We are family

Thought you might be interested in a family pic from my Granny and Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary lunch. Or not. But I'm a sentimental old thing and I love these special times.

We had a beautiful meal at Jolley's Boathouse which was just the perfect venue - it is on the river which excited the kids to no end. Ruby and Zane loved feeding the pelicans and swans out on the banks of the Torrens. 

And we overlooked Great Grandpa's bridge - Granny's father was the engineer for this bridge in the photo above. It's the main bridge across the River Torrens that connects North Adelaide to the CBD. We're all a little bit proud of it so it was lovely for it to be a part of our day.

Grandpa dressed to impress and Granny looked lovely in her pearls. My dress was uber comfy and the lipstick lasted a treat.

Speaking of lipsticks, I've just discovered a fab new range of lippies but will go into that another time.

It was so lovely to have this family time. And boy oh boy, was the food delicious. A seriously good feed, one of the best I've had in ages - and that includes dining out in Melbourne. We ate and drank like kings - including a bottle of Rockford Basket Press which was a very nice touch (thanks Dad).

And then my weekend finished off with a cup of tea and Anzac biscuit at Granny and Grandpa's before flying back to Melbourne - begrudgingly, I might add. I didn't want to let go of my Mum when she hugged me at the airport. I thought it was supposed to get easier after two years!?

Thank goodness for FaceTime.

Shine bright like a diamond

I'm flying home (again) tonight for a long weekend in the Rads.

It's my Grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. What a milestone! Diamonds apparently.

They are such a gorgeous couple, they call each other 'Darl' and are chalk and cheese. But their dynamic works.  

Here they are at Christmas two years ago with my brother, his wife and the ever divine Ruby.

And here they are at my second cousin's wedding (my first of seven bridesmaid duties!) a few years ago. 

Gosh, I was skinny*! And showing a lot more cleavage than probably appropriate for a church wedding!

I'm the only granddaughter and am very close with my Granny. We went to the same school, she bought me my first piano, we share a love of pearls and the Royal Family. She also introduced me to Tiffany & Co and inspired my love of tea sets. Granny is a great cook and always does the hosting, yet Grandpa does the nightly meals and takes such pleasure in trying new things. I often chat to him on the phone (when Granny forces the handset on to him), and we talk about what cookbooks he's reading and what new ingredients he's discovered. I think he experimented with quinoa before I did! He did the London thing when he was a young man and I was so proud to follow in his footsteps all those years later when I had my two years in London.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sleepovers at Granny and Grandpas. It feels like we spent every weekend at their place - my brother and I had a bed each in the spare room and we'd wake to smells of egg and bacon frying in the kitchen. So spoilt!

It's so hard being away from home - you really notice how much they're ageing when you don't see them for months at a time. But they're both still sharp as a tack and always on top of what I'm up to. They're always asking after my friends and Granny has a little notepad where she writes down what I'm up to at work so she can tell her friends at their regular embroidery catch ups.

They have three great grandchildren and have the energy to entertain them and keep them happy - they delight in showing them their chooks or the wooden toys we used to play with as children. It's truly special times.

The pic above is from their anniversary dinner at my parents' house. I couldn't make it, so we're having a lovely Sunday lunch at a restaurant this weekend. I am wearing a new silk dress and a new shade of lippy for the occasion. I can't wait.

I just hope I inherit Granny's youthful skin and joie de vivre as I grow old gracefully.

Cherish your grandparents and make time for them regularly. The simple act of a phone call or unexpected knock on the door can really make their day.

Pop the kettle on Granny, I'm nearly home!

*Skinny, relative to my normal weight that is, not the rest of the world!

Egg-cellent

Did you know Haighs has an online shop?

Yeah, they do!

Have just loaded up my credit card . . . a truly horrible and unfair task on a fast day.

Shop your little hearts out here.

#sagreat

Gifted

A quick debrief on my Christmas haul (because we all loved my annual wish list, oui?!) ...

I was a very good girl and Father Christmas was uber kind.

Look what he left under the tree!

Nespresso, Kate spade and my girl Sam. Nailed it, big man!

I was ridiculously spoiled by friends and fam and won't go into detail with a list of gifts but more than anything, above and beyond the material possessions, I'm very grateful for the time everyone gave me over Christmas - time with my niece and nephew, time with my grandparents, time with my friends and their new bubs, time with my pregnant gal pals, time with old workmates, time with my parentals, time with my godchildren and time with the bride. This is what I'll cherish from my two weeks home.

That, and the coffee ;)

I hope you all had lovely holidays and took time out to spend with loved ones.

xx

Christmas in colour

Call me kitch, but I do love it when the colour of food reflects the season.

So my Christmas go-to at the moment is a light and fresh coleslaw - I want to call it Asian inspired, but is probably is more Mexican in flavour?

Great with a roast chook (which is exactly what I served it with at Carols by Candlelight with my friend Nadia this week) or of course, with pulled pork in a soft bun.

Delish!

Recipe from here

Coleslaw

• ¼white cabbage, finely sliced
• 1 bunch(about 300 g/11 oz) radishes, finely sliced
• 4spring onions, finely sliced
• 2green apples, finely sliced
• 1 handfulcoriander leaves
• 1 handfulmint leaves
• 2limes, juiced
• olive oil
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• Make the coleslaw by combining the cabbage, radish, spring onion and apple. Tear the herbs over it and squeeze in the lime juice, along with a small drizzle of oil. Season to taste.

It's coming!

I can't wait for this fabulous little taste of Adelaide to hit Melbourne town in January.

The Royal Croquet Club was 'it and a bit' in Adelaide last year and I'm so proud the team is sharing the love beyond the city of churches.

I only saw it in its infancy during the cricket on the banks of the Torrens, but people tell me it was fab in Victoria Square during Mad March.

Melbourne folk, get excited! It'll be better than Night Noodle Markets, fo shiz. (I just hope it's not as hectic.)

Read more about it here.

League of their own

I'm back in the Rads for one of my dearest friend's Hen's Days. It's going to be a hoot - Ivy League themed. 

I might have had a little something to do with that flavour, hard to believe, hey? 

But most importantly, it totally suits the bride and I think she'll love it.

Ladies, let me indulge in some preppy deliciousness for a moment. Blazers, ties, lots of stripes, cardis over the shoulders, chambray, spots . . . do I need to go on?

Above and beyond all this fun, I've also stocked up on Lady Chatterley's Affair and Kiel James Patrick for the occasion. My suitcase is a beautiful rainbow of pinks, lemon, salmon, aqua, kelly green and navy. Still not sure what I'm going to wear on the day, but I'll be sure to post some pics soon.

Bottoms up!

Rads

Flying home tomorrow peeps, can't wait!

So much to celebrate - my nephew's first birthday, one of my dearest friend's 31st birthdays and of course the Port v Bulldogs game at Adelaide Oval. So excited to catch some footy while I'm home, I've heard brilliant things about the ground.

There'll be lots of eating and drinking and cuddles with Dougall (the ferocious dog). 

Bring it xx

Chandelier

One of my favourite songs is Sia's hauntingly beautiful latest hit 'Chandelier'. I have to admit I thought it was Rihanna when I first heard it. Her voice is so distinctive though, and I love the vulnerability or something of it (did that sound like I knew what I was talking about it).

And yes, the fact Sia is from the Rads is very cool. One of my best friends at school was a Sia so I'm a big fan of the name - and of course, her roots!

My love for the song has just gone up a notch now that I've seen her music video . . .

I was gobsmacked when I saw this and then read on to find out the dancer in the clip is only 11 years old.

What on earth?! She's incredible! The film clip is brilliant, I wonder if it's been taken all in the one 'take'.

Maddie Ziegler is apparently a bit of a superstar in the US - she's on a TV Show called Dance Moms. I think it's on Foxtel here but I'm not all that familiar with it. I'm sure I'd love it though, given this talent (and the title suggests it'd have a few diva mums, my kind of show!)

Here's Maddie performing live with Sia on the Ellen show. Ah-mazing.

Gemma, I thought you'd like this one especially xx

Putting the Rad into Radelaide

Adelaide's got its cool on.

And I love it!

What do you think of the new TVC produced by kwp!? It is a lovely new chapter in the South Australian story of late and I love what they've done with it.

Here was the stunningly beautiful and edgy Barossa ad.

And remember the Kangaroo Island winner?

There are going to be the haters, the people who don't recognise the Adelaide they've grown up in. They've cut me down before on this very blog.

But that's not who this campaign is for.

We're trying to attract tourists, visitors, new people, adventurers, foodies, explorers, internationals, sceptics, SA haters and investors.

But let's be brave, take risks and stand out from the pack.

This is different. And different is not wrong. It's just different.

** Editor's note: I showed my housemate this ad tonight and she thought it was terrible. Had no idea what it was promoting. Interesting. I'm looking forward to hearing what others think. Stepping away from my 'Adelaide can do no wrong' bias, it does look quite European or something. Maybe an ad for a technology company? Maybe I love the edginess of the ad rather than the message. I will stay tuned for the backlash . . .

Loud and proud

I am one of Radelaide's biggest fans. Ask any of my friends. I love the place. I've even been called SA Kate on numerous occasions. Give me the opportunity to talk about my home town and I'll jump on it.

So I had to smile when I saw this article that someone had tweeted.

Oh, the memories! I've added my two bobs in for each . . .

Thirty ways you know you're a South Australian

LET'S be honest - being South Australian is awesome. So we compiled a few of the ties that bind us all together. You know you're a South Aussie when ...

1. You know what bung fritz is.

My Dad was a meat wholesaler when I was growing up so we had all the meat we needed at home. But on the odd occasion we went to the butcher at Mitcham, Bruce would cut me a fat slice and I'd love it! Fresh white bread with fritz and sauce for lunch. Delish!

2. The first question you ask someone you just met is, 'what school did you go to?'

Guilty, as charged. BUT I feel like I know someone at every single school and it is a good way to make a connection!

3. You say " heaps good " and people don't look at you strangely.

I use it all the time!

4. You've prank-called Bob Francis.

Nope, never

5. You used to go on dates to Skyshow .

I was too young for dates but did head there with the family in the early days where we snacked on Golden North Giant Twins.

6. You've nearly been killed at the Britannia Roundabout.

I avoid it at all costs and if I do have to go through it, will only approach from Fullarton Road to go straight across towards the Parade. I am my Mother's daughter!

7. You've ridden the Rundle Mall pigs.

Yep, normally some time past midnight with a yiros in hand.

8. You hate the only other AFL team in the state so much that you actually cheer for Collingwood when they play your rival.

Bloody oath! I hate the Crows with a passion!

9. You claim any celebrity who has ever visited here as a South Australian.

And make a connection to them somehow. Like, did you know that Mel Gibson bought my Granny and Grandpa's place in Unley? True fact!

10. You went to bed when Fat Cat told you to.

Bless him!

11. You flip your beer before opening it.

Yes, we love a Coopers but don't turn it into a posh Sydney bar trick. It's just what you do.

12. You feel nostalgic about the demise of the double-cut roll.

Mum used to bring the top half of her roll home from work sometimes, I just thought it was so cool.

13. You enjoy whingeing about the fact that we're a state of whingers.

Yes! I had to leave to ensure I stopped whingeing and made a change!

14. You submit Xavier Minniecon as a "spotted" for the Sunday Mail's gossip column.

Where has he gone?

15. You're inexplicably proud of homegrown inventions people in other places would never think to be proud of. Such as Hills Hoists ...

I love ours in the back corner of the garden. And it's so sweet that my niece now loves to swing on it too. And you've all heard of Goon of Fortune!

... Victa mowers …

I didn't know they were ours to claim!

... and even one-way freeways.

Surely NOONE is proud of that!

16. You hate Victorians for no real reason.

Kick a Vic was something I adopted very early on as a child - especially with the likes of Sam Newman on our case. I'm not so outspoken now that I'm surrounded by them!

17. You think crying over spilt milk is entirely valid - if that milk is Farmers Union Iced Coffee.

Yes! What is this Big M business?

18. You think boat , not spinach , when you hear the word 'Popeye'.

Some of my best childhood memories during school holidays with my cousins involve Popeye and visits to the zoo.

19. You still can't believe Dazzeland closed down.

What is happening to the MYER Centre these days?

20. You feel strangely possessive about the precise position of the Mall's Balls.

The best meeting spot in Rundle Mall!

21. You NEVER EVER let another driver merge into your lane ahead of you. Ever.

Oh no, I'm all for zip merging. I had no idea we were known for this!

22. You know that ' pie floater ' isn't a dirty euphemism.

Have only had one in my life - out the front of the Casino

23. You call the Murray River the River Murray because you think it sounds posh(er).

Ha! Yes, I do!

24. You're secretly proud when tourists ask you what part of England you're from.

I sure am! We're a well spoken bunch

25. You've gotten third-degree sunburn on the Hill at Adelaide Oval.

As much as this is an Adelaide institution, I prefer the comforts of the Members Area thanks! Unless I'm on the lookout for cute English boys on tour . . .

26. You pretend to know the difference between a tempranillo, a grenache and a petit verdot.

As long as it's South Australian, I just assume it's a winner!

27. You felt guilty and rushed out to buy a jar of Spring Gully pickles a few months ago.

I totally get behind the locals!

28. You think Vili is a culinary god.

Yes! And on this note, he lives in the house where Mum and Dad had their wedding reception. So Adelaide to know something like this!

29. Your family used go on holiday at the same spot on the river or coast each year.

Port Elliot Caravan Park every year for 14 years. Best memories of my childhood.

30. You have no problem in stealing something from Victorians, since they already stole something from us.

Yep, I even love stealing their jobs!

And yes, we haven't mentioned Woodies, Haigh's, Bickford's, Stobie poles, FruChocs or Kitchener buns. So over to you - you know you're South Australian when ...

Here are a few of my faves . . .

• You ask for an early minute from work and your boss stares at you blankly. Seriously, Victorians don't know what that means! My South Australian friend from work and I couldn't believe it!
• You ask for a pint and get a glass of beer that's actually not technically a pint in size. Why don't we do it by the book? It's like buying a metre of ribbon and only getting 75cm!
• Someone from the motherland calls you a convict and you hold up the Free Settler card!

Any other true South Aussie-isms?

See the full story on AdelaideNow here

Dirty Thirties

It's been a while, people!

I've left my laptop in the Rads until I head home next - I couldn't fit one more thing in my suitcase. Packing down from a two bedroom place to fit into one bedroom in a share house is hard!

So my posts are few and far between. And hasn't Gemma let me know that!

In the meantime, I wanted to indulge in the fun of my 30th birthday.

Roman Holiday was the name of the game and we had so much fun at Ruby Red Flamingo. 

Thanks to Tina from Lady Chatterley's Affair for her styling genius xx

More pics to come when I'm reunited with my laptop ...

Ps. How hot is my necklace?! Thanks to Miss Brown, I now have my very own LCA High Society necklace! Whoop!

Take off

I just booked my flight to Melbourne.

Like, the flight that will take me to my new home where I'll start my new job and find my new boyfriend and experience a new happiness.

Expectations high? Nah!

It still hasn't really set in, the fact I'm leaving the Rads. And my family. And my cute little shoe box of a house.

I've got so much on my mind - a crazy Easter at work, to start with.

Then finishing up my job, packing up my house, starting my new job, heading to New York, turning 30, throwing a shindig of a partay and then crossing the border for good to see what life throws at me.

Oh, and finding somewhere to live in Melbourne. That's not going to break the bank or break my heart.

All this within the next 8 weeks.

And breathe.

xxx

Some like it hot

My word it's been hot.

And I like it hot.

Swims at the beach, iceblocks, crisp white wine, outdoor BBQs, summer dresses. It's all good.

But endless days of the high thirties is a tad extreme.

The cool change has arrived and I worry we've seen the last of Summer.

Autumn, be kind to me x

The raddest of Rads

Good work, Rads.

I'm proud of you.

According to adelaideNow . . .

ADELAIDE has been voted the most liveable city in Australia for the third year in a row because it is an affordable place to buy housing, has a good standard of living and is clean.

I like to think we have a lot more to offer - take Mad March for example - but this is a good foundation.

The city is buzzing at the moment and to quote a dear friend of mine who visited from NZ a few years ago at this time of year, "Wow, it's like New York City! There's so much going on!"

Okay, maybe she was a bit over excited but I'll take what I can get.

Radelaide, I heart you.

Read article here

Sailors

I've been away celebrating a friend's 30th birthday at the beach this weekend and was intrigued by a story that the birthday girl's work colleague had urged her to read in today's paper.

It was in The Advertiser (might I add, I found it on the Herald Sun website from October 2012 - come on Adelaide, catch up!) and was called . . . 

"Turning 30 . . . and so over it"

This is for the girls out there who are in the same boat . . . 

What happens when you turn 30 and realise you're not living the life you'd expected?

• Joanne Hawkins
• Herald Sun
• October 27, 2012

WHEN Kasey Edwards was 32, she woke one morning and realised she didn't want to go to work.

"And not just on that day, it was like I didn't want to go ever again," she remembers.

For Edwards, a highflying management consultant, who had worked her "butt off" climbing the corporate ladder, the realisation she hated her job - despite the six-figure salary that went with it - was devastating.

"It was shocking because I had done everything I was supposed to do to make me happy and one day I realised that I wasn't," Edwards says.

"And I felt an incredible guilt about it. It was like, 'What is wrong with me?' How dare I be unhappy when I have everything I thought I always wanted.'

Edwards was suffering from what some psychologists have dubbed the quarter-life crisis. That's right. Forget the mid-life crisis that traditionally happens about the age of 45.

These days Gen Y are having a crisis a good 15 years earlier, as they grapple with the feeling that their lives haven't turned out quite as they envisaged. Or that the life they thought they wanted isn't so appealing after all.

For women, in particular, there's also an expectation that by 30 they should have nixed the career/marriage/kids trifecta. And if they haven't, some start to get anxious because things haven't gone to plan.

Melbourne counsellor and psychotherapist Paul Cullen first noticed the phenomenon when he realised that about 70 per cent of his clients were aged from 28 to 32 and "a remarkable number were weeks either side of their 30th birthday".

*********

Shock horror, my 30th birthday is in a couple of months. This Cullen dude could be on to something.

It certainly explains why I've been waking up in the laundry at night for no apparent reason . . .

Read the full story here

Picture from here

Backyard brilliant

Don't you love playing tourist in your home town?

Especially when you can show off new places to relatively new Adelaide residents.

I took my friend Kristie and her pregnant belly to an old favourite for dinner last night. When you haven't been for years, there's always a risk that it will never live up to the memories.

Cafe Salsa lived up to the hype. Phew!

One of the best pizza  bases I've had in a long time. And I just love the fit out, so retro and cool, like Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast 50 years ago.

Go exploring in your own backyard these Summer holidays, you'll fall in love with your home town all over again!

Little Road Racquet Society

I applaud creative types who don't just sit back and comment, but actually do something good with their time.

Here's cheers to those who put the Rad into Radelaide!

Enter the team behind the Little Road Racquet Society - a great new pop up outdoor theatre that's creating awesome vacay fun for holiday makers on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

"The Little Road Racquet Society presents 3 films over 3 nights with 4 different winemakers and pop up local food stalls on a lawn tennis court tucked away amongst the Vineyards of Whites Valley, between Aldinga and Willunga."

How cool!

I'm heading off tonight to watch Amelie with some friends who are staying down at the beach. It's the perfect halfway spot to meet and the weather should be gorgeous.

Strawberries and cream, anyone?

No pain, no gain

My poor Adelaide Oval.

It looks like a bomb's hit it!

But you know what they say, short term pain for long term gain.

What a fun few days we've had, old friend . . .

Pic here

Pop goes the weasel

Have you heard?

It's so exciting!

Brown Button Trading is going 'real life'!

The gorgeous Kimberlee is holding a Pop Up Shop in a few weeks' time, perfect lead up to Christmas.

She'll have all the BBT goodies we know and love, pre-wrapped to make your life easier.

And did I mention there'll be bubbles!? Perfect.

If you're in the Adelaide hood, drop Kimbo an email and she'll send you through all the deets so you can head along.