5 things…

Okay, it was a week that was all over the place. The first few days were spent in Sydney where we’d moved offices from the city over to Chatswood. This came with its own set of challenges – as all office moves do – but also some bright spots and giggles…

Anyways, without further ado, here are the five things that made me smile last week. As always I had problems with the concept of counting.

Dumplings…

Of course. While this week didn’t have quite as high a dumpling count as last week, there were still more to try – one of the best things about working in Chatswood – and people to try them with.

Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tarts

We first tried these when we were in Penang earlier in the year and these molten centred cheesey treats are almost as difficult to resist as dumplings.

The lovechild of a cheesecake and a custard tart, I took a six-pack home with me for Grant and Sarah.

New covers…

I’m in the process of launching my first two books onto print on demand – Baby, It’s You and Big Girls Don’t Cry – and that means new covers. While I’m at it my designer is also looking at covers for the final three books in that series – I Want You Back, Careful What You Wish For and It’s In The Stars.

Anyways, here’s a sneak peek before anyone else…

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Grevillea

It’s that time of the year when the grevillea is out and the bush is full of birds…

Whales…

It’s getting towards the end of the season, but we’ve seen them a few mornings in the last week doing whaley things on the horizon.

Family…

One of my sisters has been up with us for the weekend and it’s been a lovely catch-up.

Picnic in the park…

We don’t need interstate visitors for a picnic in the park at Mary Cairncross Reserve, but it was certainly a good excuse.

We took a baguette, some local cheese, amazing tomatoes and a large punnet of super fresh strawberries – all bought that morning at the markets – and off we went.

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After lunch we took a little wander through the walking tracks, checked out a python curled up beside a rock (safely from the other side of the glass), said hello to some friendly pademelons (sort of like a little wallaby) and marvelled at the exhibition of bird paintings in the gallery.

Then we watched a storm blow in…

The Smash Pit

Finding your zen through destruction therapy? Yes, it’s a thing – and a mighty fine thing it is too. Sarah’s boss runs The Smash Pit in Nambour and it’s somewhere we’ve been meaning to go for some time – having my sister up was the perfect time.

Rage Rooms are, excuse the pun, becoming all the rage – and I can see why.

We each had 10 minutes in the smash room with a crate of assorted bottles and china, and a piece of electrical equipment each. Everything that’s smashed is already broken or unwanted – and we smash it into even smaller pieces. (You should have seen me with a crowbar and a printer – all to the loud beat of AC/DC.)

It’s about releasing the rage in a safe environment and it’s super fun and an amazing upper body workout. And afterwards I felt completely calm. Almost zenlike.

Alex sunsets and Mooloolaba prawns…

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We finished the weekend off with a sunset at Alexandra Headland and some fabulous Mooloolaba prawns by the beach.

Okay, that was my week, how was yours?