ILIKEA

I needed new shelves for my closet that was threatening to spill out all over our room. Luckily, it was the man’s day off so I lured him to Ikea with the promise of cheap Swedish meatballs. I don’t think he realised the trouble he was getting himself into, the man has never been to Ikea before, so he doesn’t know what Ikea DOES to people (ie. ME).

So off we trouped to Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre and that in itself was something of an anomaly. We’re not mall going people. Well it depends on what you consider a mall I guess – what I mean is more the Westfield Monolithic structure kind. When I lived in Canberra, you practically had to pass through a mall to go anywhere. But now when I need clothes, I go to op shops, markets, Bourke, Elizabeth, Swanston or Smith Street or Bridge Road or the Clear It on Brunswick Street. For food I go to Queen Victoria Market or the neighbourhood Coles. I go to Nova to watch movies and now that it is open for the summer I’ll be going to the Rooftop Cinema. I find that I like this more than going to one Westfield where “everything” is. I’ve only been to the mall twice in Melbourne and both times it was to go to Ikea. Malls have this different air about them, don’t you think? Walking through Victoria Gardens Square transported me back to the Westfield Belconnen in Canberra. I suppose they are designed to feel familiar to people no matter where it is or is it the soulless, shiny uniformity of all the shop fronts that make me feel like bolting out of there?

But Ikea was our purpose. So to Ikea we went – to that nasty, amazing, hellish, heavenly maze that makes you smile (at the thought of your own fantasy place that would be as pretty as their showrooms) and make you want to cry (because you know your place will never be anything like their showrooms).

More photos after the cut..

Alpha Ouzeri

We’ve always breezed past this restaurant on our way to Vegie Bar or Bimbos.  Maybe we were intimidated by the ambience and chalked it up as one of those out of the realm of our humble budget. But Thursday night we saw the tables out on the side walk and it seemed a lot friendlier than usual. We checked out the menu and decided the prices seem fair.

And boy were we glad we finally decided to try it! Aside from the famous Souvlaki King, I haven’t really tried any other Greek food in Melbourne. The fare we ordered reminded me so much of food in Kazahkstan, skewered meat with a distinct flavour. Servings are huge! We ordered the mixed meat platter with salad for one ($26.50) and we couldn’t finish it between us. The bread and 4 dips were delicious as well ($11.50) and again there were so much of it. So for food that was more than enough for a hungry couple, a glass of wine for me and a bottle of beer for the boy, we paid a little less than $50. Not bad at all!

Best thing was the service was superb! Even if we were the only ones dining outside, we never felt like we always had to catch the waiter’s attention. Food was served quickly. The man who waited on us was such a lively and funny character and there is nothing better than getting excellent food for a fair price with a healthy serving of friendliness and good humour.

Alpha Ouzeri 342 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Sky Rockets in Flight

The perfect day for a picnic. It wasn’t too hot. There was a slight breeze and the sky was blue. Mitch had work but we met up on his lunch break. Good thing his workplace is right smack in the middle of Carlton Gardens! I haphazardly threw things together and we had a delicious al fresco lunch.

It was a gorgeous hour of: crispy quesadillas. home-made guacamole. intertwined limbs. looking up at the sky through the leaves. grass on hair. packed juice. deep & meaningful conversations. burnt salami. greasy bacon. cool strawberries. dirty sarong. uncontrollable laughter. talk about the future. taking photos. lots of love. cheesy reminiscing. mutual admiration. midday relaxation.

Just just gorgeous. We think we’ll do this a couple of times a week (weather permitting).

Op Shopping Loot

[ recently went on a shopping spree. It's time, after all, to bust these out again:

It is FINALLY getting hot here in Melbourne and I needed to stock up on spring and summer clothes. But as the temperature rises my bank account balance drops, so I didn’t want to spend a lot of money to spruce up my wardrobe. So.. Op-shopping it is!

Melbourne is a treasure trove of awesome op shops and with blogs such as Trish Hunter Finds and I Op therefore I Am it is obvious that Melbournians love their op-shopping. True to being a neophite Melbournian, I have slowly become a regular at op shops mostly to fill my bookcase with a wide variety of  second hand books.

But let’s get down to the loot I came home with when I scoured the op shops in Preston shall we?

So I came home with a big satisfied smile on my face with:

Salvation Army 331 High Street, Preston

grey top from Country Road                     $4.99

blue top from Country Road                     $6.99

Witchery Singlet                                     $4.99

Scrooges 385 High Street, Preston

blue dress from Glassons                           $8.00

St Mary’s Opportunity Shop 629 Plenty Rd, Preston

black tailored dressed                              $4.00

————————————————————-

$29.00

So you see I bought great spring and summer staples for less than $30.00 and all for a good cause too!

how a day turns around..

because I woke up on the wrong the side of the bed.. and i was snippy at him when he was getting ready for work.. and I was in a rather foul mood.. and nothing seems to be going as planned that morning.. and I just wanted to throw a temper tantrum..

he ran from his work to pick me up from my flat so we could each have these:

Madame Sousou 321 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

* * *

and then after work he brought me to watch Last Tuesday Society – Plagiarism Edition

Yah Yah’s 99-101 Smith Street, Collingwood

where I found myself able to smile, laugh like a maniac & clap & hoot for the brilliant people on stage. Of course it helped my mood that wine is involved and talking to marvellous, talented people after the show was a great way to end what could have been a real crap day.

Good thing my man knows how to cheer me up

St Kilda Surprise

After 4 days spent within the confines of the flat because of an ankle injury, I finally hobbled stepped out to attend a friend’s surprise party all the way in St Kilda. It was the perfect day to go out again as Melbourne was in a good mood and showed just how pretty it is when it is sunny & warm. I was finally able to wear a skirt without tights!

Funny thing happened on the way to the party, Mitch and I were running a bit late. We were told to be there at 730. By 710 we were still in the city so we figured, we won’t get there in time for the popping out from behind the couch bit, we might as well eat dinner first and arrive after the surprise. By 830, I messaged G, the superwoman who organised the event and the one who took the birthday boy Carlo out for dinner so the guests can sneak in. I asked if it was safe to come now, she didn’t reply so we gathered the festivities were well under way and it is safe to make our way there. Getting to the house, it was all quiet and dark. I had a split second of doubt thinking I got the date of the party wrong when Mitch suddenly whispered they’re behind us. Scared but acting casual we walked on and rounded the corner. We giggled to ourselves hoping we didn’t get caught out and a minute later we heard a big exclamation of “SURPRISE!!”. We very nearly ruined the surprise! And if you’ve seen THAT episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, you don’t want to do that.

I’ve known G since High School in the Philippines. We really didn’t know anyone there aside from G and Carlo. It was very interesting talking to other students from the other unis here in Melbourne. It was an awesome party to venture out into the world for.

Samdays in Melbourne

My friend Sam from Vanuatu arrived last Thursday before heading out to her 5 week UK holiday and onwards to  her new job in Fiji.

Living in the Pacific has its perks, but one thing it deprives its lucky inhabitants of? SHOPPING. So when an islander lands in civilisation spending money and buying pretty new clothes is priority. so I took her shopping – Bourke Street, DFO, Smith Street Outlets (for her travel gear).

Port Vila, where Sam and I previously lived, is a teeny tiny town with less than a handful of places you can go out to drink. So we took her out to get wasted too.

Madame Brussels -63 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Meyers Place – 20 Meyers Place, Melbourne

An islander might also be in awe of the cityscape. Port Vila, afterall, cannot exactly be described as a metropolis. In the whole country there are only 2 lifts – at the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu and the Sebel Hotel. Skyscrapers are none existent, so we took her around the CBD.

wakey wakey blog..

well hello world.. I am awaking from my hibernation (at least in this blog).

Although Melbourne seems to have not gotten the memo that it is now actually spring and temperatures are supposed to be rising to sundresses and cardigans weather, I will take the lead and Spring back to life. The clocks have changed an hour early to accommodate more of the daylight so this blog should now skip to its task of recording the things that I have been getting up to and random thoughts and rambles.

Posts are soon to come mouthing on about:

• the Northcote High Vibes
• Jean’s visit to Melbourne
• Mitch and my holiday to Sydney & Canberra

slowly but surely, I promise I will go through them like someone actually cares.

For now I will leave you with this beautiful poem my dad posted on my sister’s facebook wall (she just turned 27, which explains why we braved the cold force field that is Canberra).

Dad writes: I will share the poem i gave to mama on her 27th birthday. I guess this was the clincher for her. Naaks.
_____________________________________

SOME THOUGHTS FOR BENSON GREEN ON HIS TWENTY-SEVENTH BIRTHDAY

Having just gone through the year myself
I know that twenty-seven can be hard.
But there are Sunday breakfasts

and April fields
and blue on blue
and green growing things
to change all that.

I know that spring is hard because you wait
for summer
and fall is hardest of them all-
because you must not be alone
when winter comes.

I know
that love is worth the time it takes to find.
Think of that

when all the world seems made of walk-up rooms
and hands in empty pockets.

I know your smile
and it is much too warm

to waste on people in the street

(though smiles are plentiful)
and I know
that if you keep the empty heart alive a little longer
love will come.

It always does,
maybe just at the last moment, but it will come

You must believe that
or there isn’t any reason to be twenty-seven.

- from “Stanyan Street & Other Sorrows.”
Written in 1961 & first published in 1966

And one that I scribbled on my notebook at the break of dawn while trying not to wake Mitch

When morning is about to wake

And  the night is yawning

The soul stirs

Rousing memories

Somewhere in the middle

Of asleep and awake

Are the things left unsaid

Feelings that are kept

Between the slits of the blinds

Lines of light make their way to where I lie

As my heart beats

As a tear slips

Sleep reclaims the right

To let past emotions lie

Where it is doused

By the morning light

When morning is about to wake

And  the night is yawning

The soul stirs

Rousing memories

Somewhere in the middle

Of asleep and awake

Are the things left unsaid

Feelings that are kept

Between the slits of the blinds

Slivers of light make their way to where I lie

As my heart beats

As a tear slips

Sleep reclaims the right

To let past emotions lie

Where it is doused

By the morning light

That is all.

For now.. keep calm, carry on.

X

the 3rd anniversary of my sister’s 25th

MUDDLE BAR ~ Shop 8, West Row, Canberra

High Vibes 2009

as we got past the barricade, this is what we saw: street art using discarded lighters!

I was duly warned before going to the High Vibes Festival in Northcote to wear comfortable shoes and to eat before going. Mitch said it’s an afternoon of standing around drinking in the street whilst trying not to be stepped on by the sea of humanity.

the sea of humanity

But we did manage an afternoon of fun (aided of course by a lot of beer) and good company, an awesome atmosphere and good music.

We even managed to watch the amazing Paris Wells (joined on stage at some point by the guy from True Live) at the Peacock Hotel

Spent the rest of the night at courtyards of random pubs in High Street

and made our way home around 11ish via Bell Street Maccas of course.