Things have been busy in blogland. A trip to Melbourne saw us stay at the delightful Prince Hotel in St Kilda, dining daily at Circa The Prince - great Australian food served simply in a contemporary and beautiful environment.

This week has been particularly kind, with dinner at Aria, Jimmy Liks and the Gazebo. Highlights? Pork belly at Aria, Mussaman curry at Jimmy Liks and espresso martinis at Gazebo.

Oh and did I mention 5/5 days at Virgin Active?

Sky phoenix, presents and the most gorgeous weather of the year

When I stepped out the front door this morning I was pleasantly surprised to see the sun beating down on the pavement. A hop skip - a honey nougat roll - and a jump and I was at work. The morning flew by and then I was at lunch at Sky Phoenix. Seriously, some of the best yum cha in our fine city is served at Sky Phoenix. I focused on the dumplings and ate prawn, vegetarian, scallop, spinach and other tasty morsels.

Happily located in the refurbished Westfields, I stopped by Peter Alexander for a birthday gift for MIL. Then I walked back via the bookshop on Castlereagh Street, shot the breeze with a former colleague - darn those Waratahs! - and then found myself back at work.

Whilst I loved the dumplings, and the shopping, the absolute highlight of the day was the weather. We had the most fabulous warm breeze sweeping through the city today and I was thrilled to spend a portion of the day outside - half hour walk to work, half hour home again, 20 minute walk into the city, 20 minute walk back again.

Oh Autumn, you're being so kind to us.

Legislation, homework, Thai Power

Not wanting to arrive at work soaking wet this morning, I caught a sneaky cab. Which meant this evening, when it was POURING, I could hardly justify another said cab. And so I got soaked from the waist down. It wasn't cold - it was almost funny!

Today I played legislation snakes and ladders - start with one Act, slide into corresponding Act in another jurisdiction, slip towards complimentary Act, complimentary Act in yet another jurisdiction and then hit the case law. Ouchie head.

Dinner at Thai Power - the warmth and cosyness of wonton soup. Then home to watch a film for work:

Hope the weather clears up - my exercise regime can't afford any more taxis!

Lunches, Surry Hills and a spot of shopping

I have been enjoying working in 2010 - the postcode, that is. Longrain is one reason that Surry Hills is a great suburb to work in. Prawn betel leaves, drunken chicken and ocean trout in coconut sauce are great choics at Longrain. I will be returning for the cocktails when I don't have to return to the office. Taste on Foveaux Street has been very kind to me, too.

SMH - Longrain

I've been valliantly trying to return more regularly to the gym, and have just booked a week's worth of morning classes. Fingers crossed that this works out...

A trip to Lyn and Barrett has confirmed the age old adage that 8/10 women are wearing the wrong size bra, a visit to Aesop enabled me to purchase a handcream strong enough to disguise any external odour as well as a beautifully scented handwash, an Oroton handbag is on its way from the online store and two Cue tops made their way into my wardrobe. Shopping ban begins.... now.

Where have I been???

I got a new job! My contract at my last job - which I loved, loved, loved - ended at the end of 2010, so it was high time that I started participating in the economy again. I was in Canberra training last week, and had my first week in the office this week. It's been a steep learning curve - new operating systems, new protocols, new employer - but so far it's been interesting!

Whilst training in Canberra I ate at the Lemongrass Thai restaurant, at my brother-in-law's and at Pelagic - that great new seafood restaurant in Bailey's corner. Go! Support it Canberra! The sashimi is fantastic, the fish is handled beautifully and the chocolate fondant was perfectly gooey in the centre. The service was straight out of Conviction Kitchen - more than a little freaky.

I had my 'congratulations, you're employed!' dinner at Manta on the Woolloomooloo wharf. The most beautifully presented sashimi for entree and an amazing fish main. I love Manta - they are so respectful of the fish. Oh, and Owen Wilson was eating there as well - which was a little exciting ;)

My new job involves a walk past the original Spice I Am. How lucky am I? Last night I had the ho mok and chicken pat cha, and tonight I backed up with another ho mok. Dessert was a block of Dark Lindt chocolate with a touch of sea salt - delicious. But I am going to have to hit the gym. And give up the chocolate.

I went to Strawberry X for lunch today - it was ok, but nothing spectacular: tandoori chicken wrap - meh.

More good news is the proximity of the new work to Longgrain and Bodega (open for lunch on Thursday and Friday - yay!) and Assiette - three courses on Friday lunch for $35 - I kid you not!!!

Clean windows, GG cafe, Leona, body pump and nando's

Having spent more time than usual at home over the last few weeks, at some point you feel the obligation to, ummm, clean. The house is tidy, but the wall of sliding windows in the kitchen really needed a clean. So I cleaned them.

Then I went to lunch with a Board member from my old work - I had a tasty vegetarian frittata from the GG cafe on the corner of Hunter and Castlereagh. I then skipped off to Myer where I bought kitchen scales and a fuschia pink dress from Leona Edmiston.

I went to BodyPump this afternoon and upped the weights. Ouchy. Sure to be more ouchy tomorrow, though.

I then met Mr WE for dinner. We had Nando's. Because we love it. Even though the chips were overly salted today. To compensate I had a frozen yoghurt from the NZ icecream company. This made me feel better, particularly as it felt like I was supporting NZ. The earthquake and its aftermath are completely devestating. My heart goes out to all who have lost so much. Christchurch is such a beautiful town. I grieve the loss of its beautiful buildings. The loss of life is almost too much to bear.

The Tea Room, air conditioning, Kevin McCloud and dodgy Chinese

Well, on my way to the gym I received a call from the long lost Ms SHC and detoured to the Tea Room in Glasshouse for morning tea. I had the Sydney blend which is a delicate blend of green and black tea and bergamot (I think!) which is reminiscent of Earl Grey but so much less masculine.



Then I skipped home to speak to An Important Man about air conditioning our terrace. He said no to ducted but yes to units in our lounge/dining room, and in each of the bedrooms. The quote is yet to come, so fingers crossed that it is reasonable so that I have sweated my way through my last hot Sydney summer.



I then had the most wonderful afternoon session with Kevin McCloud. He was revisiting places again 4 of 5 years after last filming. It was wonderful to revisit old friends, but even better to spend the afternoon with the baritone Mr McCloud.



The ADRA Board meets in one of the private dining rooms of the super retro, super dodgy, VERY tasty Chinese Restaurant - the Celestial. Never failing to impress with its super kitsch food, we had chicken and crab soup, san choy bow, fried rice with green veggies, satay prawns, bbq beef, crispy skin duck and sweet pork. Please don't tell Michelle Bridges: I'm supposed be doing 12WBT!

Housekeeping, Cycle class. Toby's Estate, Bourke Street Bakery and 3-way at The Tilbury

The day started in an inconspicuous way - a proper tidy-up of the bedroom, dining room and lounge room, a spot of ironing - even the vacuum cleaner roared into life. One cycle class later, I drove up to Sydney Uni to meet lil sis WE at Toby's Estate on City Road. I had a ristretto with great floral/berry overtones and a sneaky piece of choc-a-block brownie. We then swung by Bourke Street Bakery for a baguette and an ah-mazing lemon tart, pulled into a great parking spot in the 'loo (an achievement in itself) and then watched episode 1 of season 3 Sons of Anarchy.







We had some chilled Chandon with lurpack topped baguette slices, walked off for (another) Queen Mary 2 viewing and then had a great meal at the Tilbury. Mummy WE, daddy WE and I had the pork three ways with matched red wine. Pork belly confit, then crisped in the oven, with pancetta wrapped scallop and pork loin - each was beautifully cooked. The plate included the cutest poached pear, a beautifully turned turnip and a smear of pureed cauliflower. The three red wines included a grenache, a French merlot and a temperanillo from the Clare. It was simply gorgeous. $33. A. Steal.

The Black Swan, the Rabbit Hole and Stir Crazy

Oh my. I thought that perhaps today might be my last day off - but no word from the recruiter, so it looks like I have tomorrow off as well. To celebrate what I thought was my last day of leave, I sent to see The Black Swan. Well, I've heard it said "I have no words" in relation to this film and I cannot disagree. Natalie Portman is sublime. No one puts a pointe wrong. She will win the Oscar, and it is simply the standout performance of the last few years. Darren Aronofsky has directed a haunting film that will play with the minds of those who have viewed it for days, weeks and months to come.

I toddled off to the gym for a cycle class, grabbed some sang choi bow at the noodle bar in the David Jones Food Hall and then skipped back to the cinema to see The Rabbit Hole. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart put in sterling performances and it is a beautiful film.

We went to Stir Crazy in Kirribilli for some cheap and cheerful thai. The satay chicken was tasty, but not spicey like some excellent versions are. Mr WE had the cashew chicken which he declared to be very good and I had the mixed (prawn, calamari, beef and chicken) salad which was super tasty and low carb to boot!

Bronte Beach

To celebrate Dear Mother's birthday, and to escape the heat, we decamped to Bronte Beach. We swam every half an hour or so just to keep cool. We also drank sparkling wine, water, American Champagne and just plain water.



And, to celebrate the night before 12WBT, I cooked. I know! I was shocked too! I grilled some steak and served it with steamed veggies.

I also discovered a bakery in Edgecliff that sells lemon tarts for $13 - brilliant! With candles at $2, it was a super bargain "Happy Birthday" moment overlooking the waves (that were super dumpers, apparently).

I'm off grocery shopping tomorrow to prepare adequately for 12WBT.

Bourke Street Bakery and Kenji Opera Bar

Oh, how I love the opportunity to sample the simplicity that Sydney has to offer. A simple baguette from Bourke Street Bakery is one of life's great pleasures. I also had one of their irresistable iced chocolates - the creamy chocolateness has to be tasted to be believed.

After an afternoon of alumni constitutional discussions at my old school, I then came back to the city for an evening of drinks and dinner at Opera Bar. If baguettes are the simplest expression of bread, then sushi and sashimi must be one of the world's greatest expressions of seafood. The Kenji sashimi and sushi are great examples of the amazing seafood available in our beautiful town. Still loving Opera Bar during these humid Sydney summer nights.

The Australian

Well it has to begin somewhere

After parking this blog quite some time ago - *slack* - I've decided to breathe some life into it and begin a record of my musings from the 'loo. Yesterday was great fun - I spent the day with Dr-to-be J and her very charming son S. I took some goodies: sausage rolls (lamb and harissa; beef, veal and olive) and tarts (rhubarb and almond, raspberry and chocolate, lemon) from the sublime Bourke Street Bakery.

Max Mannix: Mother and Child

I then caught up with some superior former colleagues at the place de jour - Duke Bistro. Oh my, did we consume some food! Scallops with lettuce, prawns with black mayo (I know, inconceivable!), braised octopus, rolls with radish and butter (divine!), grilled watermelon with herbs (a revelation!), veal pancakes, crumbed lamb belly and some super crispy chicken wingettes with sublime mayo and an amazing hot sauce. Go early, go often.