Love brings you home
Sometimes it takes a little time and space to truly appreciate and cherish your humble beginnings. Whilst my adventure down under has been more than I could’ve ever wished for, I’m so excited to be returning home to my loved ones after almost two years away.
Up in the clouds on the long journey back to the UK, I can’t help but feel nostalgic reflecting on my experiences and achievements accomplished on my time in Aus. I’m so incredibly lucky to have my family and the life long friends made down under, who I have shared so many beautiful memories with.
As I head home to England for a few months, this certainly isn’t the end of the road for my Aussie life as I return to Sydney for the New Year and my 25th Birthday in January…so Ciao for now Aus, it ain’t over yet!
We strolled the Bondi to Bronte beach walk as we devoured our delicious pots of refreshing acai and caught up on life.
When we reached Bronte it was time to grab an arvo coffee. We went to Huxton’s Cafe on the main drag where it was hard to resist the indulgent array of stunning cakes, fluffy doughnuts and largest lamingtons I’d ever seen!
Of course a trip into the city wouldn’t be complete without a bit of retail therapy too. I visited Newtown to have a good browse of the eclectic mix of vintage and outlet stores where I finally purchased the perfect dress for my brother’s wedding at the end of the month. Opting for an authentically Australian made peice, the dress was only $69 from the Melbourne brand Ache.
One final stop by Paddington for the afternoon and I inevitably ended up in my favourite shoe boutique on Oxford Street. Zomp sells hundreds of covetable designer shoes at a discount price, making it hard to resist adding to my ever growing shoe collection anytime I visit the store. In search of a pair of heels to match the dress for my brother’s wedding, I bought this stunning pair of Senso satin copper pink mules down from $200 to $95.
Going back to where it all started in the Paddo hood was the perfect way to end my last weekend here in Sydney for a while. It won’t be long before I’m back in town again though, no doubt strolling the beaches in the Australian summer sun with an acai bowl in hand and good friend by my side ❤
As a good friend of mine is one of the team behind this new hotspot, we visited the cafe this Friday evening to experience it firsthand (and see our friend in action of course!) Dropping in on a blustery winter’s evening, we were greeted by toy wombats and kangaroos as we took our seats on the wooden benches. At 7pm on a Friday night the place was already packed out.
The menu is super simple with their famous cheeseburger taking pride of place as star of the show. We began with the Curry Roo Party Pie, a novelty for me as I’d never tried kangaroo meat before. Whilst this delicacy has struck a nerve with some customers, roo meat is actually very sustainable as there is an abundance of wild kangaroos which get killed and discarded of anyway.
That’s not to say this restaurant isn’t vegetarian friendly though – the mixed greens served on a smashed potato salad are delicious and the cheeseburger can even be made veggie with a mushroom pattie.
Bush cafe has certainly filled a gap in the market when it comes to traditional and somewhat ironic Aussie fare. Whilst the interiors reflect the outback with sandstone walls and wooden table tops carved by locals, the nostalgic menu feels like you’re in the company of true Australians at home – well done lads, keep it real!
Its been a pleasure enjoying the beauty and convenience of the homely neighbourhood of Lavender Bay. For the first time here in Australia I had a room to really make my own and decorate with the eclectic mixture of ornaments and memories collected along my journey so far. From the lovely candles gifted to me from my friend’s company the El Collective, to the awesome tribal necklace passed on from my Auntie, I like my pieces to have a story behind them.
Having said this, I can be guilty of getting too comfortable and therefore find change a difficult thing to accept. It wasn’t easy making the decision to move out and spend my final month in Australia back down in the Southern Highlands, however a chance to wind-down and rest following such an exhausting first half of the year is just what I need! As my job in the city finished up last week and the lease was up on the flat, the timing actually couldn’t be better to escape the city.
I will be starting fresh on my return to Australia following my brother’s Wedding and spending some much needed time back home in the UK. It’s been a rollercoaster over the past six months here and the stresses of full-time work have certainly taken their toll. So here I find myself back in the picturesque Southern Highlands spending quality time with my boyfriend and friends before flying home. No doubt I will still be back in Sydney for a few weekends over the next month to catchup with friends and family, go to the beach and have some nights out at my favourite bars too!
On leaving Lavender Bay I take with me many fond memories from a whirlwind of a time residing in such a stunning corner of Sydney. I feel privileged to have discovered a hidden gem of the city and will be back to visit Wendy’s Secret Garden for summer picnics and arvo drinks with friends. For now though I say goodbye and welcome new beginnings for my next adventure…on we go.
Whilst on the face of it my role often appears to be the thankless job, it can be the most rewarding hosting successful events or being of assitance to team members when they are under client deadlines. In my view, the employees in my teams are my clients, so supporting them to reach their full potential and keeping team morale high is my goal.
Our Christmas in July party that evening left the office very bare on Friday for my last day. However my Manager treated me to brekky at Back Row West and that afternoon also put together a delicious cheese board including popcorn, dark chocolate and berries – yum!
I was presented with a huge card filled with so many lovely messages, along with a leaving gift of a gorgeous blue leather KiKi-K planner embossed with my name in gold lettering.
The teams gathered around to say farewell and some very touching words were said about all the hard work I have put in over the past six months. It’s pleasing to know that all the hours and commitment to the job haven’t gone unnoticed and I have made a difference to the agency in my short time there.
From having my head stuck in a spreadsheet for hours on end, to serving up countless platters of food and topping up the team’s wine glasses on a Friday arvo, it certainly has been a blast – Cheers opr Agency!
‘Dream big, work hard, stay focused, and surround yourself with good people.’
With sweeping views across the harbour and CBD skyline, I feel very fortunate to have made this journey on a daily basis. The fresh air and exercise in the mornings always gets me motivated for work and physically exerts my body before many hours sat at my desk.
Located on the North shore, Wendy Whitley’s Secret Garden boasts the best view in town of the iconic Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Luna Park and CBD skyline all in one. With the most stunning sunsets and breathtaking outlook over Sydney, I still find myself in awe every time I take a stroll down to the waters edge.
The garden is open to the public and free of charge to visit, yet remains a hidden gem of Sydney. An old railway runs right through the centre too adding character to this perfectly formed oasis.
A number of foot paths and steps wind around the garden leading to little spots ideal to setup for a picnic or even doing a morning yoga stretch. There’s always new areas to discover and I loved this wall mural I found on my latest wonder through the garden.
For anyone visiting Sydney or locals just looking for an alternative to the heaving beaches in summer, Wendy’s Secret Garden is the place to be. As well as taking a stroll with my morning coffee on weekends, I’ve often grabbed a pizza with friends and we’ve walked down to enjoy the sunset from the most magical spot in Sydney…Golden hour at its best.
Following six months of full-time work at my PR firm, I must now move on given the limitations of my visa. Whilst it will be sad to say goodbye to a company and role which has taught me so much, I look forward to new beginnings and the prospect of developing all the skills and knowledge I have gained from my current job.
As I pack my bags to go back to the UK for a few months to celebrate my brother’s wedding, the time has come to move out of my flat here in Lavender Bay too. I will hold many fond memories of my time here and feel blessed to have been able to experience living in such a special corner of Sydney.
I’ve been inspired by the eclectic decor and quirky artistic touches in every corner of this wonderful flat. My lovely landlady has been a pleasure to live with and her vivacious approach to life is very admiral…the ‘Fuck Fuckity’ wall placard says it all – don’t take life too seriously!
So as the sunsets on my final week here, I can’t help but feel a twang of nostalgia as I reflect on my short but sweet time in the lovely neighbourhood of Lavender Bay. If I was to write a letter back to myself when I moved in six months ago, I would remind that girl to exhale the worry, embrace the good times and just enjoy every minute of the journey.
With a delectable menu of modern Australian cuisine and a twist of European influences, it was hard to choose. For appetisers the Burrata, Lobster Tacos and Grilled Corn caught my attention. However we went straight in on mains, so I opted for the Beetroot Salad served with spiced pumpkin, heirloom carrot, roasted sprouts, humous, goats curd and a garnish of flaked almonds.
This dish was not only exquisitely presented, but the roasted veg were served piping hot and seasoned to perfection. I particularly liked the wintery twist of spiced pumpkin and by favourite brussel sprouts, bringing together a colourful plate of delicious food as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the tastebuds!
From the specials board, my collegue went for the Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup served with sourdough, a perfect winter warmer. My manager chose the Sweet Potato Gnocchi served in a pea puree with grilled asparagus, Persian feta, crispy kale and dry ranch. Yet another stunning bowl of food with gorgeous flavour also inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. I would highly recommend visiting Wild Sage for an ideallyic long lunch savouring fine food and lapping up those European al fresco dining vibes.
To think that this time last year I packed my suitcase and ventured down to the Southern Highlands to embark on my farm work, I still can’t believe my luck to have ended up in such a place much like my home back in England. That quaint little town of Moss Vale became my home for 4 months, during which I established some of my closest friends who I continue to catch up with on my visits back to the Aussie countryside.
Now I find myself back in Sydney making the most of working city life and soon to move into a different role for another 6 months of my visa. I’m unsure where this next chapter will take me, but I hope to make the most of this year and continue making many beautiful memories with all the wonderful people I meet along my journey.
