the not-so-greytown

I have a bit of a thing for place-names and knowing what they mean, breaking them down to their latin and old english roots. I like looking out for the 'wich' or 'wick' in old english names and therefore instantly knowing something about their past, just by their name*. It must be my geographical background. Despite learning heaps of much more complicated facts, figures and concepts, I will still notice and remark settlements being well placed on a river meander or a hill for defence and visibility. (Harking back to the days where a river bend protected you from your arrow-wielding enemies rather than providing a site for panoramic, riverfront apartment blocks.)

It was based on this that, naturally, I was not exactly excited to visit the home of my boyfriend's aunt, Greytown in New Zealand. One must remark that it does sound particularly bleak.

Not so! Greytown, in the Wairapa region that skirts Wellington, like neighbouring Masterton and Castleton was named after its first governor, Sir George Grey rather than any suggestion to a gloomy climate or a stone masonry background. And indeed, grey is the last word to describe this really lovely town. After 6 long, urban months in Melbourne, the little shops and tearooms, situated in the lush mountain valleys of Greytown and its surrounding Wairapa towns was exactly what the doctor ordered.

An hour outside of Wellington and highly recommended.... And a personal recommendation (if I may) - Finishing Touches on the Main Street. Chocked to the brim with treats for home and friends!

*Wich/Wick means market. eg. Greenwich = Green Market, Keswick = Cheese Market)

this is australia

I had a fantastic little library of picture books as a child. My mother had a real weakness for book illustrations, and I suppose books were more often chosen and bought on their aesthetic qualites than their literary merit.

I still have many of these beautiful books, much loved now, but the pictures just as vivid to me. One of my favourite sets was on a manx cat (without a tail) called Max who travelled the world, including Australia, looking for his tail.

As my boyfriend, and travelling companion, is named Max, inevitably this book, like its protagonist took the long journey from London and sits happily on our bookcase in Melbourne.

There has been a real resurgence of beautiful old and retro books over the last few years, in many different forms, with aesthetic often taking precedence over quality of story or indeed facts. This is very much the case with the now overwhelming popularity of the Miroslav Sasek, 'travel books'. Written between the late 50s and his death in 1980, these books have had renewed admiration with a new reissue every few months. Starting with the iconic New York, Paris, London and San Francisco in 2003-4, we are now seeing the more unusual Greece and Israel titles.

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The illustrations are the real star in the books. Readers forgive the frequent asterixes that indicate the many, many factual discrepancies that now exist, enchanted instead by the stunning images. How refreshing, in an age of information-hunger and a constant strive for scientific fact, that such wrong books can be more popular than ever.

For our first Valentines Day together, last year, my boyfriend and I booked a trip to Paris, a first visit for him. My gift to him of the iconic 'This is Paris' book, went down very well, even despite the 'mistakes'.

This year, amidst our fervent saving, I was stuck for a meaningful, yet suitably thrifty gift. You can imagine my elation to discover the reissue of.....

You guessed it:

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Predictably, the illlustrations and text are as lovely as ever. I'm not quite sure Max was as pleased to recieve it as I was to give it though. I was very very happy to find it after all.

The only problem now is that I've set up a tradition. Locations for our travels have become limited to those which Sasek has written books on.... Not a bad selection though. New York, San Francisco, Rome.... don't mind if I do!



larking about

After our travels we have awarded ourselves a week back in Melbourne, or home as we like to call it. I am hoping that this time will give us a chance to do a day trip or two out of the city and into Rural Victoria. At the top of my Victoria list is the town of Daylesford.

A destination of choice for many reasons, not least that I would get to visit the lovely Lark. I have seen so many features on this lovely shop and such a lot of its great products featured, I would like to have a look for myself!

For now, however, I must be content with their lovely website, and share with you today one of my favourite ranges from them. With a built in rattle, they are obviously designed for little ones, but honestly, who wouldn't love a knitted doughnut? Or, my personal favourite and healthier option, peas in a pod!

100% no added calories.

paper dolls

A new addition to the long list of 'things I would like to take home from Australia' :

Aside from this great bag's reminding me of the great cut-out paper dolls I used to love as a child, AND the fact that it comes with a needle and thread, and so is actually designed to be used, this bag has stolen my heart for one further reason: the doll's name is Rosie. I'm a real sucker for anything that shares my name(s) or initials.

Rosie (and her boyfriend Robbie) the lovely cut-out dolls can also be find on teatowels, wrapping paper and gift and greetings cards alongside the rest of Sydney company TMOD's, aptly described, experiential stationery designs. From the cut-out pieces, to the dot-to-dot giftwrap and 'scratchie' cards, TMOD products are designed to be used and played around with. Such great, great, yet beautifully simple ideas, I am in awe.



happy camper

My boyfriend and I are in the midst of planning a few weeks travel down the East Coast of Australia for April and May. It has been torturous in many parts, making hard decisions based on time and budget constraints: what to, and not to see. I can see why the phenonenon of so-called 'grey nomads' has emerged in Australia (upon retirement, many Australian couples are selling up, buying a camper-van and taking a few years to tour the whole of this expansive island). There really is so much to see, and we will certainly be making many return trips!

Byron Bay does seem to have made the cut, so far (our itenary is proving highly dynamic!), and my lovely colleague, when brainstorming with me for inexpensive accomodation ideas, came up with this beauty:

Heaven: a bottle of San Pel in a white-washed Adirondack Chair

Now, caravans are decidedly and affirmedly NOT cool. Aren't they? These are clearly an exception to the age-old rule. For beach-side, casual accomodation, these caravans at Atlantic, Byron Bay are brilliant. Hoping that with the reduction in prices out of season at our time of visiting, I can proudly add these to our blossoming itenary!

With gorgeous vintage styling and polished aluminium interiors, these compact caravans still hold a double bed and private bathroom. So no showering over the kitchen sink then... phew!

Cool Beachside Caravans. What a great idea and so well executed here. Only begs the question - why don't we see this more!? I see a resurgence on the horizon....

 PS. I've got to also point out that Atlantic at Byron Bay also offers a whole range of different accomodation options, from simple and sufficient shared rooms to expansive ensuite studios. This is not really a travel blog, nor, crucially, a travel brochure, otherwise rest-assured I would have copied out their whole website here for you too to admire! The whole place just screams of the kind of calm, casual and lack of pretence that a true holiday is all about.

button it



Take a look at the assorted selection of oversized ceramic buttons by Have You Met Miss Jones. A certain vibe of The Borrowers, I feel. Just a few from the huge and varied selection of white ceramic pieces available from this fantastic Australian company.

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making friends

Three days a week I have another job which is located at, what is fair to describe, the wrong end of Swan Street, Richmond. Alongside other failings, the area is woefully lacking in quality lunch spots. Until, that is, I made a friend.

Discovering Friends of Mine a few weeks ago, I felt like I'd stumbled upon a mirage. But after pinching myself, I was happy to discover this place was not only real but bloody gorgeous as well.

It doesn't take much to please me, but brick walls, yellow tolix stools, chandeliers and fresh flowers are a pretty good way to go. And don't get me started on the vintage fittings, distressed wood tables and old glass...

Did I mention that the food is pretty delicious too? Then again, it is Melbourne. Do I really need to?

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506 Swan Street, Richmond, Melbourne.

perfect

Discovering Melbourne's Dani M and her truly perfect porcelain jewellery has really made my day. I couldn't wish, nor dream of a more heavenly colour palette.

Enjoy.

map geek

I love the map prints from Bold and Noble, especially this Australian one. One of the best gifts I ever recieved was the GB one, which I got last Christmas. I may be geekily biased, having a Geography degree, but I love that something can be both so striking, aesthetically, and educational! I particularly love this one as it draws attention to some of the more peculiar Australian place names such as Wagga Wagga, Wollongong, Merty Merty (to name but a few) that so childishly entertain me

Bold and Noble do a whole range of great, simple but ingenius prints. As well as Australia, maps are available of New Zealand, USA, Great Britain and London.Available, as shown here, in black and white as well as a gorgeous duck-egg blue. I want them all!

The Baker

So much is said, so often, of Melbourne and its love of food. Before I came here, it was one of the few qualities about Melbourne that those who had visited and loved the city could put their finger on. But it wasn't until I arrived and got to know the city and its citizens that I could claim to understand this relationship. I assumed that Melbourne could be no more 'foodie' than my hometown: London. After all, London is home to scores of highly-acclaimed, fantastic restaurants and showcases the servings of some of the world's most renown Chefs. However, as I discovered, this deeply entrenched relationship with food is more than just a proliferation of high-quality restaurants.

Next door to the fabulous Moss on Fitzroy Street is the equally (if not more so!?) fabulous Baker D.Chirico. This proximity to my place of work arguably makes me slightly biased but I feel this place truly epitomizes Melbourne's infatuation with good food. Everyday, but especially Saturday, Melburnians travel across the city for a loaf of bread. On Christmas Eve I bore witness to early-morning hoards of people queuing up out the door, down the steps and along the street, to claim pre-ordered (!) loaves, cakes and pastries. I hear it is even worse at Easter. This is some place!


Image courtesy of Broadsheet Melbourne

 And it isn't just bread, a whole host of delicious tarts, pastries, cakes, pies, quiches fill their counter, arranged on vintage plates and stands. Weekend brunch with friends is an infamous Melbourne tradition and 'Baker' (as known amongst its customer community) is a popular location, particularly as the accompanying coffee is so good. Baker also supplies a whole host of Melbourne's top eating establishments; their Wholesale list could act as a go-to guide for top eats in Melbourne.

I have a bit of a love affair with the mere thought of this place. Unlike great European patisseries, there is nothing about Baker D. Chiciro that is pretentious or ostentatious. Huge sacks of flour are piled up in the corner and food is arranged and piled and never knowingly styled into place. Whilst everything tastes phenomenal; my boyfriend proclaimed upon his first tart that one cannot claimed to have lived until trying French pattisserie chef Louis' pastry, nothing looks the same and there is not an assembly-line in sight. The staff and customers are on first name-basis and the girls who work the counter are a truly beautiful bunch, blue eyed and fresh-faced, despite the early starts a bakery workers' life naturally entails.

But there are fantastic bakeries everywhere, and all over the world surely? Indeed. And perhaps I am biased. I'm privileged to work in such proximity that I know the staff by name, I can gain insider recommendations and trading secrets. But there is no bias in the way that Baker's popularity speaks for itself. Returning to an earlier comparison with London's culinary scene: Londoners queue for tables at top restaurants and checkouts in Waitrose, they don't queue along the street or cross cities for bread in bakeries or a few tarts, however good. A real dedication and a commitment to good food exisits in Melbourne, on every layer. No-one is quite sure where this attention to and appreciation of food came from originally, but I know one thing, I'm certainly taking its ethos home with me.

losing my dragonfruit virginity

I have no idea what came over me.

Despite watching every cent in order to save for our travels in a few months, I couldn't resist these Queensland-grown, excitingly-exotic looking fruits in the Supermarket.

I am embarassed to admit that so lost was I in the rapture of my new purchase, I completely failed to notice myself spending $10 on a piece of fruit.

After a relatively cheap and meagre dinner, I ceremoniously embarked upon the beast, slicking through its leafy thorns from top to bottom, perfectly halving it.

And what a sight to behold:

I feel this image doesn't even do justice to what we found inside. 'Glorious' was the word decided upon by my Boyfriend, and he is absolutely right. I've never seen a better looking fruit. It tasted pretty good too. Not unlike kiwi-fruit, the fruit's flesh had a texture of sorbet and the little black seeds added a pleasing crunch. A fruit success and highly recommended!

suzie stanford

I won't start by going into how I came across this marvellous designer as it goes something like, 'a friend of a son of a friend of a son of a friend.....'. Besides, once you lay your eyes on Suzie's pieces, you definitely won't care how I found her, if, indeed you ever did. As Suzie Stanford's work is testimony to, it isn't how you find, it's what you do with what you've found.

Suzie admits in her own bio her fascination for the discarded. It is this that took her into her primary occupation: jewellery making. She still supplies annual collections to Paul Smith. However, it is her more recent forray into one-off pieces that has really captured my attention. Collecting, combining and upholstering vintage tea towels and tapestries, she has created extraordinary pieces. These pieces are certainly not cheap owing to the hours of work involved, and are highly sought after.

Squint London

The work is not unlike that of Squint in London yet I feel it adds something more to the genre of eclectic upholstery. Suzie's work seems to really say something and tell a story, just as she intends. Her pieces have a real personality, a personality that makes me smile.

English Themed Tea-Towel Upholstery

I just can't get over this Flamingo Tapestry Chair.