Sydney again

We had a quick trip to Sydney again.

This time we all went down as H had an interview for boarding school. It was a rushed trip, but we were lucky that we had a pupil-free day at home on Friday, so at least they didn't miss too much schoolwork.



Took a drive out to Watson's Bay for a look while we were waiting around.

I don't do a lot of city driving and I basically get to the place we stay and use public transport and walk everywhere. I am not a great driver in Sydney, so I have been practising getting around the Eastern Suburbs a bit.

 I find that I can drive across using the Cross City Tunnel, and it is pretty straightforward. But I always end up in the wrong lane coming back, and nearly taken over the harbour bridge when I do.

It must be a Derek Zoolander thing, he can't turn left, and I can't get in the right lane I need!

The Lighthouse at Watson's Bay looking from The Gap

 

Check this pretty house out!

This one looks out over the ocean at The Gap. Such a beautifully restored home. Some of the houses around there aren't as pretty as this one, but they all have magnificent views!

Oh yes - I'll take it!

 

The weather in Sydney was stunningly warm and beautiful for July. The day we left it was back to normal wintery temps.


We had one day to ourselves to do something fun for the boys, so down we went to Darling Harbour to find something to do.

Darling Harbour is probably the best place you can go in Sydney with kids. There is plenty of space for them to run around, great playgrounds and nice cafes and restaurants too. It is basically "Our park" when are there due to the close proximity of where we stay.

There is lots of free things to do that won't break the bank, so if you pack a picnic it won't cost you an arm or a leg.

I think N ran up and down into this fountain about a thousand times.

There is a great playground there which is always a hit.

Sometimes it can be pretty busy, so pick a weekday to go.

Someone is pleased about going in the people mover train!

It's an expensive novelty to go on the train, but it is worth it's weight in gold when you have tired little ones who tell you "My legs are broken" when they just can't walk anymore.



We did the Sydney Aquarium this time. Most times we go to Sydney we go and do one museum or we do a big day out like Luna Park. The rest of the time we take the boys ten pin bowling or laser skirmish. They have good stuff like that upstairs in Harbourside.


I love the Aquarium! Have been quite a few times. I went when I was a kid when it was relatively new and the boys have been a couple of times. Little N was pretty excited because he had never been there before and the sharks were top of his list.

The Dugong

Can't get over how much lettuce the dugongs were eating. They hoovered that stuff up all day, We were there for hours and they ate the whole time.

Pretty tropical fish in the Great Barrier Reef exhibition

The scary sharks

Touch pools

The touch pools are pretty good. That corkscrewy seaweedy thing in the bottom right is a shark egg!

sawfish

The boys called this one the chainsaw fish.

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

Fish are so relaxing to look at aren't they?

 

 



 

We packed in some fun, some movies and coffee time. And when I am away, I don't cook. So a few nights out for dinner too. No time for shopping though!

 

Lovely to get away somewhere completely opposite for a change.

 

 

Back into real life now with more football, soccer and lots of work waiting for me to get stuck into.

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever been to the Sydney Aquarium,?

 

Do you like Darling Harbour, or do you think it is too touristy?

 

 

 





 



 

Zumbo goodies

I road tested Adriano Zumbo's macarons the other day. I saw a packet in the supermarket when his range for Greens first came out, so I bought the salted caramel macarons. I put the packet in the pantry and I left it there for a few months. I know macarons can be quite fiddly, so I waited until I had time in the school holidays to give it a go.

They are smaller than the macarons you see in the shops, I don't know something was amiss with my cooking, or they are actually mini-macarons.

 

 

 

As you can see, they turned out alright. I was really quite surprised too, because there are so many variables when making these little treats. You do have to follow the instructions carefully. I am a pretty slap-dash cook, so I watched these babies like a hawk!

 

 

 

 













I would probably give them a go again, they are something you really have to want to set the time aside for. And you will cry if they are eaten in one fell swoop, because of the many steps involved in the process. I may make them again for a special occasion, and I will do double quantities and have a production line going because they are much smaller than store bought Zumbarons.

 

Wedgwood Jasper Conran "Chinoiserie" entree plate and espresso mug

 



Really nice with a cup of Nespresso on/in my favourite china.

 

 

 

 

 

In other Zumbo related news.....

 

 

Little F and I went to confirmation for the children in his class who were going through the process. We aren't Catholic, but we were there to support the other kids and the non Catholics did some special little jobs for the church service.

 

 

 

 

 

F received some rosary beads and a special certificate, He was pretty chuffed!

 

But he was more excited to play on the play equipment with his friends at his school in the night.

 

 

The confirmation celebration cake was made by Adriano since his nephew was one of the candidates for confirmation. So it was pretty exciting!

 

And there were macarons too!

 

So much yum!

 

 

 

 

 It was one of his famous V8 cakes. So many layers of yum!

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous cake isn't it? And the flower is white chocolate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The macarons were caramel, raspberry and coconut. And the ones that look like they have crushed nuts on them were actually buttery popcorn flavour.

 

The popcorn ones were my favourites, they are to die for!

 

Zumbo is bringing out a new flavour of macaron soon - redskin flavour!

 

How I know this?

 

Adriano's dad said he peeled a bucket of redskins while he picked up all the goodies from his shop. Took him a long time too, as we all know how hard redskins are to peel!

 

 

 

...................................................................................

 

I'll finish up this post with some random flowers I found in the old cottage garden. Jonquils must be the toughest bulb in the world to survive 60 years without any care. And they keep popping up every winter!

 

The pink cyclamen is still going strong.

 

The red one I bought at the same time a few months ago turned it's toes up and died for no apparent reason. So I need to find another to match this one for the other planter.

 

 

 

 

You will notice I have put a bloglovin button on my sidebar. This is so you can follow my blog when Google Reader died. I still have Google Reader on Blogger - so I don't know why it hasn't disappeared? Anyway, if you are interested in never missing another post - you can click on that button to see posts as they come in. I like bloglovin because I can find more blogs worth checking out on there. And it is easy to navigate too.

 

 

'til next time.....

 







Where have I been?

I have been taking a break from the blog. Not that I really wanted to, but I haven't been home much to actually blog.

The bookwork called, the accountant wanted end of year stuff, the kids had sport, sport and more sport. And I had a few trips all over the place.

It was lovely to have a few weeks off from the busy term time to just chill. I wish it were longer! We didn't do anything exciting these holidays, but I tried to catch up as much as I could before the rush again. Don't worry, I am still behind - but that is to be expected with the craziness of life with kids on a farm.

Cattle contracts, buying, selling, sorting, mustering has been happening around our traps. Along with renovating, painting, sorting out my pool problems etc.

Phew.......


I probably should add some pics to this post...

Trying my hand at growing a few veggies. I want to put in a veggie garden soon, but for now, I grow things in polystyrene boxes in my greenhouse.

Ear tags all written on and drying out. Ready to mark some cattle.

The show came to town and  scary masks and gun showbags were the order of the day.



Testing out the height of motorbikes on growing boys legs. The 50 is getting too small for H now!



Pony rides for the little fella, he picked this nice little black one.

Scary rides for the big fellas.






Football season is here, this is the Rugby at Moree.

We have been all over the place taking these boys to their rugby carnivals.

We have been playing League as well.

And Soccer.

Tamworth Rugby.

That was a trip and a half! I took the boys to Walgett for Soccer on a Saturday morning. We played three games each boy and then I went to Tamworth via Burren Junction, Wee Waa, Narrabri and Boggagri. We stayed in Tamworth and played three games of Rugby on Sunday (each boy). T'was a long round trip by the time we got home on Sunday night. And about 700kms on the speedo that sporting trip.

We have done Quirindi too, done lots of motels, lots of dinners out and lots of time in the car. It is insane times, but it is family time too. They are little for such a short time, so it feels worthwhile, even when everything is chaotic at the time.

We like to go "camping" which means we light a  fire 50 metres from the house and toast marshmallows in our jarmies. I don't "do" camping, so this is as close as I get to organising a camping trip.

 

 

Winter sunsets are magical!

 

 

Hungry sheep on the road. Lots of drovers about!








The rodeo came to town

 

 

 

 

Mechanical bucking bulls are always a hit.

I must confess, I had my doubts as to whether the boys should sit on this bull for a pic. The reason being that my husband's voice in my head was saying over and over again "Never trust a bull - even if they are the quietest bull on earth, hand fed and rared from a bottle".

My heart was in my mouth until they got off.

Yes, he was quiet as a mouse, probably asleep and used to people standing (yes standing) on his back for pictures. But I wonder if there will be a day when he is so sick of it he snaps, and flings someone off!

Bucking bulls in action.



Cowgirls watching the action.

There you go!

A quick catch up to what has been happening in Cattle and Cushions world. I will be blogging a lot more than I have been, that is the plan anyway!

Cheers to more blog posts!

Over the Rainbow

Things have been pretty dry lately, everyone is crying out for rain. We got a little bit the other day (4mm). It didn't do much, but we are rolling the dice and hoping the odds are good to sow a couple of paddocks.

So it begins.

We need a lot of rain to get our winter feed going, not just dribs and drabs of moisture. We have had a couple of scuds come across yesterday - it is looking much more promising now. We will just have to wait and see.

So while things look brown and depressing at the moment, I have been looking for some inspiration on Pinterest.

 More of my rainbow things on Pinterest

So much colour, colour always lifts my spirits. Especially rainbow colour! Hoping for some rainbows here, along with lots of soaking rain.

Have a good weekend!

Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm.

Well that is a super long blog post title!

Unless you have been living under a rock in internet world and blogland, you are sure to have seen the myriad of posts and bloggers promoting Williams Sonoma Inc's new Australian venture.

I was pretty excited to see the news about a Pottery Barn opening in Bondi Junction, Australia. And I have drooled for years over their website full of amazing, lower priced, good quality homewares and furniture.

For years they never shipped to Australia, but recently they started shipping here. I never bought anything, just hoping that they would just open up here, since there were so many fans of their stores and products.

I have done a lot of window shopping on their sites and I concluded that their prices are very competitive, and that a lot of things they source are just things we don't have here.

I am talking lighting and bathrooms here. In Australia we have a squillion homeware stores overflowing with home decorator items, overpriced furniture, expensive (and ugly) lighting. And it is impossible, in my experience to buy nice, classic styled bathroom vanities for reasonable prices

Unless you want modern, or expensive custom made cabinets - this stuff only exists in Recollections and Schots Home Emporium. And it is very limited and fairly expensive too!


Anyway, the verdict........


When I went to Sydney the other day, it coincided with the opening day of Williams Sonoma Inc. I was pretty chuffed that I would get to check it out that day. I didn't make it to the ribbon cutting as I was checking out a school that day (see my last post). I made my way out there in the afternoon when the fuss had died down.




Pottery Barn Kids

By the time I got there, there were still plenty of people browsing and lots of people with their kids after school in Pottery Barn Kids. I spent most of my time in there looking at everything.

They do monogramming in Pottery Barn Kids. They will introduce it in time to Pottery Barn's merchandise. I was pretty excited Because I love anything monogrammed, and I decided to get some towels for my boys done. In my house, they all just grab towels and swap towels all the time. Drives me nuts that they can't remember what colour they have. So if they have their names embroidered on them, there will be no more towel confusion in my house. At least, that is the plan!

H was with me, and he was enthralled just watching the monogram machine. He spent half an hour deciding on a colour/typeface for the towels. I think I will hold them back as presents for Birthdays and Christmas. Great gift ideas!

And the monogramming isn't too expensive, it is  about $9.00 for a line. And the towels were a reasonable $20.00 each. Since it was opening day, they had a backlog of about a day's worth of monogramming to do, so the staff said they would ship them to me.

Pottery Barn Kids rugs -so cute!

On to Pottery Barn.

I spent a bit of time in there wandering about and I love all their styling, they just make all their products look amazing by styling them to the hilt. I love what they do with their bedding, hanging it all knotted over a curtain rod. Better than stuffing plastic sheathed envelopes into a table! You can see and feel the fabric without pulling fabric out of the packet and wrecking the packaging.





Desire Empire

 



Interiors addict

Pottery Barn



 

Williams Sonoma.

Well, I loved their shop, the cooking school looked amazing! The cookware they sell is fairly upmarket and really good quality stuff. There are some great labels there. Some things you can get here at Peter's of Kensington anyway, I was more interested in brands I had not seen before.

I think this pot is to die for!

 

 I love the quality in Williams Sonoma, even their oven mitts are super thick and I will be going back one day to get some so I can throw my thin Big W ones away.

When I was there, I didn't see a lot of their branded foods that you can get on the site, mostly Simon Johnson stuff I have seen in David Jones in the past. I hope they are able to import some interesting brands in the future.


West Elm.

I was never a massive fan of West Elm's international site before, I thought a lot of it was super trendy, and I prefer a more classic look to theirs. But it has surprised me how many things I thought were just lovely in there.

It is a treasure trove for quirky things that look so very NY style. West Elm is opening in Melbourne soon, and I think their whole store fit out is perfect for Melbourne style.

 

West Elm

Georgica Pond

They have some lovely things, the website is up and running with all the things you can get in Australia. We can't buy from the US site anymore, which is a shame. We don't get the range that the US gets, which is also bit of a shame.

I hope as they expand, more products will be added to the stores. Or at least, make them available online.

As I walked through the shop, I talked to a few random people. Someone who lived in the states thought it was much more expensive for most things.

When you know how much our dollar is compared to the US Dollar, it seems a bit ridiculous some of the price points they have set. I understand that the shipping, the overheads, the wages are more expensive than the states, but I think they need to re-think some of their prices, to lure us in.

Shipping is not that expensive when it is done in bulk shipping containers compared to randomly sending items to Australia when we were able to purchase from the US site. Some people who were used to the US stores were unhappy with the fraction of the range we got in our PB Stores comparing to the US.

Some things seemed to be reasonable and better quality than we can get here though.

I know that there are issues with lighting, so what they sell will have to be converted, or they will have to buy a range that they can sell just to Australia. I think the biggest thing missing from The Aussie shops is the lighting and the bathroom vanities. I am a bit sad that they don't have them available yet. hoping they sort those issues out and start selling those items, or PB and the rest will just be another Bed Bath and Table to many here.

Pottery Barn vanity - please add to your Aussie stores PB!

PB Lighting, gorgeous and reasonable in the US

I am especially sad that Williams Sonoma don't carry linens yet. I am in love with their monogrammed and gorgeously embroidered sheets. I am hoping that they will fill the gap in the market with the things we miss out on living in Australia.



Williams Sonoma bedlinen we can't get here!
Damn.... should of bought while they still shipped to Australia from the US Site.

There is more on the website, than in store because they would not be able to carry the whole range in the Bondi Junction site. Perhaps a PB Warehouse would be a great addition to their lovely stores to stock the full range, so we can touch and feel items too?

They ship Australia wide for a fairly reasonable fee. Depending on what you purchase of course!


For all the ho hum's, and the price difference gripes, I don't want to end on a bad note! For all the things I thought we would be finally getting on our shores, there are plenty of things that will hopefully give our retailers the kick they need, to start trying a lot harder to get us to part with our hard earned cash.

Great customer service, styling and beautiful fit out of their stores are their strengths.

Take a look at  Georgica Pond's and  Desire Empire's  posts on all the stores, they did very comprehensive posts, and you can see what the shop fit out was like. I didn't want to get my camera out instore, it was really busy, and I always feel funny unless other people are snapping too.



I will probably pop in there soon to buy more towels!