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).

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.

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.

Miss Jean in Melbourne

Back when I lived in Canberra and had this blog, I used to lurk at other canberran’s blogs. I read Jean’s blog a lot as I could relate to her plight as someone who’s just landed in alien, barren Canberra. One day as I was shopping in Civic (canberra’s city centre) I saw her and introduced myself as the girl who comments on her posts. I felt like I knew her as I’ve followed her through her trials, tribulations and triumphs as a newly wed and she followed my life from Canberra to Vanuatu and now in Melbourne. Our online friendship became a real life friendship. I saw her move from Canberra, Cairns, Philippines and now that she’s back in Canberra she has become friends with my sister!

Well she just started a new job and she had her training here in Melbourne so Mitch (she felt like she knew Mitch too as she’s been reading all the blog posts with him in it) and I her to Southbank for dinner with the Crown fire show in the background and then walked her back across the Yarra to her hotel.

The Hills are Alive…

On Father’s day (the Australian, not American one) Mitch took me to the Dandenongs also known in Melbourne as The Hills to meet his dad, half brother and half sister.

We set out early to pick up his brother Max and an hour later we found ourselves in the pretty surrounds of The Hills where the air is much fresher (and a lot nippier), the roads are zig zag and the forest is right outside your window. Spent the day with his adorable siblings Max and Mira and their hilarious dad. A great day of seeing what lies beyond inner city Melbourne.

melbourne from the top of the hills

into the woods

Puffing Billy

max, mira & mitch

eeire tree where we had coffee

isn't Max cute?

mitch & max

these boots are made for walking …

One night, while walking along Brunswick Street I showed Jack the boots that my heart is aching for through a shop window. I told him how they stopped me on my tracks and made me block the walkway for about  10 minutes while I stared longingly at them. How when I walked away from them with tears in my eyes, I heard them calling out to me. (yeah.. i get a tad melodramatic about footwear and other wardrobe staples)

So he asked (as a boy would) “why didn’t you just buy them”.. I gave him a withering look and commenced a long rehearsed speech that I repeated to myself the whole day to stop myself from running out the door of my flat to the 2 short blocks where the boots were waiting to be rescued with a quarter of my monthly budget in hand. So my whiny retort to his question consisted of these very mature reasons:

They’re expensive ! If I buy them I’m going to have to eat 2 minute noodles for a week!

Winter is almost over. I won’t have much use for them in about a month!

I really don’t need ANOTHER pair of boots (but one can never really have enough pairs of boots. really.)

I’m a big girl. I know now that not everything you want, you get.

He shrugs, continues on and that was the end of that.

Or so I thought…

he came over on his lunch break the next day and told me to open his bag and there my booty babies emerged.

I was so shocked (and secretly ecstatic)!! I couldn’t believe he bought them for me! But I couldn’t accept them 9r could I? I told him to return it, he said he is most definitely NOT going to do that. I said I can’t possibly accept them and won’t wear them, he said fine I’ll throw them in the bin then. I couldn’t let him do that….

THE MAN IS A FRIGGIN LEGEND!!!

They are beautiful… I couldn’t get enough of them! I wear them to Coles, to go to the post office and even to take the rubbish down.

One bright windy wet Friday I took it out for a spin in the city. Jack was paparazzi taking photos of my bootyfull boots. So here they are..

trodding that arcade between bourke & little collins