Fulfilling !!! my thought of 2012

Finally last day of  2012 !

It's summer in Australia^^

As you might know about that, we have annual specular New Year Eve Fireworks.  

Excited with the New Year Eve Fireworks at 8:30pm in Brisbane!!!

What's the time now?

At 8:30pm!

What?

Not 9:30pm?

Have the family fireworks already finished at 9:00pm?

Yes!

They've finished in Sydney over the Harbour Bridge.

But I'm in Brisbane....haha^^

It's at 8:30pm now....

Yes, actually we don't have a summer time here in Queensland (QLD) !!!

So the time is always 1 hour behind than New South Wales (NSW).

And also we have two special fireworks on the Brisbane River. 

Maybe they aren't bigger than ones in Sydney.

No worries^^////

We can see both of them^^

Though on TV !!!



BTW,

I haven't come here ( to my precious blog ) in a while.....

Why???

No blogging in Nov...no diary for a month for the first time, why?

I don't know !!!

No worries^^

I'm doing well, my family is fine^^

It's true that I've been thinking almost everyday of what I'm going to do as my own life here though...

Too much excited^^;

I like people who are very friendly but don't like people who are too relaxed, like fresh foods at organic market and shopping at fashionable shops but not good at a bit smelly tap water ( I have to get a spring water even when I cook a steam rice, drink coffee.)
That's OK, because there are good things and not nice ones everywhere.


Amazing Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where is the world's first and largest koala sanctuary

No words...just amazing koalas

Sheepdog show there

Excellent!!! sheepdog did control so well

Beautiful Oxley golf driving range where you can come with kids^^

Huge place with putting green, bunker, mini golf

Fishing place in Labrador, Gold Coast (GC)

It was a fun though we didn't catch any fish

Big fun theme parks, Movie world in GC

A lot of people

Especially fantastic " White Christmas " event there 

Christmas Eve Eve

Most comfy place " my sweet home "

On the deck next to living room

Relaxed bath time with tea tree, blue mallee eucalyptus aroma oils and so on... from Perfect Potion ( Christmas gift from my hubby^^)

Pure essential oils

And and...

My BFF!!!

What does it mean BFF?

" Best Friends Forever! "

Those Christmas gifts from Karina and Celina^^in Sydney...

Surprisingly they were goods at my favorite Wild Basket!

Thanks< my BFF )))))



Lovely 2012,



A xx

Get started!!! New life in Brisbane

Hello!!!

And sorry^^;

I'm not in Sydney any more...

I'm in Brisbane !!!

I've moved here as my husband has been sent to Brisbane's office.

Brisbane's symbol ^^ Story Bridge

Already 10 days have passed since I got in Brisbane.

The time flies quickly....

After I left my place, I stayed one night at hotel in Sydney and then drove up to here while I stopped n stayed another night at hotel in Port Macquarie.

Like a tourist^^,haha

Funny face and normal one w egg,mashroom

Although I'm still staying at hotel now.

But

Everything is going well so far,

Yes, so far^^;

New house, school, infrastructure, kids education, furniture, car registration, insurance,hospital etc...

Hope all other things are going to be alright as well !!!

My boys seem to like living here.

Leafy, family friendly and urban....

Main street in CBD

nice n quiet on river side

If I can find tasty coffee easily, it would be perfect for me though....unfortunately average of coffee is much lower than Sydney....>< 

Anyway,

I'm gonna continue to research good cafe!!!

And

Of course it's a bit smaller than Sydney, but I can see a lot of latest systems ( for example, transport "go card " and some brunch of ANZ,BUPA, parking meter)

http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card/?gclid=CKyL-uqj7bICFfBUpgodNSwA7A

Very interesting!!!

I guess they are been administered on a trial basis in Australia^^

That's good!!!

BTW,

As I told you that, I've been at hotel for 2weeks.

Night view from hotel

During our stay,

We had a great night;)))

It was a last Saturday event.

Fortunately,

we could watch amazing fireworks on the Brisbane river.

I heard it was the biggest festival during a whole year.

It's called " RIVER FIRE NIGHT "


http://www.brisbanefestival.com.au/


It was FANTASTIC !!!!!

It looked like saying " Big welcome to Brisbane " for us ^^

Good luck on myself !!!

Festival !!!

Bright! Story bridge

Beautiful, isn't it?

Although I miss my friends in Sydney....sigh....

Please please stay in touch !!!



Lovely new adventure,


A xx 

Inspired!!! Party dishes

Oh my god!!!

Time goes so quickly...

There were a lot of things I wanted to post though...haha....I couldn't manage my time...

Alright,

Let's do complete my previous draft which it was on the way writing!

///////////

I love a party time with guests.

Beautiful dishes, colorful drinks, lovely table coordination, pleased conversation and lots of smile;)))

Why do I love it so much?

Because,,,,

Maybe,

As my parents often got many home parties when I was a child...


So,

I always wanna get hints from other restaurants, shops magazines and friends' dishes^^

For example,

Here are beauuuuuuuuuuutiful dishes at WAQU restaurant in Crows Nest.

http://www.waqu.com.au/

This is main dish "Tajima WAGYU sirloin steak"

It was a lunch course, just $35, amazing !

I had a wonderful time there.

Coffee, too^^

FW with macaroon

The ceramic coffee cup !! That's nice idea, isn't it? 

Thanks for giving me a lot of inspirations for party foods.

Here are some photos of which I made dishes after I got ideas.

Party party♪

Even decoration,

Looks different ^^

Of course dessert time is necessary, hehe

Simple!!! I brought Fruits salad

Fruits salad w Zumbo's cake

Lovely long long evening,


A xx 

  

Perfect aperitif !!! Ballabourneen Moscato

Well, well, well

I haven't posted my sweet blog in a while....

Because

I've been busy for thinking of new life...

What?

New adventure?!

Yes,

Actually,

I'm moving to Brisbane in Queensland at the end of Sep as my hubby will be sent to another branch there.

It means I'm leaving Sydney next month.

Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia.

It's located in east south Queensland.

Closer to Goldcoast (though it'll take a hour to get there by car)

Exciting!

But at same time very sad....

New life!

But....back to beginning...in order to establish the life settlement nicely.

Alrighty!

Let's be positive !

Let's do blogging !

I'd love to put new things in my brilliant basket.

Well,

About new season!

Can you hear the spring footstep;-)))?

I can do it!

"Spring" is coming !!! Hooray!

It's called properly "Spring" from September.

So,

I found a good fresh wine at my favorite shop "Wild basket" in Neutralbay.

" Ballabourneen Moscato "

Spring color!!!

It's a new sparkling wine from Hunter Valley. It's very suitable for joyous occasion, lovely situation and celebration something new.

Look at a sweet label!!! It's lovely, isn't it?

The taste was great!

It's between rose n red sparkling.

Low alcohol, not much bubble, taste of grace

Sensational!!!

I had it at my friends' house bcs she invited my family as a farewell dinner.

Fresh Sashimi n fried shrimp dumpling, YUM!!! 

Thanks! It was amazing!

I brought its wine, a bouquet of gerbera, Belgian chocolate icecream and a strawberry cheese tart I baked.

Beautiful decoration!

I'm really grateful for good friends.

Thanks!

Please keep in touch;-)))))



Lovely friendship.



A xx

Awarded cafe!!! Single Origin Roasters

Researching a good cafe to meet a tasty coffee,

Beautiful !! my ideal image

This is a one of my hobbies as you know ^^

So,

I often ask people, who love to drink coffee, about those questions " which cafe is the best in Sydney? Do u have a favorite cafe? Which suburb r u interested in? etc..."

Fortunately,

There are a lot of good, passionate cafe in Sydney( I mean not only in CBD, but the centre of NSW )


When I got some recommendation, I always visit there to taste n verify it by myself.

In order to meet a delicious coffee, feel a nice atmosphere, get a energy!!!

Woooooo!!!

" Single Origin Roasters "

This photo from its Facebook album

  Mr Sasa is named best barista and the cafe where he works, Single Origin Roasters in Surry Hills, wins three cups - the equivalent of three hats in the Good Food Guides. It's the highest award in the Good Cafe Guide, signifying ''total commitment to outstanding coffee''.

He's Japanese! Congrats!

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/dishwashing-barista-rides-orient-espresso-to-peak-of-recognition-20120622-20tj8.html#ixzz22VCcPYUU

I quote from The Sydney Morning Herald.

So,

They have a specific " Take away shop "

I went there today by car with my little boyfriend^^

It took about 20 mins from my place. 

Look busy !!!

In Surry Hills as famous as urban, smart city...

I ordered a usual FW ( Flat white ), Homemade muffin " Blueberry Coconuts " and small hot chocolate for my devil ,hehe ^^

Yum!!!

That key coffee was tasty, soft, natural.

Surprisingly the muffins was so delicious, yummy!!!

Nicely crispy, soft and juicy^^

Oops! out of focus, sorry...from my table

I'm so happy to go there by estimate it, although unfortunately I missed Mr Sasa's coffee.

I'd love to add it for my favorite cafes^^

Thanks n c u next time for sure!!!

Lovely sophistication,

A xx

 

Meaningful trip!!! capital " Canberra "

Actually,

I really wanted to visit Canberra.

To see a nation " Australia " reflected in Its capital.

The symbol " Flagpole "of Australia's Parliament

I knew its history about which Canberra was chosen as the capital and it wasn't thrilling city.

But I wanted to go there.

Because it's simply the capital !!!

I visited Washington D.C. in 2008 when I was in U.S.

Its trip was amazing!!!

Still remember about Whitehouse, Lincoln's memorial, FBI, High Court and Smithsonian museum.

Well,

How about a trip to Canberra?

Awesome !!!

Than I expected.... haha

From the car

We drove down toward Canberra by our car having a break on the way going.

Very Australian, isn't it?

So it took 4 hours included about 1hour rest^^

Not too bad !

Nice short trip:-)

But....as you might know, it was winter and it was definitely colder than Sydney.

Yes, it was 4℃ in the daytime....1℃ at night (T_T)

So,

We enjoyed ice skating in the city.

We did at 4:00-5:30 pm

It was a limited event from 29th June to 29th July.

It was a big fun !!!

We bought a family ticket at just $44.

http://www.inthecitycanberra.com.au/skate-2/


And we had a dinner at hotel ^^

zzzzzzzz

And next day we had a time for sightseeing !!!

High Court of Australia which my husband most wanted to see 

National Gallery Of Australia which I most wanted to come (^^)/

Look !!! He seems to put a big monument in his hand

There were a lot of beautiful and very famous arts.

My boys also enjoyed seeking the famous pictures.

Like a treasure hunt game;-))

Then

Moved to the Naional Library of Australia

The entrance

With FW, hehe....

I took away FW cofee at library's cafe

Though the taste was so so...nothing special....

And,

Australian Parliament which we are most interested in

Over view

Forecourt w Aboriginal art

Can u see War Memorial far away?

It's the famous Roof !!!

Famous Prime Minister "John Howard 1996-2007"

And

Very precious !!!

The Senate

We could enter the room!!!

What a generous country !!!

Thank you so much ^^

Yes,

We were hungry.....

Canberra Centre for shopping, lunch.

Very normal...haha

And then 

Australian War Memorial which we most surprised to have a look.

I was very impressed by so many historical records.

It was a  huge museum

The great honor was shown everywhere.


Fantastic trip,


Very educational for my boys,


Lovely capital,



A xx