SEMI EXPAT IN OZ

In which we do a 30 minute Jamie "spesh"

2012-02-19T20:39:00.004+11:00

Mr SE and I are quite fond of watching the Jamie Oliver programmes that are on TV here in Australia at the moment.... They are his 30 minute special suppers and to quote Mr. O are prepared and served in "Well undah firty minites"
They are on fairly early each evening at 6.30pm so we record them and then watch them in a batch and last week we had a go at the Pizza served with a trio of salads - a mozzarella and pesto one , tomatoes with basil and balsamic dressing and rocket and lemon salad... Here above are the fruits of our labour all together...

And here the focus on the main dish the PIZZA. Have to say this is the first time I have made one completely from scratch including the base and we were impressed - it was so easy and also very quick too.

If you want to have a go at Jamie's pizza here is the recipe :

PIZZA
1½ mugs of self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
½ mug of tepid water

TOPPING
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
A few sprigs of fresh basil
½ a clove of garlic
Red wine vinegar
½ a 125g (4½oz) ball of buffalo mozzarella
Parmesan cheese, for grating over
8 slices of salami
1tsp fennel seeds
½ a fresh red chilli
PIZZA: Turn the heat under the frying pan up to high and dust a clean surface with flour. Put 1½ mugs' worth of flour into a food processor, then half-fill the same mug with tepid water and add to the flour with a pinch of salt and a glug of olive oil.
Whizz until smooth, then tip on to the floured board. Sprinkle the top of the dough and the rolling pin with flour (the dough will be quite wet, so be generous with the flour).
Roll the dough to a 1cm (½in) thickness. Drizzle olive oil into the pan, then dust the dough with flour again and very lightly fold it over into a halfmoon shape.
Lightly fold the half-moon in half, then move the dough to the pan and unfold it, pushing it down into the sides of the pan. If you don't have a pan this big, don't cook all of the dough at once, halve it and make two pizzas.
TOPPING: Put a third of the tinned tomatoes into a liquidiser with a few sprigs of basil, ½ a peeled clove of garlic, a splash of red wine vinegar, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. Whizz until smooth. Pour over the middle of the pizza base and spread out evenly.
Tear ½ a mozzarella ball into small pieces and dot around the base. Finely grate a layer of Parmesan over, then top with the salami slices. I like to bash the fennel seeds in a pestle and mortar and finely chop the chilli, then scatter them over the pizza.
Put the pan under the hot grill for 4 or 5 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

Quite DELISH and if you wanted the rest of the bits that went with the pizza -click on this link :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1316918/Jamie-Olivers-30-minute-meals-Cheats-pizza-delish-salads-squashed-cherries-vanilla-mascarpone-cream.html

On other notes to tell you. As I type my MOTHER IN LAW is winging her way over the skies to Australia to stay for a few weeks... (No, no I did not say on a broomstick!) . Those long time readers of the blog will know that she (the MIL) is rather a force to be reckoned with and is a little outspoken to say the least. Will keep you updated as we go!

Hope you all had (or are having) a wonderful weekend.

Parka Perfection

2012-02-15T17:35:00.006+11:00

I have totally fallen for this parka - pictured here on the right.... It looks just wonderful. Love the colour, the shape, the furry (fake I hasten to add) trim around the hood, and, - oh I could go on and on.

It's just come out in UK - and they are saying it can be worn there now (it's still pretty chilly over in England) with lots of layers. Later on when it gets a bit warmer perhaps just thrown over a dress or jeans and a tee.

A very trans-seasonal piece and also I feel, very 'trans-hemisphere' too....

Now, I could definitely see this working here in Australia too. It would fit right into my winter wardrobe in Melbourne so easily.

Here's the official 'blurb' :

Dark olive green parka featuring a concealed zip fastening under press-stud flap, two flap top and two zipped pockets on front, press-studded epaulettes, gun flaps and storm flap, a drawstring at waist and hem, underarm eyelets for ventilation and a hood with press-stud tab fastening to front, drawstring and a detachable faux racoon fur trim. Burberry Brit parka has a vent at the back, press-studs to cuffs and a button detachable quilted lining.

One small problem. It's a little pricey to say the least.

Now, what can I sell on ebay? Or maybe I might win the lottery (if I did it!) or perhaps my number will come up on the UK's premium bonds? I can but hope. I love it that much.

Any new pieces from the new season (whichever hemisphere you live in) that you've fallen for? And, will you indulge?!

Tripette to Tasmania Part II - The Hotel. Shops and purchases!

2012-02-09T09:16:00.016+11:00

So, better late than never. Sorry I have procrastinated about getting this post out; so many photographs to sort out!! Here is a little more about our stay in Hobart, Tasmania. As I mentioned before, the hotel we stayed in was The Henry Jones Art Hotel. It is Australia's first dedicated Art Hotel and the site on which it is located dates back to 1804. A former jam factory has been transformed into this hotel but it has been converted in such a way as to keep the original features of the building.

Henry Jones logo.

Reception above and below.

The hotel houses over 300 pieces of art work from Tasmanian artists - all presented like a gallery and all for sale. It means you can experience the art in a completely new and unique way. Obviously it also means that the 'exhibitions' are continually changing as pieces are sold.

These two above are going to a house in Surry Hills, Sydney we were told. They were sold a month or so back.

In contrast to all the modern art the actual building has been preserved as much as possible within the conversion. I loved seeing the original beams etc. Right up my street. as they say.

These two machines I think were the actual 'clocking on' machines from the factory floor.

Exposed brickwork and very Australian, - the good old tin roof!

The whole hotel is so different - it's an unexpected combination of the antique and the ultra modern in every room.

Our bedroom.

And the lovely bathroom.

One of the original stones of the building. These stones have a dark past - see the little marks on them? The buildings were in part constructed by convicts and each convict had their own pattern on 'their' stones so at the end of the day the foreman could see how many had been laid by each convict.

I have to say I have never enjoyed a hotel so much. Each Friday evening there is a completely free tour of the hotel which gives an insight as to how it was converted as well as about the art in the hotel and a little about Tasmania too. And you don't have to be staying at the hotel to go on the tours. Highly recommended.

Go to
http://www.thehenryjones.com/ for more information about the hotel if you'd like. It's fascinating.

Now for the shops.

Tasmania is full of craft and artists. This shop above caught my eye.

I bought these silver earrings above. A bit unique and they appealed greatly.

The next two shops we went to were recommended by Janelle McCulloch who has a wonderful blog Library of Design. If you have not yet visited the library I highly recommend it... Click HERE.

A fabulous garden shop in Hobart called Karen Wagner Garden and Design.

And then joy of joys we drove about 25 minutes from Hobart to this GORGEOUS place... Again recommended by Janelle.

The Drill Hall Emporium in New Norfolk, Tasmania.

Just feast your eyes on the next few photographs.

I was excited just to see the outside of the shop!

And when I got inside I didn't know where to look first - it was filled with gorgeousness of the kind I LOVE.

I was fairly controlled (!) and managed to constrain myself coming away with 3 purchases only....

A gorgeous thick linen French red and white table cloth, a French white china heart shaped cheese mould and 3 old terracotta flowerpots. Am going to plant these 3 up with little rosemary plants.

And I leave you with another look at the goodies.

For more information about this wonderful antique store (and they have a blog) the link is :

http://www.thedrillhall.com.au/

It was such a fabulous tripette to Tasmania... I want to return again, and soon!

Jumping on the orange bandwagon - new Orla Kiely towels

2012-01-31T19:52:00.004+11:00

Although I said that I was going to do a further "Tasmanian" post I thought I would just show you my orange towels. (Hotel post to follow soon though).

Orange seems to be the new colour I thought it would be quite appropriate.

I bought this whilst in UK at Christmas, and in the sale too. Love Orla Kiely and especially her homewares. I thought these taxi motif towels were really gorgeous.

Whilst in UK my friend Stuart of FONTAINE Antiques (http://www.fontainedecorative.com/) told me that I was pronouncing Kiely ALL WRONG.... I was saying KEELEY well apparently it is KYLIE (like our Australian homegrown Kylie). You learn something new every day.

Above here they are in all their orange cheeriness!

Wonderful.

For more information about Orla's wonderful bits and pieces go here http://www.orlakielylcom/

Tasmanian weekend (Part I) and Happy Australia Day!

2012-01-26T16:48:00.010+11:00

Today in beautiful Australia it's a national holiday to celebrate all that is good about this fair land. And there is much to celebrate - the only negative thing I can think of about living here is that it's such a long way from anywhere - certainly from family and friends in UK . Anyway, I thought it fitting to post about Tasmania today - there's quite a bit to tell about our weekend away - so this is the first post.

The map above shows where Tasmania is exactly. I have to admit that before I came to live in Melbourne (Victoria) I didn't really know where Tasmania fitted in. As you can see it's an island to the south of Victoria.

Very beautiful countryside - this was about half an hour out of Hobart and Hobart is situated on the southern tip of Tasmania.

Photographs above and below show the top of Mount Wellington.

If the day had been clearer (we were above cloud level here) we could have looked down onto the city of Hobart from here.

And what a beautiful city it is....

There's a market held every Saturday with much local produce..... Just look at those beautiful Georgian buildings behind - my most favourite style of building ever...

Lots of lovely garden plant stalls.

Fresh vegetables artfully and neatly arranged.

Next few photographs show the beautiful houses I came across whilst wandering round Hobart.

Pretty as a picture. Sweet fence and cascading roses.

Black and white Georgian number for all the lovers of this colour combination and there are a few of you out there in blogland, I know - me included.

Smart grey front door and again, lots of white roses. A winning combination.

And lastly part of the building that our hotel was in. Our room was beneath the "'S" in the word Jams. I'll begin the next post starting with the hotel because it was quite probably one of the most interesting and intriguing places I have ever stayed in. Think I told you before that it was a converted jam factory it really was amazing and quite unique.

"Happy 'Straya day" to all my fellow countrymen (and women, of course!)
Enjoy....

Birthday - and our weekend destination

2012-01-19T21:01:00.005+11:00

Today is my birthday and this morning Mr SE surprised me with a number of lovely and thoughtful gifts including a book about Hobart.... He also gave me a card with an itinerary for the next 48 hours or so and tomorrow morning we are off for a little 'tripette' to Tasmania.... Such a nice surprise. I had no idea he had been plotting and planning.

And, we are staying here...

The Henry Jones Art Hotel. By all accounts it looks rather wonderful and I am so looking forward to it.

Promise to take lots of photos and let you know all about it. Anyone that has been to Hobart I would welcome places that you think we shouldn't miss!! (The MONA gallery is already on my list)....

Happy weekends to all .........

Favourite paint colours

2012-01-16T17:38:00.015+11:00

I really love the colours from the Paint and Paper Library range. They are perhaps not so universally well known as say Farrow and Ball but their colours are just gorgeous and the quality of the paint is second to none. David Oliver (photograph to the left) is Design Director of Paint & Paper Library based in Chelsea, London. He studied Fine Art, sculpture, painting, printmaking, photography and life drawing at the National Art School in Sydney where he developed his knowledge of twentieth century art. His work has been exhibited in Dublin, Madrid, New York, Sydney, Stockholm and London. Collections include the V&A Museum and the British Craft Council. In 2007 he completed his first book PAINT & PAPER A Masterclass in Colour and Light, published by Conran Octopus UK and Rizzoli USA. David unique sense of colour, demonstrated by his innovate architectural colours shades, has earned him the nickname the "Rock Star of Colour" or "The Prince of Paint" .....

Hmmm, quite a dish too (maybe because he's an Aussie?!!) which is of course nothing to do whatsoever with my decision to reproduce his photograph here on the blog for you all to see !

Anyway, back to the paint! A photograph above showing one of my all time FAVOURITE colours from the range - namely TARLATAN. It's on the wall on the right in our teeny little galley kitchen in our cottage in England. It's a sort of grey-taupe colour and looks amazing with white china as above. Yes, those are the very same gorgeous bowls that I coveted ever since I went (last October - see THIS POST) to Daylesford Organic shop in the Cotswolds. My dear friend J read that blog post and gave them to me for Christmas! What a lovely surprise. I know, - very lucky.

Should you wish to learn more about Paint and Paper Library - just go here http://www.paintlibrary.co.uk/ and you will also find that this month TARLATAN is featured as colour of the month.

Any paint ranges and/or colours you find yourselves using again and again...? Please do share.

A celebration for the Octogenarian of the family, or Dad's 80th Birthday party !

2012-01-12T10:03:00.020+11:00

As I'm sure you all know, one of the main reasons why I went back to England over Christmas and New Year was because my dear Daddy reached the grand age of 80. So, here are a few of the many photographs that were taken during his celebration evening in London.

As you can see it was quite a large family gathering. It was a fabulous occasion....

There were speeches (of course) - left is my eldest niece during hers and to the right a photograph of my father replying. Needless to say there weren't many dry eyes whilst this was going on. I was the worst offender and unfortunately immediately had to repair my carefully applied (courtesy of my DD) makeup.

Dad's eleven grandchildren above all spelled out the name of his favourite footie team!! (Very lucky that he has 11 grandchildren, his own little football team!) Do you remember I have written about mini niece before? That's her on the right at the end, holding the 'N' - she is now 4!! My DD is number 3 in the line up holding the 'U' - she's wearing the dress we found in Singapore if you remember that post.

And here they all are, the grandchildren again with my parents.

Mini niece, Daisy with Mr SE. She was an absolute angel all evening - really enjoyed the whole time - no tears or whines even when it became way past her bedtime!

Myself, (yup, that lace dress has been rolled out again, - reckon it has done its cost per wear duty many times!) my father and my niece / goddaughter who lives in Melbourne too.

And lastly, the birthday King with his Queen, my Mother.....

Such a great evening and a wonderful celebration - a very happy occasion indeed.

Fireworks from London and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2012-01-05T03:57:00.004+11:00

Sorry that my New Year greetings to you all are rather late, nevertheless they come with my best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy 2012.

We saw in the New Year in London with my parents so we were ready and in place for the celebration of my father's 80th Birthday on January 1st 2012.Mr SE and I went outside and watched the fireworks which were absolutely amazing...... I took loads of photographs and this one above is one of my favourites.

Will post about Dad's birthday next time as again in rather a rush getting ready to fly back to Australia once again. How quickly the time has gone. Next post from Oz.

With thanks and huge appreciation to everyone - those who follow, those who read and maybe don't ever comment and those who have wonderful blogs that I follow. You all, as they say, "Rock my blogging world".

Lets hope it's a good one.

Christmas round up

2011-12-29T02:00:00.008+11:00

Welcome to the cottage.

My parents joined us for Christmas and arrived on 24th. This is us above just before lunch - glasses of Prosecco for celebration.

After lunch we walked along the canal tow path - Poppy, (DD) came too and in fact all these photographs except the one above were taken with the new 'fancy pants' Nikon camera she received for her birthday.

I rather like this 'arty' shot of my mother and I, - we were deep in conversation, I seem to remember ....

Another good photograph from DD. Looking very wintery here in UK.

But at least the sun was shining. My parents above.

25th December. Many gifts under and around our little tree.

The Christmas table.

And the pudding...

This photo makes me smile. The pudding up in brandy flames and my father.

(Oh, and that wasn't my Christmas outfit dress, - just my favourite apron with fish on it - 'Old Trouts' apparently... hmmmm , and it was given to me by my ex-husband too!).

Happy days.

'Twas the day before Christmas

2011-12-24T20:41:00.004+11:00

Or, better known as Christmas Eve.

Much excitement for all to come; and in some ways I like this day better with all of its anticipation. This morning I took 45 minutes out for myself and walked across the fields as the sun was rising. Very beautiful and peaceful before the fun and mayhem of the next 48 hours or so.

Next two photographs show a much cosier inside from last night....

How we are enjoying having real log fires. Not really something we can do in Melbourne....

And so I just wanted to wish each and every one of you a wonderful and peaceful and happy holiday season. Every single one of you is very special and thank you for being there; - you all bring much happiness into the life of one Semi Expat in Oz!! Will be round to visit your blogs to leave my very best wishes later on in the day.......

HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

'Driving Home For Christmas' or, from 30 degrees to 3 degrees in 24 hours!!

2011-12-21T17:34:00.009+11:00

And for those of you who work in Fahrenheit that is from about 86 degrees to 37 degrees within a 24 hour period!!

So, have you guessed where I am ? Yup, back again in England!!! And to be precise I didn't drive, we flew courtesy of Qantas (but Chris Rea did not sing "Flying Home for Christmas !!)

Sorry I have been a little quiet on the blog posting and visiting but all has been rather a blur.

Yes, I know I have (it seems) only just got back to Melbourne but this Christmas and New Year is rather special as on New Year's Day my dearest Daddy reaches the grand age of 80 and there is going to be a family party. How could I miss that?!! Mr SE has flown back with me and darling daughter has returned from University in the North of England. We are all at our cottage in Wiltshire. Last night DD and I decorated the Christmas Tree (after bringing it in from the cold outside, my friend S had bought it for us a week ago just in case we would not be able to get one on our return - would have been awful if all the best shaped ones had gone!!)... We thought it looked rather magical when we had finished - it may be little but it packs a Christmas punch!

So, here I am for the next couple of weeks! Hopefully another post before Christmas from England.

Hope your preparations and plans etc. all shaping up well for the day.....

Festivities (and flowers, sort of) in the house - Australian style

2011-12-12T18:03:00.007+11:00

Yesterday we had a bit of a festive "do" chez Mr and Mrs SE.....

I will show you around Christmas Australian style (well my Australian take on Christmas!) I am also joining with Jane over at Small but Charming blog - she is having a Monday flower party and rocking on round the Christmas tree

Hop on over there HERE ......Lightness and whiteness above and below this cute fellow poking out of a little Christmas tree.

The festive "do" was in part for my nephew pictured below - he has been staying with us here in Melbourne since September and flies back to UK tonight.

Back to the "decs" in the house....

Above, little table as you come into the house.

And next few photographs showing the party we had....

Retro style F.Christmas napkins and little crackers (they went down very well!)

Appetisers had a whole area to themselves!

Vegetarians look away now.......

This ham (which I prepared in the spirit of Faux Fuchsia with a marmalade, mustard and whisky glaze (Donna Hay mag. this month) was quite frankly, to use a particular Faux "Fuchsia-ism", very "Hamtastic" !

And this lovely salad brought by dear friend Ms. S was delish!!

Finally, last pic of Mr SE getting down to the carving!

A wonderful celebration in the warmth of the Australian Summer and festiveness which is a little different from Northern Hemisphere celebrations but just as fun.

Sally, Sally - pride of our alley

2011-12-10T18:26:00.004+11:00

So says the famous song.

The Sally that I am referring to though is Sally Swannell, and I think she's the pride of our alley in UK. She is a local artist and lives near our cottage in Wiltshire, England. Although I don't know her personally a couple of my friends do and they say she is as lovely as she is talented. I always stock up on her cards when I'm back there and I just love her style. She bases her art work so I have been told, on the muted colours and shades of Farrow and Ball's range.

Take a quick look for yourselves :

The one above is such a LOVELY Christmas card. I would so love a house like that too.

Or what about this Christmas dresser above? Very cute.

Hope everyone's preparations for the holiday season are coming along nicely! Have a lovely weekend one and all.

And about time too!!!

2011-12-01T13:24:00.004+11:00

Apologies. Many of them.

I have been reprimanded by my mother who says she is "Fed up with seeing the photo of the Qantas plane on my blog" and contrary to what you may think, that I could be circumnavigating the planet in it, I'm not. Just been really busy since returning to Melbourne. Jet lag..... blah de blah, getting back into work again, blah de blah and generally feeling altogether a little blah. Wondering also - Do I have "Blogger's block?!!"
Oh no, I do hope not. And many apologies that I have not been round to visit other blogs. I will do very soon. Meanwhile here are a few photographs as promised from Poppy's 21st Party which now seems like an age ago on 11/11/11.

First off the birthday girl, and boyfriend. Showing this one particularly as you have to see the dress. It is vintage from the '50's. Lace bodice and a plain black ballet length skirt. She looked stunning but then again I am a little biased on these matters as Mothers tend to be.

Above with two of her friends from school. Keep an eye out for the guy on the right - he will 'be big' one day - currently at Drama School in London.

And yours truly in my 'party dress' - followers of the blog from old will have seen this one before but it's a classic and gets rolled out for special occasions and seems to fit the bill most times!

Promise that I won't leave it so long before another post.......

Flying back to Melbourne

2011-11-15T06:34:00.002+11:00

I am just about to take off from London's Heathrow airport but I just wanted to say thank you for your lovely comments about Poppy's birthday in my previous post. And I promise I will write more (with some photos) soon about the celebrations and also get around to catching up with all of your recent posts. Lots to look at when I scanned down the snippets of things from my favourite blogs, it seems.

As ever, mixed emotions at this part, hating leaving family and friends here in UK but looking forward to seeing family and friends in Melbourne again and of course, dear old Mr SE ..!

Till I re-surface at the other end.. au revoir!

11.11.11. Such a special day

2011-11-11T01:03:00.006+11:00

All the elevens - a really special date - Armistice Day too. Fondly known the world over as Poppy Day. A day to pause and give thanks that so many have given their lives over the years and continue to do so to this day so that we may live freely.

And for me, my own extra special Poppy day. My darling daughter Poppy came into the world 21 years ago today. So extra poignant and extremely precious after years of infertility and I look back on that day as one of the happiest of my life. To all the new mothers particularly out there in the blogging fraternity, I know it is a cliche, but time will go by so fast - treasure every single second! I cannot believe that I have a 21 year old..... Amazing.

And here she is above... skipping along next to the river in Durham, where she is at University.

Happy, happy 21st Birthday sweetheart and I am so looking forward to seeing you later today.

Paris Pics Part II. And Purchases

2011-11-09T01:59:00.010+11:00

At last I hear you say..... what on earth has she been doing ? - that Halloween post has been up way too long (or that was Mr SE told me in no uncertain terms last night when he rang from Australia!) So without further ado here are a selection of the photos from our very quick trip to Paris which now seems like AGES ago. My time in England too is drawing to a close far too quickly - I return back to Melbourne early next week and I am running round in circles trying to get things done. Also there is a certain birthday to celebrate at the end of this week - darling daughter's. (Very exciting)
Photo above - me deciding that I had to do like the French femmes and wear a (small) heel for one of our days out and about!

Mr SE in Place de la Concorde. Ritz Hotel just behind.

Hanging out around CHANEL - Rue Cambon.

Ici, je 'leche les vitrines'!

Above and below - pics snapped in Laduree.

Outside John Galliano's local. This is the bar where he made his infamous comments.... It was PACKED with people spilling out over the pavements each evening.

Gorgeous restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely dinner. Marais district.

Place des Vosges.

So lovely and sunny - we were lucky with the weather.

This is where they store all the leaves - no wonder it all looked so beautiful !

Whilst I was sitting in cafes and watching the world go by I made a few observations/notes regarding fashion and things I had seen on the street as follows :

Lots of short jackets (especially leather), with skinny legged jeans/pants with boots

Scarves, scarves, scarves - all tied with a twist or big chunky wool 'snoods'

If not slim legs then wide tweedy type 70's pants (worn with a heel)

Man-ish long jackets as coats, again in tweed

A lot of tan coloured leather in both bags and boots

Many chic women with GREY hair - either in geometric short cuts or longer more casual in style.

Although in the main there were lots of neutrals the odd pop of colour in a coat or pants appeared quite a bit

See my two photos below captured surreptitiously from the cafe to illustrate my last point.!!

Bright red coat... and

working a coloured jean en francais.

Sorry this post is rather long... quickly now, onto purchases...

Went a bit mad in MONOPRIX of all places and bought a navy cashmere v neck and a very nice 'Margaret Howell-ish' fine striped shirt with teeny weeny buttons... All at fabulous prices of course.

And a huge bottle of this wonderful body lotion at a great price... Very pleased with my bargains.

Oh, and talking of buying things also succumbed to these leopard delights last week!

They definitely called my name and will be great back in Oz... (Summer is around the corner and will look good with well, err...most things I figured, especially tan chino type pants/trousers)

So there we are, a round up of the last of the Paris pics and a few little bits and bobs! Hope you enjoyed!

Halloween Flower Party

2011-11-01T03:37:00.002+11:00

I am sandwiching this post amongst my Paris ones as I promised to go over and join Jane at Small but Charming for her Halloween flower extravaganza and I may be late for the party if I don't hurry! Above this little ghostie has a little tea light inside and his eyes light up in a suitably ghoulish manner!! We have had him ages and I always like to have him sitting out somewhere on 31st October...

Two pics above from a few weeks ago but I thought the colours were good for today.. a lovely bouquet of flowers that Mr SE sent me when I arrived back in UK.

And finally tah dah! Daughter and I hallowed out this pumpkin last week when I went up to visit her at Durham University... Hope it has lasted until tonight as they are throwing a Halloween party.

Happy Halloween to one and all.

Paris Pics - first instalment

2011-10-30T04:33:00.010+11:00

Hello I'm back! And what an amazing time we had but I'll let the pictures tell the story....

Above and below the view from our hotel window. We stayed in the Marais region - really vibrant and interesting with lots of cafes, boutiques etc. Total bliss.

A breakfast above... and I ordered in French (and without a waiter looking down his nose and pretending he could not understand me.)

(Note to Ms. Maple - it was after I had ordered the above I sent you that text- this was what you could have shared with me!)

And lunch, below.

Next few photographs around and about the 3rd Arrondissement.

Hotel de Ville, 2 photos above.

Gorgeous Gitaine blue of this lovely old door....

Need I say more?

And last one. - just because I loved the image.

Much more to follow in the next post too.

Something exciting to tell you

2011-10-25T21:44:00.004+11:00

I am off for a very brief and unexpected trip to Paris. In fact as I type this I am waiting at the airport and even the fact that my plane is delayed is not getting me down, much....!

Mr SE has some business in Europe this week (again unexpected, did not think I would see him until I arrived back into Melbourne mid November) and, as he has a hotel room in Paris for a couple of nights it seems silly not to whizz on over there from UK and share it with him doesn't it?

Promise I will take lots of photos and let you know all about it later on.

Au revoir mes amis!

A perfect Organic Farmshop / Lifestyle shop

2011-10-16T23:54:00.008+11:00

That is how I would describe Daylesford Oraganic Farmshop in Gloucestershire UK.

In fact, it is almost too perfect if you understand what I mean! Country life isn't really like this every day. The vegetables are all neatly laid out, the bakery is wonderful, there is a delicatessen area, a cold room for cheeses, a wine shop, a garden room, a Spa area, hideously expensive but dreamy clothes to touch (well, I can only touch - who actually buys them I wonder?) and a fabulous and yummy cafe! Phew......

Anyway, after that introduction I will leave you to meander through the photos with not too much more from me. Suffice to say I had a wonderful afternoon there yesterday. Hours spent wandering and pretending I lived in this perfect world (and surreptitiously looking out for the celebrities who use this place as their local supermarket - Stella McCartney, Jude Law etc. - that's when they are down in their homes in the countryside!) Didn't see any celebs there but have to add that my friend who accompanied me saw Stella M later on that afternoon in her village about 15 mins away!

See - a perfect specimen!!

Cheese room above (temperature controlled).

Entrance to the garden area.

Next few photos show the homewares available....

WANT those 1,2,3,4 bowls SO much.

My basket was empty at this point!

Off for some lunch..

Pigeon and beetroot salad for me.

Tomato and basil soup for my friend Ms G.

Just one little bag came back with me... Some lovely liquid hand wash and hand lotion and a pot of delicious chutney. Fairly restrained I feel!

LOVE the wire sculpture dog.

All in all a great afternoon.

For more information : http://www.daylesfordorganic.com/

Old Durham Town

2011-10-14T08:11:00.007+11:00

These photographs were taken in Durham a couple of weeks ago when my daughter went back to begin her second year of University there. Beautiful old buildings above - Georgian and even earlier to the far right.

Durham Cathedral.

The cloisters behind the cathedral. The library where she studies (on occasions when she won't be tempted she says, by internet access -there is none in this library!) is situated just off these cloisters.

The second year student.

A bit of 'arty' photography in the sunlight!

And below a lovely cafe where we had breakfast. Flat White Cafe in Durham.

Not quite up to the standard of my 'local' in Melbourne "Collective Espresso" but pretty good all the same!

Shopping, hunting, gathering and cooking.

2011-10-06T03:42:00.006+11:00

As promised photos of our 'loot' from Singapore.

A striped Tee shirt top (I cannot resist stripes) and this one is lovely quality. From Muji.

Best buy was this beautiful dress above. Daughter modelling her LBD with a bit of detailing and difference. She fell in love with it and it had to be hers.

She also bought (at a night market in Changi village), a jade ring like the one above.

And I found a GORGEOUS ring - as the one above (top one - the moonstone orb ring but in silver). I have had to order it as they did not have my size left in stock. It is a range by a Singaporean designer called Carrie K. Absolutely loved her designs... Check her website out HERE. I may have to wait a couple of months for my ring but I am willing to do that.

And just to carry on the shopping theme when we returned to UK this lovely package was waiting for me from a few weeks back. I had ordered a cosy cashmere classic. In the sale. Remember what I say about Brora - the best cashmere in the world in my humble opinion.

Know that I will get a lot of wear out of it so it will be a good value item in the end on a cost per wear basis!

On Saturday the sun shone (you did know that for a while I had brought some very warm sunshine back with me from Australia, didn't you?!!)

We walked along beside the canal keeping our eyes peeled...

For these.......

Gathered many and took them home - into a pan with some chopped apples and later on -

A very tasty blackberry and apple crumble was produced!

Delish. Got to love an English Autumn.......

Flowers in the (English) house

2011-09-27T02:39:00.002+10:00

A few flowery offerings to join in with Jane who is throwing her monthly flower party ... Check it all out HERE. Anyway, this is my first time joining in from another country as usually I am blogging from Australia. Above is a rose from my parents' garden.. My father very sweetly met me at Heathrow airport with it as a welcome gift. It smells divine.

I have arranged it with some herbs - mint and rosemary from the garden.

This lavender above sits in a bowl on my mantelpiece - also from the garden gathered and dried a couple of summers ago but the scent is still there.

Above to the left a dried seed head. Love the fragility of this in its natural beauty.

The lavender again in the centre with two faux artichokes (f'artichokes, perhaps??!!) in white terracotta pots each side. Have had them for ages but I still love them as much now as the day I bought them.

Shopping from Singapore post next time, promise. (Although have to say we did NOT go mad!)

Singapore Part II and now blogging from Blighty

2011-09-25T01:51:00.008+10:00

Much to report since my last post- 'Singapore Part I'. Mr SE flew in to join us and he's still there for the Grand Prix (an annual treat to himself!)

Grand Prix circuit lit up (photo for Mr SE)....

We moved from one hotel to this one below. I know, rather out of this world so to speak. Nearly in the sky to be truthful. The 'ship' part at the top is the infinity swimming pool. Talk about a bit different and such an amazing experience.

Two photos above - me in that pool. Such views from the top.

And Louis Vuitton has a shop on its own island. Madness!

Old and new buildings above.

Singapore's Merlion.

Me and my girl.

And again, after a wonderful dinner at the very top - Skydeck on 57.

Contrasting with all the new buildings - a beautiful street of older characterful architecture.

And of course, no visit to Singapore is complete without a visit to Raffles Hotel.

So, all in all a fabulous time but it's good to be back in England. Next post I'll fill you in on the shopping.

Singapore Part I

2011-09-18T12:51:00.004+10:00

Well here we are in Singapore.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be reunited again with my daughter. We have opted for a couple of days staying in Changi to begin with and this afternoon move to a different hotel in the city. The Marina Bay Sands hotel which by all accounts is pretty amazing. That said, our base here in Changi has been lovely. Above is darling daughter practising for the synchronised swimming section of the 2012 Olympics !

And above enjoying a fresh coconut at the Hawker Centre (no Mother, if you are reading this don't worry - we don't have upset stomachs!!)

A view across to Palau Ubin Island where most of the prawn farms are; we saw them landing huge bags of them yesterday morning. And Changi Beach to the right. In spite of its dark past being the site of the Sook Ching massacre by Japanese soldiers during WWII, it's a popular place for Singaporean families to come during the weekend and relax. We are going to visit Changi Prison and Chapel Museum too later on which recounts the Japanese occupation of Singapore during the Second World War.

Gorgeous fresh fruit in the market.

And here above is the now deserted place (some say haunted apparently) that is dear to my heart and which I wanted to show my daughter. Old Changi Hospital where some 50+ years ago I was born. My parents were stationed here in Singapore as a newly married young couple. My father was in the R.A.F. - how different it must have been in those days to live nearly half way around the world. No internet, no mobile phones and indeed too expensive even to use the landline phone. They wrote each week to their respective parents and I sometimes wonder that it must have been quite difficult for my mother in her very early twenties not to have the support of her own mother as she gave birth to her first child. Although I will add that my father was (quite unusually I believe in the 50's) a very 'hands-on' Daddy !!

So all in all a little bit of a nostalgic trip in this fairly quiet (by today's standards) part of Singapore before we go to the bustle and hustle of the metropolis.

Packing up

2011-09-15T17:06:00.005+10:00

I think I am a fairly good packer but I have been defeated today. I am off tomorrow for a 2 month trip. The first 5 days are going to be spent in Singapore - think tropical temperatures and heat. Darling daughter is joining me there. Then it is off back to UK where it is far from tropical - back into Autumn weather - and I am there for 7 weeks or so. I am getting frustrated as I want to take my new boots (both pairs), lots of pairs of shoes, plenty of jackets, tops, trousers, (funnily enough come to think of it I haven't allocated any skirts) - is it to late to put one in, I ask myself? And I should really stick to a colour scheme as well - it all looks so dull....Oh help! Wish my suitcase resembled the one below rather than the the one above!

In my frustration I 'googled' packing a suitcase and have discovered the advice below from Fodor :

Slim Down Your Suitcase: 9 Tips for Packing Light
Posted in Practical Travel Tips Fodor's Editors
Let's face it, no one ever came back from vacation saying: "I wish my bags had been heavier." A good traveler's goal is to carry the bare essentials and leave the excess at home. How to put your luggage on a diet? Follow these easy tips:
1. Do your homework. Call the hotel, motel, friend's house where you're staying and ask the following: do they have a hairdryer, iron, ironing board, beach towels, bathrobes, sand toys---basically anything that's bulky and that you'd rather leave at home? If the answer is yes, do not under any circumstances bring your own.
2. Check temperatures and events at your destination. Only pack what corresponds---do not bring "just in case" clothes.
3. Choose a central color to pack around. A neutral such as brown, black, or tan is a good place to start, then bring accessories and accent pieces that go with this color palette.
4. The numbers game. A good rule of thumb for trips less than one week is one shirt per day, one layering jacket or sweater, one bottom per every two days (but never less than two pairs of pants), no more than two pairs of shoes (one you wear and one you pack), underwear for every day, and seasonal additions, like a bathing suit.
5. Wash it out. If you're traveling for more than a week, follow the same numbers as above and plan on washing clothes instead of bringing more. If you're in a country with a good exchange rate, or aren't on a tight budget, take advantage of the hotel laundry service or dry cleaning. Otherwise, bring individual packets of Woolite and a travel stain-treatment stick (Tide to Go is the best one).
6. Write it down. Make detailed lists of everything you plan to bring. That way you can easily see if you've allotted six pairs of pants for a four-day trip. Be honest, note everything---including socks and underwear---and then stick to your list when packing.
7. Downsize toiletries. Pick up travel-size versions of your favorite products whenever you see them, not just when you're getting ready to travel. If you can't find miniatures, buy small plastic bottles and decant from larger products.
8. Wear your heaviest shoes, sweater, and jacket. That way, you don't have to pack them.
9. Pack outside your bag. Before you actually pack your suitcase, pile everything you plan to bring on your bed or dresser. This is your opportunity to eye your clothes and cull a few more items. If you pack directly into your suitcase, you'll be tempted to throw in a few extra items (trust us, you will). Once you've made the final edit, pack only what's in front of you. If you've followed our advice, your suitcase should now be a lean, mean, traveling machine: happy travels.

Hmmmm, some fairly good advice there. Ah well, think I had better go back upstairs and take another good hard look at what I intend to take with me on this long trip. One thing I will tell you though is that I am SO EXCITED and I can hardly wait to see my daughter - last time was around 6 months ago and we are going to have such a great time in Singapore before going on back to England. If I can I will post from Singapore but otherwise my next post will be from England.

So farewell from me for a while.....

Loving this UK website

2011-09-09T18:22:00.005+10:00

If you don't know this fabulous English website I definitely recommend you take a peek. Great clothes, as well as vintage bits and bobs, and a 'street fashion' section. Oh, and a lifestyle and books section too. Could it get any better... ? Well, actually it can - FREE, yes, you read correctly, FREE worldwide shipping this weekend till Monday 12th September. Run, don't walk and click HERE

Happy Shopping and a Happy Weekend to all. (Don't forget to enter the code GLOBE at checkout to get the free shipping by the way.)

p.s. No, I haven't been paid in any way to write about Coggles.com - just love them, that's all.

My friend Ms. Maple

2011-09-01T14:05:00.003+10:00

My dear friend Ms. S (aka Ms. Maple) has at last (!) begun her blog.....

Please go and visit here HERE and follow her too if you feel so inclined - that would be a wonderful welcome to the world of blogging for her. I know you won't be disappointed and I also know for sure that her blog will be filled with all manner of delicious and delightful goodies over the coming months. A real treat.

And Hostess am sure you will particularly enjoy - she hails orginally from Vancouver.

Kilver Court - a place I'm definitely visiting

2011-08-28T17:09:00.003+10:00

Kilver Court - designer bargains, secret gardens, great food..... Well, that info. has got me totally interested and you'll bet that this place in Somerset, England will be on my list of places to visit when I am back there in about a month's time..... (And even better news is that it's only about 45 mins from our cottage in the West of England)

Some "blurb" from their website :

A fresh, new experience, Kilver Court mixes a fabulous discount designer shopping emporium with amazing secret gardens, excellent food from the Sharpham Park Farm Shop and pop-up restaurants, a plant nursery, wellness centre and an ever-changing calendar of events.

Created by Mulberry founder Roger Saul, The Kilver Court Emporium is open seven days a week (Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm). It offers an ever-changing, exciting mix of discount designer labels including - Margaret Howell, Toast, Cabbages and Roses and Duchamp. The Emporium is filled with gorgeous fashion and home furnishings. Ranges include menswear, womenswear, fashion accessories and lingerie as well as new and upcycled furniture and vintage decor.

Kilver Court provides a refreshing change for those seeking quality designer items and fantastic bargains all presented in an environmentally aware setting. Restoration, regeneration and renewal are the driving forces behind Roger Saul’s vision for making Kilver Court the best designer shopping destination in the UK. In recent years, Roger and his team of craftspeople have transformed a range of historic industrial buildings with great care and expertise.

Can't wait to visit and wait, there's more - Mulberry's Factory shop is also just around the corner from this wonderful place too!

For more information - http://www.kilvercourt.com/

Knit Wit.....

2011-08-18T18:33:00.006+10:00

I discovered knitting relatively recently in my life and have to say that I rather enjoy this hobby. And I am in good company so it seems; Cameron Diaz, Geri Halliwell, Uma Thurman and Sarah J-Parker all indulge in a little yarn therapy too.

It first helped me through a bout of mild depression about 8 years ago so whenever I get out the knitting needles Mr SE does worry - but he doesn't need to. The only thing I would say is I do like variety and have 3 small projects on the go at the moment. Below photograph shows the 3 together.

This is the first one above. A scarf (that is about all I have managed to master so far!) - but done in a rib stitch - 2 plain knit stitches then 2 purl stitches along each row. I am using a lovely Rowan tweedy wool for this....

Project number two. This will be a 'snood' for darling daughter for when she goes back up to Durham University in the Autumn in UK. I have used a pure undyed wool from Jacob Sheep..... The pattern is one row plain knit stitch and one row of purl. Easy and fun.

And thirdly this one (also to be a 'snood'). It's done in Moss Stitch. One knit stitch, then one purl stitch all along the row. This is also a Rowan pure wool and I love the colours.

The weather has been cold - well I guess it is Winter here in Melbourne but it has also been rainy too - perfect weather for knitting on your day off. It's full on and busy at work with a new catalogue out and this is a good way to relax once all the household chores are out of the way (or out of sight!!) .

View below from the sitting room.

We have been nice and cosy inside today but someone has been 'hogging' the fire - see below!

Anyone else like to knit - are you an expert, or do you like to clack away for fun?

Kookaburra sits

2011-08-07T19:17:00.005+10:00

Last week I was awoken just before dawn by what sounded like a monkey in a jungle.... !!

Actually, it was a Kookaburra and for those of you who don't live in Australia you might be interested in playing the video link below. It does make me laugh everytime I hear it but it wasn't all that funny so early in the morning. I have to say that it is the first time I have heard a kookaburra here where we live in Melbourne - we are quite near the City although the garden does back onto a small area of rough parkland.

Please take a few seconds to listen HERE - and I am sure it will bring a smile to your face too!

Something to tell you

2011-07-29T13:53:00.006+10:00

I am going home.
For a WHOLE 2 months. My lovely work, THE ARK have said that I may go and I will still have my job when I return and I am so excited that I am trying not to think about it in case it all turns out to be a dream. So in September I will be seeing THIS view below when I wake up and look out of the bedroom window from our cottage in Wiltshire. Home to me is UK. Yes, home is also here in Melbourne but HOME No. 1 is the country where you have spent most of your life, have your memories, and most of your family.

So, if you would like you can all come with me via the blog and perhaps it will be a little more interesting and I will be posting with a bit more regularity than I have of late, for which I can only apologise!

Happy weekend to one and all.

One of my favourites. Jo Malone's Lime, Basil and Mandarin

2011-07-22T10:05:00.005+10:00

I love this fragrance - in my opinion her best and her signature first..... It is really a modern classic and the body lotion carries the scent with you all day. Fresh limes and zesty mandarins undercut by the 'pepperiness' of basil with a hint of white thyme.

I think it works well all year round - refreshing and green it is great for the Summer months but then it seems equally to be warming and cosy (perhaps it's the basil element?) for the cooler seasons.

I am using the body lotion now now - Mr SE bought me a large bottle last time he was over in Europe. Wishing you all a great weekend - enjoy!

White Cottage, Suffolk, England

2011-07-08T16:01:00.007+10:00

I am totally in LOVE with this very pretty late Georgian cottage in the coastal town of Woodbridge in Suffolk in England. It belongs to my talented friend Jo who has such a flair for designing and decorating - she kindly sent me all these photographs which I am so pleased to share with you all....

Sitting room.

And another view above.

Dining area. Love the fact that she has paired the old table with the modern white chairs.

Above and below - the kitchen.

The twin bedded room above.

And the gorgeous main bedroom.

Another photo of the main bedroom - tea for two?

And the bathroom.

And lastly the GORGEOUS little courtyard garden.

Now the even more exciting part is that this little gem of a cottage is available for holiday lets....

Here is the link http://www.suffolkcottageholidays.com/cottage/suffolk/000300/ajax/white-cottage-woodbridge.html

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are doing!

Hermes, please explain this pricing policy......

2011-07-05T13:18:00.004+10:00

Mr SE has just returned from another trip to Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Dublin and a quick stayover in London) and asked me if I would like anything particular..... Well, I was getting a little low (nearly out of) my favourite fragrance - Hermes Rose Ikebana which I have talked about before on the blog - see HERE.

However, I am very much for VFM in this life .... Value For Money is the name of the game and I just wanted to check where the best place would be for Mr SE to pick up said perfume. So, off I went to the website and decided that I would rather like to try two other 'flavours' in the Hermessence range - the new(ish) Iris Ukiyoe and also the Poivre Samarcande (which is beautiful 'layered' with my favourite Rose Ikebana....) Hermes do a 'Gift Set' where you can choose 4 of the Hermessence fragrances so I picked 2 of the Rose Ikebana and one each of the other two so I could try them as well....

Now, this story is going somewhere (good, I hear you sigh).... Meanwhile above and below show the photographs of the beautifully packaged gifts set...

Each little bottle has its own drawstring bag...

And above here they are out of their packages.

OK so guess where they were bought in the end ? IN AUSTRALIA!

In England they would have been a little more expensive than here - yes, I know I was really surprised. However, if you live in USA you are the winners - this same set above a whole LOT (AUD$65) LESS than it does here.

Why Hermes, can you please explain this???

However, if you want to buy a large bottle of any of the above it would cost far MORE in Australia - in UK and USA it's about the same price. I just don't understand it.

p.s. My nail polish - see post before last is still perfect - no chips at all. I am impressed.

Cheating a teeny bit but still joining in with Jane

2011-06-27T19:22:00.006+10:00

I am joining in with lovely Jane who is behind the blog Small But Charming and showing you my flowers in the house... She is showing Flowers around the Summer house but we are in topsy turvey land Down Under so we are in Autumn/Winter mode here of course.... First two photographs show my lovely bunch of Jonquils given to me by the divine Ms. S. They smell amazing.

And below - next two photographs these lovely blush pink spray roses. Given to me by Mr SE just before he jetted off to Europe (yes, again) on business on Saturday evening.

And here is the cheaty bit!! But I know that Jane will appreciate this as she is a florist. These are photographs taken at my local Florist run by the very sweet and gorgeous Cobi. She is so young ( think perhaps early twenties?) yet she owns and runs this successful business with a team of helpers.

LOVE the saying on the board outside.. "Winterference" - great!

Outside the shop above and below.

Entrance.

And above 5 photographs just taken here and there around the store....

Beautiful isn't it?

I've been "Shellac-ed"

2011-06-25T19:45:00.004+10:00

On Thursday I went to my local nail salon and had my nails done. With Shellac Gel. No, it's not something that goes on the top of a piece of furniture finished by French polishing as I had previously thought but a new nail technique. Well, new to me - may be quite old hat to you.

It cost twice as much as an ordinary manicure but apparently will last up to 3 times as long. (So therefore in my book = Good Value For Money). And it's different from Bio Sculpture Nails (which often give the appearance of a thick layer or two of polish on your nails) and Bio Sculpture nails are more expensive (so I am told) than this new shellac polish....

Downsides : as yet not a HUGE selection of polishes to pick from but enormous UPSIDE : as soon as it is done you can pick up your bag, your keys etc. and off you waltz. No more trying not to smudge your nails and spoiling a manicure within 10 minutes of getting them done. RESULT.

So, I will be counting the days that this lasts and will let you know. So far, I am really quite impressed.

Happy Weekend to one and all.

Margaret River Region, Western Australia

2011-06-18T17:19:00.009+10:00

Mr SE and I had a wonderful time last weekend in the beautiful Margaret River region of Western Australia. I flew to Perth (Mr SE was already in Perth on business) and then we hot footed it in the car 2.5 hours south....

This is where we stayed - Empire Spa and retreat. Very relaxing with an Eastern influence.

Photos above and below taken in the hotel grounds.

Loved the cascading water fountain below ....

We walked the 2kms out (and back !) along Busselton Jetty - the longest pier in the Southern hemisphere.

Although it was sunny the wind was pretty fierce... these seagulls were trying to keep their heads down out of the gale!

Beautiful sunrise.

Mr SE was interested in exploring the Ngligi Caves - where there were plenty of stalactites and stalagmites to spy!

All quite eerie and interesting if not a tad geographical for my tastes!

Mr SE loved it though...

I rather liked these sheep with their black faces which we passed on the way to one of the region's many wineries. The Margaret River region is one of Australia's most prolific wine producing areas.

The vines above looking very Autumnal. And below the Howard Park Estate where they produce the range of wines that are one of our favourites....
We ordered a case to be shipped back to Melbourne! Free postage too - great value.

Last pic for the post today - Mr SE....

We had a wonderful weekend. And hope you are enjoying yours wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

Frothy Underpinnings

2011-06-08T10:35:00.007+10:00

My blog pal 'That's Not My Age' posted about some gorgeous underwear that she was thinking of investing in last week... See HERE. And at the time I was awaiting a package from delicious lingerie company - Mimi Holliday (by Damaris) Like TNMA, I have to admit that the state of my 'knicker drawer' is rather a sorry one. And I am not one for matching sets (more's the pity laments Mr SE) - adore the idea of them but just have not got myself sufficiently into the matching underwear mindset. However, this could change..... This underwear is beautiful. It is sexy but supportive and the bras do not look like the 'over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders' I have had to put up with in the past. Although I do like bras by Prima Donna - but a girl has to have a little froth and lightness in her life at times. And so I present to you :

Above. Exhibit A - black French lace and silk 'French Knicker' - this will go with a plain black seamless bra I already own (the matching bra to this one from Mimi Holliday was completely SOLD out in my size). Sad, but good for my bank balance.

And Exhibit B ..... above and below... such delicate underpinnings... And a MATCHING set - be still my beating heart. It fits and looks gorgeous...... - this is the 'blurb' about this design from the website :

A darling oyster 100% silk satin and white lace story- Rossetti is the ultimate in lady-like elegance and right on trend for a ballet inspired fresh Spring look. The subtly between the graphic white French lace and soft oyster silk satin creates a luxurious effect- it is a very wearable and understated story....

And from the website - the pics below to show you what they look like on - well, you didn't think I was going to model them - god forbid ;-) ?!

Above the set "Rossetti" and below :

The black French knicker.... ("Bisou Bisou")

Their arrival is perfect timing. Mr SE and I are going away this weekend (it's a long weekend here in the state of Victoria) off to the Margaret River region in Western Australia. Can't wait!!!

Season Envy

2011-06-02T15:29:00.008+10:00

What's wrong with me......?
It's not that I don't like Autumn which is well and truly upon us here in Australia (in fact I might go so far as to say that it is my favourite season) it's just that I want what you've got! You lot in the Northern Hemisphere. Or perhaps it's a case of the grass seems always greener. I have loved seeing Spring photographs on others blogs and imagining a Summer in England. Maybe I'm homesick or feeling sad at the thought of not being around during the long holiday break from University that my daughter has just begun.
So in the hope of "snapping out of" this melancholy - here are a couple of Autumn photographs I have taken over the last week.... Above - our skinny latte and skinny flat white coffees we had last weekend at the market in South Melbourne. Excellent coffee place called Padre. And I love the pottery earthenware - that struck me as very Autumnal. And below, also snapped at the same market :

Fresh walnuts in huge sacks. They looked really beautiful - what could be more "seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness" I wonder ? Maybe this below - a photograph taken a while back when I was in UK - my English Apple cake :

For the recipe which I posted on the blog then please click HERE.

Enjoy your Season which ever one you are experiencing!

Trying to shed a few pounds

2011-05-26T11:13:00.002+10:00

Mr SE and I are on a health kick....
Which roughly translates as moderating our intake of things like wine, cheese, crackers etc. (or rather cutting out completely in the case of the cheese and crackers) keeping an eye on portion sizes etc. and adding more vegetables, salads and fruit to our diet. And for me, I have added a daily brisk power walk - of around 3 to 4 kms. Also going for healthy choices such as the breakfast below: This is not a hardship as this bircher muesli is quite DELICIOUS.

I loved the glass jar but when it is finished I will make up a batch myself. The ingredients are as follows : Rolled oats, sultanas, almonds, sunflower kernels and dried apples. You could make up a batch and add dates, or apricots to I would imagine......

You have to be organised and make up the bircher muesli the night before. So, to one measure (1/3 cup) of the dry mixture you add the same measure of milk (I use low fat) and then 2 to 3 tbsps of yoghurt. Cover with cling film and leave in the fridge overnight. In the morning you can add fruit of your choice - grated apple is wonderful.....

See below my breakfast this morning....

And here is the view for my walking route... Gorgeous Autumn colours and even better when the sun shines.

Initially we (decided by Mr SE) are doing this for a period of 5 weeks and Mr SE has printed out a chart to map our progress - apparently there is a prize for the winner he said! We are nearly 3 weeks into our "regime" and so far I have lost 4 pounds and Mr SE 1 pound . (and for those of you who deal in Kgs that is around 2Kgs for me and 1/2 Kg for Mr SE).

Shall I start planning my prize yet I wonder or will it be a case of the hare and the tortoise?

Beauty product LOVE - Chantecaille's 'Just Skin'

2011-05-18T09:47:00.005+10:00

I am impressed. Very. Having read all the reviews and hype about this gorgeous tinted moisturiser (not actually a true description really as I would say it was more of a foundation) I bit the bullet and forked out quite a lot of $$$ for this which is in reality about the size of a small tube of toothpaste!!

However, the old saying is correct - you get what you pay for in life and I have to say I love it.

Chantecaille's 'Just Skin' is well, er, - just like your skin, only better. It covers fine lines, imperfections and pores and looks as if you are wearing no make up at all which is what I have always tried to achieve with foundations etc. and never quite got there.

Initially, I was given a sample of the colour 'Bliss' but found it too light and went back to the lovely SA at Mecca Cosmetica in the city and now have 'Nude' which is perfect for my skin tone. It's easy to use and buildable too giving you a heavier coverage if you need it but at the same time keeps that flawless finish. I also dust a light covering of pressed mineral powder over the centre of my face to take off the slight sheen and to make it last all day. And a huge bonus - it smells lovely too.

Have to say, I'm hooked!

P.S. No, I was not paid or sponsored for this post but if the kind people at Chantecaille would like to send me a year's supply of Just Skin (in Nude please) I wouldn't say no!!

Anyone else love this or are you true to another tinted moisturiser/foundation that you'd never be without?

A delivery from My-Wardrobe dot com

2011-05-11T10:30:00.008+10:00

Look what arrived in the mail the other day. Well, to be honest they could not get it into my mail box and so left a little card to say it was at the local Post Office. I got home at around from work at around 5.45pm and so immediately rushed out again with my little card to see if the newsagents (where our mail counter is) was still open... Much happiness as they were, and I claimed my 'loot'!! Carefully undid the box and lifted the first layer of tissue paper.

And in photo below - down to the box wrapped in the my-wardrobe.com logo paper.

And here - tah-dah!!!

My Belstaff boots - such beauties, in antique black.

I have been searching for these high and low since I saw a similar pair in a shop in Byron Bay when we were there last month. (They only had one pair left in a size 36)

But to no avail - searched all over the internet etc. and none in my size. ANYWHRE. I emailed My Wardrobe and they suggested I kept "checking the site to see if we have a pair returned" .... Got to admit I did not hold out much hope. However, a couple of weeks ago - one pair appeared in my size - obviously FATE, and I had to have them.... Naturally. The leather is deliciously soft.

And just look at the soles - leather too, of course but with special non slip pieces on them.

Here they are in their glory...

And photos above and below show them on.
Sorry, photograph below was taken looking into the mirror - not all that great quality (UNLIKE the boots of course!)...

A little about Belstaff for those of you unfamiliar with the brand :

Belstaff - the Story:
A genuine British heritage brand, Belstaff's history can be dated back to 1924, when it was founded by father and son-in-law team Eli Belovitch and Harry Grosberg. Renowned for its legendary jackets Belstaff's patrons of the past have included motocross prodigy Sammy Miller the revolutionary Che Guevara and the ‘king of cool’ Steve McQueen.
The Collection:
A range of iconic biker jackets in original waxed cotton and leather, plus boots and bags to finish off the look.
Last Word:
With a constant demand for all things retro; Belstaff continues to recreate the iconic biker jacket it is most famous for. This brand has attitude, style and a commitment to sourcing the highest quality materials.

I love them (as you may have gathered) and am really pleased that the weather has turned very Autumnal and cool here recently giving me lots of opportunity to wear them.

Happy Semi Expat indeed.

She was a complete dream in McQueen!!

2011-04-30T18:26:00.004+10:00

Well, what a wonderful evening. We had far too much of this : Moi, above with my tiara...

And the above and below photographs show BN with her tiara and Kate Middleton faux ring - it was a good fake piece though!!

The dear boys arriving...

Kate and her proud father. And as the title of the post says it certainly was a complete dream of a dress. Perfect in every way and she looked amazing. Loved the lace, loved the veil, the tiara, EVERYTHING. Many tears were shed here when we saw her.

And above, the happy and beautiful couple leaving Westminster Abbey. I have to admit to feeling a little flat now that it is all over but being immensely proud to see that Britain can put on such a wonderful pageant with pomp and ceremony. A wonderful, happy and joyful day.

Waiting for the Wedding!

2011-04-29T09:50:00.004+10:00

Above and below the hot seats for the viewing of the Royal Wedding from London!! Niece and I will be sitting HERE absolutely glued to the television set.....

The Wedding will be beamed across from London to Australia this evening due to the time differences...

We are so excited! Am now off to search for some crowns so we can get into the swing of things and be royally adorned. Oh, and the champagne is of course already chilled in the fridge.

See you this evening Beautiful Niece ...!! (And if you want a little chuckle please go over HERE to niece's blog for another slant on what the Royal Wedding could be like!!) It's so funny.

Flowers, chocs and joining in with Jane

2011-04-25T20:38:00.004+10:00

I am joining in with Jane of Small but Charming today and showing you my flowers around the house... Actually, just one jug full of white roses and greenery bits but it has looked lovely and fresh over the Easter weekend..... Here is my chocolate bunny given to me by Mr SE (as were the flowers too, btw) - DARK chocolate as it is my absolute favourite...

Styling of the above photo by MR SE, with the help of some peppercorns!!!

Silly boy... but it made me smile.

Cabbages and Roses

2011-04-20T09:44:00.004+10:00

Many apologies - I have been away for far too long from my blog and have neglected catching up on all of yours too.

Darling daughter has flown away again and I have to admit to feeling very miserable. Have to get myself out of this downward spiral somehow so what better way to share with you this jolly striped new fabric from the English company 'Cabbages and Roses' today. Especially for all you lovers of black and white and I know that there are a few out there.

And isn't the second photograph gorgeous? Love the lamps particularly.

Do take a peek at their website - www.cabbagesandroses.com Am sure you will enjoy.

This weekend I am going to be enjoying playing catch up with all my favourite blogs.

We're back... or Byron Bay Part II

2011-04-05T18:59:00.001+10:00

We returned last night after our mini break in this beautiful part of Australia.

We are all revitalised and refreshed and it's good to be home in Melbourne although we all fell in love with Byron Bay. No wonder with sunsets like the one above in the first two photographs. In the second photo darling daughter is taking her own photos of the sunset too.

We stayed just up this little hill on Lighthouse Road...

Cute lime green frog above hiding amongst the leaves.

Above photo - spot the dolphins. You'll have to look very carefully though - middle of the photo - small black fins! (no, NOT sharks!)

Cape Byron - the most Easterly point of the Australian mainland.

My new sandals from Hermes enjoyed their inaugural outing too.. Here they are at Watego Beach.

Next post I will tell you about the shopping... there were a few very lovely and extremely tempting shops in Byron Bay...

(and thank you Kate B for your great suggestions of where to eat in Byron - in the previous post we had just had breakfast at the place you mentioned- the Cafe on the Beach (2nd photo in that post) and we also went to the Tapas place on the Balcony you suggested - lovely.)

Byron Bay Part I

2011-04-02T09:54:00.001+11:00

A few photographs for you all from Byron Bay. Unfortunately the "free Wi-Fi" from our apartment turns out to be almost non-existent and so I am sitting outside in the car trying to find a signal before the battery on my lap top dies!!

Photograph above was taken from where we had breakfast yesterday morning - an idyllic location and the coffee was pretty good too.

Next post will probably have to be after we get back on Tuesday and sorry that I won't be able to catch up and visit your blogs either for a few days...
Hate being without Internet - amazing how we have all come to rely on it!!

Have a good weekend wherever you are and whatever you are doing!

New book ready for the weekend

2011-03-29T11:21:00.000+11:00

So pleased to see that one of my most favourite writers has a new book out. If you haven't read any of Liz Byrski's novels then you are missing a treat. I have written about her before on the blog and I was lucky enough to go to an evening event where she was speaking about 18 months ago.
Last Chance Cafe was due out in Australia on April 1st - lucky for me I found it early - in Target and at a good price. Just in time to pack for our weekend in Byron Bay - leaving this Thursday afternoon.
Can't wait.

P.S. New blog lay out courtesy of Darling Daughter - with some input and direction from me!

Immeasurable happiness...

2011-03-23T19:31:00.005+11:00

My 20 year old 'baby' is back....

She flew into Melbourne yesterday evening and I cannot tell you the feeling of joy I experienced on waking this morning just knowing she was under the same roof as me after nearly 6 months apart.

I have a few days off from work - we spent today chatting, catching up on lots of things; really luxuriating in not having to do anything in particular. No essay deadlines for her and nothing for me to worry about. A sushi lunch and then giggling this afternoon having pedicures together.

All in all a perfect day....

Two 'Thank Yous' and a question to Australian readers

2011-03-19T18:50:00.006+11:00

You are such a lovely lot. But then again why am I surprised? - I already knew that. Thank you for all your kind and enquiring comments about my friend Celia in Japan and I am really happy to say that she is back safely in England..... I am so relieved that she is ok but the situation in Japan worsens daily and is so very worrying. Will Japan ever be the same again? Just hope and pray so but it will take years and years I'd imagine.

Also, on a more frivolous matter thank you again to all those who went over to my work blog to comment on the article I guest posted for them. You are so kind and Head Office were delighted - it was even mentioned in the work newsletter that the blog had received many comments after my article there!!

And thirdly a favour to ask of Australian readers.....

We'd really like to go away for a long weekend at the beginning of April to Byron Bay and stay in an apartment or cottage rather than a hotel. Does anyone know of anywhere they'd recommend? I remember seeing a gorgeous white weatherboarded cottage on somebody's blog ages back and I am sure it was near Byron Bay... I'm so very excited as on Tuesday my daughter comes out to Australia again for 3 weeks or so (just typing those words makes the old eyes fill up with tears at the thought - am so happy!). We thought a short break in Byron Bay would be lovely. Daughter is keen to learn to surf properly - we've been told this is the place to go. If you think we'd be better elsewhere then please chip in your views too.... Many, many thanks.

A lovely weekend to one and all....

News from Japan

2011-03-12T17:17:00.003+11:00

This is my dear friend Celia; the photograph was taken in happier times last October when she and I met up for dinner. Yesterday she was caught up in the earthquake that hit Japan as she is on business in Tokyo setting up an Art exhibition there in the city. When I got back from work last night and saw what had happened I was so worried and thankfully was able to skype her and we conversed via skype for the whole evening - she was really happy to be able to 'talk' and feel connected over the internet with me - nothing else was working - no mobile phone networks or of course no ordinary telephone systems.... As she couldn't reach anyone from there I got her to send me the telephone numbers in England that she wanted to contact and I rang them from here to let them know she was unharmed.... Very frightened but alright and today she was able to send this email out to all of her friends from Tokyo. I know she won't mind me copying it and putting it on the blog as it does give a first hand account of what it was like there :

Hi all
Thanks for your concern for my safety. I know many of you have called the office so just to let you know that I am OK but a bit freaked out by what has happened. It was very scary and the earth was literally rolling beneath our feet for about 2 minutes. Everything was shaking, the cars, buildings etc. I was doing an exhibition at the time and we all had to rush out onto the street so that we had a better chance if the buildings collapsed. Some glass was broken but apart from that we were OK and sat on the ground until it passed, but at the time we didn't know how bad it was or where it was coming from so we just had to wait with the feeling that we could be swallowed up or crushed at any minute. It was a truly humbling experience. There were aftershocks all day and we are still feeling small movements every now and then.
The chaos that followed was inevitable and all the mobile networks were jammed and all transport stopped throughout the city. Traffic was gridlocked so people took to the streets and tried to walk home. People were panic buying in the convenience stores and there was nothing left on the shelves. I couldn't get back to my hotel so I walked for an hour or so to my friends house and camped out there like a tramp. I think that many people were worse off and had no-where to go.
Today things are getting back to normal but people here are just beginning to realise the extent of the disaster. Apparently it is the biggest earthquake in Japan's history but we are relieved it struck at sea otherwise the devastation could have been far worse. As it is, the resulting tsunamis that hit the east coast yesterday and last night have killed many people and swept away houses, cars bridges etc.
I hope it's over now but everyone is a bit apprehensive about the next few days. I am scheduled to fly home on Monday so hopefully this will still be possible. I am looking forward to being back in the relative safety of the UK. Its been a long and busy week and the last couple of days have left me feeling a bit depleted.
Will catch up with you all when I get back. Look after yourselves and your loved ones and concentrate on what's important in life.

So very true. Sometimes we do lose the bigger picture and forget what is important in life. I just thank God she is ok and my heart goes out to the many who have not been so lucky.

(L)Arking Around!

2011-03-08T14:21:00.012+11:00

I am 'guest posting' today over at the blog, "Behind the Seams" which is our work blog. As some of you know I work for a wonderful Melbourne based fashion company called The Ark and I am very proud to do so. The above photo shows the two owners, Chris and Jen who started by making and selling children's clothing (OzArk) just over 20 years ago but then moved into clothing for women. The Ark is a boutique sized company that really packs a punch and I have to add it is entirely run by women... No men in the company at all. Not even at Head Office! The fact that it is still going 20 years later really shows that they really have a winning combination....

If you have a spare few minutes please pop over by clicking HERE. And if you would care to leave a comment well, that would be really marvellous. The work blog does not get very many comments and Head Office would be delighted too.

Enjoy.

http://www.theark.com.au/

Beautiful day

2011-03-05T19:18:00.005+11:00

After quite a miserable Summer weather wise here in Melbourne we were very happy to wake to such a beautiful Saturday morning. Mr SE and I went to our local shopping strip and gathered in food from the market for the week. This is a view towards the city of Melbourne (7kms away)..... We had breakfast at one of our most favourite cafes. They serve very superior coffee. Melbourne has a proud coffee heritage and Melburnians take their coffee extremely seriously. I bought this book today - it comes out every year and showcases the best of the best!

We were delighted to see that our favourite cafe made it (they have only been going around a year or so) so full marks to them. Only it won't be so secret any more. Ah well, never mind. Daughter loves this place too and she and I call it "Robbie William's cafe" - don't get too excited - it's just that the owner bears a strong resemblance to Mr Williams! Reason enough to go there, I say.

And as it was so beautiful weatherwise Mr SE and I went for a few hours at the beach... Here he is returning to the car after our relaxing time, 'packhorse stylie' with all our beachy paraphernalia!

We walked along the edge of the sand but the water was a little too cool to go swimming I felt. Some did though and this lone seagull thought it was just grand!

Happy weekend to one and all

Joining in with Jane (and showing you the table)

2011-02-28T18:42:00.007+11:00

I am joining in with Jane, dear Flower Jane from the lovely blog that is Small but Charming today as we are showing our flowers in the house. And from me, some flowers/produce from the garden too.... Ok... tah-dah... this is the main photograph for you - my little recycled mini milk bottles with their arrangements artfully stuffed into each bottle for you....
White daisy type chrysanthemums.

Here above another view and showing off the table in all its rustic glory. Remember our friend Chris made this table - I am still impressed. We picked out the old floor boards together for the table from a Salvage yard remember... ? If not, click HERE... What I love about it is the fact there are still old paint splodges on the boards from their former life.

This is how we decided to finish off the table... To go modern with deliciously chunky painted legs. And they will (when I get round to it, promise, Mr SE) be slightly distressed with the aid of wire wool and wax later on. We have also married the table with modern chairs as you can see - I love the whole mixture thing. (Sorry about the TV being on as a back drop to the photograph)

Now back to the flowery theme of the post..

This is outside and these flowers tumble over from next door. I just know you are going to tell me they are weeds. Never mind. I like them!!

And look we have grown something this year - chillies. Our tomatoes were a dead loss though. And the cat (Button) had to get in the photo so I took a second photograph....

Lots of lovely hot chillies !!

Be sure to go on over to Jane's blog to see the other flowery offerings that are joining in too...or just go on over to check out her blog; you won't be disappointed, I'm sure.

A happy week to all.

Favourite Accessories (better late than never!)

2011-02-20T18:20:00.006+11:00

I have arrived rather late to the party - many apologies. Janet from the wonderful blog that is The Gardener's Cottage asked us about our favourite accessories a while ago and I meant to email mine to add to the great post that she has done on the subject. However, I did not get my act together in sufficient time (story of my life I think!) so am doing a post about them now......

First off, and the one that I wear every day, is my Hermes Cape Cod watch. I can't tell you how much I love this - everything about it pleases me especially the 'double tour' strap and the gorgeous taupe colour of the leather. It was a present from Mr SE for a 'milestone birthday' 2 years ago.

Secondly this one. A horn bracelet. This is the accessory that I always reach for and would be devastated if I lost. I once took it off in a shop to sample some hand cream and left it on the counter. When I realised about 15 minutes later I retraced my steps and found it exactly where I had put it down - the relief that it hadn't gone was huge. I bought it in Lewes, in England about 7 years ago when I was shopping with my friend Stuart from FONTAINE antiques.

And then these gorgeous grey pearl earrings. Again, a present from Mr SE and perhaps these should have been second on the list - I wear them most days.

The next three photographs show my Valentine gift from yes, you guessed it, Mr SE. So whilst they are not yet on the 'most favourite accessory' list they certainly have the potential to be. An orange box... Exciting!

And look what was inside - these lovely classic tan leather sandals (and they each have their own little drawstring bag too!)

This is what they look like on. Comfortable as well as stylish too. A really lovely Valentine's gift and such a surprise!! We normally just exchange cards....

My niece will say that I am too spoilt, I know! And very lucky. Love them.....

Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful weekend.

Embracing a bit of inner 'rock chick'

2011-02-13T19:28:00.011+11:00

It may or may not surprise you that I am a little bit partial to a little bit of rock chick....

Must have been something to do with being heavily influenced by Fleetwood Mac whilst in my late teens / early twenties and wanting desperately to waft around looking like Stevie Nicks. Still love their music and Stevie. This scarf above below really ticks all the boxes and am happy to say was given to me for my birthday... (dear Mr SE)

A modern classic. Gorgeous. Have worn it with white floppy linen trousers and white tee and grey cotton vee neck sweater.

And, talking of rock chick the apple does not fall far from the tree.... This skulls silver 'friendship bracelet' from Links of London is currently on darling daughter's wish list. Rather lovely. For her of course. Me being ever mindful of the mutton and lamb scenario.

However, I do think that my new Chanel nail polish (Black Pearl) is also a teensy bit rock chick. The colour is most unusual. Sort of grey, sort of blue and a little bit green too. Slatey would be a good description.

Yup. I love it. And in the words of Stevie and friends - "You can go your own way" (and I will, if I so choose!).

Wednesday I am going to use it for a pedicure I have booked. Did my own nails last night just to show you the colour but I am rather loving being a little daring (for me) - usually I just wear very neutral colours on my fingernails.

Hope you all had/are having, a lovely weekend.

Back from France

2011-02-10T12:12:00.007+11:00

No, no I said - I really don't need anything this time from Paris. Especially after you brought me the Chanel ballerinas last time. Honestly..... but if you see something, well, that's another matter......
Unfortunately though as soon as Mr SE had sent that last photograph of the view from his hotel bedroom window (previous post) he really started to go downhill fast health wise and so could not do much at all during his day in Paris. Let alone lots of shopping for moi. He really did have something more than just a cold and struggled back on his flight to Australia that evening. On landing he went straight to the doctors and was diagnosed with a chronic chest infection and fever. (Now I feel guilty about the man flu comment!) . However, I was lucky and I did receive two very petite cadeaux. From Fauchon in the lovely bright pink box in the photograph above - some gorgeous dark chocolate (very good for you of course, dark chocolate)...... And, this below :

The newest nail polish from Chanel. Black Pearl. This makes me a very happy Semi Expat as it is not yet out here in Australia (yes, yes, I know we are very behind but that is the way it goes sometimes, last in line to receive goodies from Europe!) I think it hits our shores in the next couple of weeks but at the moment I feel quite exclusive ..... Its sort of a gorgeous dark grey petrol colour - will show you on my nails later on.

Now, I really, really need to go next time he has to go to France - I would have a field day hitting the shops I know!

Early morning in Paris (3rd arrondissement)

2011-02-05T20:40:00.013+11:00

Look what Mr SE has sent me... a photograph....!!

This is the view from his hotel window... Hot off the press..

Saturday morning early in Paris... Yes, lucky Mr SE is there again. Well, maybe not quite so lucky as it sounds. He has spent the whole week in an industrial area near Lyon in France and worked very hard and also has an illness (man flu = a cold!!)... Ahhemmm.... However today (before he leaves to fly back to Australia this evening) he has the WHOLE DAY en Paris. Le sigh.... Le double sigh....

Yes, PARIS...

Readers who were with me this time last year know that he was there again at around the same time. .... Check out again about it HERE and mainly HERE you will see that he came back bearing a wonderful gift. My Chanel black ballerina shoes. (Janet from the Gardeners Cottage's favourite post from my blog!) To see a picture of my shoes scroll down to the end of THIS post....

I have said that I DO NOT NEED (different from want, of course) anything from Paris this year, dear Mr. SE...

However, he did send me these yesterday to my work as he had been away all week.... to wish me a happy weekend... They are beautiful and smell so lovely too.

And I hope your weekend, wherever you are and whatever you may be doing, is going really well...

Titfer: A hat (cockney rhyming slang: `tit for tat' rhymes with `hat').

2011-01-31T17:10:00.005+11:00

Or, what do they say.... ? "If you want to get ahead, get a hat" or something like that but am not quite so sure how they work that one out!! Anyway, what I was sure about was that my old trusty hat (the very one that I am wearing in my profile pic on the blog) has started to look a little worse for wear and a little bit squished up to say the least... (see brim especially, in the photo above)

So, around a couple of weeks ago, I spied this lovely NEW panama hat when I was out and about on my travels and snapped it up without a seconds hesitation.....

Nice isn't it? And I rather like the colour too.

My old one was much "whiter" ( UK residents will know the quality when I say I picked up my old hat in, wait for it -Primark of all places. For those who don't know of Primark or Primarche as daughter has dubbed it, it's very inexpensive to say the least!!) However, it has served me well under the Australian sun. My new one was a little more expensive, but more than justified I feel.

Fashion experts must think the same as whilst reading the colour supplement from the newspaper here on Saturday, I turned the page and there was "my" hat !! Starring in a line up about the "Urban Safari" trend. How exciting.

Nice to be in first for once!

Australia Day

2011-01-26T16:13:00.004+11:00

Today is a national holiday - a patriotic holiday and a day when family and friends get together to celebrate all that is great about Australia - Australia Day....

There will be many a barbecue fired up (ours will be on later) and quite a lot of lamb will be eaten (sort of a tradition I gather to have lamb on Australia Day) although I am sure a fair amount of "Shrimps will be thrown on the Barbee" too!

So I got to thinking about this fair land which I love and is my adopted home and in particular about the beautiful city of Melbourne (see photo above) .....

These are things that I love about living in Melbourne, though in no specific order:

The architecture (the great variety - from the wonderful majestic, modern skyscrapers to the period weather boarded homes).
The green spaces within the city - the parks and in particular the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The laneways and arcades.
The cafes (and especially the lovely breakfasts available).
The people - Meburnians are wonderful almost without exception - friendly, open and welcoming and almost all with a 'can do' attitude, as are I hasten to add most Australians I have met.
The art galleries and theatres, especially the open air concerts.
The beaches and coast line in general including the docklands area.
The coffee (consistently good). Melbourne has a great coffee heritage.
The markets - from fresh food to 'flea' and vintage.
The trams (and the transport system in general in the city).
The River Yarra
The sport on offer - both to go and watch and to join in with too if you feel so inclined.
The fact that there are distinct seasons in Melbourne - in fact, a common saying is that you can get all 4 in one day... Or "If you don't like the weather, wait a couple of hours"..... At least in winter it's cold enough to wear tights here!
The food - again, almost always of a good standard and what variety too!

A very Happy Australia Day to all my fellow country dwellers... and a "G'day" to you all wherever you call 'home'.

The Most Perfect Cottage (with promised photographs)

2011-01-23T16:59:00.014+11:00

First of all I warn you - there are quite a few photographs in this post - more than I have ever put on in one go....!So this is the gorgeous cottage where we spent two days this week - around an hour or so drive from the city of Melbourne in a small town called Daylesford. It's known as WHITE HOUSE and I am sure it won't come as a complete surprise if I tell you that it is owned by an Antique dealer and has been restored to feature as much of the past as possible.

The house is an original 1850's miner's cottage and all of the collections - the furniture, art etc. has been sourced from around country Victoria.

So.... welcome to what was our home for just a little time. Well, we could dream..... The view above looking down the corridor through the house from the front door.

On the right the first room was this bedroom featuring black and white toile wallpaper.

And to the left this one. Gorgeous French vintage linen.

Lovely small touches like the fresh flowers next to the bed.

And comfortable cushions. We chose this room as our bedroom for the stay.

Next room on the right was this petite library.......

The wall on the left features wallpaper printed with old books..... Real books adorn the wall straight ahead. There was also an open fireplace - a wonderful place for snuggling up in the winter I'd imagine.

In the library - this little white hare under a glass cloche. Could not resist a photograph - I love hares.

Next room down on the left the bathroom with a huge claw footed iron bath.

More fresh flowers ....

Cute medicine cupboard.

Then at the end of the corridor there was one large open plan room - again with an open fireplace. The doors at then end of the room lead to the garden where there was another studio - the garden room with another bedroom.... As we were only a party of two we could not get to this room but peeked through the window! Of course, as lovely as the rest of the house.

Cosy seating area with squishy linen covered sofas....

The painted dining table - decorated with globes....

And a close up - especially for you TNMA !!

And now...... the best till last - THE KITCHEN area (part of the large room)

Yes, that wall straight ahead is totally painted in black board paint - a really clever idea. I want to copy this kitchen next time I renovate a house (hmmm and I said we were not going to do any more renovations, ever!)

Mr SE above in mid-preparation of our dinner. We did not want to go out to a restaurant as we wanted to experience the kitchen and didn't want to leave the house for the evening!

A little corner of the kitchen next to the sink - photo below....

Well, there was one more photograph here - but in my heavy handedness I have deleted it -(sorry) it was a bowl of fresh oranges left for us to juice for our breakfast... We were also given a loaf of local bread, fresh eggs, butter and milk.

All in all we had the most wonderful time and if you wish to find out more about this lovely gem of a place then please click HERE.

Tropical colours; Friday flowers

2011-01-21T18:42:00.003+11:00

Back to work today after our little 2 day trip to the countryside just about an hour or so from Melbourne. We had a wonderful time and thank you for all your kind birthday wishes.....

At work today I recieved the bouquet above. Hand delivered too! And they were from the company I work for THE ARK ...... How lovely, and how nice to be remembered. Told you they are a lovely company to work for!

A happy weekend to all whatever you may be doing.

Away to the country for a little celebration

2011-01-18T20:52:00.004+11:00

Last July I posted about this new book of mine... And how much I was enjoying luxuriating in the images of the black and white interiors and especially this kitchen here below ....

I still absolutely love it and GUESS WHAT?

Tomorrow I am going to see this kitchen in the flesh so to speak. The kitchen belongs to a little house in the countryside of Victoria about an hour or so from Melbourne. Mr SE has booked a night and two days there at the little cottage to celebrate my birthday tomorrow... Its going to be ours, all ours for this time. I am so excited!

I promise many photographs at the end of the week. Now, I must go and decide what I will pack for our little visit.......

Au revoir.

Out to lunch

2011-01-15T13:23:00.013+11:00

About six months ago I took a photograph of this very table below at Jinks Creek Vineyard and Gallery and vowed that when the weather was better we would definitely be back - you can read about our last visit HERE. (And if you do check out and read about our last visit, scroll down to the end of the post and you will see the very same view that's in this photo but without any greenery on the vines!) Then it was just Mr SE and myself, but last Sunday we went there again with a larger party. Mr SE playing the host and pouring the (very delicious) rose wine....

A little plate of shared nibbles.

Here we all are.... From the right - going anti-clockwise. Myself, Beautiful Niece, her Lovely Aussie Man, then Mr SE, my sister and then her partner.

The photo above was taken by a very nice person at the next table. She had an 'all singing / all dancing' Canon camera with a very long lens so my sis. felt a bit embarrassed handing her a small digital auto focus pink camera with which to take our photo!! Nevertheless, she was very kind and said of course she did not mind taking a photo of us all. I think she took a pretty good photo. Maybe she was a photographer, who knows?

This was the view looking back to the restaurant up the weathered steps. Apparently it started life as a wool shed. I think it's such a gorgeous building.

There were some children at another table with their parents (one in the photo above) and before we ate BN and her LAM had a game of Boules near the vines... The children all came over and wanted to join in - BN and LAM looked like "Pied Pipers" So sweet.

As we left Mr SE nipped back and bought us another bottle of the rose to have at home later in the week. Sometimes he has the best ideas...!!

My sister has now returned to UK - she got there last night and we have so loved having them over in Melbourne for the last couple of weeks. The time went by far too quickly though.

Simple as ABC or 1,2,3

2011-01-08T18:33:00.003+11:00

I just love the simplicity of these little white china bowls with numbers on them. They are perfect for olives, nuts, individual portions of jam etc. And I am a sucker for any white porcelain with lettering or numbers; especially when it comes with this simple font.

Couldn't resist them. In fact I just may have to go and get another set.

Happy weekend to one and all......

Visiting some vineyards

2011-01-06T20:54:00.008+11:00

As Monday was a holiday BN and I struck out of the city of Melbourne for a 'tripette' with my sister and her partner Steve... To the beautiful Yarra Valley - Melbourne's wine growing region. Mr SE and Mr Melbs (BN's other half) declined the invitation to vineyards. Mr Melbs had some work to finish but I think Mr SE just wanted a peaceful day watching the cricket. Anyway, no matter... He missed the tasting special of 4 types of sparkling wine at the first vineyard (top photo) and the cheese platter too...delicious.

Above. My sister (BN's Ma) at the vineyard.

BN was the designated driver so we let her get stuck in to the cheese platter whilst we concentrated more on the wines! Only fair.

Gorgeous views.

Second vineyard... love these trees.

And above a view over the lake at the third vineyard we stopped at.

Here we opted for vanilla ice cream (for the girls) - sister's partner Steve enjoyed tasting some more red wines though.

Such a good day just before I went back to work.
A great way to begin 2011.

And a Happy New Year to you too

2011-01-02T16:53:00.008+11:00

Although it's only January 2nd 2011, I feel I am a little late in posting my Happy New Year wishes as there are many out there who have been far quicker off the mark. Nonetheless, I'll add mine now and wish everyone a wonderful, happy and healthy 2011 - all my friends and family and also to you my lovely fellow bloggers, followers (and please can I get to 100 soon?!) readers and commentators too - you, as they say, "rock my blogging world" !

Now, I have had a fun filled and busy few last days as on the evening of 30th December this plane below arriving into Melbourne brought.... my dear sister, V and her partner, Steve to Australia for a couple of weeks. Sister V is Beautiful Niece's mother and here they are embracing (photo courtesy of Mr SE) - a happy and emotional reunion for all - they hadn't seen each other since last April. I was, as you can see pretty happy too.

Then onto New Year's Eve.

We had the most wonderful time at BN and LAM's Hawaiian New Year's Eve Party at their apartment on their roof top terrace overlooking the skyline of Melbourne. Just look at that view. It was a great party with a barbeque, plenty to drink (too much as far as I was concerned I have to admit!) and lots of wild dancing too! There were about 40- 50 people there - one of the best New Year's Eves I have had in a very long time. Am sure that my niece will post on her blog about it very soon too.

And just look at the beautiful fireworks over lovely Melbourne city. Stunning.

On New Year's Day Mr SE and I hosted a Christmas dinner (as they were not here on 25th December) for my sister and partner with BN and LAM and presents were duly exchanged around our rather small but sweet Christmas tree.

BN and LAM gave me this lovely ceramic milk bottle container and the rustic iron heart from one of my very favourite places in Melbourne - Capital Kitchen. Love them.

And below, the festive table before we sat down to dinner.... Here I will admit that Mr SE did the lion's share of the cooking due to my very fragile state. All I did was decorate and lay the table, prepare the gravy and make the pudding!! He is a bit of a star at times....

We ate : stuffed and rolled turkey (pinenut and spinach stuffing), roast potatoes (very good and crispy), steamed carrots and asparagus, gravy(!) and for pudding - panetonne bread and butter pudding with vanilla icecream.

And to drink, a bottle of very nice white wine called "Siblings" - highly appropriate for the occasion although I only had a very small glass.

Happy Days.

"Avalanche Pavlova" and Festive Matters

2010-12-27T16:50:00.006+11:00

Well, I don't think I would get citizenship if one of the tests were to make an Australian Pavlova. I am afraid it got re-named "Avalanche Pavlova" instead of what it was meant to be - "Three Tier Brown Sugar Pavlova" View from the top above and side view below - well at least it had 3 tiers! And as it was covered in copious amounts of cream and berries it all seemed to go down well.

BN (Beautiful Niece) helped by advising on applying cream and fruit....

that was before she got stuck back into the wine below! (hasten to add that she is only joking here and does drink it by the glass, promise).

Now, those of you who were following the blog at the beginning of the year know that I did a little matchmaking as far as she was concerned and as her godmother I think that this was ENTIRELY in order.

I present below.... BN and LAM.... her Lovely Aussie Man.

I think they make a gorgeous couple but then again I am a little biased on these matters as A. she is my goddaughter as well as my niece and B. I introduced them.

We spent Christmas Day with them and with our friend S who kindly invited us for Christmas lunch with her family. And it was a day of mixed Nations - friend S and her mother who was also there are Canadian, there was us; the British contingent and also the Australians, the LAM and friend S's husband and son and other members of his family too...
All in all a wonderful and happy day with a huge amount of tasty food and lovely wines to drink. Perfect.

Then on to Boxing Day when we went to the :

Remember I told you that Mr SE is very keen on cricket? He bought tickets for the Ashes series on Boxing Day way, way back in JULY! Well, I could not be churlish and say 'No thanks Mr SE I would rather go to the Sales", could I? Well, could I? Actually I would not have missed it for the world - England are in TOP FORM I have to say and we had a day of great entertainment too. BN and LAM also came with us.

At one point though, disaster. Rain stopped play....

The man sitting in front of us, fashioned himself a hat from a cardboard container used to carry beer... He made us smile, all day! He informed us he was sitting in 'Milliner's Row' and asked BN and I if we would like hats too. We politely declined, we did not think they would go with our outfits!

The sun came back out and the game continued.... We were very happy with the final outcome. That was all of us except for the LAM who said it was a long, long time since he had seen Australia all bowled out for less than 100.

A great Christmas break.

Every good wish from Melbourne for Christmas

2010-12-24T22:10:00.004+11:00

To you all a wonderful Christmas and peaceful and happy holidays... And as you can see from the image below, Father Christmas is already on his way over the skies of Australia. Hope you have all been good and he fills your Christmas Stockings with loveliness.

Meanwhile back in ENGLAND

2010-12-22T19:21:00.008+11:00

there is more snow and photographs that I have been sent look just like Christmas cards of the best kind. This is the Christmas that we all dreamt of when we were growing up - we were not always lucky enough to get snow but it was always cold and crisp. Darling daughter has finished her first term at Durham University in England - she sent me this photograph below.

It made me smile. It is so typically 'her'....

I cannot tell you how much I miss her but I must not be selfish as this year it is her father's 'turn to have' her. Those from divorced families know this syndrome so well... However, the darling daughter is being whisked away this Christmas and New Year with her father and step family to go here ....

CUBA. Lucky girl. In fact as I type they are probably at Gatwick Airport in UK - just hope that the planes are going and that the airport is not closed or snow bound.

And I begun this post to say that for me Christmas has always been associated with Winter and feeling of coldness having been brought up in the Northern hemisphere. Darkness and twinkly lights, snow (if we were lucky) and freezing temperatures with log fires and mulled wine. Dear Janet from A GARDENERS COTTAGE asked me a while back how did I feel about Christmas in Australia ? Well, although it feels very strange at times (especially hearing carols when it is warm outside) I do embrace it and enjoy the differences and it is lovely in it's own way. Very laid back and with a party, summer atmosphere. I have even embraced it to the extent of attempting this most Australian of Christmas sweet things.... The PAVLOVA....

I am trying out the one above for Christmas Day. My meringues are in the oven now - it's called 'Three-Tier Brown Sugar Pavlova'. Will let you know how it turns out!

Hope all your preparations are going well.

Saturday night's alright

2010-12-18T20:28:00.004+11:00

Yes, there are compensations for working on a Saturday.... even if you come home to this :

And this below... Mr SE has been glued to the cricket over the last few weeks or so. Very Important Matches are being played. The Ashes series between Australia and England. To start with England looked as if it would be an easy victory and Mr SE really enjoyed being the 'Pommie' at his work - now he is not so sure as Australia are fighting back.

Anyway, on to more important things. As I said, sometimes being at work when Mr SE is at home is a Good Thing. He was very busy (in between bouts of watching sport on TV).

He prepared this lovely salad with fetta cheese.

Barbequed some red peppers and aubergine (aka capsicums and eggplant depending on your point of view or country!)

and slow roasted some lamb.

Above, the fruits of his labours. And very lovely it was too...

And YES, that IS our new table. It is beautiful and does deserve a post of its own which I promise to do soon.

Happy weekend to one and all.

Free Gifts Over at A Femme's blog

2010-12-16T18:44:00.003+11:00

A quick post to say I was very honoured to be asked to be part of A Femme d'un certain Age's post about Christmas gifts for free...

Please go over to her fantastic blog HERE !

Photos re : the post before

2010-12-14T20:49:00.004+11:00

So here is the setting for our Ark Christmas Party breakfast this morning..... So beautiful and it was a lovely Summer's day too the sun was shining even at 7.30am.

Above photograph showing all the gifts that people brought for our charity donations - ' Open Family Australia'.

View from the restuarant over the River.... All in all a very good (early) start to a lovely day.

A Christmas 'Do' with a difference

2010-12-13T18:51:00.006+11:00

Tomorrow, the company I work for - THE ARK - is having a Christmas celebration for all staff. This is a little different from any other Christmas party I've been to before. For a start it's a breakfast party which is rather novel in itself - and it begins at 7.30 AM rather than an evening do beginning at say, 7.30 PM. And, in case you were wondering the three Ark stores are opening a little late tomorrow morning too!

Secondly, (and I think this is the best part), in lieu of bringing gifts for each other or doing a 'Secret Santa', we have all been asked to bring a wrapped gift to the Christmas Breakfast for Open Family Australia. This wonderful charity which has been going for more than 30 years provides a range of outreach services to young people many of whom are disengaged from society or perhaps even live on the streets. We have been asked to mark our gifts to say what sort of age range it is suitable for and whether it's a male, female or a unisex gift. What a great idea!

I will take my camera as apparently where we are going for the breakfast party is very pretty and looks out over the River Yarra. More photographs to follow in another post this time tomorrow.

Weekend flowers

2010-12-10T19:13:00.002+11:00

Just look at the beautiful blue of this lovely convolvulus flower. It really is this gorgeous shade and whilst I know that many regard it as a weed I think it has to be forgiven any weedy connection simply because of its beauty. Here it is growing amongst the bank of hedging in the driveway leading to our house.

And whilst my weekend begins on Sunday (I have Sunday and Monday off this week) I just wanted to wish everyone a lovely couple of days, wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

'Show and Tell'. Or, the retail therapy from the post before.

2010-12-05T16:34:00.007+11:00

Remember I went for a visit to the city the other day? I bought this gorgeous nail polish above by 'Butter London'. Apparently it has no nasties in it - chemicals which could potentially be carcinogenic which is a bonus but I also loved the colour. It's called 'Jaffa'.

And the main purchase of the day was this pair of dark brown suede sandals. Gladiators. Yes, I know they have been around a few summers now but they seem to be here again this Summer in Australia and I have finally found a pair which are A. comfortable and B. look quite nice. Well, I think so. They are Italian made and the sole is slightly cushioned. I think that daughter and I begun the hunt for 'gladies' as she and I affectionately call them way back in August of 2008 when we visited Barcelona for a long weekend. Every chic looking Spanish girl was wearing them - we wished that we knew the Spanish for "Excuse me where did you buy your shoes?" We tried on a few pairs in many shoe shops but never quite found 'the ones'. Daughter found a pair she liked later on when she came out here to Australia that year but I never did. I always felt that they did not look quite right on me until I happened to find this pair. I wasn't looking - they found me. I promise!

So here was the outfit I made today. The new suede 'gladies' with some old friends - my orange Anya Hindmarch handbag (comes out each Summer - surely nearly a vintage piece now?!) and the lovely silk leopard print and orange scarf that darling daughter gave me as a present early on this year. The Linen pinstriped jacket I have had for years and years - it's from Zara and I reckon I should be paying IT now on a cost per wear basis it has been that useful and be worn so many times. And the linen trousers/pants which also look good cuffed up a couple of times, are from where I work - THE ARK. Oh, and the new Jaffa coloured nail polish on my toes.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.