Skyping with my fam

At 5.30pm we skyped with my family. Little W was all dressed up like a little tiny Santa, so cute! We opened all our presents on skype and it was so good to see them all. I have a confession to make and sorry to say this, you know I love you all, but to see how my little nephew is, how happy he is to open the presents, tears up the wrapping and sees the content really was the best thing today! So fantastic to see. There is nothing like seeing a child at Christmas - I miss him so much!

Knowing my track record of getting presents through to my Sis I am pleased to say that this year, not only did all the presents get through in one piece – I think they liked them... Dad has one more to come via mail as well!

On our end – we loved them. Seriously good pressies this year and the coolest being the vintage skates from mum and dad! Very cool!

I am particularly pleased with my gifts this year as there were a lot of books and I have been craving a bit of Swedish reading lately.

Thank you all for our lovely presents. There were so many of them this year – we are very spoilt!!

I hope you all have a great day today and lots of love to you all!! Miss you! x x

A couple of our million lovely things we got today:

Snapshot

Today has been a great day! A great day! I repeat – a great day!!!!  Started with coffee/tea in bed and the beginning of a day’s long present orgy. We thought we’d open a couple in the morning. Proceeded to move from bed into living room and hyped up on more caffeine we got stuck into the pile of pressies, however (surprisingly) leaving a few for the afternoon!! (After the walk to the top of the hill and back, yes, we are working off some of that chocolate!) I am pleased, J is pleased  and Frida is pleased. I think we just got it really right this year. A lot of presents and no duds! Just the right thing. I got a lot of things I did not have on my wish list, so did J but we still loved all the things we got! Tres Bien! For you who  know me well you will not be surprised to know that the best present was a leaf blower!! Yes, did beat all the other presents including all the lovely girly pressies. I just love it! Have been meaning to buy one but have not got around to it so have been sweeping like a maniac instead. Now, job done in a jiffy!!! The only thing that might beat the leaf blower are the tickets to the tennis next year!! I am excited and can’t wait to go!!! (Sasja are you jealous?) J thought the best pressies from me this year were the wallet and the fish smoker!!!

Here are a snapshot of some of our pressies today;

Holly and other Christmasy things

The weather is rubbish but I love it. It is cold and rainy and for us that means we feel more like Christmas should... I have prepared the house,  Holly ready, God Jul Towels ready, candles are lit and this morning started with Christmas tea looking at the pile of pressies!!!!!!

Santa has arrived!

In this house we have it all. We do Christmas at least twice (this year 3 times) and we are very lucky to have loving families who have sent us presents and lots of cards.

We started last night with pressies from J's parents. Then we got stuck into the chocolate!!

Got a lovely George Jensen set - and also a tea thingy. You know one of those you use after you take the tea bag out of the tea cup. I have always wanted one. For 2 reasons a. it is so English, and I love the englishness of it, have a cup of tea and there is a thingy for your tea bag.. Very cute! And b. because it is practical - I always spill tea everywhere... !

Now back to the more important thing - George Jensen!!!! I love him - the design, the simpleness, the elegance. I am very pleased that we now also have posh coffeeware! Come on over for a cuppa people, it will be fancy! Thank you for our gifts!!!! x

Leading up to Christmas

Yesterday started with Body Pump. Go hard or go home I thought and stacked on the weights. Afterwards I went for a run with Frida. Today I can hardly walk. Picking up things from the floor is painful, getting in and out of the car a mission not to mention walking in stairs!  

This morning I thought I'd top it up with a spinning class. Now I actually feel better than before the class but it is still painful = a reminder of the fact that I need to be doign this more often! At least I feel alive, I feel good, motivated and ready for a new year with lots more exercise!

Statisics say: people stop going to the gym/exercise in December and start over in January - don't be part of this statistics, keep going - make time for your exercise and  you will feel better over Christmas and NY! 

Gourmet Dog

Shhh, don't tell Frida, this is one of her Christmas pressies... Chicken, mushroom and thyme...  Sounds good!! :)

Frida is that you ?

Wall paper

Found this wall paper at the Matisse expo. Apparently he had it in one of his houses in France.
I love it, I want it! Someone please start selling this one!!

Cheese

It is only Wednesday but we have already started the weekend gluttony with a French Goat.... Yuuum.

Best Sunday 3

We also went to see the exhibition by Yayoi Kusama : Look Now, See Forever.
Crazy and psychedelic but made us laugh and feel 12 again. Or possibly like being on a set of a new production of Alice in Wonderland on some kind of weird drug.

Alice in Wonderland?

12 again! :)

On drugs?

Best Sunday 2

After brunch we went to the Gallery of Modern Art. Wonderful experience. Yes, yes, yes, of course we loved Matisse – the expo is fantastic. If you get the chance to see it – do it!
I knew it was going to be brilliant beforehand so by that I was not surprised. He is a genius!
However I was surprised to find that in the end, by the cafe, they have set up a whole room\, with live music (violin of course!) a wonderful environment with lots of still lives, flowers, chaise longues, live models (no not nude you dirty people!) paper and pens for everyone, a number of ipads for people to draw on. Very clever!!
I am not an artist but hey, it was so inspiring that we all got stuck in drawing. J made a beautiful still life and mine was an attempt to draw the ‘body’ of a Greek God. My first attempt trying to draw the human body and really not my finest moment.. It is resting in the bin.
J’s drawing however I really liked so it will now be released to the public for the first time.... J
 

J's Still Life... Very good honey! 

Best Sunday!

The best Sunday ever started with breakfast at Stockholm Syndrome in Albion. We have never been there before and we both liked it. Noisy, but enjoyable. I am not sure if I enjoyed it slightly more due to the fact that some of the staff were Swedish so I got to chat away for a bit in OOdlie language... hihi. Anyway 1x French Toast (for J of course) + 1xBacon and Eggs (pour moi) later we were stuffed and on our way to the museum...

Food Safari

Dinner with Paul and Clair on Saturday night. We decided to do a food safari with them next year. Wine and dine in Brisbane and find new and exciting places to eat.
Saturday night we went to Sprout in Auchenflower. Lovely little place in the heart of Auchenflower.  Next to a Thai restaurant and a friendly Grocer you find Sprout. Interior is right up my alley. Red thick curtains, light floorboards, French country chunky tables mixed with Kartell Ghost inspired chairs. Modern, funky and light and airy.
The service was good, we were looked after well and had the right amount of ‘how are you going’-type of questions. Our waiter was French, which also helps with it all, it all just seems nicer  and let’s face it, all menus sound better in French!
Food. Hm, ok, it was good. Not great though. I guess after Aria a week ago, it is tough to eat and not compare! My starter (grilled haloumi) was not warm enough and the bread a bit too hard. My main, the Barramundi, was however fabulous. The dessert (Cheese platter) was dull.... J had a homemade gnocci that he raved about but was not impressed by the cheese either. Clair and Paul pretty much had the same thoughts as us even though Paul really loved the kangaroo with chocolate sauce (entre) and Clair really enjoyed the brazzo mercedes, which to be fair looked yummy!
Big minus - only BYO !
This is how we voted (out of 10):
Food: 7
Service: 8
Ambiance: 8
Will keep you posted on the Food Safar next year!

 

Boring haloumi however the combo, with watermelon really made it better than it was!

 Brazzo Mercedes... looking good!!!

Yoga night

Went to yoga tonight. I miss it when I don't go and I am so pleased J made me ( I was hovering around pretending I was busy doing other things... )

In the beginning I am always stiff, can’t get the breathing right, my thoughts are elsewhere: is my foot in the right place? What shall I cook for dinner? Must remember to buy toothpaste? – and other thoughts go through my head. After 10 minutes I was gone.. Forgot about the world and it was just me there, and my breath and my body. Wonderful feeling. Almost a bit spoilt, when do you ever just concentrate on yourself? Not often, there are always people around, things you have to do/say/fix. In yoga you can’t – you have to be present - if you don’t you fall over. It is just utter bliss to be hanging out with yourself, stretching in positions you really did not think you could, getting a bit further every time, breathing...

I feel at peace. I have faith. I feel very happy.

Swedish Weekend

Yesterday IKEA, today brekkie at Stockholm Syndrome...

Spinning or walk?

Skipped a 45 min long spinning class for a 95 minute long walk with Frida. I think I did the right thing, the forest was glorious, lots of beautiful butterflies and birds. There's a breeze this mornign as well so nice to be out! Ahh, what a morning!

Solo Sandwich

Solo tonight as J is out with work. Did not feel like cooking and not very hungry... So I made this one up...
I know this sarnie looks dry and boring but I have to tell you - it was not at all! It was perfection! Tasty, creamy (no cream just olive oill though) and just the right amount of ingredients.  Put this on fresh bread: Good tuna (in oil), red onion, ripe sun warm tomato, some shredded parmesan, salt, pepper, rocket and parsley.... Simple but YUUUM!!

Hey Alan Hey Steve

This one always cheers me up!!

Another Christmas tree

Found this tree this morning! Someone has decorated the Frangipani tree up the road - such a nice thing to do!

Doggy Swim

Due to all the rain we have had lately the creeks are full and Frida finds a way to go for a swim.... She loves it!!!

Happy Lucia!

Today is Lucia Day! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy's_Day
I always get nostalgic this day, I miss the cold and the dark. All lights lit, the sound of fire in the house, big coats and socks and nice long scarves. I know everyone that lives with that for months really hate it, the winter is just too long in Europe you all say. For us, it is almost exotic - I can't think of anything I'd rather do right now than open the blinds in the morning to find the garden full of snow!!! Especially on Lucia!!
Anyway Lucia day is special, Lucia day makes Decmeber shorter and brighter. It is a lovely tradition and I miss it!
Here is the Lucia celebrations from Gothenburg this morning:
http://svtplay.se/t/123386/luciafirande_i_svt 
For me it is 58 blissful minutes, but I am not sure you wil be able to get through it all. If you get bored, just forward wind - there are some really beautiful songs and it's from Gothenburg Cathedral which is beautiful.
Enjoy ! Happy Lucia everyone!! x x

Frangipani

The frangipani is in bloom. I love the smell - love how they look. Just so beautiful. My favourite flower after lillies!!!

Gingerbread Soap

Found this weird soap in Mary Ryan's.... hihi

Check!

Christmas cards written - Check!
Presents wrapped - Check!
Sent pressies OS - Check!
House decorated - Check!

Christmas is getting closer! :)

Photos of some pressies for lucky family members..... :