The Silver LiningThe Borough Market
Posted on May 17, 2013
I’d been researching the whereabouts of good flea markets in London and the name “Borough Market” kept popping up here and there as a really popular place to go, but I kept dismissing it as it was a food market rather than a place to rummage for antique gems or vintage duds, which is what I was originally after. After our visit to The Shard we were making our way back to the tube station, down a little lane being buffeted by the bitingly cold wind, when I saw a sign for the Borough Market! (Haaaallelujah!) It’s essentially almost right at the base of the monumental building, and was just what we were after since we were both starving and it had turned out to be a bit of a grey, miserable day. And what better to pick up your spirits than a piping hot brownie fresh from the oven?
The down side to this place? No matter how hungry you are, you will not be able to try every single delicious morsel there is in this market! There are places selling burgers, traditional Cornish pasties, amazing cakes and pastries, cheeses and sausages made and brought fresh from local farms, and also a healthy helping of stalls piled high with delicacies from other lands, such as Turkish delight, kibeh (they were the best), and baklava. Meandering through the aisles of fresh fruit and vegetables was also fascinating. Strangely shaped tomatoes, a thousand different varieties of mushrooms, and just the sheer vibrant freshness of all this produce made me wish I could live here just so I could cook with such amazing ingredients – and of course taste them!
We spent a good two hours here at least, gorging ourselves on the sights and the food. Recommendations? The hot brownies, millefeuille and raspberry tart (pretty much everything) from the bakery that presents itself as soon as you walk through the market’s main entrance off Borough High St (Comptoir Gourmand), the lamb kibeh from the Lebanese stall (we had one, then went back for four), and the chorizo stall. And of course, a cup of mulled wine to wash it all down and warm your chilly bones. The Borough Market is not to be missed!
Check out their website and how to get there here.
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Gordon St Garage
Posted on April 19, 2013
We kickstarted my birthday celebrations with a visit to the newest, hippest coffee bar and casual eatery, the Gordon St Garage. Although situated in a rather tucked away location, this place is already so popular that there was already a queue of cool kids waiting outside by the time we arrived at 9:30am. There was no need to be discouraged by the size of the line as we were efficiently shown to our seats after only a 15 minute or so wait.
The venue is a very tastefully renovated auto electrics garage, as the name suggests, and has a great industrial aesthetic. The service was cheerful and attentive, and our coffees and food also arrived in a prompt fashion. I ordered the avocado and tomato bruschetta with my customary cappuccino whilst Jinn had the mozarella and tomato toastie and a flat white. Simple but delicious fare!
All up, the great vibe coupled with the well-orchestrated hustle and bustle made this an ideal way to start our day – my special day that was just beginning to unfold…I promise more photos of this are to come but we’re currently enjoying ourselves way too much overseas and have barely sat down to catch our breaths! Toodles for now!
Gordon St Garage: Coffee Bar/Kitchen / 16 Gordon St West Perth / gsgarage.com.au / 08 9322 8050
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Flowers from the heart
Posted on April 15, 2013
This astonishingly beautiful bouquet was awaiting me when I opened the door to our home in Perth on Friday. When I stepped into the house, for a moment or two I was just absolutely speechless. It’s seriously the most beautiful bunch of flowers I’ve ever received, next to my wedding bouquet. And you know what? They were both made by my irreplaceable, incredibly talented, much loved Mumsy. I’d had an incredible week in Kununurra (check out my Instagram for some pics!) but couldn’t help but long for the end of the week because I was flying back down to Perth on Friday and celebrating my 30th birthday on Saturday!
Unbeknownst to me, Jinn and my mum hatched this sneaky plan to ensure that these flowers greeted me when I arrived home. I’m fully aware of how hard it is to source peonies in Perth at this time of the year, and so the effort that my mum went to to find and arrange this stunning bouquet of my favourite flowers just speaks volumes of how much I am loved and cared for.
I’ve had an incredible thirty years thus far, surrounded by friends and family and just so much love. If any of you get to read this, I want to let you all know how much I love and appreciate you all.
And lastly – thanks Ma! You really are the best.
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Aisuru Sushi
Posted on April 8, 2013
I had a serious hankering for sushi over Easter and decided to revisit the awesome Aisuru Sushi and their wicked modern take on the humble but always irresistible sushi roll. I love the bustling yet efficient atmosphere this corner restaurant exudes and always wonder how those sushi chefs resist taking a sneaky bite or two out of their beautiful and tasty creations. I’m pretty sure if I was a sushi chef I’d have a pretty bad case of one-for-you-and-one-for-me!
To kick us off we ordered the tempura Wagyu beef and my absolute must, agedashi tofu. I swear I could live off agedashi tofu alone, but sadly this one was not quite as good as the equivalent dishes found at Kiri or Satsuki restaurant. The main event was our medley of sushi rolls, the Black Velvet, Plumfower, Spider and Kirika. They all came out beautifully presented, and Jinn had to be very quick-smart taking those photos as those pieces of sushi disappeared pretty quickly! The absolute standout was the Plumflower roll, with its delicately flavoured plum sauce and oh-so-scrumptious omelette wrapped around some yummy chicken, perfectly cooked rice and fragrant nori. I could devour one right now!
All up, Aisuru Sushi is a great addition to the growing population of William St restaurants, and offers something very different, in both vibe and cuisine – I certainly will be coming back (particularly for that Plumflower roll!).
Aisuru Sushi / 208 William St, Northbridge
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Kinfolk Volume 7
Posted on March 25, 2013
The latest edition of Kinfolk Magazine recently arrived on my doorstep. Kinfolk is one of my favourite reads – a stunning combination of beautiful design, gorgeous images and well written articles. It is created by a group of like-minded creatives with the idea to foster small gatherings and encourage people to reconnect with each other in real life (as opposed to online). We have every edition except the first (sadly sold out!) and recently subscribed for a year. I really love the photos and the style of this issue – dedicated to ice cream of all things!
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Cable Beach again
Posted on March 20, 2013
We went back to enjoy Cable Beach on my last evening in Broome. I had vowed to watch the sunset from a different beach each night I was in Broome, and true to my word we saw the sun set from a different part of Cable Beach to before. We stayed out late, well after the sun had set, deep in conversation and watching the sky turn from red to black and then erupt into a magnificent starscape. Beautiful scenery, warm nights, a sweet smelling breeze and excellent company – what could be better in life? – Jinn
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A visit to the Croc Park!
Posted on March 18, 2013
I’m writing this really quickly because the longer I look at these pictures, I get a rising sense of impending doom and start experiencing palpitations. The tour at Malcolm Douglas’ Crocodile Park starts off with a little wander around the park on your own, meeting the cute feathered and fluffy inhabitants of this park, which lulls you into a rather false sense of happiness and oh-isn’t-Australia’s-fauna-just-so-beautiful-and-BENIGN. Everyone then gathers to the main pond where you pass around the most gorgeous baby crocodiles (of course with their mouths deftly tied shut to save you from certain digit amputation) and once again everyone coos and poses smiling with the tiny reptilian offspring. They’re surprisingly soft to the touch! In the nearby algae-covered pools, you start to see that the surface of the water is actually patterned with the ridges of many spines, just lying in wait.
Then – it’s feeding time. This was the most thrilling and amazing part of the tour. The guides fearlessly enter the enclosures and practically taunt these giant crocodiles with fish, making them launch themselves into the air to show off their size and sheer strength. They are utterly ferocious and brutal even to their own kind, and what makes them so fascinating is just how deathly still they are just moments before the attack. You will literally not see it coming.
I give this place a rating of five bajillion stars out of ten. Take plenty of sunscreen and water, and wear something breezy. And please say hi to my friend the “barking” owl! He actually says “woof woof”, that’s his natural cry, and he and I had a stimulating conversation, a heart to heart even. Nice to know someone really gets me. 
Too close for comfort!
The guide was not a small man, he was at least 6 foot tall!
My friend, the “barking” owl – he’ll have a conversation with you! Most civilised!
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Peachy keen
Posted on March 13, 2013
Excuse the tatty hair in these photos – Jinn had just touched down in Broome, I’d come straight from work after spending a rather sweaty day travelling back from Kununurra, and rather than going back to my apartment to set his bags down and rest he said, “Allons-y!” So off to Cable Beach we went to catch the sunset! So this little shoot was pretty impromptu but we couldn’t help but take advantage of the peachy skies offsetting my totally unplanned peachy outfit. 🙂
This was actually the beginning of an amazing weekend that I just didn’t want to end. Not only was my hubby/BFF/accomplice here with me, but also someone who understands my Insta-obsession (don’t look at me like you don’t know what I mean!). I’ve not yet encountered anyone up here who shares my addiction so there have been countless social situations and dinners where I’ve practically had to sit on my own hands to prevent myself from taking a photo of my food or a gratuitous self-pic! We took so many photos in just three little days, so let’s hope my trigger-happy fingers have been appeased for now…until Jinn’s next visit of course!
Wearing – Gorman top (this is a beauty), peach shorts (similar) and neon sandals (Gorman overload!), Freckle & Co. tassel bracelet, friendship bracelet by me
He’s wearing – St Goliath t-shirt (similar), and shorts!
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Gantheaume Point
Posted on March 11, 2013
Whilst Jinn was in Broome I really wanted to make it down to Gantheaume Point as I’d read that there were real dinosaur footprints imprinted amongst the rocks that you could approach when the tide was low. There’s something cool about seeing things that are millions of years old, I find it fascinating and it makes me feel rather small yet thrilled at the same time.
We wandered and splashed around the amazing little rock pools for ages, searching for prehistoric footprints and marvelling at the tiny treasures that the tide had left behind. Pieces of colourful coral, pools brimming with tiny sea snails and my favourite hermit crabs, and strange white slug-like things which looked like alien creatures from a Doctor Who episode.
Well, before we knew it, the sun was setting and we had yet to find any signs of ancient dinosaur life. But you know what? We just didn’t care as we were taken in by the most gorgeous sunset we had seen yet, along with the amazing lighting and ever-changing colours of the sky which made it a photographer’s paradise. Plenty of locals had driven their 4WDs onto the beach and were casually enjoying the sight over their picnic dinners, it looked like heaven and the perfect way to spend a Sunday evening. Gives me ideas for next time!
This place is an absolute must see, with sunsets that rival or, dare I say, are even better than Cable Beach’s. There’s plenty of signage on the way there and I highly recommend taking a 4WD and a hamper full of yummy food and beverages. And if anyone knows where those footprints are, please enlighten me!
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Happy new year! + celebrating new life
Posted on January 1, 2013
If you haven’t met her yet – this is my fresh sweet-smelling amazing new niece, Gabrielle! She’s nine weeks old now. I know it’s said time and time again, but they really do change at an incredible pace at this age. From tiny squishy packages, eyes barely open and limbs held tightly to themselves, to still small beings that fit so perfectly in the crook of your arm but start to interact with the people and world around them – sometimes quietly observing, faces almost comically serious (what could possibly be worrying you that much at the ripe old age of two months old?!), sometimes engaging fully with smiles and coos, kicking out with those little chubby legs of theirs in glee.
There’s nothing quite like looking into the faces and eyes of children. To me it brings me back to the core of all things and reminds me of what true and unbridled love and joy really can be. Emotions untainted by ulterior motives, prospects of material gain, past hurts, deep insecurities – things that are “learnt” – and of course, their fearless ability to find happiness in the simple pleasure of experiencing new things. This new year I resolve to love, live and learn more like a child does – with my heart wide open, empty of prejudice and full of curiosity.
What are your new year’s resolutions?
The Silver Lining 
