Sniffing out spring

After this weekend, I'm almost positive spring is in the air. I was practically sweating out on the balcony over breakfast. The sun was glaring. Check me out - sunnies and a strappy dress!! Fanfreakentastic, for reals.







That's pretty much how i spent my Saturday - reading in the sun. I've finally finished The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, which is the last installment in that dragon tattoo series. Not a literary masterpiece, but definitely entertaining reading. The third one is a bit political for me, but aside from that, a satisfying conclusion. Good summer reading (and summer IS coming right up folks!!! *giddy*)




On Saturday night, we were off to Adrian's for a roast. Chicken, that is. And lots of wine and cheese, and Diva goodness. Diva is the dog, and she's hilarious, as young dogs always are.

Not sure, so don't ask me.


Fi and Diva. There are so many ways to caption this, but I'm going to leave it to your capable imaginations.

And now, a retrospective i call "Close up on Diva":

She kind of has a Scooby Doo quality, right? Meanwhile, Sunday morning bliss: Coffee, muffin, book. And SUN. SUN!!

Sunday night we went to Maria's for dinner to talk wedding. When i say we, i of course mean me. I mean Jo was there for the dinner part. But he high-tailed it out of there when wedding talk started. We have a growing list of stuff to do, but lots of it is fun stuff at least. Alas, there are always boring details to consider. Like cars. What do i care about cars? And yet we have a fairly large bridal party that'll need transporting all over the place, so yes, we must consider cars.

Jack is at a good age, where he's funny without realising it. Like we go out for ice cream, and his new thing is to slurp it up, and then laugh hysterically because "the ice cream is making a farting noise." Ah to be young. Afterwards, we get him in the bath and he asks his mother to "get out of the bathroom because Ornella wants to talk to me." LOL. Every time she walked back in, he was all like "get out of the bathroom mum!" This is how it starts. In ten years time, he'll be saying the same thing for oh so different reasons.

Me and the pest

Slurpy ice cream

Sporting a faux ice cream moustache and goatee.

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!