October is good food month in Sydney! A wonderful excuse to head into the city after work for something at the night noodle markets... or maybe a cocktail and canape special at an array of lovely bars.
Clich the link below for the calendar...
http://gfm.smh.com.au/index.asp
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Wedding of Amanda and Jess
The Bride and Groom... so beautiful!
Vows and flowergirls...
Even Jeb was ready for the big day!
It made me so happy... I was the person who introduced Amanda and Jess all those years ago!
With the celebrant...
True love!
Mark strikes a pose...
The Flanagan and Milne Family.
Of course I enjoyed a drink...
The day was just so beautiful for everybody.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Mandala
Today I have been making Mandalas with my year 4 students. Here is a great video of Monks making a Mandala, and some interesting information as well. I hope some Mandala-making happens in Sydney soon.
http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/buddhism/the-video.cfm
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Monthly Drop In
Sweet Jesus, another month has passed and the really busy part of the year is set in motion.. My calendar seems already full beyond my comfort zone - but lucky it is with lots of fun and interesting things to do - remind me I said this if I start acting bored or all worn out in the next few months!!
First over to the business side of things. I moved house again yesterday and hope in my heart of hearts this move lasts a little longer than the stock-standard 10 month stay I have managed in 8 years of living away from 'home.' I had a fantastic time at Denison St Newtown, and if it wasn't for the fact I have fallen in heart bursting love I would still be there. May the gods of the Inner West shoot me down but the Inner East definitely has it's pluses and so far I'm enjoying it! Particularly the palm-lined pool out the back of my new place which will be getting lots of use as it heats up in Summer, and the Coles just a block away. Just ignore the cafes and 4WD madness of nearby Challis Ave, it's for wankers. So far, no real dramas...
The Three Sisters, Katoomba
A few weeks back Mark and I went to the Blue Mountains for the weekend. It was fabulous, fabulous! Particularly the place we stayed in, Bower Studio. Won't bore you with details, but it was 5min from Katoomba, impeccably fit out and quiet quiet quiet! We will be back for Winter next year, no doubts about it.
Mark, comfy
I love my new red Wayfarers! Mark was pissed I wouldn't take them off, but then, I didn't want to squint like him!
Oh, and I need to mention quietly that I beat Mark at Scrabble. He is upset about this as he has an honors degree in English. But as you can tell from the photos, I was as proud as punch.
I didn't know Mark was taking this photo, I was still basking in my glory. I cried shortly afterwards from his teasing.
In other news my mum Marcia is in India and Nepal trekking around the mountains for the next few weeks. We recently celebrated her birthday and the whole family met up in Jannali for some Indian food. My niece Lily went along as well and behaved beautifully for the 3 hours we were there, entertaining us all and barely making a noise! We all hope she will like Indian food as much as the rest of our family.
Mum cuts her favourite cake, a rose cake!
Lily on Mark's lap.
Amongst other things I have been enjoying work and also my time away from work. I worry constantly I still have nits in my hair and also had a virus last week from one of the kids. I'm still not smoking (it must be about 5 months now!) and I actually vomited from trying to smoke a cigarette the other day after work!
School holidays in 2 weeks! This has been such a long term and it can't come fast enough. I'm back at uni studying part-time for the next 6 weeks completing my graduate certificate in Primary Literacy Education so that's injecting even more motivation into what I do. I'm so thankful for my supportive and fun work environment right now.
Alrighty, I think that's it for now. But sending my love and kisses, would love to hear of your own ups and downs. Facebook seems to neatly summarise people's lives, but I'd love to hear some details, some details!
Laura x
I HEART: Dosai, dappled sunlight, azaleas and camellias just bursting with flowers, my new underground carpark, waking up being cuddled! A boyfriend that does the washing and vacuuming, ice-cream with toasted pine nuts and fresh honey, the smell of Sydney Harbour when you get out of your car, wearing my dressing gown all day, my new red wayfarers (see above)
I DON'T HEART: Feeling sick from eating too much rocky-road, shop assistants that just are not interested, finding the time to do the tax return, touch parking your car when being watched, pocket handkerchiefs for men
First over to the business side of things. I moved house again yesterday and hope in my heart of hearts this move lasts a little longer than the stock-standard 10 month stay I have managed in 8 years of living away from 'home.' I had a fantastic time at Denison St Newtown, and if it wasn't for the fact I have fallen in heart bursting love I would still be there. May the gods of the Inner West shoot me down but the Inner East definitely has it's pluses and so far I'm enjoying it! Particularly the palm-lined pool out the back of my new place which will be getting lots of use as it heats up in Summer, and the Coles just a block away. Just ignore the cafes and 4WD madness of nearby Challis Ave, it's for wankers. So far, no real dramas...
The Three Sisters, Katoomba
A few weeks back Mark and I went to the Blue Mountains for the weekend. It was fabulous, fabulous! Particularly the place we stayed in, Bower Studio. Won't bore you with details, but it was 5min from Katoomba, impeccably fit out and quiet quiet quiet! We will be back for Winter next year, no doubts about it.
Mark, comfy
I love my new red Wayfarers! Mark was pissed I wouldn't take them off, but then, I didn't want to squint like him!
Oh, and I need to mention quietly that I beat Mark at Scrabble. He is upset about this as he has an honors degree in English. But as you can tell from the photos, I was as proud as punch.
I didn't know Mark was taking this photo, I was still basking in my glory. I cried shortly afterwards from his teasing.
In other news my mum Marcia is in India and Nepal trekking around the mountains for the next few weeks. We recently celebrated her birthday and the whole family met up in Jannali for some Indian food. My niece Lily went along as well and behaved beautifully for the 3 hours we were there, entertaining us all and barely making a noise! We all hope she will like Indian food as much as the rest of our family.
Mum cuts her favourite cake, a rose cake!
Lily on Mark's lap.
Amongst other things I have been enjoying work and also my time away from work. I worry constantly I still have nits in my hair and also had a virus last week from one of the kids. I'm still not smoking (it must be about 5 months now!) and I actually vomited from trying to smoke a cigarette the other day after work!
School holidays in 2 weeks! This has been such a long term and it can't come fast enough. I'm back at uni studying part-time for the next 6 weeks completing my graduate certificate in Primary Literacy Education so that's injecting even more motivation into what I do. I'm so thankful for my supportive and fun work environment right now.
Alrighty, I think that's it for now. But sending my love and kisses, would love to hear of your own ups and downs. Facebook seems to neatly summarise people's lives, but I'd love to hear some details, some details!
Laura x
I HEART: Dosai, dappled sunlight, azaleas and camellias just bursting with flowers, my new underground carpark, waking up being cuddled! A boyfriend that does the washing and vacuuming, ice-cream with toasted pine nuts and fresh honey, the smell of Sydney Harbour when you get out of your car, wearing my dressing gown all day, my new red wayfarers (see above)
I DON'T HEART: Feeling sick from eating too much rocky-road, shop assistants that just are not interested, finding the time to do the tax return, touch parking your car when being watched, pocket handkerchiefs for men
Thursday, September 6, 2007
SMH Good Food Guide Awards
Ahh, The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide Awards! I love great food, how my belly rumbles... I always manage to lose this list throughout the year, so my blog is a great place for it!
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Tetsuya's
CITY THREE HATS
Bilson's, Claude's, est, Marque, Pier, Quay, Tetsuya's
TWO HATS
Aria, Becasse, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Bisto Moncur, Buon Ricordo, Forty One, Guillaume at Bennelong, Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Lucio's, Pilu at Freshwater, Restaurant Balzac, Rockpool, Sean's Panaroma, Yoshii
ONE HAT
Assiette, Astral, Azuma, Billy Kwong, Bird Cow Fish, Bistro CBD, Bistro Ortolan, Bistrode, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, buzo, Catalina, Fish Face, Flying Fish, Forbes & Burton, Four in Hand Dining Room, Foveaux Restaurant + Bar, Galileo, glass, Glebe Point Diner, Grand National, il piave, Longrain, Lotus, Milsons, Oscillate Wildly, Otto, Pello, Perama, Pier Tasting Room, Restaurant Atelier, Salon Banc, Restuarant Soujourn, Sailors Thai Restaurant, The Wharf, Three Clicks West, Yings
REGIONAL ONE HAT
Artespresso (Canberra), ashcrofts (Blackheath), Bacchus (Newcastle), Caveau (Wollongong), Courgette (Canberra), Darley's (Katoomba), dish (Byron Bay), Eschalot (Berrima), 55 on Collins (Kiama), The Journeyman (Berrima), Lolli Redini (Orange), Lochiel House (Kurrajong Heights), Neila (Cowara), No. 2 Oak St (Bellingen), The Old George & Dragon (East Maitland), Ottoman Cuisine (Canberra), Restaurant Como (Blaxland), Restaurant II (Newcastle), The River (Moruya), Rock (Pokolbin), Tonic (Millthorpe), Vulcans (Blackheath), Zest (Nelson Bay)
While I'm at it I recommend www.eatability.com.au to check on ANY restaurant before booking or visiting, the reviews are usually pretty accurate...
I'm yet to visit a three-hat restaurant but perhaps this is the year for it... but my hips aren't hopin too much!
And I'd like to add my own recommendations... Nest at Potts Point for sour-cherry toast with caramelised pears, Yellow at Potts Point for expensive baked goods and take home desserts, Dairy Bell ice cream factory in Camperdown for classic fresh goodness! And Kammadhenu in Newtown for the best goddamned Dosai in town!
Bon Appetit!
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Tetsuya's
CITY THREE HATS
Bilson's, Claude's, est, Marque, Pier, Quay, Tetsuya's
TWO HATS
Aria, Becasse, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Bisto Moncur, Buon Ricordo, Forty One, Guillaume at Bennelong, Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Lucio's, Pilu at Freshwater, Restaurant Balzac, Rockpool, Sean's Panaroma, Yoshii
ONE HAT
Assiette, Astral, Azuma, Billy Kwong, Bird Cow Fish, Bistro CBD, Bistro Ortolan, Bistrode, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, buzo, Catalina, Fish Face, Flying Fish, Forbes & Burton, Four in Hand Dining Room, Foveaux Restaurant + Bar, Galileo, glass, Glebe Point Diner, Grand National, il piave, Longrain, Lotus, Milsons, Oscillate Wildly, Otto, Pello, Perama, Pier Tasting Room, Restaurant Atelier, Salon Banc, Restuarant Soujourn, Sailors Thai Restaurant, The Wharf, Three Clicks West, Yings
REGIONAL ONE HAT
Artespresso (Canberra), ashcrofts (Blackheath), Bacchus (Newcastle), Caveau (Wollongong), Courgette (Canberra), Darley's (Katoomba), dish (Byron Bay), Eschalot (Berrima), 55 on Collins (Kiama), The Journeyman (Berrima), Lolli Redini (Orange), Lochiel House (Kurrajong Heights), Neila (Cowara), No. 2 Oak St (Bellingen), The Old George & Dragon (East Maitland), Ottoman Cuisine (Canberra), Restaurant Como (Blaxland), Restaurant II (Newcastle), The River (Moruya), Rock (Pokolbin), Tonic (Millthorpe), Vulcans (Blackheath), Zest (Nelson Bay)
While I'm at it I recommend www.eatability.com.au to check on ANY restaurant before booking or visiting, the reviews are usually pretty accurate...
I'm yet to visit a three-hat restaurant but perhaps this is the year for it... but my hips aren't hopin too much!
And I'd like to add my own recommendations... Nest at Potts Point for sour-cherry toast with caramelised pears, Yellow at Potts Point for expensive baked goods and take home desserts, Dairy Bell ice cream factory in Camperdown for classic fresh goodness! And Kammadhenu in Newtown for the best goddamned Dosai in town!
Bon Appetit!