THIS REALLY TAKES THE CAKE -
Now, it was when I returned to my abode and turned the door handle to my bedroom (which had fallen off on the adjacent side earlier) only to discover that I was utterly locked out. Since I could not lock it myself because I hadn't been given a key for it (at that point) I couldn't work out how this was even possible!! I was a grumpy goose and I couldn't relax whatsoever until after I called my brother Jamie to calm my rage. My house mate suggested I try to jimmy the lock with a butter knife but as I have zero skills of breaking and entering it wouldn't budge. Rather than have an angry confrontation with a DOOR and waste hours waiting around for the landlord to bring a replacement key, I bailed. All was resolved and hunky dory, once I walked through the main door just after 10 that night as one of the girls had picked up a spare set of keys for it. Phhhewww!!
THE CRAZIEST OF CRAZIES -
I seated myself along Queen Street in a prime spot for The Farmer's Santa Claus Parade. It wasn't a timely start but it mattered not as thousands of free ice lollies were distributed to the crowd. I grabbed a lemon and lime from the chiller as I was feeling the citrus.
These parades are generally a let down for me as I want for them to be super Christmassy! This one included: Too many marching bands, flamboyant dancers, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, sea creatures, Austin Powers and his harem of flower power hippies and Disney princesses. NONE OF WHICH RELATES TO YULETIDE! The odd float blasted out a festive song but most of what came along was not connected to the reason for the season in any shape or form.
When Santa did rock up on his sleigh at the end of the proceedings, he raced by so swiftly that I... I mean THE KIDS.. barely got to see him!! And he for sure didn't shake his belly like a bowl full of jelly so he's an IMPOSTOR. 'YOU SIT ON A THRONE OF LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!' A pleasant hour or so was had all the same by the blithesome throng.
OY VEY WITH THE POODLES ALREADY -
Do you know how euphoric I was when it was announced that there was to be a Gilmore Girls revival???? I've always and will always want to reside in twinkly-lit Stars Hollow. Snuggling with a duvet, I had shivers at the first la la la's of A Year in the Life as I was sucked back into Lorelai and Rory's strange but special, caffeine-filled world of wonder. I loved every 90 minute movie with every molecule of my body. Yes, *even* that cliffhanger ending which dropped my jaw to the floor. The stories made me fulsomely joyful and teary and I WANT MOREEEEEEEEEEEEE. My main gripe was how the writers have broken our Rory by scrapping her integrity and taking the character in a selfish direction. That was not awesome!
THERE'S A LITTLE TWINKLE IN MY EYE FOR NZ -
A pebble's chuck away from my place is Auckland Domain, the oldest park in this fair city. The summer breeze was a dream as I traipsed through, stopping off at The Winter Gardens. I don't think there's a woman alive who doesn't like flowers and these were in full bloom in the glass houses of beauty. The marble figurines embellishing the courtyard have a palatial air; it's such a beautiful spot that many weddings are held there.
At exactly 30 days into my journey in Middle Earth, I've not even scratched the surface of all the places I want to cross off. Parnell Baths at Judges Bay may not have made the cut originally but when I found myself at a loose end, how could I not partake in that? This historic, outdoor swimming facility has been in use since the 1880's and as it was overcast, there were not heaps of peeps there. The spa pool was toasty but it was not on par with Waiwera Infinity Thermal Spa Resort. Nonetheless, it was utterly therapeutic to float and bob in sea water; my body became buoyant with the salt so I was whizzing around the water.
DESSERT IS MY LIFE'S PASSION.. MY HEART'S PASSION.. MY MOUTH'S PRIVILEGE -
I don't really know who I am if I'm not eating any. After literally stopping to smell the roses in Parnell's Rose Garden (they have every colour of the rainbow growing!) I graced Rosie's with my presence - heehee! Their French chocolate ganache, deconstructed hot chocolate had me rejoicing. The froth was a big flirt, I kissed up the flaky bits on the rim of my glass and salivated over the jug of ganache. The beverage gets the Rianne seal of approval but I was displeased to be shut out of the patio door like I was a mingy animal! Is it as I wasn't in my finest attire and my hair was wet and knotty from swimming? I'm sooooooo sorry I'm not one of your usual snooty, hoity-toity, upper class clientele and that you hated my face :(
When the hankering for summat sweet hit me the subsequent day, I headed straight to the fancy Milse to indulge in the exquisitely teeny but next level scrumptious kalingo, orange and ginger gateaux. Sumptuous and opulent with an orange tang that really hit the spot and what it lacks in physical portion size, it more than makes up for in pretty! I'm still tantalised by that chocolatey scent which is heaven SENT. Trouble is, there are so many other luxuriant cakes on the menu that I must return to sample other offerings.
FIGURE, BE DAMNED -
Me and noodles sort of rekindled things at Victoria Park's Night Noodle Market. The sun shone, the masses ate and the spicy aromas wafted. Plus, I spied many an attractive stranger ;) As I'm a cheapskate of late, I scoured all the stalls and their wares, then picked the most inexpensive choice of sweet soy noodles with eggplant, cilantro and peanut. Thai women performed some martial arts dance with swords; they were nutbags but ADORABLE nutbags!
Nobody makes organic gelato like Lalele anymore. How could I pass up on the imaginative flavourings of strawberry, coconut and lavender in a waffle cone? *THIS* is what love tastes like, people!
I frolicked across Auckland's coolest of beans light path (on it's 1st anniversary) following the rainbow of bikers, racing to the cake. A sweet young girl had been separated from her parents as the current of cyclists sped off; it was heart melting to see them reunited as she was frantic with panic.
FIVE TIMES THE FESTIVE FUN -
I got to Christmas it up a bit with Kaitlyn, Errica and Candice at Town Hall's Christmas Celebration. As we'd queued up over an hour early, we were able to nab seats 3 rows from the front. It was a joy and honour to be so close to the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and the LDS choir; their talent engulfed the auditorium. The orchestra played with conviction and all soloists/duos sang our faces off!
Singing carols merrily with a collective of Christmas lovers has got to be one of the coolest feelings in all the world. I gave it some welly too!! My stand out song of the night was a man who graced us with O Holy Night operatically; his abilities are otherworldly! It made me tingle when all joined for the finale to rapturously belt out 'Joyful joyful' from Sister Act, as would a gospel choir.
THE CRAZIEST OF CRAZIES -
These parades are generally a let down for me as I want for them to be super Christmassy! This one included: Too many marching bands, flamboyant dancers, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, sea creatures, Austin Powers and his harem of flower power hippies and Disney princesses. NONE OF WHICH RELATES TO YULETIDE! The odd float blasted out a festive song but most of what came along was not connected to the reason for the season in any shape or form.
When Santa did rock up on his sleigh at the end of the proceedings, he raced by so swiftly that I... I mean THE KIDS.. barely got to see him!! And he for sure didn't shake his belly like a bowl full of jelly so he's an IMPOSTOR. 'YOU SIT ON A THRONE OF LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!' A pleasant hour or so was had all the same by the blithesome throng.
Do you know how euphoric I was when it was announced that there was to be a Gilmore Girls revival???? I've always and will always want to reside in twinkly-lit Stars Hollow. Snuggling with a duvet, I had shivers at the first la la la's of A Year in the Life as I was sucked back into Lorelai and Rory's strange but special, caffeine-filled world of wonder. I loved every 90 minute movie with every molecule of my body. Yes, *even* that cliffhanger ending which dropped my jaw to the floor. The stories made me fulsomely joyful and teary and I WANT MOREEEEEEEEEEEEE. My main gripe was how the writers have broken our Rory by scrapping her integrity and taking the character in a selfish direction. That was not awesome!
A pebble's chuck away from my place is Auckland Domain, the oldest park in this fair city. The summer breeze was a dream as I traipsed through, stopping off at The Winter Gardens. I don't think there's a woman alive who doesn't like flowers and these were in full bloom in the glass houses of beauty. The marble figurines embellishing the courtyard have a palatial air; it's such a beautiful spot that many weddings are held there.
At exactly 30 days into my journey in Middle Earth, I've not even scratched the surface of all the places I want to cross off. Parnell Baths at Judges Bay may not have made the cut originally but when I found myself at a loose end, how could I not partake in that? This historic, outdoor swimming facility has been in use since the 1880's and as it was overcast, there were not heaps of peeps there. The spa pool was toasty but it was not on par with Waiwera Infinity Thermal Spa Resort. Nonetheless, it was utterly therapeutic to float and bob in sea water; my body became buoyant with the salt so I was whizzing around the water.
I don't really know who I am if I'm not eating any. After literally stopping to smell the roses in Parnell's Rose Garden (they have every colour of the rainbow growing!) I graced Rosie's with my presence - heehee! Their French chocolate ganache, deconstructed hot chocolate had me rejoicing. The froth was a big flirt, I kissed up the flaky bits on the rim of my glass and salivated over the jug of ganache. The beverage gets the Rianne seal of approval but I was displeased to be shut out of the patio door like I was a mingy animal! Is it as I wasn't in my finest attire and my hair was wet and knotty from swimming? I'm sooooooo sorry I'm not one of your usual snooty, hoity-toity, upper class clientele and that you hated my face :(
When the hankering for summat sweet hit me the subsequent day, I headed straight to the fancy Milse to indulge in the exquisitely teeny but next level scrumptious kalingo, orange and ginger gateaux. Sumptuous and opulent with an orange tang that really hit the spot and what it lacks in physical portion size, it more than makes up for in pretty! I'm still tantalised by that chocolatey scent which is heaven SENT. Trouble is, there are so many other luxuriant cakes on the menu that I must return to sample other offerings.
Me and noodles sort of rekindled things at Victoria Park's Night Noodle Market. The sun shone, the masses ate and the spicy aromas wafted. Plus, I spied many an attractive stranger ;) As I'm a cheapskate of late, I scoured all the stalls and their wares, then picked the most inexpensive choice of sweet soy noodles with eggplant, cilantro and peanut. Thai women performed some martial arts dance with swords; they were nutbags but ADORABLE nutbags!
Nobody makes organic gelato like Lalele anymore. How could I pass up on the imaginative flavourings of strawberry, coconut and lavender in a waffle cone? *THIS* is what love tastes like, people!
I frolicked across Auckland's coolest of beans light path (on it's 1st anniversary) following the rainbow of bikers, racing to the cake. A sweet young girl had been separated from her parents as the current of cyclists sped off; it was heart melting to see them reunited as she was frantic with panic.
I got to Christmas it up a bit with Kaitlyn, Errica and Candice at Town Hall's Christmas Celebration. As we'd queued up over an hour early, we were able to nab seats 3 rows from the front. It was a joy and honour to be so close to the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and the LDS choir; their talent engulfed the auditorium. The orchestra played with conviction and all soloists/duos sang our faces off!
Singing carols merrily with a collective of Christmas lovers has got to be one of the coolest feelings in all the world. I gave it some welly too!! My stand out song of the night was a man who graced us with O Holy Night operatically; his abilities are otherworldly! It made me tingle when all joined for the finale to rapturously belt out 'Joyful joyful' from Sister Act, as would a gospel choir.
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