Foster Puppy Mission: Sydney

This little lady is Clover and she does not yet have her own people, but she soon will. So for now, KD and I were her temporary humans and transported her up to Sydney for an eye operation that required a vet specialist, who was not available at home. The trek began in the depths of the night, leaving home at 5am and the first hour and a half being virtual darkness. Not so fun, though there was an impressive highway sunrise.

We seized the opportunity to eat some delicious foods at Suzy Spoons vegetarian butcher, who once again did not fail to deliver a spectacular meal. KD had not yet been there before so it was a nice surprise for her.

That scrambled tofu was the best I've ever tried, and was so uniquely flavoured with lemongrass. I would never have picked that myself, but it was a total success. I could have eaten that meal ten times over and still be impressed.

This sign made me laugh so I embarrassed KD by stopping to take a picture 

Busy Bacon Makin'

Sometimes I behave like there are thirty hours in a day. I left work at 5:30 and did a 4km run with my old amigo Lenny. Between the run and my regular Tuesday night 7:30 Walking Dead club, I snuck in some speedy cooking and made raw coconut, white chocolate and raspberry fudge (courtesy of Not Quite Nigella), and prepared some coconut flakes for their delicious bacon fate.  I shall keep you posted on their respective success.

The coconut bacon lineup. 

Thursday Night Tunes

My oldest, bestest and recently vegan lady friend came around for dinner, we made baked potatoes with Kinda Bacon, 'chicken' avocado caesar, and had whipped banana and chocolate ice cream for dessert - followed by pots of tea and numerous episodes of Girls. I do think she may be hooked. Simple nights in with a precious friend who I do not see nearly enough.

Rainy Sundays in the Treehouse

Rain is, and always has been, my favourite weather.  It replenishes my plants, cleans the air and washes all the city grime away.  It provides me the perfect justification to stay inside and catch up on all the films I have missed, or the book I haven't managed to finish. I love that a backdrop of grey clouds and an opaque sky mean the green of plants is so vivid and vibrant, and a concrete jungle looks glossy and new.

I have seized the opportunity to have a cooking bonanza, making misr wat (Ethiopian chickpea and pumpkin curry), eggplant parmigiana (par cooked then frozen, ready and waiting for a lazy weeknight dinner), plus a mushroom, bacon (of the animal friendly variety) and broccoli vegan frittata. My apartment smells like rain, spices and incense. That's not a complaint.

Now to treating myself to the long-awaited Secret Life of Walter Mitty,  plus a big pot of cinnamon and orange tea. I wish every day was as relaxing as this.

Mini Break to the Sunshine State, Part Two.

The National, as expected, was impressive. Beyond impressive. So impressive I really just cannot convey how great they were. It feels like it was part fate being able to see them, which really only added to the greatness of it all. They're one of my "bucket list" bands to see live, and I would see them one hundred times again. Incredible.

Also a noteworthy mention should go to  Bear and I's breakfast the following morning at The Green Edge - boy, did we conquer that breakfast mountain. Smokey strips, tofu scram, mushrooms, grilled asparagus, beans, grilled potato, avocado, sourdough - all in the most epic of portions. We specifically returned to this cafe after reading the contents of the Big Breakfast. No regrets. The owner of the shop was just darling, who magically appeared like some kind of Kinda Bacon genie - just appearing from seemingly nowhere, offering us an open packet when we were discussing it after noticing it on the shelf.  Three packets later, I realised this was a very smart move by the Kinda Bacon Genie.

After we rolled our engorged selves out of The Green Edge, we visited the Cai Guo-Qiang Falling Back to Earth exhibition at GOMA which was gosh-darn inspiring stuff. In particular, the Head On installation which was created for the Deutsch Bank, inspired by the turmoil in Berlin's history.  I found it to be a very profound piece, which conveyed so much with relative simplicity.

Mini break to the Sunshine State

I couldn't help but take a wing shot. No one was next to me so I didn't feel too idiotic. And so the mini break begins. 

There's something so charming about air travel. I also have a strange thing about meeting people at airports/being met at the airport. Bear met me at the gate (one million points), with a latte (bonus), and a cuddle (and we have a winner). Like the beginning of Love Actually - there's just something so warm and fuzzy in the atmosphere at the arrivals gates at airports - even more so when someone special is there waiting just for you. 

Pies with a side of "Kinda Bacon": the kinder bacon. Also kinda like crack.

Oh, Bardon. You're so handsome. 

Now. Red Star. How do I love thee, let me count the ways. I had my first Red Star cold pressed coffee at the West End markets a couple of months ago and I've been dreaming about it ever since. Finally reunited at the store in West End, it didn't dissappoint. For all who don't know, their cold press coffees are like an iced coffee without the trimmings, and only subtly sweetened with the deliciousness of blue agave. Heaven in a cute amber bottle.

The West End is my favourite place in Brisbane. Book shops, op shops, unassuming boutiques, record stores, and men who can walk down the street playing a ukulele without anyone raising an eyebrow. I refrained from buying many an impractical but pretty thing. Observe exhibit A, the perfectly preserved vintage picnic set. But if I OWNED one I WOULD have picnics, yes?

Unfortunately the op shop wallpaper was not available for sale.

Curse you, reflection! The image above the writing is of shitty looking kitties.

Prepare the pancreas. Diabetes incoming.

Brick, Enamel, Wood.

The best and only place I spend my Sundays.

Extra Long Weekend

Unfortunately the whirlwind Bondi trip has concluded, but it was jam packed with fun activities - in retrospect, mostly food related. Typical. We ate at Bodhi Bar (SYD CBD), Spoons Vegetarian Butcher (Newtown) and Mad Hatter Cupcakery (Broadway) - all of which I've been before but are definitely worthy of revisits. There was an impromptu dragon dance at Bodhi bar given it's the Lunar New Year celebrations this weekend, I've developed a respect and appreciation for the craft - notably the dancer at the back, hunched over at at 90 degree angle for the duration of the performance....

Went to Bondi beach for the first time ever today (I just had been feeling so very UNAUSTRALIAN) - it's impressive and was certainly packed out. We opted for swimming in the sea-pools at Icebergs instead, which I'm told is a bit of an institution too so I felt less of a wuss. Top weekend with my beloved Burn Streeters.

On the road to Dapplewood.

Henifer Aniston

Gentleman Buster

Henry, a rather attractive resident of Lamrock Street. 

The Iceberg at Bondi - where the beach fearing crowd congregate...

I stayed in the house of a stranger. It was nice, though.

I so wish I'd bought more of these so I could hand out bottles of delicious icy Karma Cola at the most hilarious and opportune moments.