Foggy, sunny, foggy

 The fog clearing on my way to work this morning

On the city fringe...the sun reflecting off 

Eureka Tower onto a wisp of fog

Around 5.15 this afternoon

The fog returns as I return home

No debate, coriander love, zebra pups

I went to the gym tonight and I didn't even spend all afternoon debating with myself whether I would or wouldn't go. Will I? I should...but I'm tired. Nah, I won't...but it will do me good. Yeah, I'll go. Tonight I just went. I wish that happened every time I intend to go to the gym.

Have I mentioned how much I like fresh coriander (cilantro for any Americans reading)? I used to dislike it - the smell and the taste - but now I can't get enough. I had a handful of it on my green curry for dinner last night and tonight. Coriander is good for you too, which is nice. Usually the foods I can't get enough of aren't nutritious.  Mmm...chocolate. 

My zebra plant is having lots of babies. I just googled zebra plant for that link back there and apparently the babies are called pups! PUPS! Or offsets, but henceforth I shall call them pups. I need to move the mother plant and pups into a bigger pot or plant the pups in their own pots.  A job for the weekend. 

Winner!

I won a DVD on Twitter! Who says Twitter is pointless, eh? Last night I entered a competition to win a copy of the acclaimed documentary Searching for Sugarman, which tells the story of two South African music writers' attempts to track down an enigmatic American folk musician who was a superstar in their country in the 1970s. The musician, Rodriguez, was rumoured to have died after setting himself on fire on stage or from a drug overdose and these two guys set out to see if the stories were true.  

Luke and I had wanted to see the movie since it was first released, but somehow never got around to it, so when I saw the promo for it on SBS the other day I set myself a reminder to watch it. I kept thinking, "It's a shame Luke's not here to watch it with me", but now I've won myself a copy - just by retweeting a tweet by the distributor - we can watch it together when he gets back from his trip. (He returns in just over a week.)

I'll put the DVD on the shelf with the book I won on Twitter ages ago. 

Bargains, compliments, muffins

I love these facades on Bridge Road

I did a spot of shopping on Bridge Road in Richmond this afternoon. Nearly everything I tried on fitted and everything was a bargain. That's shopping nirvana, that is. 

The shop assistants were very chatty and complimentary. One liked my boots, another liked the print on my dress and another one liked my "style". (I was 'girly with an edge' today: a B&W sort of floral/paisley/damask print dress and full-skirted red trench, with boots and studded bag. This isn't a fashion blog so I have no photos.) 

I had a conversation with one shop assistant about the sorry state of retail on Bridge Road, which used to be Melbourne's mecca for discount fashion shopping, but it's verging on being a ghost strip these days. Every time I go, it seems as if more 'for lease' signs have gone up. I feel like I'm doing something to help by shopping there when I could find the same shops elsewhere...which helps me justify buying stuff I don't need! 

English muffins...why are they so tasty? I had them grilled with cheese and Vegemite for dinner. 

Sunshine, botox, bridal binge

Yesterday's golden hour 

The last two days have been filled with glorious sunshine. I walked the 40 minutes to my osteopath appointment this morning for the first time in aaaaages to make the most of the warmth. I bared my pasty white arms and gave my vitamin D levels a boost. Aaaah...spring. The smell of jasmine is everywhere and magnolias are blooming, even though the trees are still bare of leaves. 

I had my neurologist appointment yesterday. I'm gonna get botox! As well as its cosmetic and other therapeutic benefits, the toxin is effective at preventing migraines in many sufferers. I have to keep a diary to show that I have 15 migraines a month before the government will subsidise the treatment, so for the first time ever I'm willing my head to ache! Fifteen seems like a lot, but I think I'll get there. The treatment costs $1,200 and lasts only three months so it's not an option if I don't qualify for the subsidy.  

It's weird that being injected with the most deadly toxin known to humankind feels preferable to taking medication every day. (No one has ever been poisoned by it during a treatment.) I didn't ask about whether the treatment will have cosmetic benefits, if you're wondering! 

I had a lovely dinner with the girls last night - a farewell dinner for a friend from my old work who is leaving to for an extended stint of travel, the lucky thing. The food was tasty and we had a lot of laughs.  

I've had a huge wedding show binge this afternoon. I've lost track of how many hours of wedding programs I watched*. I'd be watching Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta right now if I hadn't already seen the episode earlier in the day.  So annoying! 

(*Yeah, I know I should have been outside enjoying the late winter sun, but I didn't have the energy for it. I still enjoyed the sun shining in my big lounge room window and the gentle breeze blowing through my flat.) 

Day 1 of my long weekend

Look at that furry tail! LOOK. AT. IT

First day of my extended weekend and I did very little. I didn't leave the house at all (unless you count taking a few steps onto the fire escape to water my pitiful herb garden). 

I had a sleep in, did a few domestic things, pottered about on the internet, indulged my guilty pleasure (wedding shows), made and ate some cookie dough (eggless, Dina!) and that's about it. 

Oh, I achieved perfection in folding a fitting bedsheet. That was pretty thrilling. 

I'm looking forward to leaving the house tomorrow for my neurologist appointment in the city at 11.00am.

 

Fake Friday, sunshine and pavlova

Today was the last day of the working week for me. I now have four days off. Yay! I don't have any special plans; I'm just worn out and need a rest. I've had a pretty full-on year and haven't had a week off since Christmas. (I'm not taking a week now because I went into negative leave at Christmas and it's taken months for me to catch up.  I don't want to use too much of what leave I on resting at home.)

I probably will leave my bed/couch/house though. I have an appointment with a neurologist about my migraines, and dinner with the girls on Friday night. I might get a massage, maybe an eyebrow wax and tint. Thrilling stuff, I know.

Happily, the weather is on the improve from tomorrow, with sunshine and milder temperatures than we've had for the last month or two. Good timing, me! 

I've had delicious mini-pavlovas for dessert the last two nights. Makeshift pavlovas, anyway - pre-prepared meringue nests with whipped cream and berries, no cooking skills required. I did whip the cream though.  I have enough for the several more serves too. It's pavlovapalooza. 

I've worn different pairs of new shoes to work the past two days and have no blisters or tender spots.  

24-7 girl stuff

Luke left for the airport tonight for a two-week trip to the UK to visit his daughter, so I have two weeks of solo living ahead of me. I'll miss him, of course, but I really like having the place to myself. Is that bad? 

Tonight I've watched an episode of My Fair Wedding on Foxtel's You Channel...watching wedding shows on You has become my guilty pleasure. And they screen SO MANY of them. Obsessed with the Dress, Don't Tell the Bride, I Found the Gown, Four Weddings, Say Yes to the Dress and on and on and on. I'm not even that interested in weddings; I just enjoy scoffing at the bride-to-be's entourage (and critiquing the dress choices). The bride usually brings a crowd of friends and family with her when she tries on dresses  - some even bring their groom! What is with THAT? - and there's always one in the crowd who is just awful. Brutally honest, selfish and/or domineering. And then there's the super conservative Southern parents who want their daughter to walk down the aisle with every inch of skin covered. "Sweetie, ya'll cannot go to church dressed like A WHORE!" 

Anyway, with the place to myself for a few weeks I will probably overdose on the wedding shows. I'm currently watching The Nanny Diaries and I've made and eaten a bowl of cookie dough for one. It was yummy. I'll be having that again. 

I have a friend visiting for the weekend and we're hitting the shops. It's 24-7 GIRL STUFF round these parts for the next two weeks! Woooooh! 

Spring, possum, plover

Twilight tonight

Luke and I left the house tonight to go for dinner and I could smell spring on the air - that lovely sweet blossomy scent. I spotted a spray of jasmine among the greenery on a neighbour's fence on the weekend too, and buds have started to appear on the still-bare branches of shrubs I pass on the way to the tram stop. It feels too cold still for buds to appear, but it makes me happy. It's one of my favourite times of the year. 

I saw a possum on the way home the other night. It was sitting at the bottom of a tree, watching me pass by. 

I haven't been working to work lately so I haven't seen Mr and Mrs Plover beside the river, but I did see a lone plover on the oval when I was walking to the tram on Monday. It was a manic little creature - it would take half a dozen quick steps then stop and look into the grass for insects, then, finding none, it would run off again. Start. Stop. Start. Stop. If 'd had the time, I would have stopped to video it.

Friday, surprise mandarin, Babybel

It's Fuh-ridayeeeeeee! This working week has gone quickly, but today dragged on. I've had a pleasingly productive week at work and cleared piles of filing off my desk, which is always a nice feeling. 

I ate a deliciously sweet mandarin for morning tea. It was small so it was down the hatch in no time. Just as I was wishing there were more, I looked down and there in front of me sat two more segments of juicy mandarin. Score!

I also had a Babybel cheese for my morning snack. I only had Babybel for the first time this week.  I bought some for after-gym snacks, but so far I've eaten them before setting foot in the gym.  I really enjoy peeling the little strip that splits the wax coating in two.   

Three types of ordinary happiness

As I crossed the footbridge over the freeway this morning, a woman approached with a miniature schnauzer on a leash. The dog stopped and, resisting its owner's tugs of the leash, poked its head through the railings and paused to watch the traffic surging towards the tunnel.

A little further along, a black dog ran towards me with a big stick in its mouth. It stopped and looked back for its owner. It waited, stick still in mouth. Then when its owner caught up, it started wagging its tail and took off again.

Not long after I got to work, an online friend posted this Leunig cartoon on Facebook:

(I tried to make this bigger but it didn't work. Sorry.) 

Three minutes of happiness borrowed from a dog! 

I also experienced the happiness of both partners in my team being away. It was even more relaxed than yesterday.

And the joy of arriving home to the aroma of corned beef. Luke had it bubbling away on the stove. We had it for dinner and it was delicious, especially with a scrape of zesty dijon mustard. We have leftovers too. 

Holidaying at work, marshmallows, cereal love

My boss is away this week. He's in Fiji, and we're having a little holiday as well. He's a good boss and a nice guy so it's not as if we can't stand having him around, it's just more relaxed when he's away. 

My other boss brought in a cake for the team today and some homemade marshmallows for the few of us who can't eat the cake. How thoughtful. 

I sneezed in the lift as I left work tonight and the other woman in there said "Bless you". 

I am loving the gluten-free Weetbix. I thought about them as I neared home tonight and it put a spring in my step.  I had a bowl for a snack when I got home. Yum. 

Yum, sun and lots of leaves

The anticipation of my first taste of gluten-free Weetbix got me out of bed a little earlier than usual this morning and it was worth sacrificing some of my Sunday sleep in. As gluten-free substitutes go, these are a triumph. Just as good as the original. Yum. I had them for breakfast and for an afternoon snack with cold milk. Next up, mooshed up with warm milk. I think I might need to stock up on them (especially as my local supermarket doesn't sell them). 

It was another beautiful winter's day - one of those ones that starts off icy cold and clear (so they said on the weather report; I didn't get up that early) and turns into utter perfection: blue sky, barely a cloud and sun warm enough to coax you into baring your forearms (even if only for a little while when I was out walking). 

I made the most of the sunshine with a lengthy stroll in the Botanic Gardens. I took some photos, of course. 

 Reflections

 Blue sky and bare branches

 In the herb garden. 

 Heart-shaped leaves

Enormo-leaf in the glasshouse

 More bare branches

 Fern Gully 

 Upside down fungus on the Fern Gully Rest House

 Spring is coming! 

Leaf

 I don't know what this is - the beginnings of some kind

 of flower. And leaves

More leaves

Weetbix, cracking, sunshine

Mission accomplished! I haven't tried them yet. I'm making myself wait for breakfast, even though I'm the "breakfast cereal is anytime food" type.  I almost can't wait to get out of bed in the morning. I bought them at Coles in Prahran, which has a pretty good health food section, although these are in the normal cereal aisle. 

I saw the osteo today. He cracked my neck on both sides, which hasn't happened for a while. I like having my neck cracked...well, not so much the cracking, but the way it feels afterwards. The release. 

Today was a beautiful, blue sky winter's day - a vast difference to yesterday, which was our coldest day of the year, with rain and hail and even snow in parts of the state that don't often get snow.