A proper holiday!

This post is being published in November - 3 months after our holiday... it feels like a lifetime ago!

In July we realised that we hadn't really had a "proper" holiday since we moved here... we have enjoyed lots of weekends around Australia, a couple of lovely visits to Auckland and of course trips to the UK and Kenya... but we haven't had a do-nothing-but-sit-on-the-beach or a drink-cocktails-at-a-pool-bar type holiday for nearly 4 years!!

I had a small window of opportunity at work before various members of the team went off on time they had booked off, so we did something that we are getting quite good at - booked something spontaneously! We booked a 8 night trip to Thailand. It worked out to be a perfect time to go as it would mean we would get to be there to celebrate our seven (!) year wedding anniversary!

The trip was everything we had wanted - the food was yummy, plentiful and cheap; the weather was perfect for lying around on a sunlounger and cooling off in the pool (with a swim up bar) and the massages were exquisite and only $6 each (I enjoyed  at least one every day!)

We stayed in a resort that was an hours drive north of Phuket, a place called Kao Lak - it was pretty and the staff were lovely. It was a really quiet area with only a handful of restaurants and bars, but that suited us just fine for the holiday we wanted.

Relaxing at the swim up bar!

The view from our balcony

A beautiful Thai sunset

We did manage to change out of our swimming costumes for a whole day to do a tour of Phuket - we visited 2 temples, a pearl factory (where Sham bought me some beautiful Southsea pear earrings for our anniversary), Phuket Old Town and a market! In that sort of heat, its more than enough to fit into a day - we were more than ready to have a  nap by the time we got back!

It really was a perfect holiday and I can't wait to do it again... no pressure readers in London, but Thailand is about halfway... we could meet you there??

Using the right side of my brain!

Some of you have been "lucky" enough to have experienced my new hobby first hand... for those that haven't, don't worry - I am sure you will by your next birthday!

I have started a card making class that I go to fortnightly on a Wednesday evening... its a fun way to be a bit creative. The other ladies in my class are a little older than me, but all are lovely and so cute!

Here are some of the things I have made recently... please excuse the bad photography - I didn't take them to put on the blog, more to remember what I had made!

I don't think i am ever going to be able to retire from making cards, but its relaxing and nice to be using the creative side of my brain... and if I can sell a few to help with buying supplies, I would be chuffed!

Let me know what you think!

Kunj

Food Food Food

Since the beginning of the year (well since the last of the visitors left), Sham and I have been making a conscious effort to eat well... cutting down on wheat and dairy, taking lunches to work* so that we don't end up buying oily noodles everyday (I MISS CBD NOODLES!) and eating more fresh fruit and veg than processed stuff! This has been a bit of a necessity for me as my new office is not in the city so there is a very limited choice of places for me too buy my lunch... and being vegetarian, my choices are limited further!

 *I have taken take food to work one step further and make a big salad with a friend at work everyday!  

Yummy Falafel salad

The wheat and dairy took a bit of getting used to - spelt bread is an acquired taste and its pretty damn expensive...The eating fresh stuff has become a lot easier since we have discovered a farmers market that is on every Saturday thats not too far from our house.
We get eggs, fruit, veg, bread, quiches, cakes (!) and some meat or fish for Sham there every week. The prices are comparable to the supermarket (and things that are in season are sometimes cheaper), but the freshness and quality is unquestionably better!

The rest of our fresh food is delivered on a Tuesday evening by Helen!
We are part of a farmers co op that delivers local food to a home in the area (to the Hubster!) The Hubster then boxes it up according to the order people have placed and then people go  and collect it from the Hubster.

Helen is our local Hubster, so I get a personal delivery each week when she pops over for a cup of tea! This works out good cos it means that we always have plenty of fresh fruit and veg in the house. And because its only things that are in season, we get to save on our weekly food bill as well as supporting local farmers.

Don't worry - as per my usual luck, all this eating well has not resulted in ANY weightloss at all!! Its ok, its enough to know I am saving money, eating well and putting good food in my belly!