3 hour voyage without Gilligan

Last Saturday I was lucky to be invited for a lovely day of sailing on the bay. It was a chance for the team behind the Run for a Safe Climate to reunite and reminisce. We boarded a 60-foot catamaran named Pelican 1 and set sail from Docklands.

Melbourne put on a super fine day too. Strong wind warnings were issued and although it was fairly choppy heading out Brighton way, it was such a gorgeous day to be out on the water.

Due to the wind factor, I opted to wear long pants, long sleeved white kaftan with hat, sunnies, sandals and a tonne of sunscreen. Not one millimeter of sunburn to report so yay me!!

I've never seen my city from that vantage point, so when I spotted St Kilda Pier and Point Ormond - two significant spots for my beau and I... well I squealed with glee.

No seasickness to report... although I do think the crew mistook my pasty white skin and clumsiness as seasickness, twice offering to assist me and even get me a bucket. Err... thanks but no :)

Pelican does some amazing work promoting environmental awareness and indigenous culture. You can read more about their work here.

Hope you enjoy the happy snaps. I'm heading to Sydney this weekend for a wedding plus plan to spend an entire day lounging around Bondi Beach. Be prepared for more pics coming your way.

Later,
GB xoxo

This little piggy went to the Peninsula

Last Tuesday we 'celebrated' Australia Day commemorating the day the British came to this fair land. And although I worked the Monday, we basically had a 4-day weekend. I trotted down to the Mornington Peninsula to spend some time with the boyfriend and enjoy my surrounds.

I cannot praise the Morninton Peninsula enough! If you ever get a chance, head down there. Enjoy the food and wine, the beautiful beaches, the views and the peace (especially if you stick to the Western Port).

Basically I was a piglet and ate.

Sunday
Brunch at the Somers General Store followed by a beach walk.

Somers General Store does have a breakfast menu but we've yet to get there early enough to sample it. It looks pretty simple but that's half the appeal. Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day so I really want to sample it, but I must stress the lunch menu is pretty good though. Although many praise the merits of Merricks General Store (and it does deserve it), I do prefer heading to Somers General Store instead. The food is a bit simpler with fish and chips, fritattas, Caesar salad, burgers, curries and other gourmet deli treats. The decor is quaint with local finds and signs decorating the premises. Another bonus is it has a general store so you can breeze in, get your papers and milk then stick around for a coffee and tasty treat.

I opted for the ocean trout and asparagus frittata while Ben went with the Caesar Salad. We also shared a bowl of fat chips. Neither of us were disappointed with our choices. I must note the salad came out with a blanket of bacon much to the delight of Ben (and me.. I snuck a bite). The portions are not overwhelming so it's the perfect spot for a light and scrumptious lunch.

If you do overeat, I highly recommend the walk along Somers Beach. But don't overdo it, because the stairs back up can be a killer :P

Monday
Late lunch at the super cool Red Hill Brewery. Yummy beer and yummy food. Go there! I insist.

After putting in a few hours of work on the computers, the tummy grumbles forced us to head out in search of food. Initially, we were searching for the best-pie-in-the-world my boyfriend has ever eaten.  Quite possibly he's making this up to taunt me because once again, we haven't been able to find the place.

Instead, we hit the Red Hill Brewery. They tweeted they were opening extended hours today so we always knew we'd be heading there... just not to eat. I'm glad we did as I sampled the delicious Brewers Ploughmans plate. You can quite easily share this plate but I was in a greedy mood and didn't let Ben have too many helpings (serves him right for pie-teasing).

Tuesday
Lunch at Pier 10 Vineyard

Each time we drive by Pier 10, Ben suggests we should go there as the food is pretty fine. We drive by this place quite a bit... so finally the gods smiled on us and we ventured out for more yummies.

Thankfully there weren't too many crowds during the public holiday so we were able to claim a table on the outdoor decking. It was a beautiful day and the view was divine. Plus they had a 2-piece band playing and as delightful as the tunes sounded, it may have been a little too loud inside to enjoy such a delicious lunch.

We were both on a fish diet after consuming the largest King Island T-bone steaks the night before. A light seafood lunch was definitely the way to go. I chose a grilled fillet of snapper served with panzanella salad drizzled with gazpacho while Ben chose the fish and chips. Once agin, we nailed it with our choices ... happy drool-worthy lunch followed by a shared dessert of flourless chocolate cake. I must admit the dessert defeated me. I could only manage a few mouthful so all credit to finishing off the cake goes to the man *bows down*

To combat the overindulgence, a couple of hours of wanderings through Ashcombe Maze was in order. I've been asking Ben to take me here for ever!! And he finally did. Yay! Enjoy some of the piccies below.

Despite all the glorious food we consumed on the weekend, this was my favourite spot. I felt like I stepped into a fairy tale. And with all the gnomes and fairies hidden in the trees, how could you not think you were in a C.S. Lewis world? If you have kids or simply are a big kid, head down to Shoreham and check it out. Mind you, the walk through the maze is a tight squeeze, so unless you're a child or a stick thin model... remember to breath in!!

All the locations are listed below. Pay them a visit if you're in the hood.

Cheers
GB xoxo

Somers General Store
2 The Boulevard
Somers VIC, 3927
Ph: 03 5983 2070

Red Hill Brewery
88 Shoreham Rd
Red Hill South VIC, 3937
Ph: 03 5989 2959 

Pier 10 Vineyard
10 Shoreham Road
Shoreham VIC, 3916
Ph:  03 5989 8848

Ashcombe Maze
15 Station Road
Shoreham VIC, 3916
Ph: 03 5989 8387

Lessons from the movies: Thelma & Louise

There are plenty of life lessons that can be taken from the movies. Commonly repeated mistakes include kissing a boy when there is NO orchestra nearby to provide the music, running the wrong way when being chased by a machete wielding killer (the stairs, always go for the stairs!!) and don't ever bother saying hello or goodbye on telephone calls, that's just time wasting ;)

This weekend I'm hosting a Texas themed BBQ for fan-boys and gals of Friday Night Lights. It got me thinking... what do I know about Texas?

Thanks to the 1991 Ridley Scott film Thelma and Louise, I know it's best not to shoot a man in Texas.

Otherwise, you will end up being chased by a swarm of policemen including a cool dude who looks like Harvey Keitel.

If you are going to shoot a man in Texas, make sure you have a sweet ride and your good looking best friend is along for the ride so she can have sex with Brad Pitt.

But don't be fooled...you will die driving off a cliff. At least you will look good doing it.

 

I hope this has helped you as much as it has helped me. Texas forever, y'all.

GB xoxo

Another decade bites the dust

Happy New Year folks! Hope the new year and new decade brings you much good fortune and happiness (and not too much from the flip side).

Ben and I eased into the New Year in a fairly relaxed manner after a swim and the cool change hit; a few beers, a little dancing, bag pipes (uh-huh I don't lie) and tasty treats with family and friends. Nice and relaxed *happy sigh*

As for New Year's Resolutions, I haven't really made any except a left over one from last year - finish the damn food intolerance diet so I can just get on with normal eating minus the stuff that makes me sick.

Take care & have fun in Twenty-10
GB xoxo

Oh wow, Cassie! Lovely!

I'm openly admitting my girl crush on Cassie Ainsworth from Skins Season 1 & 2. Cassie may be old news in Skins world but I had the pleasure of watching Skins Season 2 recently after falling in love with her years ago in Season 1. *sigh*

She has always been one of my favourite characters on the show. Her smile, her kookiness and even her eating disorder (probably the most realistic depiction of the bizarre relationship people can develop with food to control their self worth). Cassie is complex, heart warming, charming, sweet, completely nutty and disarmingly astute when it come to her friends and relationships around her.

I didn't eat for three days so I can be lovely - Cassie, Skins

And best of all, she has a killer wardrobe. Apparently, Hannah Murray the actress who so lovingly plays Cassie used her own wardrobe; vintage dresses & skirts, t-shirts with cute prints, lurex socks/tights, Mary Janes and t-bar flats, oversized sunnies and an amazing collection of hair clips. Her first appearance cemented my favour when she teamed a glittery mini-dress with tuxedo tails.

If you haven't caught this show yet, WATCH IT NOW!! Season 3 has a new cast but that hasn't let the quality slide at all. The only sadness is that Cassie is no longer there to inspire me with her beautiful and whimsical UK style. And if you feel you need a little more Cassie inspiration, check out this funny but cute how-to so you can Be-like-Cassie-from-Skins. Enjoy

Happy holidays,
GB xoxo

Tea, sweets & vampire kisses

This is what occurs when one overindulges in cakes, scones, crepes, tarts and ice-cream at the Windsor Hotel High Tea. Yes, that's me in a self-induced 'sugar'-coma. Oh the joy! Oh the joy! :P

To celebrate a relationship milestone, BF & I decided to check into the Windsor Hotel & check out their Sunday afternoon High Tea. Nowadays, high tea often refers to an elaborate afternoon tea rather than supper or 'meat' tea as it was traditionally known. Regardless, it was still lovely to sit in the Grand Ballroom and wonder which Melbournians & out-of-towners have also dined here. After all, the hotel has been serving afternoon tea since 1883.

We joined a handful of couples (maybe 6 men in total) & scores of women folk in celebrating an old Windsor Hotel tradition. So I donned my DKNY dress (now a wardrobe staple) & tried to remember not to place my elbows on the table, not speak with my mouth full or slurp or make any loud noises. Also you must be very polite to your servers. I succeeded in being polite to our waiter (yay 1-for-me) and also managed to NOT talk with my mouth full... well, only because I was completely engrossed with the delightful treats on offer. Seriously, who can talk when you're mesmerized by scones, cream & chocolatey treats?? Not me!! I did however break the hold long enough to Twitpic which I'm certain breaks many etiquette rules. *droolz* Oh well... too bad.

Oh the choices at High Tea



Round 2...

Looking back on the pics does give me a slight sugar headache hehehe.

BF & I also took in a late night horror treat at MIFF on Saturday night. Nothing screams romance more than a Korean Catholic priest who becomes a vampire, develops sexual urges, covets his best friend's wife & she becomes a blood thirsty psycho. No? Doesn't it sound like fun?? Well it was!! Bloody, gory & hilarious! With a running time of 133 minutes, Thirst was a tad too long. I've give it 3 1/2 stars ... it made me laugh, it made me squirm & the whole journey was awesome. I just wish it did it more succinctly. Check out a Screen Daily review for more details or watch the trailer below:

Hope to see some more films at MIFF this year. Any suggestions, do let me know. Before I go, how crazy was it that the MIFF website was hacked by the Chinese for not withdrawing "The 10 Conditions of Love" from the Festival. "The 10 Conditions of Love" is a documentary about the exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. Festival dirctor Richard Moore was contacted by the Chinese Consulate last Friday demanding the film be withdrawn and wanting justification for its inclusion. Obviosuly, such a request was declined (Yay!! Mr Moore). It appears the Chinese governments efforts to squash this little film & the minority group it represents have backfired with programmers around the world contacting the Festival Director for their chance to screen the film too. Chinese government did succeed in withdrawing the Chinese films from the Festival. It's an interetsing display of bullying and censorship in action. I hope it's not a sign of things to come.

Later
GB xo

Revenge of the Nerd... I hope

So I feel a little bit like 'Josie Grossie" from Never Been Kissed. Not the "Smokin' hot babe who wins the boy" at the end of the movie. No, not her... the pre transformation one. The one wearing glasses & braces, has acne and is either weezing or sucking on her Ventolin. OK so maybe that's a slight exageration but it's pretty close. *weeze*

I've been on this crazy-ass diet for a week now to determine what food intolerance I have. Last week I tested for allergies and didn't react overtly to anything but I did react slightly to certain foods. So for 4 weeks I cannot have caffeine, wine, breads, olives, onion, etc, most vegetables, all fruits except pears, most spices, drinks, nuts, oils, OK most food and no dairy products but thank god for rice milk. This is torture for a good old ethnic girl who only ever listened to her mother when she said "eat more". Luckily I can eat meats, potato, rice and more importantly I can have gin & tonic!! Liquid diet it is then :P

I discovered that food is the second most common cause for nasal & sinus congestion. It's taken 34 years to discover this fact but finally I may put an end to this constant cycle of illness... the sniffles, then sore throat & viola a chest infection... Not only am I tackling this with crazy-ass diet but I have an arsenal of WMD's.. yes that's right... Weapons of Mucus Destruction. See my pretty babies below.


Results so far are: 6 days of headaches (gone now), hunger (from not knowing what to eat then just putting off eating - my fault), grumpiness/anger/irritable (my poor BF) because I'm hungry but best of all.... I'm congestion-free (almost). However I must bitch about how bad, bad, bad flavourless toothpaste is. GAG!! EEEK!! Day 7 has been pretty good as I finally figured out what to have for lunch... Mountain Bread. Lunch was always my stumbling block. I wouldn't eat it cos I didn't know what to eat, I'd get hungry, then angry and then headaches. I really am so predictable. How disappointing!

Moving onto the the not-so-predictable. My lovely friend Verity chose to go to a Burlesque class for her Hen's night party on the weekend. I was a little hesitant. Choreographed movements & I don't go so well together. However this was quite a bit of fun!! Thanks to Bottoms Up Burlesque on Brunswick for a fun night out with the gals. Two surprising outcomes from the night:

1. I successfully completely a short choreographed routine. Like wow! Seriously!
2. I surprisingly had a great time using a feather boa.

Highly recommend it for a night out!! And am considering further classes. Check out our moves below:

The Lady of the hour, Miss V

Strike a pose

Best get some ZZzzzZzzZzzZz's now. Plenty of work to do the rest of the week along with my arduous nasal routine & diet. Dear lord *shakes fist to sky* this better work.

Later peeps
GB xoxo