So anyways, I didn’t wrap last week up properly and, given that I’m now on holidays for the next week and a bit and off to Queenstown tomorrow, here’s a special wrap-up of the week that was…with absolutely no mention of the political madness of the last 24 hours – except that I probably did just mention that…
What I binged on…
Netflix’s The Crown. Oh. My. God. This is a sumptuously addictive and beautifully made piece of television. I have no idea whether all the behind the scenes stuff happened the way it did – and nor do I care. I’ve spent way more time watching it when I should have been writing.
Speaking of writing…
I’m behind on my nanowrimo target. No huge surprises there. I have a post scheduled for tomorrow morning on the author site where I talk a bit about what I’m writing – and what I’m planning to write.
What I blogged…
Not much actually! I did, however, manage a post yesterday on how I came up with the locations I used in Wish You Were Here. Spoiler alert- Brookford doesn’t exist…on the map, anyway…
What I rediscovered…
These “travel” guides from the team at Jet Lag Travel aka Working Dog. I found them when I was cleaning out the shelves dedicated to travel guides and memoir and had forgotten just how laugh out loud funny they are. I still remember having someone over for lunch who picked up the guide to Phaic Tan and said he’d been there, declared it “over-rated,” but that Molvania was absolutely on his list. True story. Seriously, though, how much fun would it have been to make up a country and write one of these? I can just imagine that dinner party conversation.
Where I splurged…
Lunch on Sunday at Aqua Dining at Milsons Point. It was a combination of a (late) celebration for hubby’s birthday and a (late) celebration for the launch of Wish You Were Here – and it was worth waiting for. We had a fabulously blue day, and the food was very good indeed.
The restaurant is located virtually on top of North Sydney Olympic Pool near the entrance to Luna Park, so the outlook quite takes one’s breath away. Yes, I’ve been watching too much The Crown.
In other news, As tempting as that pool looks, you’d never find me swimming laps in it – not after being one of those diners who sits up top and critiques the form of the swimmers…
What I’m glad about…
That it’s still jacaranda season
What I’m tired of…
Walking up this hill with a backpack on after work a few nights a week.
What I’m enjoying…
Other people’s gardens when I need to catch my breath after walking up that hill.
An random rose photo…
From someone else’s garden. Just because.
What I cooked…
Kapitan chicken... for a secret Christmas project. Sssssh, don’t tell anyone…
What I’m looking forward to…
Queenstown – well, that goes without saying. I’m looking forward to catching up with some dear friends – speaking of which, happy birthday H – eating in some great restaurants, drinking lots of good wine, showing my husband around this vibrant town. I’m looking forward to the digital detox while I’m on track (we’ll have no phone or internet access from the time we leave Te Anau on Monday until the time we’re back there on Friday). Most of all, though, I’m looking forward to the walk and spending hours (even if they are wet hours) in nature in such a beautiful part of the world. I’m not, however, looking forward to Mackinnon Pass. Just saying. I’ve got something scheduled on this too for tomorrow morning…
Linking up with the Lovin’ Life linky crew via Debbish
And Anyways... 
I’m loving the Jacaranda trees all in bloom too – my favourite tree!! That hill looks exhausting to walk up – especially with a backpack on your back! I have not heard of Kapitan Chicken before but it looks a bit like Butter Chicken which coincidentally I shared a recipe for today! lol Have a fabulous time in Queenstown!! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
Thanks for dropping by…you’ll find the recipe here (I probably should have linked it) https://andanyways.com/2013/07/16/how-to-make-ayam-kapitan-kapitan-chicken/
Flowering gardens and Jacarandas are definitely one of the things that I love about Spring. 🙂
Oh yes. My best mate joked yesterday I’m not to post on insta andy more f’n purple flowers. So I posted lupins instead.lol
You’ve inspired me to watch The Crown. I’m only 3 episodes in and enjoying it. I’m intrigued as to how ‘true’ it all is as well. I checked IMDb to see if there were discussion forums on it and there are a few there.
You can see where the expense was, hey?
Dining at Aqua sounds wonderful – and of course the food looks delicious. I just posted a jacaranda pic on my Seize The Day Project Facebook page! Gotta love the jacaranda :). They will soon be gone for another year. #TeamLovinLife
My friends are so sick of jacaranda instagram pics!
LOL. Love that you’re enjoying other people’s gardens as you pause from that walk! Funny.
A lot to love right there! Thanks for the catch up.
I’ve been binging on The Designated Survivor. SO GOOD! Keiffer Sutherland …
Thanks for joining the Lovin Life Linky! See you next week.
#TeamLovinLife
I’ve been banned from flower photos & jacaranda photos on insta. Sigh.
You take such beautiful photos! It’s great to be able to see spring now that everything is a little gloomy on the other side of the world. That Kapitan Chicken looks deeeelish as well. #TeamLovinLife
Thanks for dropping by. Yep colour in gloom 😦