Kristy and i had a date at Balmain and i decided that it was a lovely day to take the ferry across. Balmain was wonderful, as usual. It’s such a funky yet elegant suburb with the cutest sandstone cottages and it also has two of my favourite cafes. Today, we got coffee from The Little Marionette and took some rugs (provided by the cafe) to the park opposite where we sat in the sunshine and warmed up. I got some ground beans to take home and enjoyed smelling the coffee everytime i opened my bag.

On the way back to the city, the ferry stopped by Luna Park (the amusement park at Milson’s point) and i enjoyed looking at the ferris wheel which i haven’t been on in ages. As i’m writing, i’m reminded of this:

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels

The dizzy dancing way you feel

As every fairy tale comes real

I’ve looked at love that way

I’ve always loved this song by Joni Mitchell and that scene in Love Actually where the song was played- it gets to me every time. But there does seem to be something magical about ferris wheels, especially when it includes fairy floss, sunblock lotion and squeals of delight as you reach closer to the sky.

It is only right that a kiss be shared in one of the cabins as the stars twinkle away above you.

(Speaking of Love Actually, it may be time to watch it again for, oh, the twentieth time.)

We headed down to the beach yesterday for a walk. I am still taking in the fact that the beach is right there, a few metres from our doorstep. So incredible. Jon enjoyed sitting on the rocks and being quiet while i took some photographs. We could see the rain coming in so we hurried along and walked up the very steep hill back to our home.

This morning, we woke up early (6.15am!) and went to the beach again. I must say that the fresh wind woke me up and made me feel alive. There is something so serene about being out and about at dawn, the streets empty and seeing lights come on in houses as people wake up to a new day. I spotted a man preparing breakfast in his kichen at one of the beachfront flats and that made me happy.

I made some Indian ginger tea for breakfast, taking pleasure in my ability to make it. It was a good breakfast especially when paired with some all-natural peanut butter on toast.

Good beginnings.

We bought a new carpet for the living room and i have been on google the last few minutes trying to see how i can get rid of that awful ‘new carpet smell’. Believe me, i would much rather be reading blogs so i can catch up on everyone’s lives but that is not to be this week.

On Wednesday, the semester will officially be over. On Thursday, i need to go get fabric to re-upholster our second-hand dining table chairs. Maybe next week, i will actually be able to write a proper post. Jon has promised to help me change the blog banner this weekend to accurately reflect the season we’re in now. Ah, winter.  Last week was miserably cold but today, it is 21 degrees (69.8F) so i’m not complaining.

Now, i need me some coffee and the latest episode of Brothers and Sisters. Oh! I watched ‘How to lose friends and alienate people’ on DVD on the weekend and it was so funny! Go watch it!

Words cannot describe how stunning today is. It is 27 degrees (84F) and bright. I woke up early this morning and did three loads of laundry, had breakfast, baked a batch of cookies and made some spiced nuts for a care package i’m sending to my aunties and cleared my pantry. By 11am, i was feeling very fulfilled, especially since i had done things rather than sitting in front of the computer clicking on a hundred blogs- blogs i love but still, it takes up time and makes me so tired after.

I walked to the post office to post the package and heard a violin being played in the house with a circular window. The sun high in the sky, the breeze blowing just so and the violin- it couldn’t have been more perfect or right for this Wednesday afternoon.

I had the loveliest of weekends. On Staurday, Jon and i went to our friends’ place to mow their lawn for them. Alice and Rose are sisters in their 70s (though you would never ever guess their age looking at them) who live close to us. I stayed inside and chatted to Rose whilse Jon and Alice were outside sprucing up their garden. They are amazing women and we always leave their presence feeling encouraged.

In the afternoon, i baked some delicious banana bread and we sat down with some tea to watch Lost in Austen, a wonderful twist on Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. It was a lovey way to spend a Saturday afternoon, wrapped up in the world of the Bennett sisters. And even Jon enjoyed it (though he will never admit it to you!).

It was indeed a good weekend- enjoying the autumn sunshine, stopping to listen to the leaves rustling during our walk back from the bakery, baking, hearing strains of old love songs from our neighbour’s house and spending some time at home with each other.

Now, the smell of coconut almond muesli (or granola, if you call it such) baking wafts towards me from the kitchen. A pleasant smell just perfect for this afternoon.

It’s Australia Day today. We went to the local bakery for some treats and then stopped by Bellagio for a take-away soy latte. In the afternoon, we have a tea date with an elderly couple who used to live above us. Long weekends are great!

I did the coastal walk, admiring the ocean. I came home and had a peach and pomegranate salad with yoghurt and fresh mint from the garden. I browsed through a magazine and saw my dream house pictured- more pages for my inspiration board.

And soon, i will turn the tv on to catch the repeat telecast of the inauguration of President Obama. It was shown ‘live’ at 3:30am but i couldn’t wake up. Still, I look forward to the changes that must occur for the world to move on. May his term as president be filled with much grace and favour.

Friday afternoons hold so much possibility. The local radio station just played Rain by Madonna, which brings back so many memories. I am currently reading Isabel’s Daughter by Judi Hendricks, which i haven’t been able to concentrate on because the sound of the windchimes keep on distracting me (in the best way possible).

This morning, i made the crust for a cherry pie that i plan to bake tomorrow, because you know, there’s nothing like a cherry pie to usher in summer.

As i was having my afternoon tea of honeydew melon and apricots with yoghurt and a cup of my favourite English Breakfast tea, i looked through some cupcake recipes to gift to my new neighbours upstairs. I think i have settled on chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing. You can never go wrong with chocolate, i reckon.

Right now, i am craving some rich fruitcake. My auntie bakes the best fruitcake every year for Christmas but we only get to taste it on Christmas day so i may have to look around for a small piece elsewhere. Oh, how i love the Christmas season.

Words are not flowing today and i’m feeling a little mellow but here are some things that are inspiring me and making me happy:

This video of Alanis Morisette’s Not as we. Just beautiful.

Eating well- homemade beetroot dip with carrot and celery sticks, chickpea and zuchinni fritters with a spinach and tomato salad, oatmeal and raisin cookies with a cup of coffee.

Pilates.

Date night at David Jones, where we are perched on stools, drinking our coffees and milkshakes and maybe having a slice of carrot cake.

Jhumpa Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth. She never disappoints.

This blog.

Peonies.

This local magazine.

My new white summery top.

Summer in 4 days.

Walnut and raisin sourdough from Sonoma, toasted with butter and honey. Is there anything more satisfying than good bread?

Dreaming of a sweet, charming and welcoming home for our future.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating. We don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Australia but i know we all have something we can be grateful for at this very moment.

I am addicted to a lemon, honey and ginger tea concoction that Kristy made for us last week. I’ve been having at least a glass a day. It is wonderfully light and refreshing and it seems to be helping Jonathan’s recovery from the flu as well. It is cool and rainy today and i am looking forward to a glass of this healing drink soon.

It’s my birthday next Friday and i am so excited! I love birthdays! Jonathan has bought a dress from me from one of our local shops, Elodie on Bronte. I know this because i am apparently very good at extracting secret plans from my husband. He actually brought one of my dresses to the shop and asked the lady there to recommend something that was similar in taste to what i had. Full marks for thinking ahead! Now the dress, wrapped up in black tissue and in a white paper bag, is sitting in the bedroom and i am not allowed to have a peek/accidentally rip it open until my birthday. This is torture for me.

I believe in birthday weeks so the whole of next week will be rather nice for me. I have a very full week of work but we are watching Interplay at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday night, i’m having afternoon tea with my girlfriends at Bills Woollahra on Friday afternoon and then walking over to Bronte Road Bistro for dinner with Jonathan. On Saturday, we will be at Good Food Affare at Castle Hill. The advertisement for it has been absolutely beautiful and i cannot wait to see it in real life.

I love how this week holds so much anticipation.