Discovering NSW Australia Archives

Friday Favourites

5 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia, Friday Favourites, Home, Travel

Hi friends, and welcome to Friday Favourites! Normally, I’m very excited to welcome Friday—but this one means it’s the end of my two-week winter school break… waaahhhh!! Geez, the week went by so fast! Anyway, I’ll wait until Sunday before I launch into the full-blown blues. For now, I’m going to pretend Monday doesn’t exist and recap highlights from my second week of the holidays. Let’s go! Kirribilli Markets Last weekend, my lovely friend and I spent the morning at Kirribilli Markets. We had a great time wandering around and checking out all the stalls. They had everything from handmade crafts and candles to artworks and second-hand clothes. I bought a couple of cute birthday cards and a packet of stickers that will probably last me until I’m a little old lady. I’ve loved stickers since forever, and I don’t see that changing—even when I’m 99 and putting them on my walking frame. Lunch We left the market and walked to a nearby café for lunch—the same one we went to last time we visited the markets. It was cosy and lovely back then, so we were more than happy to return. When you’re onto a good thing, you stick with it! We both ordered the same meals as last time, but jazzed things up with a different tea selection. I had the bacon and egg roll, and what set this one apart from every other I’ve had is the red gum smoked tomato relish. Normally, it’s just tomato sauce (or BBQ sauce). But this relish was next level with the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. I took a photo of the menu because the meals featured native Australian ingredients, which I thought was interesting. After lunch, we walked over the Harbour Bridge and wandered around The Rocks Markets and Circular Quay. I had such a fun day! Staycation Surprise When I got home, I was telling my husband all about the day and some of the places we’d seen. I mentioned a cute little boutique hotel called The Harbour Rocks Hotel, and then he surprised me by suggesting we stay there since he had some days off coming up. He didn’t have to say it twice—I booked us a one-night staycation in record time! We aren’t normally this spontaneous—haha. Staycation Time After I hit “Book Now,” I checked the reviews. Some said it was amazing, while others weren’t so impressed. Classic mixed bag—but I don’t know what the unimpressed guests were on about because we had the best time. The room was compact and clean, and I loved the whole heritage atmosphere of the hotel with its exposed brick walls, timber beams, and warm, inviting feel. The location was perfect too—right in the heart of The Rocks. Interestingly, the hotel was once a wool store back in 1887 called Evans’ Stores. It’s built right where Sydney’s first hospital used to be, and there were some framed photos on the walls showing bits of that history, which I thought was a nice touch. Yikes—this is what one of the rooms must have looked like before it was renovated. In my excitement over the hotel’s historic charm, I forgot to take a photo of our room. My husband did, but it’s on his phone and he’s at work. I did take a pic of the cute lobby and pretty hanging lights. We checked in just after midday, then headed straight to The Fortune of War Pub for lunch. Good old fish and chips! Then we walked all around Circular Quay, the Opera House, and the Royal Botanic Garden. I zoomed in to catch a photo of some people doing the Bridge Climb. Haha, from a distance, they looked like little ants scrambling up there. In the evening, we had a snack in the restaurant attached to the hotel. Fried feta-stuffed olives, carrot dip and pita bread with a couple of glasses of wine. Christmas in July Markets After our snack, it was time to get festive at the Christmas in July markets. We were in full holiday mode and didn’t realise the restaurants closed early since it was a Wednesday. Over the holidays, every day feels like Saturday to me! Luckily, we made it just in time before the kitchen closed at this burger and ribs place. I had a beef patty with salad and sweet potato fries, and Steve went for the burger–ribs combo. Day Two–Breakfast and Bridge Walk The next morning, we had breakfast at a Mediterranean restaurant called Tayim. I had the shakshuka with the most delicious crunchy chickpeas—so yum! Then it was time to walk off all the food with another big walk—this time across the bridge to North Sydney. Steve tried to convince me the bridge was closed for the day. In fact, he said all walking was banned across Sydney, and we should just relax back at the hotel. Nice try! I didn’t buy any of it and told him it was time to put that new knee to good use. After we crossed the Bridge to North Sydney, we wandered around for a bit before catching the ferry back to Circular Quay. We just missed one, but with views like this at Milsons Point Wharf for the next 22 minutes, it wasn’t exactly a struggle. This was our view from the ferry—I’ve seen this bridge a gazillion times, but I never get tired of it. What a fun, spontaneous staycation we had and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was cold, but oh so sunny! I thought I’d get more blogging done while off work, but instead, I swapped work for rest, catch-ups, and a really lovely night away. So, I missed blogging on Wednesday. But it felt great to be back today. Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Friday 😊 Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Friday Favourites Read More »

Unique Things About Where I Live

13 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia, Home

I think I live in one of the best suburbs near Sydney, right on the border between two very different neighbourhoods. It’s 14 to 16 kilometres from the CBD and just a 15-minute drive to the beach. My street is quiet and leafy, but walk 10 to 15 minutes and you’re in a bustling multicultural city. I love that mix! Unique Things About Where I Live — I Think I Live in One of the Best Suburbs Near Sydney! Food Choices Close to Home We are seriously spoiled for choice here — it’s a foodie heaven. Around us, you can find everything from dumplings and pho to Lebanese pizzas, sushi, and fresh banh mi (which we call Vietnamese rolls). And if you want something a bit simpler, there are some great pubs where you can get a classic chicken schnitzel or fish and chips. The variety is pretty impressive for a suburb that’s not right in the heart of Sydney. Where I Live — And What’s Just Around the Corner My suburb is calm and leafy with a bit of old-school charm. The streets are wide, and you’ll find a mix of older-style homes, including classic California bungalows and red brick houses from the ’60s and ’70s. (Fun fact — California bungalows started in California and became popular here in the 1920s.) Just around the corner is Lydham Hall — one of the oldest houses in the area. This suburb has some real history! A few blocks away, everything changes. The next suburb is much busier and more built-up, with plenty of high-rise apartments and shopping centres. A Very Multicultural Community My suburb is very multicultural, which is pretty common in Sydney overall. But what makes this area unique is the mix of cultures living so close together. We have Arabic, Macedonian, Greek, Italian and Nepalese communities, to name a few. Right on my street’s border is the next suburb, which has become an unofficial Chinatown over the last 20 years. It’s full of Chinese restaurants and shops. So when I say multicultural, I really mean it! Walk down the street and you’ll probably hear five different languages being spoken. Close to the City We’re only about 20 minutes from Sydney’s CBD by train — perfect for city-loving me. The area’s getting more popular, especially with families priced out of the inner-city suburbs. It’s still expensive, but slightly less ridiculous. Little Things I Love About Where I Live We have quite a few jacaranda trees in our area, and every spring they burst into the most gorgeous purple bloom. There’s a nearby park that has become a popular photo spot. Every year, I promise I’ll visit the park and snap some pics — and every year, I miss the window. Three months to go — this time, no excuses. Having lived here 20+ years, friendly neighbours always say hello. I work at the local preschool and often bump into past and present families. The kids I met when I started are already old enough to bring their own kids to the preschool. Yikes — I’ve been around forever! Thanks for stopping by! It’s been fun sharing some of the unique things about where I live — and why I think it’s one of the best suburbs near Sydney. Not that I’m biased or anything… ha! Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah

Unique Things About Where I Live Read More »

Lydham Hall Historic House Open Day

8 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia, Hello Monday, Home

Hi friends and happy Monday! Wow, that weekend went by fast! And now, here we are in the first week of March already. I hope you had a great weekend! Mine was a good mix of some super chilled TV time on Saturday and a visit to Lydham Hall Historic House in Rockdale on Sunday. I’m excited to tell you all about it, so let’s get started! Saturday Steve and I walked to our local café for some delicious Portuguese tarts—so good! I had an iced coffee, and Steve went for an iced chocolate, which was perfect for a hot day. I was about to say a hot summer’s day, but since Saturday was the first day of March, we’re officially in autumn now. Not that it means much yet—I’m sure it’ll be a while before the temps start to cool down! Once we got home, I pretty much camped out in front of the TV for the rest of the day and into the night! I haven’t done that in ages, but I think I’m still adjusting to being back at work—I was exhausted. Plus, the right side of my neck was sore from tension and probably jaw clenching. My body was begging for a lazy day, so I listened. Steve worked in the evening, so I ate dinner and started binge-watching Big Little Lies. When it first came out, I remember hearing so much about it, but I never got around to watching it. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the first couple of episodes, but if I had to sum it up in one word—disturbed comes to mind. It’s an intense series that dives into domestic violence, complicated relationships, and just how fake people can be. The more I watched, the more I got into it, and by Sunday afternoon, I’d finished Season One. It’s definitely not a feel-good show, but I’m hooked, and I’ve already started Season Two. Sunday – Lydham Hall Open Day This year, we made it to the Lydham Hall open day! It’s something I had been wanting to do, but somehow I had missed it. Lydham Hall was built in the late 1870s and is one of the oldest homes in the St. George area. I live in the area, so it was very interesting to explore this piece of local history. Every room had a volunteer who shared their knowledge of the house and gave us some great insights into its history. It was so interesting to hear about the different eras the house has been through and the people who’ve lived there. Each room had its own little story, and it was all so fascinating. We were even encouraged to touch things, which made it feel really interactive. I opened a few of the books on the shelf and couldn’t help but wonder who George Southern and Aunt Maggie were. I kept thinking, what did they look like? What were their lives like? Dining Room Dinner was served! Haha, Lydham Hall definitely gave off some serious Downton Abbey vibes. The dinner time gong. I just had to try it out and gave it a little clang. The Kitchen This nice man explained how a kitchen of the time functioned and showed us where they kept their meat. I meant to ask him how long the meat was stored for. But I got distracted looking at the butter churner and forgot. I did lift the irons, and they were so heavy!! The Bedroom This gentleman shared some really interesting information about the beds. Apparently, the mattresses were made with layers of horsehair and topped with a feather mattress topper. The bed frames had legs to keep bed bugs out, and the mattress was held in place with crossed rope—kind of like modern-day slats. But here’s where it gets interesting: the legs weren’t enough to stop the bed bugs from crawling onto the beds. So, they came up with the idea of spreading horse dung under the bed! The bugs were attracted to the dung instead of climbing onto the bed. Back in the day, the ropes used to hold the mattress in place would loosen over time with the weight of the mattress and the person sleeping on it. If the ropes got too saggy, the bed would become uncomfortable, and—well, you might end up sinking toward the horse dung underneath! So, to avoid that, people had to regularly tighten the ropes to keep the mattress firm and the bugs at bay. It’s funny to think about how much effort went into something we take for granted today, like a comfy bed. And this next bit of information just about blew my mind– that’s where the saying “Goodnight sleep tight don’t let the bed bugs bite” comes from! It’s all about tightening the ropes to make sure the bed stays firm and the bugs don’t get to you! Haha! Wow, I never knew this! Lunch Time After the fantastic history lesson, we made our way to the back of the house for something to eat. I loved how they had set up the little tables. Most of the tables were taken, and I thought we’d have no luck finding a spot. Steve walked over to one of the benches in the garden while I stopped to check out the menu at the counter. Just as I turned around, I saw a couple leaving, and I quickly made my way over and snagged the table. So there I was at the table, and Steve was at the bench further away. I tried to discreetly call him over—”Pssst…hey, Steve.” Nothing. “Over here, Steve!” Still nothing. Of course, everyone else around me could see me waving my arms in the most ladylike way I could (not). Then I had a brainwave and called him on his phone: “Hey, turn around I got a table!” hahahaha!! We ordered the Tattie scones with smoked salmon and sour cream. The other things on the menu

Lydham Hall Historic House Open Day Read More »

Gosford Getaway

4 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia, Home

The first weekend of the winter school holidays, I went away to Gosford for a two-night getaway with my husband. Even though it wasn’t that long ago, now that I’m back at work, that relaxing and fun weekend almost feels like a distant memory. Fun times sure go by so fast, don’t they? Anyway, I’m here today to share a recap of our trip and some of the highlights we enjoyed. Thanks so much for stopping by! Where is Gosford Gosford is on the Central Coast of NSW, just an hour and a half from Sydney by train. Even though it’s technically a city, it’s often called a town because it has that cozy, small-town feel. The waterfront views are absolutely stunning, and there are so many parks and cute cafes to explore. Big developers have definitely taken notice—construction is everywhere! High-rise apartments are popping up all over; clearly, they are making the most of those beautiful water views. While it’s exciting to see the area grow, it’s also a bit sad to think that skyrocketing property prices might change the character of this cute and charming place where life feels less hurried. On Saturday, we caught the train from Kingsgrove Station, changing at Central Station for the scenic hour-and-a-half ride. It’s such a relaxing way to travel, and the views get more beautiful as you approach Gosford. Hotel Gosford We stayed at Hotel Gosford, which is a short six-minute walk from the station. The hotel has a heritage facade, and with its recent refurbishment, we found the perfect mix of old-world charm and modern comfort. It was so warm and inviting! The hotel has three stories and a staircase with a beautiful wooden handrail. In fact, there is wood everywhere, which I love. We decided to take the lift, and would you believe it—it was a heritage lift! I’m so impressed with how they’ve chosen to preserve treasures like this from the past. It says a lot about their respect for the hotel’s history and commitment to maintaining its unique character. Steve and I fumbled around a bit, trying to get the lift to go up. There were two doors—one was a folding steel gate (I think it’s called a cage door) that had to be closed before the lift would move, and the other was a glass door. We also had to make sure to insert the room key, turn it, and press the button to go up. It took us a moment to get the sequence right, but once we figured it out, we were all set. By the time we checked out two days later, we were experts! Our Accommodation We stayed in a room with its own bathroom. Since it’s a pub, many of the rooms don’t have private facilities, so you might end up using a shared bathroom. I’m really glad we chose to pay extra for a room with a private ensuite! The room was compact but very clean and comfortable. The bathroom looked newly renovated, with modern fixtures and a sleek, fresh design. The walk-in shower was particularly nice, with a rain-head showerhead that had the right amount of pressure and felt very luxurious. I even took some photos of the space and might have said, “Quick, don’t touch anything until I get the pictures!” When we booked, the website warned us that it gets noisy on Saturday nights because they have a DJ in the pub. And boy, were they right! Haha, it was definitely loud, but the DJ played so many fun hits that I was itching to go downstairs. Steve, still recovering from his knee replacement, wasn’t keen—he’s not much of a dancer anyway, so it was a convenient excuse. But I went with it. He’d better be prepared for the next time we stay because nothing is going to stop me from hitting the dance floor! The hotel had kindly provided earplugs on the bedside table, which we only discovered the next day. Duh! Earls Kitchen The first night we stayed, we booked a table for dinner at Earl’s Kitchen, which is located downstairs in the pub. What an amazing meal we enjoyed! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If the accommodation and atmosphere in Hotel Gosford weren’t enough to convince us to come back for another visit, the dinner absolutely sealed the deal! Earl’s Kitchen is such a gem! We both loved the modern yet cozy vibe. The decor blends stylish elements with a touch of rustic charm, and the warm lighting made everything feel so comfortable and inviting. The restaurant has an open-plan layout with a variety of seating options, from intimate tables for two to larger communal tables. Our table was located near the bar, on the edge of the main dining area. Next time, I’d prefer to sit closer to the centre, near the kitchen, where you can see all the action and soak up the lively atmosphere. It’s always fun to watch the chefs at work creating magic and feel the buzz of the place. Dinner It was a cold evening, and we were both craving something comforting—what better solution than to go for carbs? We started with a warm cob loaf topped with delicious melted confit butter. For mains, we ordered smoked beef cheek, garlic mash, and heirloom Dutch carrots. The whole menu was packed with delicious options, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan choices. We spent a while trying to decide because everything sounded so good. In the end, we both chose the same dish to avoid dish envy, haha! For dessert, we shared the steamed dark ale pudding with praline and salted caramel ice cream—it was a mouthwatering finish to our meal! And let’s not forget the wine: we had a brut cuvée that made us feel extra festive and bubbly. Second Day Exploring Gosford The next day, I was craving a pie so badly! After a sleep-in, as a result of the late-night disco, we went out

Gosford Getaway Read More »

Exploring Kings Cross

5 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia, Hello Monday, Home

Hi friends and welcome to Hello Monday on a Tuesday. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I shared on Friday that my husband had a knee replacement and so far I’m happy to report that all is going well. Yay! He had the surgery at East Sydney Private Hospital which is about a ten-minute walk from Kings Cross. Kings Cross is a lively area in Potts Point, just east of the Sydney business district. So while I waited (hours) for Steve to come out of surgery. I spent some of the morning exploring a little and I thought I would share some of the interesting things I saw. Exploring Kings Cross Kings Cross in Sydney has a very rich and colourful history. It started as a fancy area in the 19th century but changed a lot during World War II when it became popular with American soldiers. After the war, it turned into a hotspot for artists and free spirits. Then in the 60s and 70s, it was incredibly famous for its nightlife and red-light district. Recently, it has been revitalised and what makes Kings Cross so interesting and unique is the combination of its racy past with current trendy shops and eateries. I only spent a short while wandering around but I want to go back during the next school holidays with my fun friend and explore some more. The Iconic Coca-Cola Sign The first thing you see right at the beginning as you first enter Kings Cross is this massive Coca-Cola sign. It’s such an iconic landmark in Sydney and you can’t miss it. I’ve seen it lit up at night and it looks amazing! The Interesting Shops What really stood out for me about Kings Cross is the diversity of people as well as the variety of shops and businesses. I saw some shops like this one called Penny’s Cheese Shop that was (you guessed it) full of cheese as well as other delicious gourmet delights. The aroma of cheese inside the store made my mouth water and I want to go back and have the cheese toasties. A lovely home decor shop that smelled amazing with so many varieties of candles and reed diffusers! Then amongst all the trendy homeware, fashion and gourmet food shops, there were so many adult shops as well. Such a contrast! El Alamein Memorial Fountain I kept wandering along until I stumbled across the famous El Alamein Memorial Fountain. It looks like a massive dandelion– so pretty, especially on such a sunny day with beautiful blue skies. Cafes and Restaurants There were so many places to eat and whole laneways lined with cafes and restaurants. I snapped a not-very-good pic of a photo shoot featuring two glamorous models. Kings Cross or “The Cross” as it’s often called, is a fascinating mix of contrasts. You’ve got the ultra-rich mingling in cafes and then nearby there are pockets where you see the sad reality of people clearly struggling with addiction. It’s like being in two worlds at the same time which I found hard to wrap my head around. The Interesting Buildings In Kings Cross, the contrasts aren’t just in the people; they’re in the architecture too. You’ve got modern buildings rubbing shoulders with historic, art deco gems. It feels like you’re walking through a time warp! I think that it’s this blend of old and new that makes Kings Cross such a charming, interesting and very unique place to visit. I really only caught a glimpse last Friday morning. So I’m looking forward to exploring it again soon and taking lots more photos, especially of the buildings. Thanks so much for stopping by today and I look forward to being back on Wednesday. Have a wonderful day or night wherever you may be! Linking up with Holly and Sarah.

Exploring Kings Cross Read More »

What To Do In Sydney This Weekend

3 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia, Home

Hey there, friends! Hope you all had an absolutely fantastic weekend. I’m excited to share our amazing Saturday adventure exploring Sydney with you! We visited the vibrant Kirribilli Markets, strolled across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and uncovered hidden gems in The Rocks. We were surprised that we hadn’t stumbled across these hidden spots despite visiting the area numerous times before! So if you are feeling stuck on ideas for what to do in Sydney this weekend or if you are here from overseas for the first time. I think these spots are absolute must-visits! What To Do In Sydney This Weekend Kirribilli Markets I love that I get to do fun things with my lovely friend. She was the one who had the brilliant idea to explore some weekend activities in Sydney and our first stop was Kirribilli markets. Kirribilli markets are super easy to get to. We just caught the train to Milson’s Point station, walked a few steps out of the station and bam we were right in the heart of the markets. It was such a beautiful sunny and much warmer autumn day than I expected. I just love blue skies! There were so many stalls full of funky fashion pieces, handcrafted jewellery, unique homewares and gourmet treats. There was also live music and we could smell the delicious aromas from the variety of food stalls serving up all sorts of delights from around the world! I thought that this little knitted avocado was so cute! I was almost tempted to buy this eternal pencil. It never needs sharpening and it’s equivalent to 200 pencils. But knowing me I’d put it down somewhere and it would be eternally lost! BTB Kirribilli We enjoyed browsing up and down looking at all the different stalls. Eventually, we got hungry, tired and thirsty so we figured it was time to grab a bite to eat. There was a really nice cafe called BTB Kirribilli just outside the market, and it seemed like the perfect choice to relax for a bit. Turned out to be a great place because it was calm and perfect for a breather. Best of all we managed to grab a table straight away even though it was very busy. I ordered the deliciously cheesy bacon and egg roll which came with an incredibly tasty red gum smoked tomato relish. Yum, my mouth is watering just thinking about it again. My friend asked me if it was the best egg and bacon roll I had ever had. It honestly was! The coffee was amazing too! The Sydney Harbour Bridge If you’re wondering what to do in Sydney this weekend, make sure to include a walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on your list. It’s an incredible experience you won’t want to miss. So much steel! Such a beautiful view as you walk across. Inside the pylon is a museum (sorry about the blurry pic!) This museum offers a fascinating journey through the history and construction of the iconic bridge. Inside, we discovered captivating exhibits, vintage photos, and intriguing artifacts that showed insight into the bridge’s incredible story. Fun fact – Did you know that before making it big in Hollywood, Paul Hogan worked as a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge? We were tempted to climb the stairs to the top of the pylon for the spectacular view, but we decided to save it for another time. For those feeling adventurous, there’s also the option to do the Bridge Climb. Although I haven’t tried it yet, it’s definitely on my bucket list! My friend, who was with me, recently did the climb and absolutely loved it. She described it as a truly spectacular experience. But first, I need to conquer the pylon stairs! Susannah Place After crossing the bridge we ended up in the back part of The Rocks and we were in awe of the historical buildings. Susannah Place is a heritage-listed former grocery store and workers’ cottages and now a historic house museum. The cottages have been renovated and would you believe that people actually live here, can you imagine the view? We spotted a place for sale and wondered how many zillions it cost. Inside the grocery store, it felt as if we had stepped back in time. Ha! I’m not that ancient but my mum used to use Sunlight soap for everything! Then I saw my favourite Ruth Park books that I must have read a hundred times, “The Harp in The South” and “Playing Beatie Bow”. These are fantastic books all about life in early 20th-century Sydney. If you haven’t read them you really should. Ruth Park’s vivid storytelling and rich characters make these novels absolute gems. They are classic Australian literature and they give you a real sense of what life was like in Sydney’s rich past. And that was my Saturday in Sydney! I hope you enjoyed reading along and getting a peek at my beautiful hometown. It’s days like these that remind me why I love this city so much. Thanks so much for stopping by! Here are some other posts about Sydney. Shopping in Sydney! Visiting Beautiful Sydney Linking up with Holly and Sarah.

What To Do In Sydney This Weekend Read More »

Let’s Explore Paddington, Sydney!

13 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia, Home

Hey everyone, I hope you all had an amazing weekend! It’s great to be back today on this much cooler Monday. Let me tell you that it sure has been a hot and humid weekend here in Sydney. But I’m not complaining because I love summer!! I’ll leave my whingeing and complaining for the winter, which is my least favourite season. Anyway, thanks so much for being here today as I share a bit about my fun weekend exploring Paddington on Saturday and celebrating our anniversary on Sunday. Saturday I had been eager to visit Paddington for ages and I was determined to make this happen before the end of the school holidays. Paddington is a suburb in Sydney and it’s famous for its lively atmosphere, pretty streets, and historic terraced houses. Oxford Street runs through the heart of Paddington and is full of trendy cafes and boutiques. Additionally, the suburb is home to the well-known Paddington Markets, held on Saturdays which is full of handmade crafts, vintage finds, and gourmet food stalls. I love Paddington and if I ever won a gazillion dollars ( it’s a very expensive suburb!) I would love to live there. But for now, I was happy to spend most of Saturday exploring with my fun friend who came along with me. We caught the bus from Martin Place and it dropped us almost in the heart of Paddington. First up we stopped off at a cafe for a bite to eat. The next stop was a quirky shop that sold vintage designer fashions, accessories and other random vintage finds such as old phones. I found some bracelets made from guitar wire and thought they looked nice as a stack with my watch. A gift and stationery store sold these funny cards. We went in and out of so many shops that I lost count and then we reached the markets. After the markets, we walked back along the other side of Oxford Street and discovered Paddington Reservoir Gardens. The reservoir was an important water source for the growing population in the 19th century and today it’s a beautiful heritage-listed site. It was a fun Saturday visiting Paddington-there was so much to see and do and we sure did a lot of steps! Sunday Steve and I had plans to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary last Sunday. But it was windy, rainy and generally a bad day to go anywhere. So we moved our plans to yesterday and it was the best decision because the weather was amazing – boiling hot but still amazing! We decided to go to the Opera Bar and spend the late afternoon and evening there. We caught the light rail from Town Hall to Circular Quay. Then walked along the waterfront and made our way to the Opera Bar which is right near the Opera House. I never get tired of these views! The bar was so busy when we arrived but we were lucky and grabbed a great spot not too far away from where the band was playing. I don’t know if you can see clearly in the photo. But the giant shade umbrellas had these jets that sprayed a fine mist of water to cool everyone down. About every 5 or 10 minutes the cool mist would land on me and it felt so good! Cheers to 34 years! Hot chips and sauce to start with. Then we ordered the cold seafood platter and it was spectacular! It had Sydney rock oysters, tiger prawns, salmon gravlax, scallop ceviche and crab rolls. Everything tasted so good!! We stayed at the bar until 10 pm listening to the band. Neither of us was in a hurry to leave because the atmosphere was just too good and we were enjoying such a gorgeous night. The walk back to the station was so pretty with all the lights. It was such a lovely weekend and now I’m heading into the final week of the summer school holidays. I’m still determined to make the most of every minute and hoping like crazy that the week moves along nice and slow! I have a couple of catch ups with friends this week. Then I also need to get back to my mental to-do list. Because if I don’t then I won’t get onto them until the next school holiday break – I’m looking at you house blinds! Thanks so much for being here and I’ll see you on Wednesday! Linking up with Holly and Sarah

Let’s Explore Paddington, Sydney! Read More »

The Powerhouse Museum- Last Visit Before Renovations Begin

6 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia

Hi friends welcome to Friday favourites! Today I wanted to show you a favourite highlight from my week – a fun day out with my lovely friend for lunch and a visit to the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo, Sydney. Lunch At Darling Harbour We got off the train at Town Hall station and then walked to Darling Harbour. It was cloudy and oh so humid!! We had lunch at a cafe called The Blackbird Cafe and we both ordered the chicken quinoa salad. It was a healthy, light and delicious option. But I can’t lie, I could have done with a big bowl of chips as well! After lunch, we made our way to the Powerhouse Museum and walked past the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. The Powerhouse Museum Here’s the entrance to the museum. The Powerhouse Museum is a science and design museum that displays a huge collection of artifacts related to technology, science, design, decorative arts and social history. It’s well known for being interactive and immersive so it’s a perfect place to take kids. Well, my friend and I have grown-up kids now so while we walked around we were reminiscing about our past trips with our kids. I used to buy a yearly family pass and we would often go in on the weekends for a day trip. We would see all the paid exhibitions for free as part of the yearly pass. It was so worth paying for this back then and we made sure to make the most of it. We both agreed that it even though we miss those days. Now we can enjoy exploring places like The Powerhouse Museum together. Yay! There was so much to see and a whole lot of new exhibits that neither of us had seen before. I took a whole lot of video and I meant to post it to my Instagram stories. I may still do that soon so you can explore with me. One thing both my friend and I noticed during this visit is that there are no clear signs to the exhibits and they all seem to flow on into one another. We seemed to be saying ‘Where are we?’ and ‘What’s this exhibit about?’ a lot of the time because the whole museum is kind of built on different levels and it’s hard to know which level you are on! I don’t think either of us noticed this obvious detail when we took our kids along for a visit. We were always just busy chasing after them and walking through the museum in no particular order. Back then I just remember hearing this a lot ‘Hey mum look at this!’ ‘Hey let’s go here’. Ok then, but hey let poor mum catch up!! Haha, those were the days! So I’ll just show you a whole lot of pics of what we saw on the day. Fashion Here is the outfit that Kylie Minogue wore for the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000. Costumes from the famous Australian movie ‘Strictly Ballroom’. ‘Strictly Ballroom’ was directed by Baz Luhrmann and it’s a movie about the dazzling and competitive world of ballroom dancing. In true Baz Luhrmann style, the movie is amazingly colourful and full of eccentric characters, extravagant dance sequences and quirky offbeat humour. It really is such a fun movie. Have you seen it? If you haven’t then you should, it’s a unique experience that’s for sure! A puffy shirt designed by Victor and Rolfe from 2005. Ha, does it remind you of the Seinfeld puffy shirt? A giant kewpie doll and characters from Sydney’s Luna Park. Doll House This intricate Victorian (I think it was Victorian) doll house was amazing. Transport Exhibit The transport exhibit took us on a journey of various modes of transportation throughout history including trains, planes and horse-drawn carriages. Here is what the train timetables used to look like and yes I remember seeing similar ones to those at my local train station when I used to catch the train to school. Oh man, I feel old! Some fancy jewellery displays from various decades. Uranium Chandelier This chandelier is made from uranium glass that glows fluorescent when it is lit in the dark. Isn’t it beautiful? Here’s a blurb that explains everything in detail. The Arnotts Biscuit Display. Arnotts is an iconic Australian biscuit company founded in 1865. We have all grown up eating delicious Arnott’s biscuits such as Assorted Creams, Tim Tams, Scotch Fingers, and Shapes. Hmm I’m getting hungry! We all love Arnott’s biscuits over here! Arnott’s biscuits are very nostalgic and I guess that’s why it may have served as an inspiration for this dress. It’s called Iced Vo Vo just like the Iced Vo Vo biscuit. Old Australian Advertisements Australian Design Label – Studibaker Hawk Then I spotted this dress and all my memories from being a teen in the 80s came flooding back. This dress made by the design label Studibaker Hawk was everyone’s dream back when I was in high school. If you turned up to the school formal with a Studibaker Hawk dress you were the envy of everybody! Well everybody except me because I thought they were way too over the top. All those ruffles and lace under the dress…nah…not my thing, not even in the good old 80s. Plus they were also ridiculously expensive too. I guess I have always preferred a much more minimal style of dressing. Interactive Displays Here’s me and my friend! I’m not sure how this interactive display worked exactly. But if you stood in front of a giant screen your image was projected in the form of black lines. We both stood there waving our arms up and down and may have broken out in a dance too. Time For A Break We stopped for a coffee and cake then walked back to Town hall for a quick look at the shops before heading home. I loved visiting The

The Powerhouse Museum- Last Visit Before Renovations Begin Read More »

Open House Weekend at The Sydney Opera House

9 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia

The Sydney Opera House turned 50! To celebrate this wonderful occasion the doors were opened to the public for a free open house weekend. On Saturday my fun friend and I went along to get a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic Sydney building and we had an amazing sunny day out. Open House Weekend at The Sydney Opera House As I mentioned the other day, the weather has been all over the place. It’s hot and sunny one day and then the next we’ve had some cold, grey and miserable days. Luckily on Saturday, it was a clear day with the most dazzling blue sky and warm temps. A perfect Saturday to be out and about in beautiful Sydney. I never tire of going to the city as there is always so much to see and do. We walked along until we got to the Sydney Opera House and just before we arrived I realised that my phone was missing…panic!! At first, I thought that I must have left it on the train and I felt double panic. But then I remembered that I hadn’t looked at my phone on the train. So then I was pretty sure that I must have left it in the front seat of my friend’s car when she drove us to the station. A few deep breaths later and some kind reassuring words from my bestie and we were good to go. I didn’t want this to spoil our day and I just crossed my fingers that my phone was indeed in the car! The free tickets for the open house were…..yep, on my phone. But luckily we were able to get tickets from the ticket box at Sydney The Opera House as they had my details in the system. It’s crazy how my whole life is on a phone! I made a mental note to memorise more phone numbers or at least write them down somewhere. A Giant Ibis! When we reached the base of the Sydney Opera House steps we came across some street performers and a giant Ibis. We had a good laugh because the Ibis have become Sydney’s least favourite animal lately. The Australian White Ibis are native, protected species. In the past, you’d only spot them in the zoo or wetlands. However, with the growth of buildings around these wetlands, these poor creatures have lost their natural habitat and moved into the surrounding suburbs to find food and water. The Ibis are extremely unpopular because they are such messy birds that cause real problems. They poop everywhere and scrounge around lifting the lids off garbage bins to feast. I guess that’s the price we are all paying because of building developments. But on this fun open house weekend we were caught up in the excitement of the day and I just had to get a pic of this Ibis superstar. Ha! Inside The Sydney Opera House We made our way inside The Sydney Opera House and followed the huge crowds into one of the seven performance venues. We got a taste of some opera singing from this talented opera singer who sang something in Italian(I think it was Italian??). We were then ushered along to another venue which was the Concert Hall. It has been recently renovated and it looked quite stunning. There we listened to a very grand performance on the giant pipe organ. Some roving performers. We weaved in and out of The Opera House and found our way to a balcony. We spent about an hour and a half in total exploring the Sydney Opera House. On the way out we saw more street performers – high-five to the guy in the diving suit. Lunch After the open house, we were both starving! There were so many cafes and restaurants along Circular Quay to choose from. But we decided to take the tram to the heart of the city to one of our favourite cafes, The Wholegreen Bakery. It felt so good to sit down after walking around. We both ordered the Chicken and mushroom pie with tomato relish and a side salad. This pineapple juice was sweet, tangy and refreshing. Just perfect! We couldn’t leave without trying some delicious dessert. We wandered around the shops for a while and then caught the train back. I felt such a huge relief when we got to my friend’s car and there on the front seat was my phone, phew!! A Relaxing Sunday Sunday was another warm sunny day and I spent most of the morning pottering around the house. I love easy breezy Sundays!! Sam caught up with his friends in the afternoon/evening and Steve and I went out to Allawah pub for dinner. We shared fried squid for the entree. Juicy steak with chips, salad and a double portion of mushroom sauce for me. I can never have enough sauce or gravy! We stayed at the pub for a while chatting and finishing off our drinks before heading home to relax on the sofa and watch TV. It wasn’t long before we were both dozing off so we made the unusual choice of going to bed early – 9.30, which is quite out of character for us night owls. It must have been a sign of how tired we were! It was a great weekend – a perfect mix of fun and relaxation. The open house event was very interesting and spending time with my lovely friend made it even better. Then a quiet Sunday was exactly what I needed. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have an amazing start to your week! Linking up with Holly and Sarah

Open House Weekend at The Sydney Opera House Read More »

The Matildas-Our Aussie Heroes

5 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia

Last night’s semi-final match saw our Aussie heroes, the Matildas, fall to England. While the defeat stung, what’s been amazing is how our entire country has rallied together. It’s a unity vibe I haven’t felt since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. See the pic below, here we were 23 years ago ready to watch Cathy Freeman in the semi-finals at Olympic Park. I have really missed this spirit of unity and pride for our nation and I was so happy that I was able to experience it again over the last few weeks. As Australia advanced in the competition, the outpouring of support has been incredible. From city centres to quiet suburbs, Aussies gather in pubs, clubs, town centres and impromptu arenas. It was like every council area had its own cheering zone. They opened special public areas so people could gather to watch the games on big screens. Our whole country has come together like one big supportive family! My own preschool where I work postponed a meeting so that we could all watch and cheer. And boy we sure cheered our hearts out last night! We decided to go to a pub to catch the game, and I am so glad we did. The atmosphere was absolutely electric. You could feel the excitement in the air the moment we walked in. The whole place was buzzing with fans all decked out in their green and gold all united in cheering for our Aussie Matildas. Every shot, every close call had the whole place either gasping, moaning or erupting in cheers. It was fun and it was infectious! And it’s been a while since I have heard the famous chant Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi!! There was something magical about being part of a crowd so invested in a common goal. I was particularly glad to be there, considering I had been dealing with a respiratory infection earlier in the week. And you know what’s funny? I thought I didn’t have any green and gold to wear as I didn’t have a jersey. But I ended up finding a green top and a yellow cardigan that did the trick. It sure was a fun night and the energy was palpable. Even though the result wasn’t what we hoped for, the memories of that electric atmosphere will stay with me forever!

The Matildas-Our Aussie Heroes Read More »