mosaic road

Mini Tour de France

Today, as I do once a year every July, I took a three hour spin class that mimics the Tour de France. It is a tough 3 hours that includes some entertainment to take our minds off the Alps we are ascending. Can Can girls, French music, cow bells and even healthy nibbles are all part of the class. By the time the last time trial was  done all I could focus on was the thought of a long hot bath or should I say "bain".

Open Building Weekend in Melbourne

I took a roof top tour today and got quite a few surprises !! We covered quite a bit of distance and went up many, many stairs  in order to see what was on the top of 6 different buildings in Melbourne. Many of the roof tops are flanked by enormous modern sky scrapers or look over crumbling chimneys on buildings that have seen better days. It was a fun tour to take with friends on a bleak wintry day. And what's more it was free. Four hundred volunteers set aside this weekend to share some of the city's hidden secrets.

 

I did not know there was an edible garden on the roof top of the Rialto building !!

On top of a very old building that used to be a hostel for the down and out is the Carlton Hotel with incredible flock wallpapers in neon colors plus a big assortment of enormous animals that look down on the patrons from the walls. I loved the bejewelled ostrich and the elephant bought in Paris at a flea market.

Then we headed to the Campari restaurant. The building was shut for 20 years and then a street artist broke in and decorated the walls and that art remains there today. I loved the row of shabby chic doors that forms a backdrop to the roof top bar. One function room has walls adorned with picture frames but no pictures. The frames are marvellous stencils, works of art in their own right.

And thankfully on the list was Madame Brussells, a very hard to find rooftop cafe bar where the color pink dominates as does high tea, Pymms and fake plastic grass. The idea behind it was to create a bar environment where ladies felt comfortable and at home .

Message in a Bottle

My daughter received an amazing surprise this week. She opened a parcel and found a tiny bottle with a wonderful little note inside. A very exciting little note too from a lovely friend and so creatively and beautifully presented.

 

 

Over Ordered ?? No Way !!

Last night my youngest daughter and I celebrated the end of the working week together. Some people drink, we eat and these Asian dumplings  certainly cured our assorted miseries. Perfect comfort food with lots of leftovers too. It would probably be better if it was not revealed that we also had salted caramel frozen yoghurt  topped with halva but I could not keep that bit to myself as it was another higlight. Gym twice today though !!!!

Sunday Pancakes

We have  a little family ritual going and all sit down to eat our body weight in pancakes on Sunday mornings. My son has become the short order cook using kefir, ricotta and banana. Kefir is a bit like buttermilk and makes the pancakes puffy and delicious. We had cups of brewed cardamon coffee today.  The coffee comes from Israel and goes perfectly with food and family . I am onto my second cup !!

New Phase in Life

I am , as of yesterday, officially an empty nester.  Final child moved bed and belongings to a shared house. It is something I don't mind but don't necessarily embrace. It happens to all of us at some point. Luckily the canine companions are staying put.

A Winter Warmer

I am a porridge person and adore oats in any way, shape or form. Winter and oatmeal are synonymous for me, they go hand in hand or really spoon in hand ! I have tried this new multigrain porridge this week and found it to be a delicious  variation on a theme.

It has lots of added goodies, small surprises in each spoonful. Probably it is best made on the stove top but as I am a corner cutting type of person, the microwave has worked well.

It would be relatively easy to create your own version of this porridge and to be honest this was quite an expensive product, even though I bought it on Ebay and it was delivered to the door, almost right into the bowl. But I can recommend it to all oat lovers as a perfect antidote to the winter chills.

Can You Keep a Secret ?

I have a secet, in fact I have two !! Spilling of beans soon !!