So we're into December and the shops and Melbourne City Council are doing their best to make me feel festive with sparkly decorations and many a Christmas tree. Every day I walk to work I walk under mistletoe and on a weekend too as Steve and I venture over into the CBD. We don't get kissed for walking beneath it though.
We resist. We don't have a tree. We don't have traditions here in Aus. We don't sing carols (Steve does in the shower). We don't eat mince pies (I don't anyway). We keep the Christmas shopping to an absolute bare minimum. I don't want to spoil other people's fun and we spend the money we would have spent on gifts for each other on experiences and fun activities rather than things for each other. It's not that we're Scrooge but it's hard to feel Christmassy in 39 degree heat which is what it was on Thursday! And thinking about Christmas too much makes me think of home and the traditions at home and that it will be Amelia's first Christmas and that makes me sad so the more different we can make Christmas in Aus from Christmas at home helps.
Having said all that Christmas is also about sending wishes of goodwill and I'm more than happy to do that.
We resist. We don't have a tree. We don't have traditions here in Aus. We don't sing carols (Steve does in the shower). We don't eat mince pies (I don't anyway). We keep the Christmas shopping to an absolute bare minimum. I don't want to spoil other people's fun and we spend the money we would have spent on gifts for each other on experiences and fun activities rather than things for each other. It's not that we're Scrooge but it's hard to feel Christmassy in 39 degree heat which is what it was on Thursday! And thinking about Christmas too much makes me think of home and the traditions at home and that it will be Amelia's first Christmas and that makes me sad so the more different we can make Christmas in Aus from Christmas at home helps.
Having said all that Christmas is also about sending wishes of goodwill and I'm more than happy to do that.
On Saturday Steve and I headed to Collingwood to take a peek and walk round the People's Market.
It was another warm and sunny day and although busy with a festival vibe it wasn't too overcrowded - much less so than the night markets at Victoria Market.
There were food stalls galore set in large containers as well as lots of crafts and vintage wear for sale.
We started off with a sausage roll from the Movida Bakery and expectations were high. We were just in time as a new batch had just come out of the oven. This also meant it was steamingly hot. Loved the flaky pastry and the meaty filling. I'm not a fennel fan and there was definitely a hint of it so it wasn't perfect for me but appreciated that it was a good version.
We moved onto a pork san choi bao and a lamb skewer. They were ok and not hugely special. The Phat Brat sausage sandwich (not pictured) with pulled pork and BBQ sauce was great in a soft roll but also fell into that trap of being a bit too over fennelled flavoured for me. Their cheesy chips were a winner though. We finished off with crabcakes which were appetising in appearing all golden and cute but a bit bland in flavour although the crispy texture was good.
We moved onto a pork san choi bao and a lamb skewer. They were ok and not hugely special. The Phat Brat sausage sandwich (not pictured) with pulled pork and BBQ sauce was great in a soft roll but also fell into that trap of being a bit too over fennelled flavoured for me. Their cheesy chips were a winner though. We finished off with crabcakes which were appetising in appearing all golden and cute but a bit bland in flavour although the crispy texture was good.
After our People's Park jaunt we had a little rest back home before heading back out for tapas at Portello Rosso.
Tapas was followed by traipsing up 6 flights of stairs to take up a deck chair at the Rooftop Cinema to watch The Dark Knight Rises. Steve and I never managed to catch this when it was out so we took the opportunity to watch it in more unusual surroundings. The deckchairs were super comfy - not easy to climb out of though. Drinks were a plenty with two bars close by. Blankets available. Screen wasn't huge but adequate enough. Strange being up high amongst the illuminations of the city watching a film in the fresh air.
We'd had a moment in the afternoon when we weren't sure about whether it would go ahead given there was a heavy downpour but it cleared the air. I felt a touch of rain as the opening credits came on but it disappeared - phew! Being on a rooftop watching Batman in a storm...not my idea of a good Saturday night...
Today has been another lazy day with lunch out followed by another cinema trip (normal indoor one) to watch Skyfall.
We'd had a moment in the afternoon when we weren't sure about whether it would go ahead given there was a heavy downpour but it cleared the air. I felt a touch of rain as the opening credits came on but it disappeared - phew! Being on a rooftop watching Batman in a storm...not my idea of a good Saturday night...
Today has been another lazy day with lunch out followed by another cinema trip (normal indoor one) to watch Skyfall.
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