#meredith2013

The A Team again partook in some Meredith. It was a good ‘un.

The music was spectacular, as always, with highlights being Chic featuring Nile Rogers, Spiderbait, Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes, and Brian Jonestown Massacre. But, again as always, the fun was had both in the ‘Sup and around the outside.

We decided to start the first day with cocktails. Milk Based Cocktails to be precise. Luke made some White Russians before we left and popped them in a couple of thermos, and surprised Laura. She was stoked to say the least.

We all enjoy the MBCs and umbrellas.

Cocktails were soon followed by life saving cups of tea. You know how it is.

The days were glorious …

… as were the evenings.

Farewell Meredith. See you soon.

Christmas 2013: the season that was

Luke and I kicked off the season with my ‘work’ Christmas party. Given that I have no workplace as such, this ‘work’ Christmas party consisted of just the two of us. It was excellent. No boring boss or creepy guy from accounts.

We took ourselves off on a bike tour to Abbotsford, where we partook in a cleansing ale at the charming Retreat Hotel. One turned to two or three, and we were hungry. So off to Thy Thy for a feast.

No party is complete without the ‘superior’ Michinbury. Hey big spender.

We may or may not (may), have then ridden home, dragged the mattress into the lounge room and slept under the Christmas lights. Childhood dream realised. Best ‘work’ Christmas party ever.

Next up is the Christmas baking. As per every year, my sister Laura and I split our baking and make hundreds of treats for packaging up and sharing with friends and family.

This year I made lebkuchen for a picnic, gluten-free mince pies for Luke, along with a range of truffles – peanut-butter balls, date and ginger logs and whiskey balls. Laura made the amazingly cute shortbread, chocolate orange balls, mint log and fruit mince pies. We are the best Christmas bakers going around. Just quietly.

 

By the time the end of December rolled around, Luke and I were well ready for a holiday before family Christmas time. So we took ourselves up north to Mooloolaba for a few days. Bliss.

 

First we visited ‘Crikey Park’, aka Australia Zoo. Crikey expensive, but a good day out. We saw bucket loads of lizards, crocodiles, birds, koalas, giraffes and kangaroos. It was fun to be tourists and ooh and aah at the wildlife.

Beaching was up next. I didn’t grow up near the beach, I’m more of a river gal, but whenever I visit the beaches on the Sunshine Coast and Northern NSW, I can see what all the fuss is about. We enjoyed naps, fish and chips, watching the sun set over the marina, reading books, Luke enjoyed swimming at the beach (I got dumped by a wave and cried), I enjoyed swimming in the hotel pool, etc etc. Bliss.

Good old Lismore and the family were up next. We introduced the Ramsay team to the iconic Milk Based Cocktail #MBC and got everyone on board (see last years Christmas post for the story!). We go with a White Russian, but there is definitely room for another in the repertoire, any suggestions?

Then we ate.

But don’t worry, we survived all the food, and loved seeing the family. Another Christmas win!

I hope that you all had a great Christmas and sent 2013 off feeling full of food, booze and family!

Monuments, Presidents and Astronauts

In order to give our last holiday it’s due respect, I will be completing my blog on our holiday to the US. By hook or by crook …

Day 17

Washington! We took ourselves off on the Amtrak for a jaunt to Washington DC to visit two dear friends we met in Mongolia and again in China on our last adventure. Well, three friends, as they now how a cutie-pie named Henry.

He is divine! And the baby isn’t too bad either! Ba ha ha!

Brian and Erin took us out for breakfast  …

I had beans and rice, plantains, salsa, tortillas, eggs, cream (!) and garlic bread. Would order it again in a flash.

… then took us for a tour of the Washington DC sites.

Yep, I reckon we could live here.

The Lincoln Memorial was overwhelmingly large and impressive, as was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. I think this one was my favourite actually.

We then escaped the insane heat and took ourselves to one of the 19 amazing, free and world-class Smithsonian Museums. It was hard to choose, but due to Luke’s boyhood dream of being an astronaut, we took ourselves off to the National Air and Space Museum!

After all this sightseeing it was time for a break, so we went home to freshen up, then hand the baby over to his grandma and head out! We went to the historic neighbourhood of Georgetown for gluten-free pizzas and cocktails, with a charming walk around the waterfront for good luck!

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A few beers may have been consumed at home that evening, along with some fabulous catching up time.

Day 18

The next day Luke and I headed out to the Arlington National Cemetery to see some famous graves, which sounds quite odd now that I’m typing this. Anyway, we saw the graves of the darling Kennedy brothers and Jackie O, and saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The cemetery was worth the visit. Beautiful and touching.

Again to escape the heat, Luke and I visited another Smithsonian Museum, this time the National Museum of American History. Highlights being the fabulous old cars, a display about the First Ladies, an excellent exhibition about the evolution of food in America, and of course, Julia Child’s kitchen!

“A party without cake is really just a meeting.” Ooh I love her!

As usual, Luke made friends with a squirrel …

… then made us march around the hot city to see the Capitol Building. Not that I minded!

Then finally it was time to say our farewells to beautiful Washington and our so generous friends. Thank you Brian, Erin and Henry for showing us how beautiful and full of great food (and drink!) Washington DC is!

Next, our last few days in NYC …

2014: The Plan

I love a new year. Shiny, unsullied, full of potential. Sigh.

So. The Plan for this year is centred around mindfulness. Being in the moment. Enjoying. Living. Not checking facebook and instagram 24/7. Loving. Oh the possibilities!

1. Sleep

As of the 28th of January, I am a full-time teacher. I will need lots of sleep so as to be sane, happy, with it and kind. As such, I will get ready for bed as early as possible – lunch made, bag packed, make-up removed. I will go to bed at a reasonable hour and I will not faff around at 10pm, putting off doing my chores. When I sleep 8 to 9 hours I am happy and resilient. Winner.

2. Internet-free Moments

Luke and I started Internet-free Sundays last year, but lost our way. Bringing back Sundays full of walks, cocktails, vinyl, card games, cooking, reading and napping. Adding to this, I shan’t use the internet mindlessly after dinner. Social media is often an unsatisfying time suck.

3. Shopping Ethically

Joining in with Pip of Meet Me At Mikes for a Year of Ethical Fashion. If I’m looking for things to wear I will only:

a) Buy from ethical makers or
b) Buy second-hand or
c) Make it myself  or
d) Wear things I already own or 
e) Borrow or swap garments with friends

I am currently pretty good with this already, with jeans, underwear, shoes and exercise gear being my weak points. Please note that underwear will be bought from ethical makers, not purchased second-hand (!).

Related to this, is a plan to go through my wardrobe and figure out what I *really* need to transform it into the wardrobe of a grown up teacher person.

Adding to this, I am going to try to make all my purchases as ethical as possible, using the Shop Ethical! app.

4. Beautiful Mornings

My new job is out east, about a 30-40 minute commute each way. Blah. So! To counter this, I am going to get up with enough time to have a stretch, perhaps meditate, drink a delicious cup of tea or coffee and eat a damn fine breakfast. My mornings will be beautiful and peaceful.

5. It IS about the money, money, money

A year with the both of us studying has really racked up the debt. This year will see us pay of those damn blasted credit cards and save money for … our wedding! Yippee! And hopefully a mid-year jaunt to Perth and some weekends away as required.

I’d love to hear of your plans for 2014. Bring it!