NOVEMBER DIARY

November commenced with us getting out of lockdown and I was reunited with Andrew after 4 months apart. And in perfect time as 31 Oct was our one year anniversary.

Andrew arrived and spoilt me rotten with anniversary gifts and we had a lovely evening out at Scratchleys, and a lovely evening walk around the harbour. All that is well and fine, it was just glorious to see him. We had talked and zoomed every day while apart but nothing compares to seeing loved ones for reals. We reckon if we can get through that, which we did, we can get through anything.

The following week we headed out to the Fire Station Hotel for dinner, and fell back into our usual routines.

I attended a couple of online author talks, the first was Julia Baird in conversation with Trent Dalton and the second Charlotte Wood in conversation with Helen Garner.  Both were magnificent, I adore Garner and Dalton with all my heart and soul.

I slowly moved back into socialising, still very wary of COVID but happy to be catching up with people before we open up to everyone (read anti-vaxers, shudder!!!)

Linda and I went to the newly opened MIMA for Catapult Dance and it was divine on a balmy evening outside and a stunning sunset as backdrop. The dancing, as always, amazing.

Mary and I headed to Bar Petite to celebrate my 50th and had a grand time.

Our bookclub met IRL for the first time since much earlier this year. WE discussed Eddie Jaku's brilliant, The Happiest Man on Earth and our favourite biographies. But mostly were happy to see each other!

And Jen and I had our annual birthday lunch at Morpeth, always a delight.

I got my hair cut and coloured, I am not a vacuous person, but it was a good feeling to freshen up!

We caught up with friends for a Christmas Tweet Up and then at The Cambridge for an indie 80s night, such fun!

There was the usual markets.

My reviews.

And photography including a LOT of Jacarandas:

MADAME BRUSSELS

Tucked on the 3rd floor on the corner of a carpark entrance and Bourke Street this rooftop bar became my favourite place within seconds.

With a spring garden party atmosphere the layout was old style white garden furniture with mostly pink, lilac, and mint green decor. Parasols lay on the tables in the direct sunlight, and waiters were gorgeous and gay.

The menu was superb and difficult to choose from. Small nibbly treats, savory and sweet, and amazing cocktails. I went with the Winter Punch, a heady mix of rum, wine, orange, soda, and mint in a jug...and a raspberry cupcake. It was about 2pm.

The cocktail and cupcake were sublime, the atmosphere divine. Uber cool with a mix of people, some uber uber cool, some not so much. I definitely fell into the later category but it didn't seem to matter.

The afternoon was a glorious first day of Spring and I sat in partial shade, people watched, daydreamed at the beautiful sky, and wrote on my phone. 

There was a hilariously glorious group of well dressed people in the other corner, affecting Southern accents which added to their camp manner. They just made me smile. All talk of Bette Davis, Faye Dunaway, and Lauren Bacall...I almost joined them.

This has been on my check out list for ages and my friend J said it was a must. It was!!

Melbourne: Part Two

Eating out and about in Melbourne

Always a highlight of any trip to Melbourne is the amazing food. I have some places I always go back to and also love to try new spots.

 

Thursday night took us to an oldie but a goodie, Pancake Parlour. Located downstairs on Bourke Street Mall, is it a family friendly place and I must admit in need of a spruce up. However, the food is not bad, a little more expensive, smaller and not as good as I remember but it was still good.

 

We met M for brunch at Sunny Boy Cafe on Friday morning. It's a great little cafe tucked downstairs at Gurners Lane, off Collins Street, and only a few months old. It's a cute spot with a hipster vibe. I had smashed avocado and Feta on toast, and it was divine. Along with a fruit smoothie I was soon full. C had the blueberry pancakes and they looked amazing, M the almond Croissant. Later the lovely staff brought out a poached pear and rhubarb Brioche Muffin to try...oh my!

 

 

We actually went back the next day for more, but it was closed. We tried another cafe closeby and I had pulled pork, spinach, and eggs Benedict on toast which was pretty good.

 

 

Because we had been brunching around 11/12 we then had very late lunches or very early dinners or what I like to call First dinner and then a Second dinner much later, more like supper!

 

On Friday we found a new (to me) Dumping place to try for First dinner and along with their cold rice paper rolls. The Dumpings (chicken and prawn) were delicious BUT the cold rice paper rolls were out of this world! I cannot remember what it was called, but it was on Flinders Lane as you turned into Degreaves Street and was very popular!

 

Friday night's second dinner was at Timeout Cafe on Fed Square, we had Chorizo, potato, and caramelised pizza with cocktails and chatted and watched the world go by.

 

 

Of course a trip to Melbourne is not complete without a box of Little Cupcakes to munch on as the days progress.

 

 

For Saturday's first dinner, we had chips with Aioli and pulled pork sliders with Pimms at the Optic, the new restaurant/cafe/bar at the ACMI. And second dinner was quite the experience, we went to Lustre Bar, which is situated off Flinders Lane from another laneway, and overlooks Flinders Lane and Degreaves. I had always seen the balcony but not worked out how to get there. It was a small, funky bar, for late 20s to 40s I guess. Extensive cocktail and whisky menu, and small finger foods and they specialise in desserts. We had Aracini Balls and mini chicken and Camembert pies, followed by a dessert degustation to share, with a small selection of their best desserts...oh my! Plus some damn fine cocktails. Great music played in the background, they do have live Jazz there sometimes...not the night we were there, so I guess another trip is required.

 

 

For breakfast Sunday before we left we went to a favourite cafe, Caboose Kitchen, they do traditional meals so was the perfect place to get basic scrambled eggs and bacon!