the movies.
A picnic with one fluffy white dog, and pizza at the other fluffy white dog’s house. I know the magic word to get a head tilt right on cue!
Virtually, I’ve also been over to fellow Australian blog, Sweet Lime and Spiced Tea where I was honoured to be interviewed. Thank you for having me!
bonsai garden
My mother-in-law has the cutest bonsai collection. These photos remind me of the trees I saw on the Columbia Icefield in the Canadian Rockies. They are only a couple of metres tall yet something like a hundred years old. In that cold, harsh climate, they grow only a couple of centimetres a year. They were so cute. Yes, the words “bonsai” and “cute” just go together well, don’t they? I also think there are “cute” little magical creatures that live in those “cute” miniature forests and secret gardens.
gift wrapped
I love the anticipation of posting a present to a friend. I stand in line at the post office excited at having loved ones to post things to around the world. All week I imagine the smile on their face as they open their letterbox. The following text, email or call from them is the best. Here are a few presents I wrapped last year…
And one I got for my 30th birthday last year.
gordon’s wine bar *london*
A lovely afternoon cheese break at Gordon’s, the oldest wine bar in London. The inside of this basement bar is a perfect example of when my camera moves beyond a creative medium to a mobility aid. I could only make out some of the decor near the lights with my own eyes. As my husband and friend ordered food and drinks, I pointed my camera around the place. And lo and behold these cave-like corners, tables, chairs and people appeared on my camera screen! That my friends, is why I will always favour digital photography. In that moment I’m able to appreciate more of my surroundings. Mighty thankful for the camera, and my loved ones who patiently wait for me or point my head in the right direction. I loved seeing the inside but we opted for an outside table next to a garden so I could enjoy fully our little rest from our London walking explorations.
ninety-eight bar *london*
My dear friend took us to ninety-eight bar and lounge for a drink on our first night in London. She patiently guided me around so that I could explore it all for its nooks and crannies and objects of interest. What I was able to see with my eyes or through the camera convinced me that this space was incredibly unique and eclectic. I also fell in love with the architecture and what I imagined it to be. I envisioned sitting in the lounges during the day with good company and refreshing drinks and groovy music in the background. We chatted with the owner before heading out into the cool, wet summer night to walk to dinner where jet lag caught up with me and I fell asleep several times whilst reading the menu and eating!
at home lately
Very funny notepads from my sister-in-law
Lamps, jazz music, roast dinner and a great night at home
Borrowed my friend’s book so I could finally understand more of the movie character
Lunch of lettuce, beans, fetta, tuna and sundried tomatoes
Snacking on grape tomatoes on our couch
Finally found a sunscreen I don’t react to! Jojoba oil as a moisturiser underneath.
One of my dog’s favourite toys. Love our new floors.
Using bunches of mint as if they’re a bunch of flowers in the kitchen
Takeaway coffee sitting outside chatting with my husband
our first meal in *paris*
It was quite surprising how easy our first meal was given the amount of favourable press our chosen bistro receives in the gastronomy scene. After checking into our hotel we walked only a couple of blocks to the renowned Yves Camdeborde’s Le Comptoir. We were seated among the mostly local diners within just two minutes of arriving. We did notice other tourists who were not so lucky and were told to wait while another couple who had arrived after them were seated first.
Seated outside with a beautiful red scooter in my view, it felt like we had truly arrived in Paris with a whopping great bang into a culture we knew we’d fall in love with. Food, architecture, cafes, lots of pedestrians and dogs, just awesome. Oh did our taste buds rejoice at our arrival! The softest cheese, foie gras sandwiches, tea and juice, and we had begun the French taste adventure.
movie date night
One of our favourite ways to spend time together is to go for a late afternoon walk as the dropping sun creates magical golden tones, followed by a movie and dinner out. This date heralded the end of the holiday break and the beginning of another wonderful year of possibilities. A perfect date except for the movie unsettling me… I was so sad watching The Iron Lady and snuggled up to my husband, never wanting to let him go. I came out of the cinema fighting back tears and felt quite down. With one of my closest relatives having dementia, it was too close to home and I remembered conversations over Christmas where I had to fight the wave of sadness and the wish that I could take all her worries away. But it truly is a great movie and Meryl Streep was as incredible as expected.
happy new year
I took zero photos between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. They were quiet days of tidying at home, meals with great friends and sunset walks with my boys (i.e. husband and dog). New Year’s Eve was spent with more awesome people, us girls in beautiful party dresses and bare feet. Relaxed yet fun and glamorous. I’m so thrilled to have you here with me in my bloggy home as we begin 2012.
4 days in 12 photos
Hello! I hope you are all well? Over the past four days I have laughed til I snorted, played a game of scrabble which I won alongside my adopted mascot, gone on rejuvenating afternoon walks with my husband and dog, felt grateful for a family member home from hospital on Christmas day, a surprise visit from one who lives overseas, fought back tears at another loved one’s health battles, listened to stories, sat for long and relaxed meals, watched sunsets, lazed about with dogs, felt our heads falling off our necks with sleepiness and spent quality time with family and friends.
‘tis the week before…
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An awesome 3 1/2 hour lunch with a beautiful, open, caring friend.
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A restorative end-of-year yoga class that was so good for our bodies.
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Walking home in the blue hour.
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Seeing the morning sun’s rays on our new floors.
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Coming home from an interstate trip full of great photos and laughs with fantastic people.
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A new French restaurant with friends.
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Two fancy dress parties.
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Hearing my husband speak on the phone to a friend he’s known for 20 years.
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Looking forward to the upcoming meals with loved ones.
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Fairy lights.
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Shooting toy guns with foam bullets in my husband’s office and having fun with his colleagues.
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Reflecting on all the support and friendship you have all given me here on this blog.
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A breakfast date with my mum.
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Filling the fridge with fresh food.
Stay safe my friends. I wish you many moments of joy, support, surprise, warmth, love and sparkling lights. May your eyes also sparkle with happiness and health.
the best coffee *washington dc*
My husband is the coffee enthusiast and I’m normally only the coffee paparazzi. But the coffee from DolceZZa in Washington DC last year was so good that I found myself sharing the cup with him as we strolled the streets of Dupont Circle. Delicious. (A couple of months ago I bought him a cup and took it to his office. I ended up drinking it all myself!)
I also loved the interior design of the cafe, with old window frames as the menu boards on a whitewashed brick wall. A fantastic idea!
no christmas consumerist craziness
Photo from my friend’s Christmas display last year. So simple and beautiful.
Instead of stressing about the festive season I’ve managed the renovation of our floors (which was a bit stressful at times!), travelled, lay under trees in the park, shared meals with new and old friends, and attended weddings and fancy dress parties.
I have zero presents to buy this year. The hyper advertising push is just bouncing off me.
During one of our awesome weekly breakfast dates my mum and I agreed to do no presents and I’m thrilled. Not because I don’t get into the spirit of the season. I do. Not because I don’t love my family. I adore them in truckloads. Not because I don’t enjoy giving a precious person a gift that I think is perfect for them. I do it on their special occasions. I do get excited by the sparkling lights, the anticipation and the festive atmosphere. But for me the priority is time with loved ones, telling them I love them, consuming good food and drink and taking it slowly.
I have fond memories of Christmases growing up. I guess the telling thing is that the memories of interactions, feelings, outdoor games, travel and people are stronger than what I received in the boxes under the tree. I also recall being so grateful to my mum who made the celebration happen each year in the most awesome ways and with whom the tradition started of taking in “orphans” as extra family for the day. Boxing Day has always been special, as wherever we were, she and I would make sure to be in front of the tv eating leftovers and sipping cool drinks as the Sydney to Hobart yacht race started. This is a tradition we still maintain nearly every year with the wonderful people in our lives. As we’ve all got older, presents have taken more of a backseat in my extended family. For the past few years we’ve bought only for our immediate families and then drawn a name out of a hat for a cousin or aunt or uncle. With my grandparents aging I see this disappearing. Which is very sad, not for the lack of presents, but for the reminder that my grandmother is losing the ability to know the date and play Mrs Claus. That brings a big lump to my throat.
I will cherish another celebration with these very beloved grandparents, continuing to marvel at how big a part they’ve played in my life. Last year I made them the biscuits I watched them bake for me as a child. I lovingly wrapped them and wrote each a love letter about those memories. Like several minimalists that I follow, I like the idea of giving something that is truly personal, homemade or thoughtful. Miss Minimalist came up with a great list of ideas for giving the promise of time, an experience, an act or sharing of knowledge or skills. I will use my cards for love letters and such pledges.
I have spoken with friends and asked that we simply share the extraordinary gift of time together again this year. I like knowing that my request takes the pressure off them to hit the shops again, especially when I know they’re not enjoying the process. I know one of my dear friends will also be baking treats for gifts. I might also hit the kitchen like I did last year.
As the days count down I’m still relishing the small joys and big adventures, knowing that in a short time my husband and I will fill our home with delicious food, flowers and a few fairy lights and enjoy many gatherings with friends and family. We’ll laugh – tell stories – tease each other – sit around talking – take photos – smell the flowers – enjoy breezes – cuddle my dog – welcome “orphans” to our gatherings – go on long walks – play music – take naps – do silly dances – watch Christmas movies, snow in the northern hemisphere and yacht racing on the tv – have picnics and bbqs – eat at new and old favourite restaurants – rub our full bellies – lie on the grass in the park – stroll along the beach – wander the quieter urban streets – donate things to charity – hope for no natural disasters – watch fireworks – drive past light displays on houses – and I will gaze at my husband’s smile as he talks with others – hug my super pretty mum – keep my gran warm – giggle lovingly at my grandpa’s shaky hands that we’ve all inherited – and be grateful for all that we have and all that we don’t need or want for.
cafe life in *oslo*
