One Word? I don't think so.

I found this One Word Question/Multiple Word Answer meme over at Pretty Random Thoughts (which I read for the first time today!). As we're mostly aware, I can't not do a Meme - I just love myself too much and think y'all should get to know me better:)
Feel free to have a go yourself!

1. Clothes: I'm a shirt + jeans kinda girl marveling in the new found joy of colorful Summer dresses and skirts.

2. Furniture: French Provincial & eclectic.

3. Sweet: Chocolate self saucing pudding. As that's not commonly available at service stations for road trips, Berry Fruit Mentos or Kool Fruits.

4. City: My own Melbourne, and of course London. I'd say New York due to my fascination, but think I'll reserve that for when I've actually been.

5. Drink: Frangelico on ice, or Rooibos and vanilla for a pick me up.

6. Music: Robbie Williams rocks my world, and anything eclectic like Scissor Sisters, Mika & Queen.

7. TV Series: Anything based around America like Friends, Sex & The City, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and of course, the British Classic Top Gear. I'm also addicted to The Amazing Race & Survivor.

8. Film: I group them into 4 categories of favoritism: For Ryan Reynolds: Van Wilder/Definately Maybe, for Julia Roberts: My Best Friend's Wedding/Notting Hill, for Johnny Depp: Charlie & The Chocolate Factory/Pirates trilogy and for British Movies: Love Actually/About a Boy

9. Workout: Surfing, horse riding rollerblading, tennis and of course, walking the dogs.

10. Pastries: I've just discovered eclairs. Hot diggity damn!

11. Coffee: Starbucks Extra Dry Venti Caramel Macchiato with whipped cream and extra caramel. Heaven.

Postcards from America.

Sahara says it tastes great!

Melisa - she soon relinquished it, unscathed but a little damp, and I've placed it on the fridge for it's own protection. Thank you for thinking of me!

Best Day of My Life.

Since I completely and utterly fell in love with horses at the age of 3, all I have dreamed about is the day I would gallop through the surf on a fiery chestnut steed, wind in my hair and salt water on my face - along with a massive grin. It came true on Saturday morning, on a horse with the same name I have every intention of calling my own - Captain. When he is mine, he'll have a Jack Sparrow added to the end of it. It's like my school years all over again - not being able to settle or concentrate on anything but the excitement of being able to ride again soon.

Best view ever.

Captain & I and Derek & Scully, the Clydesdale X mare.

Riding through the dunes.

Scully having a chat with Captain.

A very handsome man and myself. See that grin?!

Weekend Happy Snaps.

Over the weekend, Chef and I spent the weekend in Melbourne to celebrate the 3rd year anniversary of us meeting. We booked a hotel just outside the city, and wandered around Southbank watching the street performers and crowds of race-goers whilst we ate our dinner in one of my favorite restaurants. Afterwards, we headed up to Transport, a bar and club near Flinders St Station, and sat watching the world go by at Federation Square. In the morning, we went to the Eureka Sky Deck, which has recently been built and is Victoria's tallest building (and possibly Australia/Southern Hemisphere's but I'm too lazy to google it) before heading home. The absolute highlight of the weekend will be in evidence in the next post, as Blogger's having a fit uploading so many photos in a single post.

View from the hotel room (the cricket game being played wasn't super exciting).

Fooling around in the walk in wardrobe in the hotel.

The view from the spa in the Atrium over the city. The spa was lovely and relaxing, until I noticed all the scag and pubic hairs swirling around my neck. I promptly exited the spa and disinfected myself in the shower.

A vase in a hotel garden on the walk to the city. Presumably they've lost a couple.




The entrance to the Shrine of Remembrance.

This poor little fella has a bit of growing to do. (The tree, not Chef).

The Eternal Flame.

Another view of the the Flame & War Memorial.

The Water Wall @ The National Gallery of Victoria (I was informed not long after this photo was taken that the water cascading down the wall is actually sourced from the Yarra River. Ick).

The Art Centre Spire at night, on the way back from dinner at Southbank.

The Spire during the day, taken from the Eureka Sky Deck.

Flashing all of the city never felt so good.

Melbourne's Ring Road from the Sky Deck.

Southbank @ Night.

I am in love.

...with a 17hh chestnut Standardbred named Captain.

As a teaser for the blog to come tomorrow about my weekend away, here is a photo of the most amazing and most anticipated moment of my life, bar none.

My 1960's cake baking.

I've had a crazy busy weekend - Saturday Sarah and I make the pilgrimage to the city to see Kobe, the Long Lost Brother Dog, and got sidetracked by a few shops and the odd animal shelter on the way. We returned in time for a quick shower - the 30 degree heat made for not very pretty smelling girls - before heading off to a friends birthday barbeque, where I valiantly attempted not to stab a fellow 'friend' with my forkful of potato salad. Chef and I were up early Sunday to go to the Tyabb Packing Shed, which houses many, many antique dealers, where we spent hours looking all the beautiful Beswick horses I collect, and trying on $20,000 diamond rings (me, that is, not Chef). Then we rushed off to one of our favorite restaurants, Boys for Brekkie to celebrate another friends birthday, where we consumed pancakes, coffee, freshly squeezed juice and eggs Benedict until we were all ready to burst. The streets surrounding our breakfast party were packed with people for the Mornington Cheese & Wine Festival, so we wandered through groups of screaming people and prolific breeders ramming us with their prams, to listen to the jazz bands and look at all the merchandise on display. There was a few things I was tempted to get for Melisa's Aussie Christmas Gift, but I was slightly concerned they would be confiscated through quarantine...

And so today I'm having a laid back day booking a two hour horse ride along the beach for Saturday morning, and baking. I was in a bit of a dark mood this morning, so I whacked on iTunes and have been listening to Best of the 60's whilst concocting my masterpiece which I shall be dishing out at the races tonight. Sarah, her sister, her mother & I (and any other stragglers who are reading are more than welcome to come along *cough* Terrence and Adele *cough*) are meeting at the greyhound track to watch this evenings races, after we're done walking our own four legged beasties at the local park.

As I was singing along to Saturday Night At The Movies, I mixed vanilla chocolate batter and added my raspberry swirl.

During Wash That Man Right Out Of My Head, I had a bit of fun marbling my swirls.

And when Daydream Believer came on, I started the clean up process.

Disturbingly, the cake has only been in for 16 of it's supposed 55 minute baking time, and it's already risen rather dramatically (and is smelling divine, might I add).

Westfield Doncaster

To anyone not living in Melbourne, disregard this post.



Grungy old Westfield shopping center looks a tad different, does it not?

This ad doesn't exactly make me want to rush to go clothes shopping there, does it you? I thought it was for a hotel when I first saw it.

Stifmeister & The Shermanator.

This is Stifler. He's one part of the Stifler & Sherman duo who have recently taken up residence on my water cooler stand.

As a result, this is where Sahara spends much of her day now. She has to fight Cleo for the front-row action.

Their cage isn't set up yet, and has perches and food bowls from the rat cage at the moment. I had no intention of acquiring birds, but a not very nice man was flogging them to make room for his new Galah collection (which I'm fairly sure are birds he's probably stolen from a football field somewhere, as opposed to breeding them), but luckily I had a cage in the shed. It's like having a halter for the horse I don't have, and keeping rabbit food in my car with a spare leash, collar, harness, water, bowl, treats, cat carrier box and a first aid kid for the up-coming snake season - just in case. It comes as a result from spending a stormy evening chasing an escaped goose all over a round about on the main road a few months back. I was sure if I just had a cardboard box and a giant net, it would have been saved. It's just how I roll.

My view of the Parade Ring.

A certain jockey named C. IamWills (scramble the letters, people. Or, if you're too lazy, just click here) brings his mare over for chats and pats.

My view of the Winning Post.

I had a fabulous time at the Cup - aside from the hideous sunburn I subjected myself to - I think the highlight of the day was a certain jockey bring the mare he was riding over for a chat and a pat after an earlier race (Presumably because she wasn't in the money it wasn't illegal?). Then, as I bet on his horse to win the Cup, and the horse did win the Cup (see video above) I received a little cap tilt (see video below) as he rode by on his way to the Winner's Circle, much to Chef's annoyance.

What can I say. I'm a total minx.
(Or it might have had something to do with the fact that floaty dress + practically gale force wind = crowds of people getting a glimpse of my knickers. I'd flashed 3 policemen and a drunken girl barfing in the bushes before I'd even paid my entry fee).



(I mentioned twas a tad windy. Sorry 'bout that).

In riding a horse...

...we borrow freedom.

(and gain a sore bot bot).