If you cant write... just sing!!!

My writing has been so sporadic lately.. I have been drinking  my coffee and loving it .. but I haven't had the time to write .. or dare go into my ice box room! 5 minutes at my computer and I cannot feel my fingers, they become frozen solid! Maybe time to get myself a laptop! So here is just a quick one!

So I recently saw Bridesmaids... and felt a very deep, if not disturbing connection with Annie... who is continually stuffing things up in her life! Ahhh.... that is my life at the moment! So in tribute to that.... and to the words of classic Wilson Phillips.... here are the words to Hold On! (doing a good job of describing my  life right at this minute!!)

I know this pain
Why do lock yourself up in these chains?
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?

Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then, baby, are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry?
Don't you know
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day?
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day

You could sustain
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness
You got yourself into your own mess
Lettin' your worries pass you by
Don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind?

Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then, baby, are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry?
Don't you know
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day?
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day

I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day
And you break free the chains
Yeah, I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day
And you break free
Break from the chains

Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then, baby, are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry?
Don't you know
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day?
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day

Won't you tell me now?
Hold on for one more day
'Cause it's gonna go your way

Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can't you change it this time?

Make up your mind
Hold on
Hold on
Baby, hold on

Qui ne risque rien n'a rien (Nothing ventured, nothing gained)- Chez Dre

Now I'm not one to be  usually coming out with  French proverbs.... but  because we are in the same week as Bastille day, Frances National Day I thought I would scrub up on my French.

 I do admit I have a fondness  for wearing a splash of red, blue or white, even though I have not an ounce of French blood in me..... and I did not celebrate it with French food  as I am trying to keep my cholesterol and blood pressure down (drats) ... so why not pay homage to the French Language! 

I looked and looked for proverbs that  summed up how I am feeling right now... Cest La Vie (Live and let live), quite dramatic and not quite it,  or  Un malheur ne vient jamais seul - "When it rains it pours"- more on the money of how I  have felt of late.... overwhelmed by the everything around me... like a sinking ship.. never the less  seeing as my blog normally takes on a more happy, positive,  glass half full approach, I thought I  better be at least a little optimistic!! So I chose: Qui ne risque rien n'a rien (Nothing ventured, nothing gained) And to be honest, there have been things that  have gone my way of late, and from my own doing.... some that may lead me to dream that the bigger the risk you take the bigger the reward.  I have thrown caution to the wind and had courage I didn't think I had in me..Yay... I know when the I'm in a cloudy mood.. it doesn't take long for the sun to come out and shine again! (cue music from Annie the musical... "The sun'll come out ,Tomorrow, Bet your bottom dollar, That tomorrow There'll be sun! )
Oh and how bout  I get onto the coffee too... french themed of course!!  So there is a coffee reason behind all  my rambling! So onto coffee... this week it is from a very new and very chic  patisserie/boulangerie/café :  Chez Dre located in South Melbourne (Not on my list and relatively new only opening its doors in late April 2011)It was featured in the Age good Cafe Guide recently and awarded "three cups" and I can see why it does. Hidden down a lane way near the famous South Melbourne Market .. but with a gorgeous sign with gold letters leading the way. From the outside I imagined it was going to be small, but was pleasantly surprised to be welcomed into a large open space  with plenty of seating . Chez Dre oozes with sophistication and class... without being to over the top, I loved the patriotic vases with red blue and white flowers, a cute touch! (And the food too looks amazing!)

Our coffee was lovely too... using a blend especially roasted by Mailing Room, I was enchanted by my latte! A different choice  of drink for me... nothing like  a bit of a change to enliven the senses !  Silky and creamy, with a symbolic heart on top (my favorite latte art!) and a strong finish and perfect temperature to drink. I enjoyed every mouthful! Darby enjoyed every mouth full of his raspberry macaroon! (I had a few sneaky bites..) I was egging him on to get the salted caramel, but he opted for the fruity flavour! Bon Appetite!  I almost ordered a Baguette to completely fulfill my french experience, but resisted the urge!

Ill be making another visit here soon to  immerse myself in everything French and to devour a baguette, my only  decision  will be half or full.. mmmm ...
 

  

On another note.. Elevenses closed last week (sob sob) I was very sad to see them go.. I feel lost as to where to pick up my daily coffee.. so am testing out a few new places.. they are not the same... but at least Elevenses will be open soon, albeit a new name and new location! Even more reason to go for a morning/lunchtime walk! Naked Espresso Bar opens in August and I cannot wait to get there!

My divine Chez Dre Latte

In Progress

Where's it gone!

Next Port of Call for my coffee!!

I haven't really indulged in any coffee from my list this week (still stuck on 63)... I know I have it in the bag,  so I have relaxed a little, despite last week being pumped up to ramp it up!

Anyway I have just applied for annual leave for later this month and I plan to do one every day.... ! 12 days  to do 12 might be a tad ambitious... but if I can do half that it would be great! My "coffee" therapy over these colder months  is working a treat like Chicken Soup for the soul! Feeling distracted is one of the aims of this .. and its certainly doing that, and getting me out of the house and enjoying this up and down Melbourne  winter... instead of moping inside which I could easily be doing! ... and I have found myself a surprising area of  that is ticking all the boxes for me! (and for a place that I didn't rate their coffee highly)

Port Melbourne:

-Its close by.. only an 8 minute trip if the West gate is travelling well!

- Its close to the beach... even in the cold weather its nice to be close to the shore....

- I grew up familiar with the area and the shops and spent some part of my early 20's living here with my granny and my aunty.....

- It has many happy memories from so many chapters of my life  that its makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and a tad nostalgic! 

- One day I would like to get married here (the venue of my choice is located in Bay St)  ....... here's hoping that still may happen so I wont give the venue away!

 I was surprised by a few new places that have caught my eye here  (and they were featured in the recent  Age Good Cafe Guide!)  .... "My Sister Says" and Balderdash!

I visited " My Sister Says" first, on the recommendation of a work colleague living in the area... and when I arrived I knew I had found my  muse if I ever open my own cafe..  (opening a cafe is now on my Bucket list in my wildest craziest dreams) My Sisters says embodied all of the things I look for in a cafe... - warmness, friendly staff.. intimate yet inviting set up,  the best looking and tasting sweet baked goods and more importantly good coffee...  Darby and I drove there on a Saturday afternoon...  I was having a little meltdown and needed to get out of the house.. it may also have been my lack of sleep.. which I'm afraid I cant put down to parenting.. but the unusual new thing I'm doing... partying!!! .. I was feeling terribly tired and seedy and I had no one to blame except myself! I felt like I was Darby's 21 year old babysitter, allowing him to do whatever he wanted.. including ordering a sparkly cupcake!!! I probably shouldn't have ordered a coffee, but it did smell soo good, so I deliriously overlooked the fact I don't drink coffee "the morning after" and  ordered one! I probably hoped it would give me a kick, like the hours of sleep I was seriously lacking (and will never get back) ! I'm sure I had Hangover written all over me.. from my grey complexion to my bloodshot eyes... I'm not talking movie Hangover bad... but working towards it! Not really in any shape to drive machine  vehicles or look after children!

Gorgeous

Gone!



Cheese!!!!!



I got through the day...with myself in tact and a new favorite place to go!! Its not often you find some where you feel instantly at ease with! Next time I will go earlier in the day so I can taste the delicious looking food, and when I'm not feeling so darn terrible! 

On the Monday after, feeling alot better and with a few more hours of sleep up my sleeve, you could say I felt even fresh and invigorated again! I headed  back to Port Melbourne again, this time to "Balderdash" - directly across the street from  My Sister Says.... First thing I noticed in the window was an old typewriter.. with Balderdash written and its meaning, which was something along the lines of :

bal·der·dash[bawl-der-dash]   –noun

1. senseless, stupid, or exaggerated talk or writing; nonsense.

2.

Obsolete . a muddled mixture of liquors.

So I'm not really sure what it means in the context of the cafe.. but it sure got me thinking! I'm sure this blog is no more than exaggerated talk or writing... with a sprinkle of nonsense.... and jumble of words...Anyway back to the coffee. Darby and I ordered, and I knew that we had a limited time today before Darbs started jumping around, so I was relieved when my coffee came quickly.. It was nice and warm and just what I needed.. The 5Senses blend they used was exceptional, creamy and strong and a great way to kick off the week! Will be back here soon... and my Port Melbourne Love affair can continue!!


By the time I post this... its nearly 2 weeks later... slack arse!! So I have managed to hit 64! We went to Cafe Loco in Elsternwick! The coffee was great albeit a takeaway.. but the highlight for Darby was the waiter with the electric Pink hair.... I'm sure he wondered how the hell he got it that colour! Anyway it was nice to cross one off my list... and I was left with the quote that connected with me...
"A person who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new"- eternal sunshine of spotless mind.

Until next time...