Good coffee around Sydney

Workshop coffee / Toby’s Estate decaf. Shop RG01A, the Galeries Victoria, 500 George St, Sydney.

Good coffee opposite the QVB building. There is just about always a queue here.

Picture below of Mecca - As soon as I took my first sip, I was hooked. This is great coffee.

Mecca Espresso 646 Harris St, Ultimo 2009. (02 9280 4204 meccaespresso.com). Mon-Fri 7am-4pm; Sat 7am-3pm

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

there Zakka

Found a great little shop of things There Zakka in Haymarket

Like their definition of Zakka - great new word

"Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and appearance. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin, but it can also be Japanese goods, mainly from the fifties, sixties, and seventies. In Japan there are also so-called Asian zakka stores; that usually refers to Southeast Asia. The interest in Nordic design or Scandinavian design, both contemporary and past, is also part of this zakka movement. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft.

Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". The zakka boom could be recognized as merely another in a series of consumer fads, but it also touches issues of self-expression and spirituality. "Cute, corny and kitschy is not enough. To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext.""

Haymarket, Sydney, Australia

Shop address: Shop 8, 107-121 Quay Street, Haymarket Sydney 2000

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Sydney Children's Festival

We spent the day at Carriageworks for the children's festival. Great fun.

The new show by Erth is definitely worth catching, we listened to some authors talk about their inspirations, tried some circus tricks and visited the markets.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Shopping online

the perils of sitting at home with online shopping, is how much money you can blow in a short space of time.

mmmm, all things on my shopping list. New toys to arrive soon.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Spring viruses

So this week the whole family is in some way or another not well.

Arran has lost her voice, Sandy is coughing and spluttering and I have no energy and fever. Very boring.

We have been spending lots of time watching videos and snuggling up. A good season to do this as it is cold and wet outside.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

South Coast

Weekend away from the city.

Came across the Little Blowhole Cafe, where they have speciality dinners once a month

4 Tingira Cres, Kiama NSW 2533
t 02 4232 4990
http://www.littleblowholecafe.webs.com/

plus

The Stuffed Olive

(02) 4464 2005
Nowra
Shop 3, 65 Queen Street
Berry, 2535

Worth visiting

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

A week at the end of which I feel exhausted

Life moves at the most terrifying speed.

Had a busy day yesterday as I volunteered to be a case study for a UTS course. Should be interesting to see if the students can come up with some way for my not for profit venture on Cockatoo Island to expand.

Having said that, musicians love the space when they see, hear, experience it. Would love it, if even more people use it, though I must say we have a really strong program of activity planned, so more will be icing to the cake.

Had a good afternoon listening to the gig with Sandy Evans and Tony Gorman. The beauty of this space is that events can take place for new work or ideas.

Joanne Kee
www.cockatoocalling.com.au
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Darwin Festival

Perfect location for outdoor events and a great time to visit the city. Darwin Festival, images from the Lighthouse, outdoor venue, Tubular Bells for Two performing. Venue is great even for those who have no interest in the arts, food stalls, bar and music wafting from the Lighthouse. A great place to hang out.


Joanne Kee
www.placesandspaces.com.au

Swallowed cash cards, locked rooms and other frustrations

A week of domestic frustrations from card being swallowed by the cash card. How inconvenient to have to use cash!

then there was having to call the locksmith for the locked bathroom door

and the kicker

nit infestation to be cleared out! I never ever had nits when I went to school.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Robots and Dinosaurs

Space for tech heads, the 3D printer.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Addison Road

Such great markets at Addison Road, Marrickville.

My friend Justin suggested the eggs. When I got home we had boiled eggs and they were so creamy, we could taste the difference immediately. We will be back for more.

Not to mention the delicious passion fruit butter and marmalade. I don't normally eat either of these, but they were just too good.

tonight we are trying the free range pork and organic vegies for a winter roast.

Yum, the markets have really grown since I was last there, much more down to earth and reasonably priced than Carriageworks.

Joanne Kee
@JoanneKee - Twitter
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Super Critical Mass in Brisbane

Image from performance of Super Critical Mass


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Cooking crazy

The past two weeks have been a blur of flour and sugar, as Arran has become a cook.

We have had cookies, muffins, biscuits, cakes in different variations, with and without icing decoration.

The shame of it is that we don't really have sweet tooths, probably just as well as we would be very much larger by now!

Joanne Kee
Twitter @joannekee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Work

Been busy working all through the school holidays, which is a shame as I usually like to take some time off to spend with Arran.

so much work at the moment



Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Stuff from Cockatoo Calling

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

School holidays roll around again

School holidays roll around again and it seems to get busier and busier at the end of term with Band performances and ATYP shows.

Next week is the hive of school holiday activities with french workshops and a program at the zoo.

what would I do without my mother to help me out with the run arounds?

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Seal Rocks and Myall Lakes

This is the most picturesque place to me, Seal Rocks. Definitely worth a visit, the most beautiful lighthouse.



We were wondering where the car park was when we drove up to this picnic space. It was underwater. Myall Lakes, beautiful location.

Joanne Kee
www.placesandspaces.com.au

Darling Harbour, Ron Carter and rain

Images from Ron Carter at Darling Harbour. It was cold and then the rain came. Music was great, but have to say I wimped out when it came tipping down.

More on during the long weekend at Darling Harbour.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Weeks fly by

So May is almost finished and the year is flying by.

This week was the first time ever that I had to ask my daughter to stop practising the saxaphone.

She went for auditions this week and became very excited and inspired. Hope this continues.

And this week I started the aerobic exercise trail. Using those discount vouchers I have a months worth of Zumba. Seems like fun - does my body agree?

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Magpies & music

Have to admit I was a tad disappointed with the performance of Magpie at the Opera House Studio. Story was good, but I really felt for the artist who didn't quite get to all the notes. Maybe it was nerves.

However, on to the sublime afterwards with a sizzling set by the Matt McMahon trio at SIMA. On good form.

We have such amazingly good musicians in this city.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Eurovision

Made fun by the party at Amy and Haydns.

Admittedly we didn't watch any of the semi-finals and I knew who was going to win, but it is such a rort of a competition that it is fun to watch and heckle.

Talk about voting blocks, it was so easy to tell where the votes were going to go just by the country of the voting host.

Joanne Kee
Twitter

Mothers Day

Along with a bevy of others we headed to the fish markets for Mother's Day.

However, one good thing is that the less glamorous part, underneath the expressway and in the carpark, is not nearly as crowded.

So we managed to have a not to jostling meal, in a relatively pleasant environment.

Joanne Kee
www.placesandspaces.com.au

Melbourne

The musical couch that rolls around Flinders Street, Federation Square in Melbourne.




Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Easter Show

Fun at the Easter show. Arran as ABC radio announcer.




Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

My aching bones

Had an amazing Rolfe massage with Tom yesterday and some chiro from Ivo and feel quite realigned.

My body was feeling really tired, I have been working so hard. So rather a nice change and to celebrate had a good walk in the autumn sun around Blackwattle Bay.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Longish lunch

A very relaxing way to spend a Friday lunch, at Marque with my Mum and daughter. Three generations.

Felt good to be able to give my Mum a break from constantly caring for my Dad.

Must do this more often.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Short break

Mmmm, seemed like a good idea, but for some reason I don't feel refreshed.

Had a short break in Blackheath, was beautiful weather.

Perhaps next time, I shouldn't get a place with a kitchen and then I won't feel obliged to cook.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Selective school tests

What a stressful week that was. Really glad its over.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Joanne Keewww.ceressolutions.com.au

Joanne Keewww.ceressolutions.com.au

Part two of birthday celebrations

And that birthday keeps on being celebrated.

Dinner with friend at Ripples, became little birthday celebration with mud cake and sparkler

Sunday night dinner was actually great fun with friends over for dinner

the presents kept on rolling in.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

party time

Thanks to Nicola, Lizzie & Tillie for a fab vampire party.



Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Manic

Madly trying to build a website, do a 101 things.

Help with a zombie party, rush around buying fake blood and party bag gifts

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Time flies

Well it was back to school, a Sydney heatwave, the days seem long. How good that we can go somewhere like Redleaf pool and cool down at the end of a steamy day.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Aaron Ottignon Trio, Red Shoes

busy week.

Caught Red shoes, which I really enjoyed.

Carmen, Opera in the Park on the Saturday, great to see such a production outdoors. Shame about the sound.

Plus Aron Ottignon on one of his semi regular visits back home, at the Sound Lounge.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Restaurant overkill

Went to this highly rated restaurant and it didn't quite live up to expectations. A little bit more hype than taste.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Tumblr

Testing out Tumblr for on the run blogging.

This is me http://joannekee.tumblr.com/

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Tasmania

A weekend in Hobart, catching Mona Foma, great mainly free music festival.

Also caught a bit of nature, fresh black devil cherries and seals on a tour to Bruny Island with Pennington tours. Boat trip was awesome

More tourist info to follow on This ain't no tardis, managed to find a couple of decent coffees, some great food.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Too short a break

We just had much too short a break in Gerroa.

Weather wasn't great, but we did manage to spend some time in the water, beautiful temperature, rolling waves.

Did spend a fair bit of time eating and for tips visit http://thisaintnotardis.blogspot.com/

Found some new places and revisited some old favourites like the Shoalhaven Heads,
Seahaven at Gerroa, Sourdough Bakery and The Emporium Food Co, Berry.

Joanne
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Joanne Keewww.ceressolutions.com.au

The New Year is rolling by

I can't believe that the year has rolled away after Christmas and its already the 9th.

We had a gorgeous New Year at the Lord Mayor's kids event. Lots of entertainment and a nice stress free view of the fireworks.

Its still school holidays and we are actually looking at a few days away as we like spending the Christmas/New Year holidays in Sydney when things are really quiet.

Next week is Jazzgroove Futures Festival and it looks as though it is going to be a busy year.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au