Sneaky Margaret River...

Nat here.  Don't you love it when the reality is just like the postcards?

The beaches, like Smith's Beach is beautiful.....

 The Margaret River by canoe is stunning...

 The Cape to Cape walking trail is breathtaking...

While we 'holiday-it-up' our hearts are with our fellow Brisbanites in the floods....but don't worry, as Anna Bligh famously said in 2011 "they build them tough north of the border". Stay safe!

We're off!

Nat here.  Hope you've had a splendid week.  We've been preparing for our trip to Margaret River..can not wait.

We are going to lounge back here..

And wine and dine here...

Oh yes we are! Happy Australia Day!

Cocktails and Shanghai Sunshine

Nat here.  Sooo sorry for the delay between drinks!  So much has happened since January 1!  The husband and I have been continuing our exploration of Sydney.  We recently discovered North Head which has a great view of Sydney but even more exciting has a great cafe where you can sit and enjoy it!  We are going to head back soon to check out some of the walking trails....

Speaking of walking, I'm still not used to this being part of our morning walk.....

We had an impromptu dinner with J & L which was fun, we went to the Skiff club for dinner and then husband decided it was only appropriate to have a night cap at the Botanist...poor J had to work early the next morning, sorry!! Bad husband...

The husband and I also tried a ferry trip over to Balmain for dinner, I can't remember the name of the Italian place (the first restaurant on the right hand side walking from the ferry) but it was great!

I was in Shanghai for work last week, which was aca-awesome for one reason - Shaanie was there!! We headed in on the Friday to do some sight-seeing and party hard.  That is, if your idea of partying hard is lights out by 9pm...no not true, we would have read until 10pm at least...

We stayed at the Peninsula in Shanghai which, Shaanie and I both decided was hands down one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in.  You can't see it in the first image below of the "dressing room" but there is an in-built nail dryer! I just kept thinking that FF would luff it. The other feature which was a-mazing was the fact there was a TV for the bath! Isn't that every girl's dream?!

We enjoyed the Peninsula High-Tea, which was again, hands down best EVA.  Most high-teas there is a pastry or sandwich that you can give or take, no sir, EVERYTHING was downright delicious...

Unfortunately on the day we devoted to sight-seeing the weather was like this...

So of course the only thing to do in weather like that is to go to a buffet, in a revolving restaurant 289 metres up in the Pearl Tower...look they aren't going to be winning any chef's hats but it was still a nice way to spend a few hours!

The contrasts in Shanghai between the old and the new is amazing, luckily we spent a lot of time on the Bund, my favourite part...you could be in Paris!  We did have one night out at the Glamour Bar (#5 Bund), which was fab, afterwards we danced in Shaanie's room like the rock stars we are.  We felt those cocktails the next day let me tell you.

This past weekend we've hosted my school pal A, husband J and their adorable son Lewis....who I miss already and we only just waved goodbye!  We had a great time at the Taronga Zoo, and look at that view!  I'm not sure my mornings will be the same without cuddles from Lewis and seeing that cheeky smile and surprised face!  Here is is hanging out on Sydney's hottest day on record...see what I mean?! If that's not sunshine, I don't know what is!

 

Christmas and New Year Sunshine

Nat here.  A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! I hope you had as much fun as we did.  Here's a little snapshot of our last couple of weeks!

We headed to BrisVegas, or the Gold Coast first up for a little family friend Christmas action.  Husband's Mum is certainly is a good styler when it comes to Christmas tables..

Christmas morning came around quickly..there were lots of pressie's!! 

The husband and I went our separate ways for Christmas lunch, I went to Brissie for lunch with the fams..isn't little GJ the cutest with her little headphones...this was after I put together her Barbie play pool, complete with cocktails, not sure about the message in that for little girls!

After Boxing Day we headed to Noosa to catch up with friends, the first stop was with Shaanie and CSD (!!) for a Bistro C food extravaganza....

We had lunch with M&M at the surf club over a Pimms.   

M&M have added another to their growing brood...meet Rafferty, a brother for Hamish...gorgeous!

It was back to the Coast after our big day in Noosa..I don't have photos of the other catch-ups!  We had a delicious meal at the Sandbar at Paradise Point..which was finished with deep fried mars bar...oh yes it was..

P&W came to stay for New Years! We took them on some Sydney adventures, including our favourite Balmoral Beach for breakfast..

We took them to the Skiff Club at the end of our street for a sneaky entree, and then had some drinks and dinner at the Botanist...

For NYE we cooked up a storm - prawns, crab cakes, delicious little prawn, mayo and chorizo bites and we finished with a hazelnut bundt...all with champas, of course!

Will be posting the recipe for the bites - they were amazing!  We walked up the road for the family friendly 9pm fireworks which was a great buzz at Kirribilli, so many people!!

For the big fireworks we decided to head into town to my office - the 41st floor had a great view of the harbour and all the boats...the boys (twins) were most impressed...

Here's a pic of our view of the harbour. 10/10!

Today, after a big sleep-in, we feasted again, this time with lamb and garlic prawns thrown in for good measure..

What are your New Year's resolutions? I don't really have one this year - just for the good health and sunshine to continue!