Vintage Espresso

A couple of weekends ago we were looking for somewhere to have brunch on the Gold Coast that wasn't embedded in the tourist strip.  I spotted this retro little cafe in a handy local guide and we were not disappointed.  The interior was furnished with all sorts of vintage mismatched bits and pieces that captured our interest.  The menu had cute graphics printed on brown card and of course the food was delicious.  It was such an unexpected and refreshing find...

Hinterland Views

Today I drove up north to Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland to visit a client.  It was a tough day at the office...  This is a view south towards the Glasshouse Mountains, one of many panoramic views from the Blackall Range.

High Tea with Friends

James and I were delighted to host Angela's birthday high tea on Sunday.  Angela and I have been great friends ever since meeting in the eighth grade of high school and we've been close ever since.  James and I have held a number of afternoon teas over the years but Angela had moved to Melbourne some years back and had missed them.  Hence I wanted to hold a high tea especially for her on a very special birthday and I wanted everything to be perfect!  James transformed our little city balcony into a leafy oasis and I baked up a storm to fill the table with scones with jam and cream, cupcakes, the most enormous birthday cake with chocolate mousse icing and ribbon sandwiches.  Everything was blue and white, the lilies from the markets opened up and Caroline bought along lots of bubbly with delicious hibiscus flowers.  It was great to finally meet all the friends Angela had mentioned over the years and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves over the never ending pots of tea.  Happy birthday Angela!

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A Beach Cottage

Powerhouse Farmers' Markets

We were graced with the most beautiful Brisbane weather on Saturday morning waking up to glorious sunshine and clear azure skies.  We headed over to the Powerhouse Farmers' Markets to pick up fresh produce and flowers for the special birthday high tea we were hosting the following day.  The markets were so busy with early risers but lovely and colourful with so much to tempt us.  Perhaps it's because I am still thinking of France but I definitely found myself charmed by all the French inspired stalls brimming with macarons and pain au raisin.  I loved the plum tomatoes in the baskets and the cake stall was amazing with towers of the biggest lamingtons I have ever seen! A wonderful way to start the weekend...

Apartment Gardening

Yesterday we hosted a high tea so in preparation I thought it time to reinvigorate the garden... our small balcony garden that is.  I split our orchid into three, upsized the pots for a few plants including our fast growing jade plant, and found new spots for our olive tree and bougainvillea.  The new arrangement made my Sunday morning coffee all the more satisfying.

New Farm Homes

We took these photos a couple of weeks ago while in New Farm, just east of Brisbane City.  Helen was looking for a suitable spot for a university project while on the way to lunch at Cafe Bouquiniste.  So many beautiful homes there.  I particularly love the old Queensland worker's cottage in the third, beautifully restored and tucked in behind a big green leafy tree.

Postcards of Paris - Part 2

Arc de Triomphe

Pont d'Arcole

La Defense

Musée du quai Branly

Rue Foyatier

Sacré-Coeur Basilica

Ok, one last retrospective from our recent holiday...  The next post will be well and truly grounded in Brisbane.

Weekend at QT

It was going to be our weekend beach getaway with sun, surf and sand aplenty.  Obviously not to be as we woke up to a slate coloured sky and the sound of beating rain.  However, booked in we were and we decided to make the best of it, a bottle of Perrier Jouet in hand and a wishful basket of beach towels and sunscreen (in case the sun reappeared...?).  Nevertheless, I was interested to check out the recently refurbished Gold Coast International Hotel remade into the QT Hotel.  Upon arriving I did love the eclectic hotel foyer and lounge areas consisting of a vibrant mix of colourful furniture, lighting and quirky decor touches like a collection of vintage sunburst clocks along one wall.  The mixture of 50s and 70s design aesthetic appealed to me very much. We settled in and watched the grey ocean with its grey waves rolling in conceding that we would have to be content with books, candles and champagne for the evening... and perhaps indulge in some room service.  Altogether a very relaxing day in the end...

Mariage Frères

I have loved the Mariage Frères Marco Polo tea blend for many years and have longed to visit one of their Salons de Thé.  Marco Polo is difficult to find in Brisbane so I was excited to discover on our return to Paris that we happened to be a stone's throw away from their Rue du Bourg-Tibourg tea salon in Le Marais.  I relished the chance to try some of Mariage Frères' other blends and discovered Fis de France and Haute Mer to be additional favourites.  The tea room beyond the store proper was an oasis from the wintery streets of Paris.  I loved my tea flavoured creme brulee and stocked up on tea supplies as gifts and to sustain us back in Brisbane.  A must visit in Paris if you love tea like I do!

Version Symphonique

While in Paris I wanted to pick up some local music.  I came across Calogero's Version Symphonique in a Virgin store while moving from headset to headset, sampling various artists.  It was a very fortunate find because it turned out to be the perfect soundtrack for our drive through the Luberon.  Now it will always remind us of being en vacances.

Avignon et le Fort Saint-André

We arrived in Avignon late in the afternoon having meandered across from the Luberon.  It was the last stop of the day before returning to Aix.  We took a brisk walk through the walled city exploring the narrow streets and picking up some baguette, camembert de Normandy and caramels along the way.  The ancient city walls insulated the streets in the old city from the modern highway traffic beyond. Avignon is wonderfully atmospheric with beautiful buildings and interesting vistas at every turn.  We made our way up to Fort Saint Andre to gain a better vantage point overlooking the city and surrounds.  The last rays of the sun cast a golden glow over the city below.