Melbourne photos - rain and pianos

Melbourne rain

Joanne Kee

http://www.ceressolutions.com.au/

Melbourne weekend

A beautiful day in Melbourne, where there was a mega walkathon for breast cancer which you can just see in the background.

We spent the morning at the markets by the Arts Centre, wondering around town, having a great dumpling meal and just enjoying the day.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Kura I

We are thinking that this is one of the best Japanese places around. Plus it is incredibly good value. We had seafood tempura udon and sashimi on rice, with miso soup and an extra seaweed salad. Add in an orange juice and it cost $26.50. The serves were really generous, and as we said, some of the tastiest Japanese we have had in a while. Highly recommended.

Kura I, Japanese dining - they only take cash
Shop 3, 76 Ultimo Road, Haymarket, opposite Paddy's Market
I doubt whether you can book, but you can order take away 9212 5661



Joanne Kee
www.placesandspaces.com.au

Dad's Birthday

Joanne Kee

www.ceressolutions.com.au

Making ravioli pasta

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Flash mob

Nicola, Arran and I from a flash mob we did last year.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Easter show

Easter show, pictures taken from my mobile phone which I think is pretty good going for action shots.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

easter weekend

The fake Easter show at Fox studios

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

stuff

Sick child all week, its a virus so v. annoying if we overdo it, it comes back again.

Hence Arran did go to Mindquest on Saturday but was too sick to go on Sunday.

On the exciting side of what happened this week, Arran made her first sale of hand made cards.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

bra shopping

OK, is this scarey to go bra shopping at age 10. Apparently about 80% of the girls in Year 5 have one.

I seem to remember around 13 was the age for all this when I was growing up. Or is that selective memory.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Room service - birthday indulgence

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Another try at a birthday weekend

Jamberoo
















We had great fun this weekend. Stayed in a gorgeous house, Cedar Mists. we booked through South Coast Holidays. Jamberoo was really easy to get around, rides were fun.

Joanne
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Birthday weekend

What a mixed bag of a weekend.

Arran reached double digits.

Father in law taken to hospital.

Great upgrade at Hotel Realm, which we really loved.

Thank god for Shanthini - what a queue at the National Gallery.

Exhibition great but how much patience do you have left to look at art when you have been queueing for 3 hours?

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Adelaide Fringe Festival

Always a fun place to be, the Adelaide Fringe Festival is a great mix of artists, audiences and people having a good time.



Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Swimming Carnival

How nice that I was able to attend Arran's swimming carnival.

Though I have to admit after all those swimming lessons I thought she might win something. However, I am very pleased that she is able to participate and gives it a go.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Hobbies

I fel rather refreshed this week taking up a bookbinding course and also going back to slightly better than beginners in Spanish.

Nice to think in a different way.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Rainy days

A day of rather tropical rain, to match this summer's humidity. The kind when you listen and wonder what might be flooding, or at least when our house used to flood, the kind that you crossed your fingers that it wasn't flooding.

We spent the day doing domestic stuff, baking cupcakes and spinach pie. Finally taking the Christmas tree down.

Don't know what happened to our bunny, he was rather poorly in the evening and off his food. He seems to have bounced back to health overnight.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Back to school

Back in the groove again and back to school.

Saxophone being practised in the background, a bit rusty after a month or so without playing.

Back at full steam with my work and wondering what I want to do next.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Camilla

Enjoying the summer holidays with a book and a glass of wine.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Wake up Everybody

One of my all time favourite songs. Love the lyrics.



Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

gerroa

Spent the weekend at Gerroa, which was revitalising

Caught the train down, which gave me time to read, got some great ideas on the way.

Plus found out that the Guardian actually has a great setting for reading it on mobile phones.

It was great to catch up with Perrie and Bert.

Beach was excellent at 7pm, watching the sun set and lolling in the surf.

Joanne Kee

http://www.ceressolutions.com.au/

Circus Oz

Took the family down to Tumbalong Park to see Circus Oz.

It was the three generations, grandparents, us and Arran. Seems the older and the younger generation enjoyed what they saw. Us in the middle thought it was fine, but were uninspired. However for a fun, family thing to do, it is recommended.

Its a short walk from there to Chinatown, so we caught the end of the night noodle markets.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Happy New Year

Joanne Kee
www.placesandspaces.com.au

Blue Mountains

Spent a couple of nights in the Mountains visiting some friends.

Found out it was our Uncle John and Aunty Sunny's 48th wedding anniversary on the 29th December. That was some coincidence that we happened to drop in on that day.

Hung out in expensive Leura and made an expensive toy purchase. However, now we are back in Sydney I realise that we could have bought it cheaper on the net. So we shall be converting to online shopping for the future. Therein lies another lesson!

Also reckon that lot of those restaurants and cafes are overrated and too expensive for what they provide. Tourist traps.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Merry Christmas

Christmas bus in the city

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Whatever...: Cupcake fever

Whatever...: Cupcake fever

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Cupcake fever

Visit http://thisaintnotardis.blogspot.com/ for the cupcake story.

http://www.ceressolutions.com.au/

Santa comes to the Greyhound track

Ok, yes, here I am again, bad parent, what am I teaching my daughter? Santa arrived by ute on the greyhound track! Great Australian values.

Wentworth Park Greyhounds had free entry for families, present from Santa, bouncey castle, petting zoo and face painting all for free. All this to the background of races being called, bookies in place and of course the long TAB counter.

OK, we are unlikely to ever go back to watch the greyhound races, but was blown away with the real estate that the dogs have, how on earth do they afford that space, when there are so few people going?

Also was fascinated by that bunny zooming around the track.

Ho, ho, ho

Joanne Kee
http://www.ceressolutions.com.au/

Arran's Christmas Poem

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Flash Mob

If you are interested in a flash mob and live in sydney, check this out.





Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Christmas carols at Elizabeth farm

So what is it about Christmas carols, that the songs are always played so that it is very hard to sing along. Either too high, or the tempo is super fast or slow.

It must be why women singing in church always have that strained kind of thing happening.

Having said that, this was a lovely space for carols. It was a rather refreshing Christmas carols, not too big, so the kids could run around, you could see the band and the singing, there was plenty of room to spread out.

All the kids got to line up for Santa and received a gift. The setup allowed the kids to go up the front and sing along, or listen to the Night before Christmas.

Definitely one of the better carols I have been to.

Joanne

http://www.ceressolutions.com.au/

Christmas Cards

This weekend we have been busy making Christmas and other cards. Quite satisfying really and some of them actually look quite good.

If anyone fancies giving it a try, really good materials are available at Amazing paper. Plus I have seen materials at Big W and Officeworks.


Joanne Kee
http://www.ceressolutions.com.au/

Canberra

Just came back from a weekend in Canberra to face the scorching heat in Sydney. Hopefully this is not indicative of the summer to come.

Canberra was fun, we went to see Bangarra's Fire at the Canberra Theatre. Fantastic show.

Then we experienced Canberra nightlife in Civic, even managing a late meal. It was really buzzing around there.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

walk clontarf to Manly

http:// http:// www.ceressolutions.com.au

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Next consultancy

Rather nice, I mentioned to a few people that I am looking for some work and low and behold something arrives pretty quickly. Still waiting for official confirmation, but it is rather gratifying to think that the work I have done thus far holds some weight.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Which way to go

Had a really nice morning talking to Rosemarie about her bookbinding and plans for the future. It is a great feeling to be able to point someone in a direction they want to go in.

So my saying is Live your own dreams, not someone elses.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Good to be home Dorothy

Just back from a sauna like weekend in Wangaratta.

Nice to be home, enjoyed the jazz but hated the heavy handed security and what was that about being pulled over by the police because I flashed my lights at them. What sort of flimsy excuse was that to pull me over?

After going to Wang for 3 years, for the first time there was a very unpleasant feeling about the place.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Misinterprotato with Froy @ Qirkz

Gig on a rainy sunday night at quirky venue Qirkz which lives up to its name.

Some beautiful compositions accompanied by the sound of rain on a steel roof.

Joanne Kee
www.placesandspaces.com.au

How to Act around cops

Saw a fun show How to act around cops, fast paced and black comedy.

However we were rather surprised by what we all felt was a high ticket price. $37 for theatre at Darlinghurst. Whilst I think the arts and artists should get fair reward for their craft, have to admit the price nearly stopped us from going. We only bit the bullet in the end because Leland directed it.

Sadly I am wondering if other prospective audience members had the same thought, as it was nearly empty. A show this entertaining and so topical should have been packed.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Weekend

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Melbourne

Just been to Melbourne and back in a whirlwind.

How annoying to have two of my three appointments cancel on me. Come to think of it, this seems to be a pretty regular occurrence in Melbourne, is it normal?

Went to a Melbourne Festival Event, dance piece which is 10 years old. I have to admit, it looked 10 years old, would have loved to have seen some real dancing, the little glimpses we saw were tantalising.

Have to admit that I preferred the film I saw today Departures, a charming Japanese film, about death, but still quite uplifting in its own way.

Had an idiot taxi driver miss the turnoff, so it cost a small fortune to get to the airport. How doubly annoying. When I checked in at the airport the staff said I was the third person that day who had had the same problem.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Rainy long weekend

Slothy toad of a weekend. Found it v. hard to leave the house today, however, we did to brave printing our photos at Officeworks.

Arran is now onto Zines, as I gave her a couple that I picked up while in Newcastle. Her first one is pretty impressive and very cute.

We also did a photo shoot of Hoppy Vanderhare and Muffy Vanderbare to create their own style magazines. I was photographer, she was stylist.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

How to make a zine

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Emil Goh

Was very sorry to hear about the passing away of Emil Goh. Such a tragic loss at such a young age.

More information on Emil.
http://artlife.blogspot.com/2009/09/vale-emil-goh-1966-2009.html

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

http://www.ozarts.com.au/artists/emil_goh

Cheap Eats - Daruma Japanese

Daruma
Level 1, (Prince Centre)
8 Quay Street
Haymarket NSW Sydney

T: 92812889

We just went for Bento boxes and as far as value for money is concerned I am totally sold on this one.

We paid $25.80 for two people for the Sushi Bento box at $12 and the Sashimi/udon box at $10 plus we had one drink. This also included all you could eat Miso soup and rice.

The sushi and sashimi were fresh. The boxes were varied, mine had seaweed, Arrans had fried tofu.

Ambience is lots of space and light.

You help youself to the Miso soup.

As far as I am concerned a total winner, even more so when you look at the price.

For some strange reason this is quay street, I have no idea when it was ever near a quay, it is closer to Paddy's Market, the back of the ABC building and UTS.

More cheap eats can be found at Cheap Eats Food Trek

Joanne Kee
www.placesandspaces.com.au

Lah-Lah - proms for little people

Lah-Lah's Adventures, Proms for Little people. Coming to Enmore Theatre from 7-18 October
Click here to book or for more information.

This is one of the projects I am working on, it is a fantastic new group, do come along if you can.

Dancing double basses and singing saxophones. Lah-Lah is a brand new performance where instruments come to life in the world of a little girl who can’t sit still! A musical spell will be cast over children aged 2-6 by some of Sydney’s most vibrant and entertaining musicians.



Something very magical happens to little Lah-Lah one night when reading her book - all the characters in her story come to life as instruments! Meeting her friends is lots of fun and Lah-Lah learns all about their funny sounds while she sings and dances.

This show is in a special intimate Proms format, children and adults up close and personal with the 5 piece band. Strictly limited seating available. Book early, tickets selling fast.

Meet Lah-Lah, Mr saxophone, Squeezy Sneezy accordion, Lola the Double bass and Tom Tom Drums and the friendly fairy.There is a chance to interact with Characters after each performance

ALL PATRONS 12 MONTHS AND UNDER ARE FREE. 12 MONTHS AND OVER MUST PURCHASE A TICKET
From Wednesday 7th October through to Sunday 11th
Tuesday 13th through to Sunday 18th but no show on the Friday 16th

Performance times 10 and 11.30.

Joanne Kee
www.sydneychildrensfestival.com.au

Chesters

Of course, if you are after accommodation in the Valley, then my top tip is Chester's Guest House. A b&b, in the quiet backstreets, behind James Street.

It only has 10 bedrooms and is run by Maria and Peter Gittoes. If you like that personal touch when you are out of town, this is the place for you.

There is also free wireless internet, a relaxing lounge, free DVD's and welcoming, friendly service. It is at 26 Chester Street, Fortitude Valley www.chesters.net.au

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Fortitude Valley - food

There are a few places to grab a good coffee around the James Street Market area. This is one of them, Campos coffee, down a little laneway. 11 Wandoo Street, Fortitude Valley, open from 7am to 4 each day.

You can also catch a decent coffee in the James Street Market, not sure of the name, but you can't miss the coffee shop/restaurant smack bang in the middle of the markets.

If the James Street area is a little out of your price range, which would be totally understandable, try Chinatown in the Valley.

Apart from the various places where you can get barbeque, there is also Taste of Vietnam, where a big bowl of Pho will set you back $10.80. they also have the usual fare of spring rolls, both normal and rice paper. Food is quite decent. They are at 28 Duncan Street, Chinatown Mall, Fortitude Valley.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Brisbane

In Brisbane for the week for the Big sound music conference.

Staying Chesters a great little b&B, which is a stones throw away from James Street Markets and campos coffee. Good places to get coffee.

Had dinner at Cru in James Street yesterday. The steak was fantastic, though not too sure about the potato rosti with breadcrumbs. This little complex has lots of other interesting places to eat, graze and consume in this little strip of shops.

The James Street markets are at 22 James Street, fortitude Valley, Brisbane


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Creative business

Well my daughter in an effort to pay back her holiday money - borrowed from me whilst away, has decided to set up a business. Jewellery and cards. I think this could be a slow process.

We started on the weekend with buying materials for the cards and are now working on prototypes. Some are actually quite good.

Others, I have definitely told her are not going to sell as handmade for $5, if they are crooked and have dirt marks on them. Should be an interesting process.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au