Have you been to Healesville lately? Not only can you pick up some fab local produce but there are two fantastic micro-breweries up there........White Rabbit and Giant Steps offering great food, music and beer
And it's not far from Healesville Sanctuary
Sharon
Yes the time has come, after 8 years in Singapore we're coming home to Melbourne.
So I thought I would leave you with a Singapore mosaic
See you in Melbourne
Sharon
One of the activities I wanted to do before I leave was to go on the Singapore flyer and it was much better than I expected. I dont live far away from it so some of my photos look back onto the condo developments where I live. Development continues on the large casino at Marina Bay and the extension of the CBD area. The new F1 track winds it way beneath the flyer and they are damming up the Kallang basin to turn it into a reservoir and sea sports centre. Development never ceases even in recession. They are thinking ahead and building infrastructures for the future.
1. Esplanade from singapore flyer, 2. CBD/Fullerton Hotel from singapore flyer , 3. CBD/Esplandade from Singapore Flyer , 4. Integrated Resort at Marina Bay from Singapore Fyer, 5. view from singapore flyer, 6. CBD from Singapore Flyer , 7. Sheares Bridge from Singapore flyer , 8. Water Place/Santurary Green from Singapore Flyer , 9. Costa Rhu from Singapore Flyer
Lastly I wanted to share this strange sight - it has become a bit of a trend here to go to the "Fish Spa" - they eat the dead skin! I haven't tried and dont really want to. Friends of mine have done it and dont like the sensation.
Sharon
This week I visited the beautiful SNM to see the Christian Lacroix Theatrical Costume exhibit. The building is colonial architecture of a bygone era. Its now been extended and modernised and is quite a landmark
Sharon
Apparently we don't take all our all leave
Nearly 60% of full-time workers do not use their full 4 weeks annual leave each year and have accrued 8 weeks or more annual leave. How many days annual leave do you have?
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One third of full-time workers do not take any annual leave in a year. So not one day of leave, not one!! |
Check out this website No Leave, No Life
The Government wants us to take our holidays and do it in Australia
Visit Australia and check out options here
So where is your next holiday?
Sharon
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The flower market winds its way along the Singel canal and what a site it is even in winter with these beautiful tulips and bulbs.
And we bought these home. As it's still Chinese New Year I chose red...3 bunches (30) for 7.50 euros, about $A15...not bad...pity they wont last till Valentines.
Ok, I think you know we like our food and wine!
So when we go away part of the adventure for us is eating local foods and buying produce to bring home. So we always scout out the offbeat and local stores
This tea and coffee shop is housed in a building that opened in 1839
This is one of Gregg's fav wine stores Cave Rokin on Rokin Avenue and you step down off the street into a vey old store.
Not far away on Rokin avenue is this cigar store that is 100's of years old with marble inlays.
And at the Albert Cuyp market we bought some cheese
And came across this fab cafe called Bazar in the outdoor market serving middle eastern fare
Sharon
Thanks for all your good wishes for my birthday and for popping in to say hello including some new bloggers.
Yes it was cold! 0 - 3 degrees with some light snow/sleet one night, but nothing like the UK which has had its worst weather in 17 years....quite the opposite to the heatwave in Melbourne at the moment. I remember the last time very well I was snowed in at Birmingham. Went to our company Christmas party on Friday night and arrived home in London Sunday afternoon!!.....it was one of the worst experiences of my life...stuck in a hotel with no power and salesman who had drunk all the bars dry!!
Some of you had mentioned how very much you like Amsterdam and I agree. It has a village feel rather than a city but exudes art, culture, style, architecture and good food.It also has a very youthful urban and independent style culture and of course very green with all those bikes.
I couldn't resist taking this shot
We walked everywhere as its easy to get around and everything is within walking distance but took the tram to Central Station in the evening to take our Dinner cruise on the canal......more pics to come
Sharon
We are off on a short break to Amsterdam to celebrate my birthday. I will have a chance to wear my coat, boots and scarf, drink some beer, travel the canals and bring back some tulips. In a week I will have gone from 44 degrees to very cold.
Thanks for all your birthday wishes
1. Dutch Cheese (Wheels of Gouda), 2. Dutch cheese, 3. Roadtrip Michigan-Holland, 4. Roadtrip Michigan-Holland, 5. Roadtrip Michigan-Holland, 6. Tulips and Windmill in Holland
I will post my "EYE SPY" tomorrow
See you on my return with lots of photos
Sharon
It's traditional at Chinese New Year to have a Lion Dance troupe come to your office, condo or shopping precinct to welcome in new year and offer prosperity....and don't we need that at the moment with Singapore's growth prediction now at -5% we have been in recession for a while.
The dance culminates in the Lion "taking the spring greens" held high on a stick.
Its a great festive tradition for young and old and I still enjoy seeing it performed.
Sharon
