What’s on your needles this week?

In the heart of Sassafras, a town in the mountains southeast of Melbourne, a cozy chair waits for you with a basket of yarn and needles perched on a lower seat beside it. It is inviting anyone to take a moment and create. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge and…

Day 3 in Hobart

We started our day early to catch the ferry going to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart. We went inside the Brooke Street Pier entrance. This was where we waited for our designated ferry to arrive. Inside the ferry. MONA is situated 11 kilometers north of Hobart, about a 20-minute drive or…

Hobart Getaway

TRAVEL DIARY: TASMANIA 1 It wasn’t long after we arrived in Hobart that we decided to take a walk around the city. I hadn’t realized just how hilly it was! I had forgotten my walking stick at my daughter’s place in Melbourne, so naturally, I had to find one that matched my jacket. Anyway, despite…

Melville Street

I haven’t had a chance to organise everything from my trip yet. But to start, here are a few shots of the charming doors from our AirBnB cottage in Hobart. I am linking this to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge Some doors from neighbourhood houses. For Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge For Cee’s FOTD Challenge

Market Walk

My husband and I love exploring local markets, but this Saturday, we decided to try something different. Jack, Patricia, and I headed to St. Andrew’s Market, nestled among the gum trees in the Yarra Valley. It’s Victoria’s oldest and most unique market, offering a delightful mix of local produce and artisan goods. I love admiring…

Bayside Walk

We wanted to go to the beach for a stroll because the weather seemed great for it. We decided to pass by this trail of murals in Mordialloc, which we saw previously but then it was still in the process of completion during the festival. It was like this then click here and it is…

Walking the Vibrant Town of Sassafras

Visiting a place I hadn’t been in a while was a true delight. While some familiar sights remained unchanged, many new additions had emerged. As we anticipated, the beautiful weather brought a bustling energy to the town last weekend. Sassafras, located in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, Australia, is a charming village known for its…

Angono… a fun place to be

This week, Egidio’s challenge is Destination: Fun. I struggled to decide what to post this week because, for me, traveling—whether close to home or halfway around the world—is always an adventure filled with fun. But I suddenly remembered these places that my niece and nephew took us in Angono, Rizal in the Philippines. This is…

Seven Stools

“You have stools, because sometimes you need a seat that understands you’re just here for a quick break, not a full sit-down meeting.” I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge and for Becky’s Seven in September.

Public Art Walk

BRIGHTON & ST KILDA We had this walk on the 1st of April 2024. First stop was the Beach Boxes in Brighton which is a popular free destination whenever somebody from overseas comes along. Jack, Pilar and I walked from one end to the other, taking in the vibrant and varied designs of the houses…

Chairs, Six Words and Date Night

This was last week, Jack and I celebrated his birthday with a date night having his favourite steak at the Meat & Wine Co. in South Yarra. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge With six words, 6 dishes and a booking at 6 o’clock for Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

A short stroll in Mornington

TRAVEL DIARY: MORNINGTON It was a sunny weekend so hubby and I decided to go out and enjoy our Sunday. About half an hour drive to Mornington Walked around the main town. And saw some stools and got envious of these cuties sitting on sun chairs. Then it was lunch at Betty’s Burgers. Heading away…

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

TRAVEL DIARY: SYDNEY I’ve visited Sydney numerous times, yet I’ve never had the chance to explore the Botanic Gardens until now. One of the perks of hosting visitors from overseas is discovering places I wouldn’t typically think to visit. This is the entrance to the Gardens, Austtalia’s oldest botanic gardens with all its natural beauty….

Liverpool

TRAVEL DIARY: LIVERPOOL There are places I’ll rememberAll my life, though some have changed.Some forever, not for better;Some have gone and some remain.– the Beatles Even if you’re unaware, you’ll unmistakably sense when you’ve arrived in Liverpool—where everything transforms into a celebration of the Beatles. But first was dinner. We decided to go to Jollibee,…

Bristol

TRAVEL DIARY:BRISTOL Arrived in Bristol at night from the Cotswolds. Our first stop was dinner at the famous Pieminister. Nestled within Bristol’s city centre, Pieminister has been a beloved family venture since 2003. There were so many choices and so tasty Through the darkness of the night, we could still see the colour and vibrancy…

Camden Town

TRAVEL DIARY: CAMDEN TOWN During the first leg of our holiday in Paris, Barcelona, and Portugal in October of 2023, we weren’t able to indulge in much shopping at the markets. Our luggage was already filled to the brim, leaving little room to bring back souvenirs or treasures from our travels. So first thing we…

Cotswolds – Castle Combe

TRAVEL DIARY: COTSWOLDS After our European holiday last October 2023, Jack, Tim, and I embarked on a six-day road trip to visit my cousin in Edinburgh. With my son’s commitments sandwiching our travel dates, we had to keep it brief, but having Tim behind the wheel amidst such stunning scenery made it all worthwhile. En…

Day Trip to Aveiro

and to Costa Nova do Prado TRAVEL DIARY: AVEIRO & PRAIA DE COSTA NOVA Though the days were totally wet, we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore beyond Porto, so we opted for a day trip to Aveiro. The train journey from Sao Bento to Aveiro, lasting about an hour and twenty minutes, was…

Wooden Sculptures Squared

When my sister came to Melbourne for a visit, of course we had to take them to the Twelve Apostles. On the way, we stayed the night in Apollo Bay. Here we discovered Apollo Bay’s wooden sculptures, showcasing local artists’ talent. This is a permanent exhibition of wooden sculptures along the Apollo Bay Foreshore. This…

Indoor seating

Walking back to the hotel in Liverpool, I saw this window then I saw the seats that were like on display. A bakery in Porto with the gorgeous Azulejos tiles as back drop. Looks like rabbit chairs which I saw at the Art Gallery NSW in Sydney At a fish & Chips shop in Tooradin,…

Bookbar

The colourful seats outside the Bookbar in Islington, London. Bookbar is an independent bookshop. It is a welcoming place where anybody can sit together and read a book or have a meal or drinks. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge

Benches in Watsons Bay

A ferry from the Circular Quay took us to Watsons Bay. Watsons Bay is a lovely village at the tip of South Head in the east side of Sydney. We discover a perfect mix of hidden beaches, scenic coastal paths and old-world charm. They are tiny in this photo but there are lots of benches…

At Cloudehill

CLOUDEHILL GARDEN & NURSERY, OLINDA, Every Autumn, my husband and I find ourselves drawn back to this place, and this year is no exception. This time, we arrived a bit earlier than usual, to accompany my sister and niece visiting from the Philippines. Although the autumn colours hadn’t fully emerged yet, I’m hopeful that they…

Geelong by the Waterfront

This morning I took my sister, Pilar, and my niece, Pam, to Geelong. (They are both here for a month long holiday from the Philippines). Geelong is the second largest Victorian city behind Melbourne and is the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road. Here we found these amazing sculptures which I…

Wall Art in Frankston with Sis

I hadn’t originally planned any activities for my sister and niece on their first day in Melbourne, but it turned into quite a busy day. We ended up heading to Frankston beach to admire the stunning wall art from the recently concluded 2024 Big Picture Fest. I am linking this to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art…

The Beatles Cafe

LIVERPOOL, UK This is the Chantilly Beatles Cafe located within the Cavern Walks Shopping area. Here you can see lots of Beatles memoribillia and artwork. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge

Empty Chairs waiting patiently for diners

Passing by a restaurant in Porto at midday. I guess they don’t open up for lunch. Linked to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge and Debbie’s Six Word Saturday – 6WS

And I will just sit here…

BARCELONA, SPAIN Linked to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge For Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge And for Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Whimsical: for the child within you

Step into a storybook dessert place, adorned with lollipops, fairy floss and magical trees … a whimsical world of sweets. In Camden market, London, I saw this delightful sweets and ice cream shop called Hans & Gretel. I had this Ube (purple yam) & Honeycombe flavoured ice cream. Linked to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge…