Ozzy Christmas in July
When it came to my first Christmas in Australia, I was horrified to learn that the traditions on this side of the world are a little different to back home. Given that it’s the height of summer with scorching hot temperatures in December, the typical roast dinner and all the trimmings is swapped for a spread of seafood and cold salads. Consequently, Australians have developed their own tradition of celebrating ‘Christmas in July’ during their winter time (despite it remaining around 20 degrees here in Sydney!)
In honour of this celebration, my PR firm hosted their very own Christmas party this month with all the tinsel and outrageous festive decor in check. Catching the ferry from Barangaroo to Balmain as the sun set, we made our way to The East Village Hotel to get merry over mulled wine and a pub trivia quiz.
Once sat at our tables, everyone pulled their crackers, popped on their paper hats and the trivia commenced. Plenty of wines down and soon the roast dinner was served. We were presented with a typical feast of turkey, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, brussel sprouts, green beans, cranberry sauce and plenty of gravy. The only missing key component was the Yorkshire puds, but I’ll forgive the Aussies on this one 😉
To finish we were treated to a platter of deserts including mince pies and fruit cake. With bellies full and the trivia over, whilst everyone continued on drinking at the bar, my night cap was an order of a pot of tea…you can take the girl outta England, but you can’t take the English outta the girl!
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 an eye test to get my prescription, I went about trying on the different frames. With my heart shaped face and square jaw line, the assistant advised on the types of designs that would work for me. I wanted a frame that was subtle yet stylish, so I opted for a thin gold pilot style actually meant for men.
It’s taking a bit of getting accustomed to wearing them, but what a world of difference they make to my vision; watching TV from the sofa, walking to work and looking out over the harbour, it’s like seeing everything in HD. I can proudly say I am now part of the four eyes glasses gang and unashamed to be so 🙂
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.
Friday night I was treated to the best homemade beef burgers with all the extras including cheese, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, gherkin and chilli relish, just what I needed after a long day at work and two hour train journey out of the city. To top it all off, he also found my favourite Malbec red wine with a logo of a Flamingo wearing ballet shoes – it’s like it was made for me! We watched The Graham Norton Show whilst devouring our burgers, making for the perfect Friday night setup.
#BurgerPorn
With such exquisite fish I decided to keep the side dishes super simple; herby buttered new potatoes, steamed green beans, rocket beetroot salad topped with pepitas and a garlic mayo relish mixed with diced gherkins. It was a feast of fresh delights which was as delicious as it was nutritious. Following our meal, we sat back with our Merlot wines and watched a good movie on Netflix, Lost Paradise.
As Sunday rolled around far too quickly, we wanted to meal prep some snacks for the week. Together we made savoury spiced pumpkin feta muffins and peanut butter chocolate date balls which were made of a few basic ingredients; medjool dates, oats, desiccated coconut, peanuts, smooth pb, honey and I swapped the raw cacao for Milo powder, what a game changer! These sweet bites taste so naughty and could easily compete with a chocolate truffle on taste, yet have nothing but natural goodness in them. Enjoy as a healthy snack or crumble over yoghurt or even desert.
It certainly was a weekend of fabulous food and of course perfect wine to match. I have to remind myself that it’s important taking time out sometimes to completely switch off, give my busy mind a rest and indulge in the simple pleasures which nourish my body as well as feed the soul.
On a rainy Tuesday evening in Sydney, we made our way over to Palace Cinemas in Broadway to share some pre-show drinks and nibbles. We were treated to mezze platters of cheese to accompany a comforting glass of red wine. Following a good catchup and chitchat with colleagues, we made our way into the theatre to take our seats for the film. Of course we went via the bar to line up drinks and order in snacks for the movie and there I was double parked on a Tuesday!
Despite the cheesy outbursts of song, I thought the movie was fabulous with a raw edge which made for a more real portrayal of Elton John’s life. Having our own private theatre prompted us to act like children as we had a laugh throwing popcorn at each other, not so accepted when in a public cinema. The evening continued on at another bar in Broadway and I found myself one too many red wines down for a Tuesday night – thankfully there were others on my page and up for a few drinks too!
With winter closing in and that brisk chill in the air, we got the fire pit roaring in the garden and saw down the sun with a few drinks and some good old Australian yarns! Later on we ventured to the local pub in town where the drinks are cheap and you’re never far from a familiar face. It was great being back in the countryside leaving all the madness of city life behind me and just enjoying time spent with friends… ‘A good laugh and a long sleep are the best two cures for anything.’
Arriving at the crack of dawn on this sunny Easter Sunday, we got to work setting up and playing around with different layouts to display the candles best. Her collection of scented candles are exquisite with a range of aromas from sweet and fruity to the more floral and woody.
On the whole it was a successful first go at the markets and we already have more booked in the diary which I am keen to be on board with. My friend was so thrilled to have my support and gifted me my favourite scented candle ‘citrus zest and coconut’ as a thank you. It was an honour to be there for such a talented co-worker who is not only a great friend and makes me chuckle, but inspiring mentor who is full of wisdom.
The first race was at 12:15, so we all got to the racecourse by midday to grab a spot by the track whilst still in prime location near to the bar! It was a swelteringly hot day, so between a few glasses of bubbles I sipped on diet soda all afternoon to stay hydrated.
Unlike the typical races back home in the UK, I was surprised to see that the dress code and general atmosphere here in Australia is a lot more informal. With benches laid out on the grass and food vans selling mostly hot chips and burgers, it was certainly a far cry from the fine dining options and lavish outfits of Royal Ascot. Nevertheless, everyone from our company made an effort and got spruced up for the occasion, especially all the gals!
It was fascinating watching the horses which are so incredibly fit with their veins protruding from their muscles following the race. Now I can truly appreciate the power and skill of these highly trained, magnificent creatures.
It was a glorious day getting to mingle with my work colleagues as we basked in the sunshine all afternoon cheering on the horses as we placed our bets. I love any excuse to get dolled up and it was lovely to see everyone enjoying some down time away from the office.
Dani Aneka 