As you can see the Christmas tree has gone up! We celebrate our achievement with a pink fizz champagne cocktail – here’s recipe – and congratulate ourselves on a job half done!
Then Mrs Romance sets about the task of decorating the Christmas tree. I have learnt that this is a one-woman job and I merely enhance the experience by getting in the way. Therefore, I take a supervisory role. I honestly believe Mrs Romance appreciated my supportive commentary… then again, the pink fizz cocktails were quite heady!
In line with our drinks, this year has seen a wealth of hot pink adorn our Christmas tree. We also enjoy putting a new decoration on the tree every year. This year’s was bought from the National Art Gallery in London.
We’re quite pleased with the silver embroidered London cab and the pearl-encrusted crown… unless you haven’t guessed, we like to embrace the tackiness of Christmas as wholeheartedly as possible!
Mrs Romance remembers some of the fun she had at the awards evening in Melbourne on her Instagram feed. You can see how happy she is, having found a balloon with her name on it… or at least the first letter!
We decide a post on buying presents for couples might help people out. We put our heads together and come up with this. It’s not comprehensive but might give you some ideas if your stuck. We base our thoughts on what we’d be happy with receiving.
I decide enough is enough. I’ve been lazy and eaty – and probably a couple of the other dwarves – too long. It’s time to get back into my boxing.
My first session in about TWO YEARS nearly kills me and has me aching for the next three days. But I love it. It’s so good taking my frustrations out on what my dad likes to call ‘the black puddings’.
Tonight we head to the opening event for SoCal in Neutral Bay. It’s got a very cool American/Mexican vibe – hence the name So(uthern) Cal(ifornia).
It’s one of those hidden entrance type places, so you have to be on the look-out for its front door. Once you’re in, be ready for a treat. These mini hotdogs with spicy pulled pork and mustard are excellent.
Mrs Romance’s new books look absolutely great! She’s worked very hard on them and the final product shows it. Congratulations, Hair Romance!
Tonight we head to another new spot. Mary’s in New Town is a very cool hipster restaurant-bar. It looks like it used to be an old scouts hall or something but the owners have turned it into an amazing bar downstairs with a restaurant serving unbelievable burgers on a mezzanine. It’s busy but the service is still pretty good.
I have the pleasure of meeting the lovely Laurie, Kristy and Jess from Lily Blue tonight as they catch up with Hair Romance. It’s their idea to come to Mary’s. Excellent choice, ladies!
Today, Mrs Romance heads to Stevie English for another hair transformation. I am left to my own devices…
This is the result. For lunch I wander off to a place I’ve been eyeing up for ages. Abb Air is on Goulburn Street just before George Street near World Square in Sydney. I walk in and spot a girl finishing off a bowl of soup.
I lock in a ‘pork boat noodle soup’ and what comes back is a bowl of porky, soupy, noodley heaven. It’s like the Thais’ version of a Vietnamese phõ. Absolutely delicious and only $10.90.
In the words of Arnie: I’ll be back!
And here’s the result of Mrs Romance’s trip to the hairdresser. She comes back half pink! Love it! Don’t forget, when we first met, she had pure white hair with a hot pink fringe. So this is a bit like old times!
Warm sunny Friday afternoons are made for balconies, a nice coffee and an excellent cigar. So really, this afternoon, I’m just following the rules. I indulge in a Cuban Partagas Corona Junior. It’s the perfect daytime smoke.
Thanks to three of our friends – wise in the art of wine-drinking – we have been converted to the virtues of Riesling. Our friend Andrew insists the Jim Barry Watervale Riesling is a winner. As part of our Wine of the Month post featuring Rieslings, we decide – in the name of research of course – to drink a bottle.
It’s a very nice drop – though I think the 2013 is a bit young at the moment – and I’ll be on the look-out for more of these little pearls.
As an addendum, I’d also like to say Sonia from soniastyling.com has recommended the O’Leary Walker Watervale Riesling, so keep a look out for that too!
Our friends Dave and Mariana are having their engagement party in Bondi. We head to their picnic at Ben Buckler Reserve in North Bondi. The view out over the water to Bondi Beach is incredible.
The mist coming up off the ocean at Bondi today makes the beach look even more beautiful. It’s been a hot day, but a good one!
Today, Mrs Romance and I talk about what the best present we’ve ever received has been. Here’s our He Said, She Said article about it. Mrs R tells me that her engagement and wedding rings were her best present ever.
When I look at how the diamonds sparkle, I can see what she means! 😉
It’s our friends’ little boy’s first birthday party today. We help them celebrate at the Burns Bay Reserve – it’s a very peaceful place with a beautiful little bay with a huge park and picnic areas all around.
It’s times like these that I feel completely validated moving to Australia!
The boat ramp at Burns Bay is cool – love how people just stack their boats like pushbikes.
It’s another hot day here in Sydney, so when we head home, we’re thinking of refreshments…
The only thing to cool the blood on a hot Sunday afternoon close to Christmas: a chilled gin martini (three Sicilian olives, of course!) and the brightest Christmas tree we’ve put together so far!
We particularly like our newest addition to the Christmas tree decorations is that London taxi we got on our recent jaunt to the Old Dart.
Do you have a favourite Christmas tree bauble? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Sonia
Thanks for the mention! I love finding out about great wines and equally sharing the ones we’ve loved. We’ve been big onto the Vinaceous Wines of late – particularly their Shiraz and Pinot Grigio. Cool, edgy, different labels with fan-flipping-tastic wine inside!
Mrs Romance
We so need to get together and go wine tasting! xx