What a wet, wild week it’s been here in Sydney – and not a in a good way! If you’re not in Sydney and you’ve been watching the news, you’ll probably have seen our fair city getting slammed these past few days by some pretty vicious storms.
I know it’s been on the news elsewhere in the world – my mum and dad texted me to make sure I hadn’t been washed away. Bless ’em.
It was quite bad here though. Lots of flooding and very strong winds that we’re not used to here. Our tropical friends in Queensland probably wouldn’t have even noticed it but it’s quite rare for us down here in New South Wales.
Anyway, hope you’ve had a good week and a lovely weekend. Here’s what’s been going on at Romance Media over the past week:
By today (Wednesday) the rain’s been falling steadily since Saturday night and Instagram’s been pretty quiet. Mrs Romance and I have managed to get out to the Paramount Coffee Project for our weekly meeting and for a spot of breakfast.
Thanks to the horrible weather (and the state premier Mike Baird warning people to stay inside unless it’s absolutely vital they go out), we’ve been raiding our stores and making meals out of whatever’s in the cupboard. So we’ve been looking forward to this meal of cohesive ingredients!
The Paramount’s soft baked eggs with chorizo has restored Mrs Romance’s faith in humanity while my breakfast burrito has improved my mood too. Let’s hope the rain doesn’t last too much longer…
Well, it’s still raining, so I’ve decided that it’s time to break out the chocolate rations! Mrs R bought me this Toblerone to make up for the fact that she’d scoffed an Easter egg I hadn’t yet eaten. I think I got the better end of this deal.
I don’t know what it is about Toblerones – they’re just bloody awesome! It makes me sad that they’re generally ignored until you’re in an airport looking for last-minute gifts.
Tonight we’ve finally ventured out to newly opened Pork’d to give their porcine palace a try. It’s the genius collaboration of my spiritual home – the Royal Albert Hotel – and famed restaurant Red Lantern.
Serving ethically sourced pork and handcrafted Aussie beer, Pork’d – in the old Crown Street Red Lantern location in Surry Hills – has hit another winner. The food is unbelievable and the beer is unsurpassable. Watch this space for our review coming up soon.
Annoyingly we got to Pork’d to discover we’d left the camera’s memory card at home, so it looks like we’ll have to go back again. Bummer!
On site today, we’re looking back on our recent visit to Orange, NSW. If you’re in Orange and you’re looking for a place with that perfect combo of chilled yet slick atmosphere, incredible food and superb wine list, check out our review of Percy’s Bar and Kitchen.
Percy’s is a newcomer to Orange but is already a firm favourite for many. We wished we lived a lot closer to Orange (or that Orange was a lot closer to our lazy selves!) because to have this place as a local would be a dream come true.
Lunch time! Mrs Romance had a hankering for something hot and soupy – especially considering this mean early winter weather. We’ve decided to try out Madame Nhu’s – a Vietnamese ph? eatery in Surry Hills.
I’ve decided to go for the chicken ph? chua lang son, a speciality of this specific restaurant. It’s listed as ‘spicy’ but I’ve got to say I’m a bit disappointed – but not with the flavour. There’s literally no heat to this ph? at all.
However, being the resourceful type, I’ve added a load of chilli sauce into the mix, which has done wonders for the dish. It’s taken if from a 4 to a 9. And there’s no MSG thirst afterwards, which I think is a great sign.
Today is ANZAC Day. A special day in the Australian and New Zealand calendar. Today we remember all the men and women in our armed forces who have lost their lives protecting us.
25th April is a special date because on this day in 1915, the ANZACs stormed the beaches of Gallipoli in Turkey. This date now serves as a day of remembrance for all ANZAC servicewomen and men who have died in action.
This ANZAC Day has particular significance. 100 years ago today the WWI Gallipoli campaign began.
Somehow the rain has stopped and it’s beautiful morning for a sombre day.
The weather hasn’t stayed good all day though. By this evening, the clouds have rolled back in to give Sydney another drenching. This time though, it’s hail. Check out this video by my mate Mikey Allen!
This morning, Mrs Romance is out and about making the most of a temporarily dry Sunday morning. The harbour is a steely grey and the pavements are all shiny. Not such a bad view for all the bad weather.
As for me, I’m still tucked up in bed – like a sensible person!
No rest for the wicked – we’re back to work this morning, making the most of the shitty Sunday weather. It’s lucky we love our job, isn’t it?
Well, I say ‘no rest for the wicked’, but Mrs R doesn’t seem to be overdoing it too much, does she?!
Our parting message comes from the illustrious Angry Bastard – my alter-ego! I was truly confounded when I saw this the other day. Perhaps there was another way up that I missed… very strange.
Well, have a great week. Now for a couple of questions. When was the last time you had a Toblerone? What did you do this ANZAC Day – anything like this? Do you work on a Sunday? Tell us in the comments!
Sonia from Sonia Styling
I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a Toblerone! We had a very quiet morning (read: hungover) on Saturday morning followed by a productive afternoon of cleaning, finished off with dinner and drinks with friends. Sunday was a repeat offender! x
Mr Romance
It’s a funny one, isn’t it, Sonia? Whenever I see one in the shops I’m always tempted but seldom buy one. Perhaps because it’s such a striking box, I feel like it stands out a bit and I don’t want to be judged… then I remember I don’t actually care! It’s bloody good choc and that’s all that matters!
Your weekend sounds horrible! All that food and drink and recovery. Did you know I really don’t mind hangovers. There’s something so self-indulgent about wasting all that time feeling sorry for yourself and doing as little as possible!
Jxx
Lyn - A Hole in my Shoe
Mmm Toblerone, I can’t even remember the last time I had one. (note to self, next time at shops…). Anzac day was a day of reflection for me, a day I wrote about my Grandfather’s time in WW1. I saw on the news all the terrible weather that Sydney had, great that you were able to get out and try Pork’d, sounds like next time we’re in Sydney that’s the place to try. Thanks for the suggestion.
Mr Romance
Hey Lyn. Yes, Toblerones are the great misunderstood, undervalued chocolate. Perhaps I should start a campaign – just cos it looks different doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat it. Confectionary discrimination!
Your story about your grandfather and what ANZAC Day means was really touching. Good work Lyn. It’s amazing what so many brave people did during those tough years.
Thankfully the rain’s slowed a lot now – though it’s still very wet around Sydney. Hopefully that’s the last of it!
Jxx