Day one

I am sitting at my desk starving. Well not really starving, just keenly aware of the hunger pains I have. As part of my list I have designated a dress size I would like to be before my birthday. I really haven’t being paying any attention to what I might have to do to be able to cross this item off the list. Until now….
GB and I are aware that we have attained a certain chubbiness and have both agreed that this must and WILL be changed. As part of this agreement we have devised a challenge for the next 3 months. The challenge has a winner, the winner gets a prize etc. It is all very standard.
Today is day one!

#93 Attend High Tea at the Windsor Hotel

To celebrate the last day of my mums visit and to welcome my twin back from Europe, I thought why not cross this delectable item of my list.

The Windsor Hotel is just a gorgeous place, at once you feel the grandeur and luxury.  We attended the 3pm seating and spent 2 hours imbibing never ending cups of tea and coffee and trying to taste everything that was on offer.  I didn't manage to get a photo of the "buffet" of desserts, cakes and pastries or the chef cooking fresh crepes to order or the ice cream bar......I was busy being in the moment.  

   

The three of us enjoyed the afternoon and waddled out of the Hotel with smiles on our faces and the desire to return as soon as we could face eating that much sweet stuff again :)

#48 Attend Melbourne International Comedy Festival

What a fun week I had. Wednesday night mum and I saw Manface, a relatively newish duo from Perth. It was mum's first live comedy experience. It was a ton of fun.

Thursday and Friday night Chris and I were dedicated to making the most of the festival and managed to see 4 shows on both nights. Then yesterday (tuesday) we caught a couple more.....

Highlights for me were Mark Watson and the Axis of Awesome.

Over the last week...

Easter Sunday - I took mum to Spagos for breakfast to celebrate Easter Sunday. It was a lovely warm morning. Sunshining, lots of other people also breakfasting... In good old Gosford going out for breakfast is not really the done thing. Mum likes the "eating out" lifestyle melbournians have. Suits her non-cooking ways :)

Easter Monday - GB took us to the Mornington Markets. They were big and so busy. A cute boy sung Leonard Cohen on his guitar and we bought donuts. Markets are getting beyond my price range these days. No longer can you pick up a bargain for $15. Everything is beautiful and well crafted and priced accordingly.

Tuesday - Nothing of note.

Wednesday - I took mum to her first Melbourne International Comedy Festival show. We saw a duo called Manface. One of the boys from the duo was spruking the flyers out the front of the town hall when we were looking for a show to suit both our tastes....one minute I was making "our" way through the crowd the next I turn around and mum is talking to some nerdy looking boy telling him about her son (my brother) who also lives in Perth.

Mum and I loved the show. It was about Geeks. I think GB would have appreciated it aswell. At the end of the show mum went up to say how much she loved it to the nerdy boy who invited her there :)

Thursday - Comedy Festival shenanigans for GB and I. We went to 4 shows...Axis of Awesome, Sammy J, Reginald D Hunter and Ali Mcgregors Late Night Variety Late Night.

Friday - Comedy Festival shenanigans for GB and I (take 2). Another 4 shows.....Jack Druce (I think), Mark Watson, Arj Barker and the HiFi, with a quick interval at Tony Starr's kitten club for a yummy cocktail.

Saturday - Dinner at Docklands, Cirque Du Soleil - Dralion, followed by drinks and a night of Guitar Hero World tour.

Sunday - Was still playing World Tour at 5:00am. Was surprised at my stamina. Slept for a couple of hours and then headed into the city for a delectable afternoon. Crossed off another item on the list and took Amanda and Mum to High Tea at the Windsor Hotel. It was just a lovely and decadant experience.

10% done

I have completed 10% of my 101 things to do list. Only 91 to go :)

Hooray!

#29 Have Fish & Chips by the Ocean

I thought the best person to share this experience with me was my Mum, as we both adore fish and chips to the same capacity.

We stopped by the inlet at Carrum.  I think that perhaps I will do this one again, somewhere a little nicer.....

     

#75 Bake a beer cake for Christopher

I chose the easiest recipe I could find on google and then made just 3 adjustments.  I added the tiniest amount of ground clove, cinnamon and nutmeg.

The recipe didn't specify which beer to use, I did twitter for some suggestions but due to being stricken with laziness could not be arsed going out to get anything special and chose the most suitable out of the back fridge.  VB it is!

      

And the Verdict?  Bloody delicious.....very moist and with the added spices taste like gingerbread cake.  So yum!

    

Day in Sorrento

I haven't really taken my mum anywhere out of Melbourne during her visits, usually she sticks pretty close to the CBD and the Vic Markets.  But now I am living all the way down in Seaford I decided to expand mum's experience of the south east of the our lovely state.  So where does one go to for a day trip....Sorrento of course. 

  

          

The weather tried to work with us and often gave bursts of sunlight between the showers.  We gorged on the best Vanilla Slice ever to grace the earth. Walked around the town centre a little bit and marvelled at the prices of the clothes...$735 for a knitted jumper.  It was gorgeous, and I could appreciate that it was italian wool...but please!

We couldn't go past the home-made italian style ice-cream.  I am such a food (novelty) sucker.  Oh home-made is it?  And Italian style......well I better try it then.

   

We then toured around Portsea looking at all the houses and pointing them out to each other with exclaimations of delight and wonder - picking out the ones we would consider living in.

During a brief stint of sunlight we braved the wind to check out the Portsea back beach and the London Bridge rock formation.  

               A fun touristy day!

Baranows - Whiskey tasting

I immediately fell in love with Baranows. Although I have only been to this bar for an "event" I am sure that the atmosphere during normal trading retains all the charm and indulgence. Indulgence is a great way to describe this place, from the leather couches and lowkey decor, to the overthetop bar with shelf upon shelf of alcohol to delight, the humidifiers with cigars, the wine cellar......It is just FUN!

I attended the Glenmorangie Whiskey tasting night. The evening consists of a representative from Glenmorangie talking/teaching about whiskey and the process of production, the best methods of tasting etc, a tasting plate of food to enjoy with the 6 different whiskeys and an anitpasto platter to finish. This was a great way to try different whiskeys, especially the ones that I would not normally buy due to price or inexperience etc. Now I know that my favourite Glenmorangie whiskey is the Quinta Ruban followed closely by the Astar.

Can't wait to do the tequila tasting night :)