I talk too much my mouth hurts: October 2013

Brunch place: Miss Marmalade

I pass Miss Marmalade a few times every week, and she is never empty. Miss Marmalade sure is a popular lady. I should know, because my own housemates love her farmhouse breakfast menu. Apparently they also do decent Eggs' Benedicts, so that's two choices I must try, there.

I just found out they do breakfast cocktails. Seriously, who wants to go with me, right now? Definitely taking you here, M and A!

The one time I went into Miss Marmalade, I got a regular latte and a passionfruit muffin. Without lying, it was the most delicious muffin I have ever tasted in a long time. A huge muffin, too. I had half for breakfast and the other half for lunch.

Puppies very welcome.

Miss Marmalade

126 Union Street

Brunswick VIC 3056

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daily small talk

House additions

I finally have a table!! It has white legs, goes well with the rest of my bedroom, not the most stable child in the world but does its job. So welcome to my little office corner. It was a chance buy, a bargain. Caused me trouble in getting it home, though. Too big for A's car, too big for a taxi, which never arrived... Lucky for me, R and A came to the rescue...

The living room got a makeover, too! A three piece lounge suite, R and A were so stoked,

that they were finally able to get rid of this old green velvet thing. Some kids picked it up the next day, ha. R and A say thank you, thank you.

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food

Coffee place: Mr Fox

A visit to a new local cafe.

I wasn't intending to come here, but the cute Mr. Fox lured me in. Sneaky move!

The combination of needing coffee and needing exercise solved - morning coffee dash before work.

Clean, still quite quiet, the barista/owner was a very nice man who was understanding of my big note. I will have a smaller change next time. Or more time, in which case I may try a thing or two from the menu.

Mr Fox

16 Grantham St

Brunswick West

Melbourne VIC

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bon voyage

Climbing place: The Hardrock Climbing Co.

When T came to visit for a conference event on her first trip to Australia, I knew we had to go to the Hardrock. I had known it since the first time my eyes lay on the tall, tall, lit walls through the glass building as I travelled past on a tram, in the beginning of my Melbourne stay.

Make sure you don't forget your climbing gear!

After the conference we made our way over. It's not a cheap casual hobby - the entry and gear hire cost me $30 altogether, but it is worth it. Hardrock is a popular place, especially among European backpackers. Some of them even had their own climbing gear, just like T, so do they always take them around, just in case, or did they come to Australia specifically with some climbing in mind? I didn't ask, so I don't know the answer, sorry.

It was a good experience, for both T to have practice in an unfamiliar environment other than the place in Auckland where she goes in every other day, and for me. I like the challenge of finding and calculating the best route up. It's both physical and mental. I just find it frustrating that I am not as fit as I would like to be, or as trusting as I would like to be - can I really hop and swap legs in the air above? I am not as light as Spiderman! I am so sure I can trust T, but... I get really scared of possibly falling from the high distances. I can force myself to look down, but I have so much trouble letting go. I don't care if my hands are slippery with sweat from physical strain as well as fear. I can't let go.

Still, it was so much fun. Exhausting, and scary, yes, but fun. I didn't even go up much. Expensive, but fun.

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food

Housemate favourite: Afghan gallery

First Afghan dinner! Yum!

You definitely get more cultural cuisine variety in Melbourne. Afghan cuisine, I discovered, is like Mediterranean with a touch of Indian. For entree we had bread and dip,

with a Chef's selection of samosas, aubergines, etc. So tasty.

But the main! We ordered three types; two meat and one vegetable options, with rice.

You always have more room for dessert? No? Well, make some, because this Turkish coffee is really sweet and that Sheerpera fudge is even sweeter.

Private functions can be booked upstairs at Afghan Gallery. With curtains and lights hanging from all four walls, this would make for a special event! My housemates love this restaurant and come often. The owner is a lovely man, who also sponsors Afghan kids for better education.

Afghan Gallery

327 Brunswick St

Fitzroy VIC 3065

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food

Housemate favourite: Cafe Cavallino

The waiters at Cafe Cavallino know my housemate R really well. They know where he usually sits. Outside, under the patio, and not so close to the street where so many people walk by, some of them with their ciggies in hand. R likes to enjoy his meals without having to shout to be overheard, or with smokes wafting into his meals. R likes enjoy his Italian gnocchi in relative peace and quiet. Italian style.

These are filling, even at an entree size. It may not look too appealing, but whether it be 4 cheeses or mushroom (extra mushrooms, please), they will definitely satisfy you.

The owner of the place is a total racing fanatic. There are memorabilia dating from way back, and you can tell because there is dust piling up inside those frames. Still, it's good to have a definite hobby. Good on him!

I have a feeling this will not be the last time I eat at the place. Oh, no. Not with R begging to come here at least once every fortnight!

Cafe Cavallino

181 Lygon Street

Carlton, VIC 3053

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food

Dessert place: By Josephine

Such a girly place, By Josephine specialises in macarons. Created directly on site.

Presentation is dainty and lady like - white, pink, and purple. A walk up Sydney Road and you cannot miss this place. Bring all your girlfriends over for high tea, the French style.

By Josephine

365 Sydney Road

Brunswick, VIC 3056

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bon weekend

Brunch place: Proud Mary

Sweet ricotta hotcakes, with pears, mascarpone and roasted hazelnuts for moi.

Avocado on toast with quinoa tabouleh for A.

Lucky for us we didn't have to wait long for our seats since we were only two. No bookings taken on weekends here.

We were against one wall with the sun streaming in. Love brunches, don't get to do them enough! We were short on time, though - we always are - so our catch up was a hurried summary of our past events and plans to come in the next few months. Roadtrips! European getaways! Bon voyage !

Proud Mary - Closes at 4pm everyday

172 Oxford Street

Collingwood

Melbourne VIC

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daily small talk

House full, tummy full, at house dinners

I love when my flatmates cook for me. Then I get to have meals with them. Eating alone gets quiet, sometimes.

Once we had this big family gathering at our house. The food was amazing and filling and I ate til I burst. It was nice to have the house full; I'd love more of that.

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on the list

Le Cirque

Tim Burton
Kimwelling.com
Nikon d5100
Circustef.com
sous le plus grand chapiteau du monde
toulouse lautrec l'ecuyere
picasso acrobate a la boule
rouault le cirque
chagall le cirque
costemme d'homme
l'entree dans le manege
calder, andre francois
en france, belgique, canada, suisse
bavelier
bovstany
cheret
favvri
guyjacob
laurendon
mauclari
paoletti
renevey
spier
thethard
jours de cirque, reproduction de l'exposition grimaldi

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melbourne

Art project: Oh Happy Day Melbourne party

Jordan at Ohhappyday.com was coming over to Melbourne and having a party. I offered to help. It ended up being a weekend of sleepless and crafty days and nights.

First was the hunt for proper material. Three shops and many hours of search later, I have found them. Eight colours in a gradient of sunset hues. The salesperson at the arts supplies shop said she had never sold so many papers in one transaction. I've never bought so much, either.

T helped. She flew over from NZ and ended up spending her Melbourne weekend tracing and cutting, haha. Without her I couldn't have done it.

I watched 5 movies straight. And they still weren't finished afterwards.

One row...

Two rows...

Three rows... and 540 pieces finished.

Thanks, 500 days of Summer!

On the day...

The event was held at West Elm on Chapel Street in South Yarra, Melbourne. It had just recently opened, its second store in Australia.

Jordan had these cute corners planned out for the invitees. How are you feeling? Each person could come and pick between the rainbow choices of emotive face pins.

What would you have chosen?

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daily small talk

Death and wills

Thinking about death today, like I've never thought about it before. The importance of healthy mental and physical health has been quite clear to me since my high school years, thanks to episodes of family members being in and out of beds and hospitals. I haven't really thought beyond that, though. Even when Mum was almost at death's door, nearly went right through it (thankfully she came back quickly, she wasn't quite ready), the end of life and what that means hadn't really been on my uppermost thoughts.

I don't mean the philosophic debate of whether there is heaven and hell, where do we go, kind of thinking. I mean more for those who get left behind, who have to keep on living. Deaths aren't always sad and a result of sickness and suffering.

So many friends around me are getting their papers sorted out, and wills ready, just in case. Kind of makes me panic a little bit. Not because I am scared of death, not really. But because, I don't really have anything to sort out if I was to die right now? Maybe my student loan? And lost, unfulfilled dreams and goals?!

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, by Viv

food