Mini break ahoy

Spent a lovely long weekend with my family in Mollymook, a few hours south of Sydney, celebrating my beautiful mama's 60th birthday. In total style of course, staying at Rick Steins gorgeous restaurant/hotel, Bannister's.


Crummy photo trying to include the infinity pool and ocean from my room. Fail.

Omg the food was to die for!! All and sundry (well anyone who will listen) know I'm not a big seafood fan, but if it always tasted this good, I'd eat nothing else!!!


My escalopes of salmon.... I die.



Cake's ornate sashimi.



Sister Cake & Sailor Jerry



Dad and Bonne Mamo!

Also went country market and op shopping! Got me a fantastic 50's anodized cocktail shaker and 70s silverknit top, as well as I've possibly been convinced to join a trek to a Nepalese orphanage in 2012 by a local lady I met who travels there yearly to raise money for it. It's probably a bad thing that it was not the orphanage bit that attracted me but the opportunity to stay with local woman who will teach me traditional crafting techniques :/

White Whine #4: A night at the opera

I kept this white whine simmering on the DL for awhile due to its familial nature. Me bringing it up on the internets may bring me strife as it was a nice gesture gone awry but I am no stranger controversy. My lack of shame or tact much like my dancing, is legendary. However, this is such a first world, middle class bastard white whine, I couldn't resist posting it here for prosperities sake.

This is a bit of a long story so this is the short version. When I was first in Paris about a month ago, I was forced to go to the opera with my brothers wifes parents (without my brother or his wife because he wanted to watch the soccer grrrr) and sit thru a FIVE HOUR german opera by Wagner about an incestuous brother and sister couple who are in love and run away then are killed by Viking gods. I kid you not. My inner Jew was screaming. I couldn't write material this ridiculous. My sister faked illness in the first hour and got to leave and I was STUCK there, no food, no sudoku, didnt understand a word, NOTHING.

By the end I couldn't even pretend I liked it. Maybe the best bit was about 20 guys who got fully nude for a scene but even then I was like, nope, not even some random French penis makes up for it.

Now far away from it, it was a great experience and it gives us all a hearty laugh! - "Hey, remember the time we had to watch a German opera for five hours??!! Ho ho ho!!"

The singing was amazing and the sets fantastic leaving Opera Australia for dead but still, I want five hours of my life back, please.

Paris - a hipstamatic view #4

The best way to see Paris - at night on the Seine:






Unknown pointy stick:



Alexander III bridge:






Musee D'orsay, which I finally got to see (after 5minslatedoorshutinfacegate) is HUGE!






"idiot...."



"....more idiots"












It's not easy being green...and pink:



Photos by everyone...!

Paris - a hipstamatic view #2

I'm having a lot of fun playing with different combinations of "lenses", "flashes" and "film" on my simulated-Lomo program on my phone, much to everyone elses annoyance.


Too pretty to eat.


Mr & Mrs Jones



St Paul metro, Marais


Pretty but I am really getting over churches.





Can't remember what this was, something old probably


I LOVE the art noveau metro signs and ornate wrought iron fencing that is above many station entrances.





Pere Lachaise cemetery


Having photo fun at Notre Dame











Idiots


More idiots


Luxembourg gardens.... The most beautiful park I have been to...

Mon frère mariage

Brother J and Miss B on their wedding day, June 19, 2010 in Rueil-Malmaison. It was a fantastic day, I had a wonderful (and surreal) time with my family, extended family, B's family and friends.



First, the official ceremony at the Town Hall. B is overjoyed to now be officially related to moi.



Then the church service soon after (France divides church and state, church weddings are not legally recognised.) This church is also where Josephine Bonaparte, wife of Napoleon, is buried as Rueil-Malmaison was her home.



Brother J has done pretty well for himself!



Then the reception at Chateau Tromble (I think that's how it's written, I called it Trombone). I think it's haunted... well that's what I told people anyway.



This place was huge, as it also had a golf course and it's own Ikea. A totally amazing location for a reception! Look at the grounds! The reception also included a murder mystery and a game of crocquet.

No, not really.



The table settings were stunning and way too fancy for a pleb like me... I die!



*I am only uploading a few "hipstamatic" photos from the wedding as I have a special project planned for the rest! B, you will just have to wait til then to see them all!

ANZAC weekend

This is my grandfather, who is probably around my age or a little older in this photograph. He served with the RAF as Bomber Command during WW2, flying 37 missions over Germany and France with his crew, all whom returned.

Subject aside, I really love this photograph. I think the light and shadow play capture an elegant strength and bravery.

All things French

I have never been to France but my brother lives there. He is marrying a "French" woman, (lets call her B) although her real "Frenchness" has come into question and I do have some concerns.

I've studied art and the great French masters at university so clearly I'm an expert. Many things that I and a great number of other knowledgeable people associate with France, my soon-to-be sister in law claims to have little knowledge nor association with. For instance:

• She claims no one dresses like this:

Ok, I'll let B slide on that one. Considering the look is very dated, the beret is kind of cliche and I imagine the horizontal striped attire does not suit all figures (especially those who like to indulge the baguettes, cheese and wine on a daily basis). However, the facial hair is a reasonable possibility for both genders over 50, especially those Mediterranean types that like to sneak across the border.

• B said "Yoplait" is not French for "yum", it is in fact French for nothing at all. Lies!
  
  
• She also claims this band is not French but BELGIAN:

The Plastic Bertrand Band - Undeniably ridiculous and French-sounding.

• Perhaps most shockingly of all, B has practically no interest and utmost repulsion for France's only known actor, Gérard Depardieu:

The jury is still out on B.