sydney

Burlesque

/ Robert / 1 Comment
Scarlett Fever, Wickham Hotel 2024

Last night we saw the 2010 movie of the same name starring Cher, Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane, Cam Gogandet, Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, and Kristen Bell. Its rich dark moody basement club and apartment scenes evoked the feeling of bygone speakeasies, jazz clubs, and Liza Minnelli in the film Cabaret.

I was reminded of awe inspiring evenings in the back bar of the Imperial Hotel, Erskineville, Sydney in this century’s noughties and teenies. We were delighted by the performance of Mitzi Macintosh reenacting the Rocky Horror Show, The Sound of Music, and Little Shop of Horrors.

In other venues in Newtown, Kings Cross, and Darlinghurst we were wowed by the antics of Miss Effervescence (Effie to her friends), Verushka Darling, Tess Tickle, Chelsea Buns, Fahrenheit, Joyce Mange, Vanessa Wagner, Portia Turbo, Miss 3D, Simone Troy, Robyn Lee, Clair de Lune, Atlanta Georgia, Monique Kelly, and Polly Petrie.

Now that we live in Queensland we get our occasional drag queen fix at the Wickham Hotel, and Cloudland in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

I love laksa

/ Robert / 6 Comments
Uber Eats, chicken laksa

My work colleague and friend introduced me to Malaysian laksa in a humble back street near the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Australia. Since that slurping lunch as the sun set on the twentieth century, I was was wearing more of my lunch than eating it.

After Thai food, Laksa has been my go to Asian meal of choice. I adore this soupy, noodle concoction of coconut milk, protein, fresh vegetables, and spices.

I had a line manager from New Zealand who had lived in Japan. They were surprised I was not so adept at using chopsticks. Well honey, all I need to be able to do is use them to extract the hunks of gorgeousness from the sauce and use a spoon, pleeeease!

Benedictine

/ Robert / 5 Comments

Our initiation to this medieval French herbal infusion sweetened with honey, Benedictine took place at much loved Rubyos restaurant, Newtown, Sydney.

Liz introduced us to the delight of an after dinner Benedictine on the rocks.

Yesterday, we tried a Jamie Oliver sour Benedictine cocktail recipe including, brandy and lemon juice.

Perhaps swapping out Cognac for brandy did not enhance the taste experience. I hasten to add, I did not photographically record my screwed up face as evidence of the cough medicine flavour.

Today we have a winner, a Benedictine spritz.

The recipe:
Half teaspoon of Amaro
Dry sparkling white wine
Tablespoon of Benedictine

Start by adding the amaro to a champagne flute, then the Benedictine. Gently add dry sparkling white wine.

For the sweeter toothed, you can commence the recipe with a sugar cube or two in the champagne flute.

Feel free to share your favourite method of serving Benedictine in the comments below.

Diamond Birthday Jubilee

/ Robert / 4 Comments
Detail of eye shaped sculpture front of MCA

I met my future husband when he was about to turn 31 and I had turned 30.

Over the years, our shared adventures have taken us around the world and jetting between hemispheres. Amazing family and friends have enriched our lives.

Yesterday morning, we arrived in Sydney, our home for 20 years prior to making the move to Brisbane. This is our first visit in over three years.

After a light lunch at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) we headed to the Sydney Opera House for a cocktail with a friend whom we haven’t seen for two years. He and his partner took us for a sumptuous French dinner at the Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks, Sydney.

Looking toward Kent Street from Clarence Street

Today after a late breakfast we wandered from our accommodation in the Skye Suites, Kent Street to the Queen Victoria Building, the revamped David Jones department store, and Martin Place.

Westfield Tower from QueenVictoria Building

This evening we are celebrating my husband’s 60th at Capriccio Osteria in Leichhardt, Sydney. Friends are joining us from Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, and Sydney.

Antipodean reflections

/ Robert / 5 Comments

It has been ten years since I set up this WordPress blog.

With the exception of the photo of QEII at the end, the below pictures are from an area at the rear of buildings facing Grey Street, South Brisbane. Overhead railway lines travel between South Brisbane and Roma Street stations. The previously unused space has been transformed into Fish Lane, Town Square.

Brisbane, Brissy, Brisvegas has the reputation of being a big country town.

You need a body in Sydney and labels (darling) in Melbourne.

People who have moved to the city, between states and countries or have travelled extensively overseas are open to new friends.

During Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, Queen Elizabeth II visited Birmingham UK. I took my younger brother to see her. This is an image from local newspaper, the Birmingham Mail, Birminghammail.co.uk. Taken near the Council House and Chamberlain Memorial, on the day we saw her majesty.

Being from England, a proportion of Australians assume I am from and have lived in London. It is as though London is England.

Talk of Australia becoming a republic are renewed among lobbyists and pollies.

Welcoming pets

/ Robert / 2 Comments

Stan has been an important member of our family since 2010. We prefer for Stan to accompany us when going out for long lunches rather than leaving him alone at home.

In Australia, rules about pets attending eating establishments are created and monitored by local councils.

Being creatures of habit we have favoured venues that welcome us with Stan including, Capriccio Osteria, Leichhardt, New South Wales; Marinara Ristorante Cafe, Hawthorne, Queensland; Julius Pizzeria, South Brisbane, Queensland; Patina at Customs House, Brisbane, Queensland.

Occasionally we try out a new place. Mostly we check online or call ahead to find out if our party will be welcomed.

There is a shared excitement about going for lunch. An anticipation about the potential delightful delicacies we may well devour.

Nothing pours cold water on our enthusiasm more than comments about ‘the dog’, especially when we have previously been to the eatery.

‘You will have to sit to the right of the opening (into the restaurant) in case the dog’s hairs fly in’. Mamma’s Redcliffe, Queensland.

Or a new place

‘You have to sit at a table on the footpath. The dog has to be on the ground. Please take the dog off your lap, it has to be on the ground. The council come around and check. I will get into trouble’. La Dolce Vita, Milton, Queensland.

‘You can have the table at the end. You cannot sit under the canopy’. Cafe Gioia, Norton Street, Leichhardt, New South Wales.

The pedestrianised part of Queen Street in Brisbane, a.k.a Queens Street Mall does not allow dogs even on a lead.

Similarly if we were to take Stan on public transport (buses, trains) in Brisbane he has to be in a carry case.

Fortunately, we can now sit outside on the river ferries providing Stan wears a muzzle.

And thank goodness for Uber Pets.

Celebrating 22 years

/ Robert / 9 Comments

We arrived in the harbour city of Sydney, New South Wales on 17 January 1998. For the first ten years we did not consider living anywhere else.

The face of our chosen suburb, Newtown, gradually threw off its grungy working class garb. Gentrification crept through the streets. Great news for house prices as rough edges of the area were smoothed. For the niche bars, retailers and eateries, rising rents pushed them out.

Pushchairs replaced colourful characters, walking goats and parrots. Foot paths barely coped with the jam of people, spilling from increased apartment living.

Joining the exodus, we made our way, step by step west to aircraft noisy Stanmore then sleepy Petersham before landing in luscious Leichhardt. In hindsight, we should have settled here, instead of chasing the bright lights of Newtown.

Arriving too late to secure a residence we journeyed 917 kms north (570 miles) to Morningside. The vibe in Queensland is more relaxed than we are used to. Ignoring the Summer daylight saving implemented by other states, Queenslanders arise and retire early to bed.

Here we are in the river city of Brisbane, celebrating 22 years in Australia. Uncertain of where life will take us next.

Nostalgic weekend

/ Robert / 6 Comments

Almost a year has elapsed since we moved from Sydney to Brisbane. A morning stroll from Central Park took us through UTS (University of Technology Sydney). Gazing at the final touches of the rebirth of Building 2, my mind wandered to memories of the eleven plus years of mostly enjoyable work time spent there.

Our transversal of Darling Harbour allowed a glimpse of the boat show, gently bobbing in Cockle Bay.

Ambling down George Street alongside the ‘soon’ to be commissioned tram tracks, my thoughts turned to reminiscing the good times, hosted in venues that are being replaced.

The two-hour journey ended at Circular Quay. As we approached, the Harbour Bridge and Opera House emerged gracefully, appearing to shake off the shackles of the surrounding structures of transportation and wealth. Claiming their place as man made jewels atop the deep blue sparkling water of Port Jackson.

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