Weddings. Why?

Here's the thing. I LOVE attending other peoples weddings. I LOVE reading about other peoples weddings in magazines. I even LOVE the hazy idea of my own wedding, as it appears in my daydreams - that is to say, totally perfect in every way.




But actually making that happen is freaking hard. Seriously. We're at that point where all the high level stuff is done, so now its down to the details - and we all know how i am with details. The thing is, in my head i can see how i want things to look. I just wish someone else could come along and make it all happen. Cause i sure as hell can't be bothered.





I know. I know i should be super excited about seeing everything come together. But there are obstacles you know. Like when i see something i love and there's that voice in my ear saying "No. I'm sorry. You can't afford that." Cause Lord knows it costs a small fortune to get married in this city. Or when i see something i love AND i can afford, but there's that other voice saying "No. I'm sorry. That really doesn't work in this venue." Or when i see TEN things i love in magazines and hear my OWN voice saying "Ah crap. How the hell am i gonna do that????"




Plus, I'm notorious for changing my mind like, ten times a day. So. That doesn't help. Double plus, i always worry about what other people will think, and even though logically i know i can't please everyone, deep down i really want to. Triple plus, there are usually so MANY things i love that i can't decide which ones to focus on so that a consistent theme comes through. Instead of a collective jumble of bits of stuff that looked good separately but thrown together, kinda look like a yard sale.




It'll work out. And anyway, the REAL fun (i.e. work) begins after the wedding's over. I just had to have a rant because some days, this wedding planning business ain't what its cracked up to be. Phew. Glad we could all be honest about that.




I think i forgot to mention that while we were at the powerhouse museum last week, there was another exhibition celebrating 15 years of Rosemount Fashion Week - naturally, we dragged the boys along to that one too. I'm almost sure they had a good time. Totally.

Fashion! Fashion! Fashion! (Fifteen years worth suckers)

Ahhh juxtaposition. When bondage girl meets pretty ballgown.

This Michelle Jank dress is a stunner. I love the whole bird thing, especially cause they're not real.

What are these? Pom poms? Is anyone actually wearing this?

Me on the red carpet. That's my model face.

Two other pieces of irrelevant news from my life. The first is that i read an amazing book that i couldn't put down this week called The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Its set in Barcelona in the late 40s/early 50s, and is a classic example how sometimes in literature, a place is as much of a character as the actual people. It's about a boy called Daniel, who discovers a book called The Shadow of the Wind by the author Julian Carax - but WHO is Carax? That's the mystery that leads Daniel on a wild goose chase through the city and through time - past, present and future. Its a cracking good read, with characters i think you'll be taken by, like i was. Easily one of the best books I've read this year.

Secondly, David, Mel and I went to see Eclipse on Thursday, and once more i cringed through two hours of overacting and melodrama. Which i enjoyed immensely. As I've said before, the best thing about these movies is how bad they are. In particular, i noticed this third installment featured a lot of:

• Heavy, dramatic breathing after each line
• Gripping of the shirt or chest of another character out of passion and/or anger and/or confusion
• terrible special effects (WTF is with those wolves? The bundy bear is better animated for godsake)
• Bella and Edward talking about their feelings, and then Bella and Jacob talking about their feelings and then Bella and Edward talking about their feelings again. It was vomit-inducing. I literally gagged. Literally. On my popcorn.
• Lip quivering
• Good old-fashioned bad acting. Robert Pattinson - you are a bore, and you need to pluck your eyebrows. Must you speak in monotone the whole movie? Surely vampires are allowed just a bit of emotion. And Kristen Stewert - i detest your half-smiles. They make my blood boil. Please try to utter a line, any line, with some conviction next time. You seemed unsure of yourself and everyone around you for the entire 120 minutes i had to endure your presence on screen.

Luckily, Taylor Lautner, AKA Jacob the wolf boy, has his shirt off for most of the movie, so at least i got some eye candy. That kid is ripped, for reals. It would be more satisfying if i weren't ten years older then him, but hey. In my dreams, anything can happen.

My side-ponytail-with-a-scrunchie brings all the boys to the yard (or, the 80s make a comeback)

Ah the 80s. Some argue it has a lot to answer for.



But i say this.




It taught us to walk like an Egyptian. That girls just wanna have fun. That love is a battlefield. That we are the world! It gave us teased hair and baggy t-shirts and lacy gloves that served no purpose. It allowed us to express ourselves - blue eye shadow and all. Many a pleasant evening was spent playing pacman or tetris, and if you weren't that cool, there was always hungry hungry hippo. It gave us life long friends, like Mork and Mindy and Kevin Arnold and Alex. P. Keaton and the Huxtables. It gave us hero's, like Mr T and Rico Tubbs, Mr Miyagi and Ferris Bueller. Who, after all is said and done, can forget the great Tom Selleck as Magnum, P.I? And here's another two words for you - Indiana. Jones. We lost ourselves in tragic cinema - The Breakfast Club, Footloose, Dirty Dancing. I still bawl like a baby when i watch E.T. Some of the greatest catch phrases of our generation hail from the 80s. Who ya gonna call? Watchu talkin' bout Willis? Cowabunga dude? And i defy you to find me a decade that spawned a comedy trilogy greater than Back to the Future.




What I'm trying to say is, the 80s was a damn memorable decade. You can poo poo it all you want, but when we headed to the Powerhouse Museum on Sunday for their '80s is Back' exhibition, nothing could wipe the smile off my face.

The cube that boggled a generation.

Jo wastes no time - "computer" games are up first

Awesome graphics.



The Atari - bringing arcade games to your living room for the first time.

Culture Club. I don't even know where to start, but Boy George, i won't forgive you for Karma Chameleon. You really did want to hurt me.

Nothing, and i mean NOTHING, has ever or will ever beat 80s Kylie for me. I STILL rock out to Hand on your heart - the film clip for which she wore this dress. The exhibition also featured some iconic TV moments - like Scott's proposal to Charlene in Neighbours. Je ne sais pas pourquoi.

INXS gave Australia a good, solid rock band - and Michael Hutchence. This is one of his handwritten notebooks, in which he makes a list of things he wants to achieve. Number 4 reads 'Start my own strategy for world domination.'

Boys and their punk

Whoa there. Who let the jumpsuit out?

Ecstasy dance parties. It was OK in the 80s.

P.F Flanagan, whoever you are - i commend your efforts in the war to beat the breathalyser.

Condom Man says - use condoms. And lo, a superhero was born.

It wasn't all glitter and disco balls - the 80s saw the emergence of a new disease called AIDS - and the Australian gay community was one of the first to embrace AIDS prevention through education for EVERYONE - gay or straight. The Australian AIDS quilt project started in 1988 as a memorial for those who had died from the disease.

Wedding dress inspiration - Jo was thrilled to hear I'd be incorporating those off-the-shoulder sleeves in mine.

Me, loving the Madonna-inspired fashions of the decade. WHY oh WHY can't i wear a pink polka dot pleated skirt with matching shoes in public anymore? *despairs*

The national objective in 1985 was to stay alive.

80s toys - cabbage patch kids and Garfield and strawberry shortcake. I'm sure i had a tea-pot that was really a dolls house. And a glow worm.

Seriously, does anyone else remember these?? Were they from McDonald's?? Am i dreaming that??

Typical girls bedroom in the 80s, complete with garish graffiti-inspired bedspread, mini boom box and totally rad movie posters.

And that was just a taste of what we saw - if you grew up in the 80s, I'm sure you'll get a laugh out of this exhibition. GO. SEE. IT. You'll be humming Pat Benetar all the way back home.

Ha, Winter! The sun defies you!

The last few days have been GLORIOUS. We had a cold snap, but SUCK IT WINTER - the sun's back and better then ever. At the beach today we actually saw people sunbathing - sunbathing! I mean i was rugged up, but it was WARM.




At first i was skeptical about the whole excursion. Jo's alarm went off inexcusably early for a Saturday, which at first i thought was a horrible mistake, but no. He said that I'd better get myself up and ready, cause we were going out. Obviously i was taken aback. Out? Us? In the...morning? Before...lunchtime? How can this be? Not one to argue, (what? i'm not. why are you laughing?) i leaped out of bed without one complaint (creative liberties. it's my blog and I'll lie if i want to) and we headed out for brunch, here, at one of my most favourite places in all of Sydney - the bathers pavilion in Balmoral.








In my humble (read, expert) opinion, this is one of the prettiest spots (and nicest beaches) in town - how, tell me, could you possibly disagree?

Balmoral Beach

Me, THRILLED to be by the water as always

This place was built in the 1920s, and was, literally, a pavilion for bathers for about 40 years. Change rooms, lockers, shops that sold towels and caps and so on. Now it's a restaurant/cafe with a killer view and a damn fine bacon and corn hash, if you're into that sort of thing. We usually have dinner in the restaurant, but the cafe is great for brunch - much more casual. We got a great seat by the window, where the gleam off the water was so bright that i had to don my sunnies, indoors, in winter, because i have to remind you again that this IS winter, despite the 19 degree temperatures *swoon*...

Bathers from the hill



Jo and I

After brunch and a walk, we were off to our next destination, another of my favourite places in Sydney town, the Orpheum in Cremorne. I've talked about this old cinema before, a gem with its original features restored to their former glory. Its always a treat to see a movie there.

Orpheum interior

We were there to see Toy Story 3 (yes, in 3D), which we've been meaning to see since it came out but as usual, no time. Even as adults, we admit to loving these movies, cause who doesn't, and the third installment was a fitting goodbye to all our favourite toys. There were some new additions, notably barbie and a suitably cheesy and fashion-smitten Ken, and I'll tell ya right now that i spent the last ten minutes of the movie bawling like a baby. Even if you haven't see the first two, I'm pretty sure you'll still enjoy the this one - wrangle up some kids and check it out. Or not - hell, we were the only childless (and totally fine with that) couple in the cinema. It's funny, heartwarming, bittersweet - i guess its kind of about growing up and saying goodbye.

Jo and I with our groovy as 3D glasses. I kept mine, cause you never know when you'll need a pair.

Tomorrow, we're off to the powerhouse museum to see the 80s exhibition they've got going there at the moment. Can you believe that?? An 80s EXHIBITION!!! FREAKEN AWESOME!!! Pictures will surely follow.

And now I'm going to the pub, so sayonara from me kiddies. Enjoy your Saturday night!

Fame and fortune find me at last

A PASTA brand bearing my name??? The irony is too much. Behold people, and suck it! I apparently use organic eggs, but the price tag shocked me. Almost $20 for 4 cannelloni. Pfft, who the hell do i think i am?




I am desperately awaiting the weekend. This whole week has been so....MEH. I can't think of a better way to describe it. Just meh. I have, however, just finished a wonderfully racy book called The Crimson Petal and the White, by Michel Faber. It's set in 1870s London, and it's heroine is a 19 year old prostitute called Sugar. Beware, this is not for the faint-hearted. First, its 800 pages long. But it's incredibly readable, unlike some historical fiction, and the characters are varied and very much alive on the page. Second, i wouldn't recommend this if you're a prude. Sex, swearing and violence are regular features (so a triple thumbs up from me), and if that's not enough to tickle your taste buds, i don't know what is. The writing is superb. Really. The era has obviously been meticulously researched by the author - it's incredibly detailed, and altogether an excellent read, if you dare.

Best roast in town

But before i get to my latest cooking antics, please see below for the cutest new kid on the block, Luca. Daniel and Romina are settling into parenthood VERY well indeed i think, despite suffering from "He's so smart. No really, he's seriously smart, and I'm not just saying that." syndrome. (It's OK. I forgive you, and I'll never get sick of hearing it. Truly. O_O)








Secondly, a new ritual - Saturday morning pancakes on the balcony. I like it.

But, onto the roast. I am not a roast-cooker, mainly because its a lot of food for two people to eat, and also a lot of carbs, and also i can't be bothered. But my good friend Turnsie recently got it in his head that he wanted to cook one, because he never had before. And when he gets an idea, let me tell you, he will not let it go until its carried out.

The conversation went something like this:

Turns: "You ever cooked a roast?"
Me: "Nah man."

Turns: "Let's do it man!"
Me: "Bah, OK. When?"

And lo, a Sunday afternoon roast was born. We trundled over to Turnsies place and immediately went shopping. After spending at least 15 minutes arguing about what KIND of roast we wanted to make (pork? beef? lamb?), we finally settled on the pig and moved on. The vegetables caused more problems. For a start, I picked up a sweet potato and was concerned when Turnsie didn't know what it was. Then i had to battle Jo for the beans. "Well what greens do you want?" i asked. "Broccoli." he replied promptly. "Broccoli!" cried Turnsie in outrage, "You can't have broccoli and roast!" Etc etc. (The beans won in the end, to my relief. You really can't have broccoli and roast.)

We made it out of there without killing each other, and then it was on to phase 2 - preparation. This was my favourite part of the day, because it meant i could be bossy, and i do love being bossy. As i detest peeling vegetables, i happily delegated this job to Turnsie. I'm sure, despite his weary sighs, that he really and truly enjoyed this very important job. No really. He enjoyed it. I helped too. Like, I unwrapped stuff. And oversaw DTs work. Oh and I put everything in the baking dish! All equally tedious and tiresome tasks. (What? They are.) Also, i will just say this about Turnsie's pantry - it is a scary, scary place. Salt that expired in 2004? Half used bottles of unidentifiable stuff that's leaked and soaked through the label to the point that you can't read what it once was? I was frightened to put my hands too far in. Anyway - i present to you....

Our roast, pre-cooked.

Have a go at that! Our ready-to-eat-roast, and it was SO good!

Jo eating his yummy meal, which he did not lift a finger to help make.

Turnsie and I enjoying the fruits of our labour

And that wasn't the end of our feasting. For dessert, apple crumble using the Turner family recipe. We did have a small problem with the oven which may or may not have been my fault (I admit, i shouldn't have experimented with all the knobs, OK? I'm sorry. Sheesh.), so that the first attempt at baking the crumble resulted in a blackened outer crust that i refused to eat. Not deterred, we scraped that off and tried again, and round two turned out just fine.

Our crumble with ice cream

Me enjoying the crumble

Turnsie doing the cleaning up - onya turns, love the pink gloves. Very razzle dazzle.

So thumbs up for roasting, but thumbs down for being sick - Jo and I have spend most of the week coughing and sneezing, and last weekend was spent almost entirely on the couch doing nothing, but I'm happy to report we're on the mend now. We've had a very busy weekend which I'll tell you all about during the week because Relocation Relocation is on and i really must watch. Before i go, join me in a cheer - Boo for Mondays! BOOOOOOOOO!

A houseguest, part two

Last week we had another visitor - Jo's cousin Christina. She's going to be one of my bridesmaids, and she very kindly came up to Sydney from Adelaide for a few days for dress fittings! Yvonne also had hers that same week, and my dressmaker pinned all of the fabric together so we would have a better idea of what they would look like - i am VERY excited, i really love the colour and it suits all of the girls. They're going to look beautiful!




We spend Friday getting the dress fittings over and done with, and catching up over coffee and pastries at my favourite Italian Pasticceria in Five Dock. And found time to get our nails done in between, since we were going out on the town that night.




Since it was David's birthday that weekend, we all went out to dinner later at A Tavola, a restaurant we all love, especially the birthday boy. Not that he actually tries anything new off the menu - he orders the same dish every time, and refuses to be talked into trying anything else. "Why mess with a good thing," is his opinion on the matter, and i have to admit the dish in question, the pasta ragu, is awesome. So. There you have it. Drinks followed at the Victoria Rooms across the street later, another of my favourite Sydney haunts, and Christina and I wasted no time polishing off a bottle of champagne, as you do. (What? We all know how i feel about the stuff. Mmmm, love.) Yvonne joined us later, and a big group of us ended up at another bar watching the Brazil vs Portugal match (not that i remember much of the game, truth be told. I admit, we made the fatal and amateur mistake of mixing our drinks, which can only ever end badly. She made me do it *points to Christina*) Somehow we managed to get home and into bed, and Saturday was spent recovering on the couch.





Food eventually beckoned though, and we headed into the rocks and to the Lowenbrau for huge and delicious German meals, just what we needed. Our friend Annie was in town too, and since it was recently her birthday, we went to have some celebratory drinks with her too, not that i could stomach much but beer, and even that was a struggle. Even though we'd just eaten, Nina managed to have two more meals before the night was out, pizza AND McDonald's. Which means i have a food rival - i didn't think anyone else was capable of eating that much but me ;)




Sunday saw us back in town on a big walk down past the wharfs, through the rocks and on the ferry across to Manly for a late lunch.

Nina and me with the harbour bridge

Jo and Nina

On the ferry



Purrrty nails




Nina and I at Manly - don't be deceived by our happy looks. It was freaking cold.

On the ferry

Jo took some really nice pictures on the ferry ride home - here's a sample!

Afterwards we went to see Maria and Jack, since they were off to Italy the very next day and i knew I'd miss my baby so i wanted to say goodbye. Pest he may be, but he was at his hilarious best that night. Somehow over the course of the evening, Jo ended up in a chair he deemed was his. "Get off my chair Jo," he demanded, which Jo of course refused to do. "Did you buy this chair?" asked Jo. "Yes," replied Jack without hesitation. "How much did you pay for it?" countered Jo. Jack considered for a moment. "Two hundred and fifty dollars," he replied finally, and we couldn't help but burst out laughing.

After witnessing a bath time tantrum of epic proportions ("JUST ONE MORE MINUTE!!!! ONE MORE MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!! *insert hysterical wailing here*) and being told lovingly that i looked like his toy monkey, it was time to go. Many hugs and kisses and I Love You's later, we were out the door and back home. I miss him already, and its only been a week! We had to work the next day unfortunately, but we got home in time to take Christina to the airport and say more goodbyes. It was a great weekend, and i am so appreciative that she and Yvonne both made time to come to Sydney and get fittings done - we truly have wonderful friends and family.