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Hands up who’s prepared for Christmas?
It reminds me of that traditional scene from the English TV show The young Ones, where Rik Mayall says: “Hands up who likes me?”
I’m not prepared for Christmas at all. as well as it’s two weeks away today.
To believe that in a fortnight’s time I’ll be sitting watching people I care about opening provides I haven’t even bought yet fills me with a unique type of dread.
But I’m sure it’ll all be ok. Trickier is the truth that only 1 week away is Mrs Romance’s birthday. as well as I’m not prepared for that either!
Still, I’m sure it’ll all be fine. as well as we’ve got a few techniques we’ll be sharing with you later this week if you’re like me as well as still in a pickle for presents.
On to our IG edition this week: we’re sharing some shots from a significant storm that came up from Melbourne last week as well as smothered Sydney in rain. We’ve likewise got some news on a gin event introduce we’d like to see you at, a story about some incredible markets in Sydney as well as likewise a new café I believe will be a favourite for us from now on.
We hope you enjoy this edition as well as we’ll speak to you once again soon.
Jim & Christina xx
Mrs romance was so excited when we lastly got our tree up. She’s been asking when we can put it up for ages – since about September – however she always gets excited about Christmas.
I really like our Christmas tree, which is a very first for me. They’re usually such a pain to put up as well as decorate, however this from Balsam hill is awesome. So simple to put up as well as looks incredible too.
It’s the second Christmas we’ve had this tree – which has been one more discussion Christina as well as I have had on as well as off for a while: which is much better – a genuine or fake Christmas tree.
When we embellish our tree, we tend to buck patterns of making it extremely ‘Christmasy’ as well as instead utilize it to keep in mind our favourite trips overseas. We travel as well much to restore great deals of souvenirs, so instead we gather Christmas designs – or at least things that we can put on the tree with December each year.
It’s nice to be able to show on our times away when we’re back house for the joyful season. likewise it makes for a much more fascinating tree. Well, we believe so anyway!
If you like your gin as well as you want to understand more about this wonderful spirit, our favourite Balmain bar Wilhelmina’s is running ‘Ginuary’ once again next month.
January will see this excellent drinking area transform into a joyous jamboree of juniper juice! To celebrate the coming month of gin, Wilhelmina’s is having a introduce celebration this Wednesday (13/12/17) as well as we’d like to see you there.
Check out Wilhelmina’s website right here for more info on Ginaury as well as to pick up your ticket to the introduce party. It’s $22pp as well as you get a drink on the door plus canapés while you hear from Wilhelmina’s master Mikey Hamilton as well as co-founder of Melbourne’s darling four Pillars Distillery Stu Gregor.
Mrs romance is out braving the rain tonight with good friends Jessica as well as Kathryn (and later Rohan) to see Sia in concert.
It’s a pity it’s raining, however it doesn’t look like anyone’s spirits are feeling the damp.
And ponchos are go!
Plus Rohan has lastly graced the group. They’re all still smiling, so I’m guessing they’re having fun. Sia is currently late, however it turns out the weather condition has cancelled her flight as much as Sydney so she’s driving up, plus she’s got the runs (scroll all the method to the end)! bad lady.
Meanwhile, I’m back at base doing what everybody does when they’re left house alone… isn’t it? I’m making bread dough so I can have more macadamia, Vegemite as well as cheese scrolls. We’ve published the recipe for these snacky delights here.
The dough is down for its very first prove. Let’s see exactly how huge it gets in an hour…
One hour later as well as the Blob lives!
It’s a bit of a process to make these scrolls, however the end result is so worth it that this is about the 4th time I’ve made these in a fortnight!
Mrs romance comes back from the Sia show – mercifully dry thanks to her poncho – as well as gleeful at the sight of the completed product.
Check out the recipe for these macadamia, Vegemite as well as cheese scrolls here. By the way, this time around I likewise added some finely chopped salami as well as fresh ricotta into the mix.
This afternoon we’re up at the top of Barangaroo in Sydney to inspect out the Blak Markets. These markets are part of a micro business hub for native businesses that provides economic advancement chances to native people.
Barangaroo is a excellent area to hold this market, which has so much going on. The stalls around the outside offer whatever from native art as well as craft to contemporary takes on bush tucker (think crocodile or wild boar sausage sizzles). There’s even a cooking class with presentations on exactly how to utilize different native ingredients.
The Blak Markets run 8 times a year right here at Barangaroo as well as likewise at La Perouse, so keep an eye out for the next one.
The stalls are hectic with people inspecting out the incredible array of products these little businesses are producing. The artwork as well as jewellery on offer right here is so good. We might spend a ton of money here!
And if you see something you like however want to buy it later, Blak Markets have an on the internet store you can shop at too.
You might spend all the time right here with the household – as well as a great deal of people are. The sandpit in the middle of everything is perfect for the kids, the food choices right here are fun as well as tasty as well as most significantly there’s coffee. The Blak Markets are included with training as well as employing young Aboriginal people with barista skills in addition to retail, food prep as well as supervision sectors.
After we’ve explored the markets, we head back to Barangaroo ferry wharf to find the new timetables have put whatever out of whack. There’s nothing for it however to spend our 1-hour+ wait (?!) wisely.
We stop in at one of the many bars around the streets of Barangaroo for a refreshment. I’m rather delighted with my beer, as well as Mrs romance is extremely happy with her Aperol spritz… up until we get the bill.
Christina likes to keep a record of exactly how much locations fee for their spritz as well as Bel & Brio may well have the skeptical honour of being the most costly one she’s had ever. Internationally! It’s a pity as their wine listing is rather something.
Christina is out today getting her hair done. So, of course, it’s because of rain heavier than it has in ages. A superstorm has come up from Victoria just in time to ruin Mrs Romance’s new do.
As you can see, the clouds are not looking extremely friendly.
Over the program of about 45 minutes – as well as the next 3 photos, things will get extremely unpleasant. inspect out exactly how the Anzac Bridge disappears.
But just like that, the storm leaves us. type of feeling like when the joker at institution pulls your pants down as well as runs away as well as you’re left – breathless as well as embarrassed – to pull up your trousers. Kind of.
Thankfully, no pants were harmed in the making of this sky.
I like that aftermath of a storm, when the ragged clouds are all that are left. The humidity drops as well as the sunsets are so commonly magnificent.
And in other great news, Christina’s hair survived.
This morning, Mrs romance is at our regional Mecca makeup shop utilizing a gift she got for assisting at a recent wedding. It’s really a truly wise gift (gents, pay attention).
You get an hour as well as half with a Mecca makeup expert, where they teach you skills on applying your makeup differently. They can likewise assist with skin tone matching as well as things like that, which is truly practical if you’ve just recently had a spray tan for your wedding.
Since the ’70s spirit Train party, Christina is keen to practise her eyeshadow skills, as well as Anne from Mecca is showing her the ropes.
After her makeup tutorial, Mrs romance dislodges me from the office to find out for lunch. We’ve decided to try a new location – Black Lizard – in Balmain, as well as find that there’s an upstairs to this place. In truth there’s a 1st floor balcony we can sit on.
The food comes as well as distracts us from the view. It’s delicious.
Christina has gone for the warm breakfast bowl with black rice, pumpkin, soft-boiled egg as well as particularly some crispy haloumi!
As for me, I’ve ordered the lamb, haloumi as well as chimichurri wrap, which is succulent as well as filling. as well as includes spicy fries!
The coffee right here is likewise excellent as is the excellent service.
Now that our food has arrived, we can turn our interest (with one eye) back to the view. It’s incredible that from right here you can still see the Harbour Bridge our past the trees.
We’ll definitely be coming back right here to Black Lizard. extremely impressed.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this IG Edition. We’ve got some killer travel stories coming up, so make sure you don’t miss them.
Have a excellent week as well as we’ll speak once again soon.
Jim & Christina xx