Not as bad as I thought.

Couple weeks ago we had 39 degrees. It sucked. The wind was hot. There was no escape in the shade. It sucked.

Today it hit 40. And actually, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. There is no hot wind. An extra warm breeze yes.
But no scary warm wind that annoys you. And our humidity dropped a bit which made it a lot more bearable. It's amazing what humidity does to make it feel sooo much colder or warmer than England even when exactly the same temperature. All because of humidity. The way i see it. Is that England must be super cold and super humid in winter as all thy moisture in the air must be absorbed through the skin and chills your bones! Hence why we are coming back in July not winter for our visit!

iPhone weather is crap at forecasts. As everywhere else says it'll be 39 degrees on Monday... Eek. And ick. Cross your fingers for no icky warm wind!

Away for Christmas

Last night was the first night Liam and I spent in our own bed since 22nd December.

We left our home that weekend for our first and second Christmas with his family up the mountain (Mount Dandenong). And stayed through to Boxing Day. Fortunately Liam's parents run a bed and breakfast cottage up on the mountain which is lovely. And Lime and I were given a cottage for our time up there. Lush! Www.adeline.com.au

Then to escape the family but not return home we headed down to Torquay.

One of Liam's friends Dave has a family beach/golf house down there. And fortunately for us they were all off to Hawaii and the house was empty!

I say beach/golf as it is on the first hole of a golf course but just a 5 minute walk from the beach (and my dune).

It seems to be the thing for everyone to have a beach house in their family around here. And they all seem to be in Torquay! We had a few people pop through to say hi (such as the lovely Belle pictured) and a few others were local for some of the week.

But we had a lovely quiet new years eve in front of the Telly with wine.

Given the earlier weeks news (on my dune) I had at least one bottle of sparkling every day and am enjoying the lack of alcohol this week!

My dune.

That big old' Dune on the left - it's my Dune. I don't mind sharing. But officially... It's mine.

It became mine when Liam and I tried to climb to the top. And in failing to manage that he got down on one knee half way up and proposed.

So I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say it again. It's my dune now.

39 fricking degrees

The last day of spring, or November as we call it here was warm. It was warm like standing in the path of a hairdryer which also doubled up as a portable sauna.

To say it was uncomfortable is an understatement. It was icky and sticky and hair fluffy un tastic.

With Lime and I having a pitiful excuse of an air conditioner at home we made excuses not to go straight home from work!

So we went to wagamama's had smushed fruit smoothies and took our sweet arse time eating to ensure the traffic would have cleared and the mercury dropped before we headed home.

The house was 32 degrees inside when we got home... And given it was warmer outside we couldn't exactly open a window!!

The official decision is that if I don't have a permanent job by March we are moving rentals to one with aircon and a dishwasher and wait another year til we buy a house! God bless aircon and dishwashers!

Happy jedi Christmas!

As pointed out by Claire this week; it has been two months since my last blog. Boo. And I figured Belles arrival in Ausland and meeting me at Vic night market would be perfect. But no. I forgot to get a photo (sorry). And there have actually been a few things I could have blogged about. Although not very Aus specific.

I will post more this coming week. But for now I leave you with one of the coolest snowflakes I've seen in a while and a link to a load more x

http://anthonyherreradesigns.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60:star-wars-snowflakes-2012&catid=34:anthonydesign-blog

In the 80's...

In the 80's I probably didn't pay attention to the fact that Australia even existed. If I even knew of its existence who knows. But what I do know is I got my first perfume in the 80's.

My dad bought my sister and I small bottles of perfume. For valentines or for a random present I am not entirely sure. But it was my first perfume. It came in a small blue velvet bag with silver drawstrings and written in silver on the bag 'Panache'. (I still have the little blue bag - no I am not a hoarder - yes I am sentimental)

I have looked for it over the years but being a pre Internet product I could never find a trace. Until... I pottered around a shop at lunch with my friend Jen yesterday. And Ta-dah! There it was. Even a gift set was available!

I did spray some on the back of my hand being unsure as to what it even smelt like. And.... It smelt very 80's... For the bargain price of $4.95 I am sure there are many ladies somewhat older than me that enjoy wearing Panache on a daily basis. But I think for this decade I will give it a miss...

But if you do see it out there in the world. Have a sniff.

Christmassy time!

I realize there are still more than 90 days until Santa hops on his sleigh and starts his stupendously amazing trip around the world dropping presents down chimneys. But Christmas cake waits for no man.

Two weekends ago it began. And it will continue every fortnight with alcoholic feedings until it dons its marzipan and white icing cape and dazzles us all with its yumminess.

Yes it is an inanimate object. But it's yummy. And took 4 hours in an oven. And it means the Christmas countdown has begun! Even one of the department stores here has begun its Christmas store. Albeit rather empty of people (except me giggling down the aisles like a little kid).

Liam's just lucky that our decorations are in storage at his parents house so I can't get to them...

Merry Christmas Countdown!

Save The Date!

I have received several save the date cards through the years. And so now here is my holiday save the date email!

Most of you know I will be back next year for a holiday. And yes, I shall bring Lime with me. And he shall bring his golf clubs.

As it will have been anything from 15 months to 3 1/2 years since I've seen some of you by then i want no excuses. NONE.

It will be for approx 3 weeks. Two weeks of which should be the last two weeks of July. The other week could be before or after. It has not yet been decided. We will book our tickets early 2013.

So if you are already planning holiday for July or early August next year you will need to apply for permission to avoid me! I will accept groveling emails filed in triplicate with postal donations of chocolate from anyone who wants to excuse themselves from my plans.


Also - there are two key things I would like to share/remind people of.

1 Skype. You know who you are if this word makes you wince. Fix it.

2 whatsapp. If you have a smart phone get it. Then we can text and share piccies for free all day long. (and I may forgive your negligence of skype)

For those of you have both - you rock. Keep on rocking. And let's Skype again soon.

Mwah. Nic x

The 'lympics down under

I may still be awaiting a potentially illegal copy of both the opening and closing ceremonies for my viewing pleasure (I WILL watch them). But to ensure I lack in fomo Babs has save the day!

A delightful package arrived this week. With several other yummy Cadbury delights included I also received Olympic mascot chocolate lollies, an Olympic mascot choccie bar, Olympic mascot jelly shapes, an Olympic keyring, a union jack scarf, an Olympic choccie gold medal, and of course the Olympic mug. Yey!

I am now truly feeling even more olympiccy. So much so I went to the gym yesterday and sweated like god knows what (to justify the chocolate). But we shall say I was feeling Olympic sporty!

Happy post Olympics fitness fad!

Germany in Ausland

The only good German food place in London I can think of is the little Imbiß by the Thames in Richmond. I'm not ignoring the theme restaurants. You know the ones where you can hold a giant glass tankard full of German beer and drunkenly sing along. But they don't really count as places you can get good German food. And if you think the food there is good - go to Germany. You will be blown away! (and still get to hold a big beer).

I have been semi avoiding and semi drawn to a tourist trap in Melbourne CBD called the Hofbrauhaus. It's a German themed restaurant with giant beers available and full of backpacking Europeans from what I'm led to believe. And unfortunately full of overgreased stodge they pass off as German food. Shame. Please note - I have formed this opinion from friends and acquaintances having attended the restaurant. As such - don't try to Hock.

So when I noticed a place called Muttis on the drive home from work one day I knew I had to try it out. It looked subtle, unassuming, and yum even from the outside.

This week has been such a productively German week. I bought Erdnuß Flips (peanut flavoured crisps the consistency of monster munch - yum), Senf mustard (the best mustard ever) and some choc pudding sachets. Love the delis in Ausland! And then to top it off a fabulous German Saturday lunch with some chums.

The food was to die for! I haven't had such good schnitzel in so sooo many years. And the Glühwein was perfectly alcoholic (also available mit schuß) and the sauerkraut was the god damned bestest sauerkraut I have ever tasted in the whole entire world.

Seeing how England is so close to Germany I would love an explanation as to how it's taken me to move to Ausland to find good German food. But each of you that comes to visit is totally coming with me to Muttis for dinner or lunch!!

As a comparison with English food - fish and chip shops here do a fabulous fish or three. But the chips... Yeah they're ok. But they're not amenable to vinegar drenching. Mmm.... My mouth is watering...

Wet and cold.

Tish pointed out I'm not updating my blog very often.

I'm not. And that's probably because it feels like England right now. Rain. Rain. And more rain. It started raining last night and it hasn't stopped. Which is pretty much what English weather always felt like.

And it wasn't just last night. It been all week. And the month before that. Escaping work for the cinema on Tuesday I arrived as a drowned rat. I was so glad to take my soggy shoes off for te movie. And it was so ick having to put then back on afterwards. Boo!

If anyone ever tells you they are moving to Ausland and look forward to sunnier climes and warmth send them North!

Just two weeks left til Spring though... Gimme a couple of months and I'll whine about the heat like a good little English girl!

Another one bites the dust...

Oh the job hunt. The never ending, frustrating, hated job hunt.

I don't like singing my own praises at the best of times. But when no one will let me try and sing my own praises... Grrr...

A job that had kept me waiting for over a month since closing just to know whether I have an interview (yes they really really are that shit in Australia with their time frames) has come back and said no interview. Finally.

I'm more bloody relieved to know either way than disappointed in the lack of interview to be honest. Although it was a fabulous perfect job I would have rocked at.

I decided last month when I applied for this one that that was that. And after this one if I'm still not in my chosen industry I would give up and hopefully take my current government job if and when it comes up for recruitment. But Lisa left me. The only one who made this job fun. And now I just don't know anymore. Yes it's job security. Yes we want to buy a house sometime soon. But do I really wanna settle here for the sake of paid sickness/holidays and a better mortgage....

Sadly the answer could be yes.

Australian job market - you suck!

Burfday cakeyness

It was Limeys birthday on Friday (and Charlottes) and it was Limes mum Eileen's turn on sunday. Happy Birthday again to all.

So anyhoo Lime slow cooked some lamb. And I baked a cake (and some potatoes - but they don't come with chocolate so don't count) And we had the family down from the mountain. Mae watched Snow White and the Seven dwarves for the first time. Some bits were pretty scary... But we battled through (Mae wearing her snow white dress and clutching her Little Mermaid book) and it was all happily ever after in the end. Have you ever watched it? There are some scary bits!
And Liam, Otto and Archie pretended the washing machine was a car and Archie drove it for a while.

Kids can be so much fun! Especially when they go home hyped up/ tired and grumpy / in dire need of a bath with someone else!

Please excuse the poor presentation skills. I watch masterchef here and there so I know the chocolate smudges all over the plate are poor form. But who really cares anyway when there is chocolate involved?!

Happy belated and early birthday to everyone! As bloody FB mobile doesn't tell me when someone's having one!

Silly Australian Media

Yes. I bought it. I had to. No self respecting Brit wouldn't. It's like when those sickos are drawn to watching accidents. I'm not drawn to those. I'm drawn to the Royal family gossip and news. Screw Kardash-bigbum-vacuous hole-media-desperado. Give me the royal family anyday.

But oopsy. Me thinks they went a little too far with this one.

Just so you know. The pictures are all of the same scene. Them two. On the beach. Walking along and snorkeling.
Nothing dramatic. Not a blow by blow of her fabulous outfits she wore each day. Just a few beach snaps. But still naughty. (let me know if you want me to post all the pictures although that could be illegal...)

NOT what you think.

So our long Queens Birthday weekend saw Lime and I popping up to the folks on the mountain for lunch with the siblings, niece and nephew.

And it was a lovely day, albeit a bit cold. And I got a big ol bag of free clothes too! Maternity clothes.

Let me clarify now. I am NOT pregnant. We are not planning on popping out babies this year. This year we are focusing on saving to buy a house for me to potter about and paint walls and try my hand at tiling (Liam doesn't like this tiling idea as he thinks I'll fluff it and they'll all be wonky. Where is the trust?!). And of course potter in the garden.

I had planned on trying all the clothes on with a pillow just to wind Lime up. But then he was also quite keen to strap a pillow to his belly and try some on as well... So I figured safer to just put them all away!!

But no. NOT PREGNANT. Unlike someone else I know in the UK...

Dear Cadbury's...

Dear Cadbury,

For once; thank you!

Thank you for for being so lazy that you couldn't be bothered to make wispa golds in Australia. Thus meaning they must be imported from the UK. Thus meaning they are made with UK chocolate. Thus meaning they are YUMMO!

Thank you Cadbury. You made my Saturday morning supermarket trip all the more worth it!

And I might go back for more today...

Sent from my iPhone

Chirpyness

Yesterday and Tuesday I finally caught up on jubilee madness. (I recorded some of it on my super duper new set top box that I can pause live tv on - which I realize most of you already have but that's not the point as this is about me and the wonder that is pausing live tv to make a cuppa then fast forwarding through the ad breaks.)

And I found this picture that makes me think of the Queen as a proper granny. Which I realize she has been for 30 years or so. But still. Now she looks like a proper granny. And she's wearing a fabulous hat which isn't granny ish.

Please feel free to share (via FB or anywhere else) fabulous pictures of your jubilee shenanigans. I have none. As I didn't take photos of myself on the couch. Bah humbug Australia for not having shenanigans! Bah humbug!

The closest alternative to Bunting...

A union jack on my bag. That is the closest I have got to bunting this jubilee long weekend. And my weekend isn't even that long... 😊

Brrr

While you residents of England swelter in your 20+ degrees Melbourne shivers with gloves scarves and hats as far as the eye can see.

And even though it's an opposite winter to yourselves we still get hot mulled wine to warm our cockles! Yum!
So even the outdoor only riverside bars can keep us warm in winter.

Austerity pretzels = yum

I have already bought myself an afternoon coffee. Oops. Will bring in some fruity tea for the rest f the weeks afternoon drinkys.

My recent Women's Health suggested a handful of these yummy pretzels are good for you. I'm not sure I can stop at a handful...