So Dad very generously gave me a voucher to the First Class Lounge in KL airport so I got to rest in style!! Had free food, free drinks and a free read of magazines. I also did what I always do in lounges..... take a hot shower and as usual, the showers were outfitted with rain showers. Me favourite!
Got back to Auckland and it was quite surreal being back. FYI, nothing had changed in the time I was gone. Caught up with the sisters and we went out for a feed as usual. Repeat after me, FAMILY + FOOD = LOVE. We went to a chinese restaurant near my house and over-ordered as usual.
Some sorta meat.... can't remember now.
Tofu and Beef Brisket Casserole... great comfort food..
This was a freebie from the restaurant owner as she's a patient of Mel's. Cold cut meat.
Crunchy salt and pepperish spare ribs... sooo good.
Anyway I was back for 3 days before turning around and hopping back on a plane to jump across the ditch to see the kids. Yes I know, I have a hard life.
It was an early flight so I had to observe tradition and get a Mackers breakfast as per normal. I did feel a bit gross eating this at 5 am but I perservered.
I flew el cheapo Pacific Blue but everything was clockwork and I actually got to the curb just as Monica pulled up in her car. Yes!! No waiting in the cold for 3 hours until she is good and ready to come get me...
The kids were in the car and acted all shy and coy for all of 10 minutes. Here they were having a play while sucking on their lollipop.
Having another play at their local playground. That Lauren has strong arms. Check out the look of determination on her face.
Logan's turn to show off:
The playground had a whole bunch of exercise machines too which was pretty cool.
Family that plays together stays together...
Haz was away in Taiwan so he brought all sorts of goodies home for his family. Lauren scored a Mackers set.
You want fries with that?
Monica also got some presents that were age-appropriate.
Lauren's other present was pink googles which she insisted on wearing for the rest of that afternoon.
I made this easy dessert for the Liaos... packet of chocolate biscuits sandwiched in cream and arranged log-style. Refridgerate overnight and you have in your hands a sinful spongey dessert. Haz declared this his favourite dessert since ages ago. It was news to his wife.
Nomnomnomnom....
I went to the city a few times while the kids went to school and the parents went to work. This is the Federation Square... don't ask me what's it for... I think it's one of those inner city arty farty buildings.... Look at the sky!
Flinders St Station..
A couple of years ago when I was about 16 (haha), I visited Melbourne and made plans to hang out with my high school friend from Malaysia. It was all very exciting because it was the first time I would hang out in the city without family around. So we made plans to meet up at the steps of the station at 2pm. Monica and Mel had youth group (yes it was THAT long ago) so they dropped me off there and went off to church. I waited... and waited.... and waited and the cow never showed! I couldn't go because Monica and Mel were coming back to pick me up there. So I waited like a dork for 2+ hours. I rung the hostel up to find the friend and they said she had gone shopping! She later said she had an exam she forgot all about. Ya and I'm Angelina Jolie.
GPO where all the shops were expensive!
Met up with Monica and we shared this spare ribs casserole rice for lunch. Burnt my tongue!
Melbourne Central with the glass cone dome built over the original building...
Lauren is at an age where she has to copy everything Logan does. Here they were in similar pjs, drinking out juice out of a glass with a silly straw, sitting on the kitchen floor.... 2 minutes after this photo was taken, we had a spillage accident.
Kids playing on the parents' bed.
Monica and I snuck off to do some shopping one day and left Haz on babysitting duties. We went to Chadstone and then had a choccie break at Koko Black. We ordered a dark hot chocolate and a chocolate platter with a brownie, a cupcake and 2 shortbread. We asked for a light dark hot choc but it wasn't ready so we gave up. Who were we kidding anyway really??
Monica pre-pigout (she finished off everything and blamed me!)
Having another play with the kids... here's Logan making me a meal.
Peas on buttered bread anyone?
We had an outing to check out the new mall in Docklands that Sunday and stumbled across a Lambo meet. Hawtness!
My client used to have one of these. Sadly, I didn't get to go anywhere near it. Boo!
Old school lambos..
The white one was Logan's favourite...
Docklands is kinda like Viaduct Harbour in Auckland... with expensive apartments dotted everywhere right on the water and bars and restaurants on the ground level. This is where I'll be staying when I eventually move here. Monica is going to buy me an apartment here.
The kids spotted heaps of jellyfish in the harbour and were very fascinated with them.
There was also a little petting zoo happening..
This is the newly built Melbourne Eye... not sure if that's the actual name but it doesn't matter because the thing is already broken.
Logan working on his Mandarin school homework... Lauren had to get in amongst it too so she did some doodling.
Went into the city one last time the day before I left and took pics of the Royal Arcade... so pretty!
This is Central Place which always reminds me of Diagon Alley because of its narrowness..
Another gorgeous inner-city arcade.... can't remember the name now.
I visited Brunswick Street where the Alannah Hill outlet was (didn't buy anything... floral flirty skirts don't go well with punky short hair) and walked down the entire length of the street. There were some cool graffiti art on the side alleyways...
Monica and Haz treated me to lunch at a restaurant with a Chairman Mao theme.
What's with the deer caught in headlights look?
Peking duck, steamed fish with chilli sauce and a stir fried meat dish... yum yum.
Lauren wore a pink dress but refused to stand still for me to take the obligatory cute photo.
Look at the cheeky smile!
In other news, Logan lost a tooth. I hope the Tooth Fairy was generous to him!
Bye Melbourne. Hasta La Vista, Baby!
Tofu and Beef Brisket Casserole... great comfort food..
This was a freebie from the restaurant owner as she's a patient of Mel's. Cold cut meat.
Crunchy salt and pepperish spare ribs... sooo good.
Anyway I was back for 3 days before turning around and hopping back on a plane to jump across the ditch to see the kids. Yes I know, I have a hard life.
It was an early flight so I had to observe tradition and get a Mackers breakfast as per normal. I did feel a bit gross eating this at 5 am but I perservered.
I flew el cheapo Pacific Blue but everything was clockwork and I actually got to the curb just as Monica pulled up in her car. Yes!! No waiting in the cold for 3 hours until she is good and ready to come get me...
The kids were in the car and acted all shy and coy for all of 10 minutes. Here they were having a play while sucking on their lollipop.
Having another play at their local playground. That Lauren has strong arms. Check out the look of determination on her face.
Logan's turn to show off:
The playground had a whole bunch of exercise machines too which was pretty cool.
Family that plays together stays together...
Haz was away in Taiwan so he brought all sorts of goodies home for his family. Lauren scored a Mackers set.
You want fries with that?
Monica also got some presents that were age-appropriate.
Lauren's other present was pink googles which she insisted on wearing for the rest of that afternoon.
I made this easy dessert for the Liaos... packet of chocolate biscuits sandwiched in cream and arranged log-style. Refridgerate overnight and you have in your hands a sinful spongey dessert. Haz declared this his favourite dessert since ages ago. It was news to his wife.
Nomnomnomnom....
I went to the city a few times while the kids went to school and the parents went to work. This is the Federation Square... don't ask me what's it for... I think it's one of those inner city arty farty buildings.... Look at the sky!
Flinders St Station..
A couple of years ago when I was about 16 (haha), I visited Melbourne and made plans to hang out with my high school friend from Malaysia. It was all very exciting because it was the first time I would hang out in the city without family around. So we made plans to meet up at the steps of the station at 2pm. Monica and Mel had youth group (yes it was THAT long ago) so they dropped me off there and went off to church. I waited... and waited.... and waited and the cow never showed! I couldn't go because Monica and Mel were coming back to pick me up there. So I waited like a dork for 2+ hours. I rung the hostel up to find the friend and they said she had gone shopping! She later said she had an exam she forgot all about. Ya and I'm Angelina Jolie.
GPO where all the shops were expensive!
Met up with Monica and we shared this spare ribs casserole rice for lunch. Burnt my tongue!
Melbourne Central with the glass cone dome built over the original building...
Lauren is at an age where she has to copy everything Logan does. Here they were in similar pjs, drinking out juice out of a glass with a silly straw, sitting on the kitchen floor.... 2 minutes after this photo was taken, we had a spillage accident.
Kids playing on the parents' bed.
Monica and I snuck off to do some shopping one day and left Haz on babysitting duties. We went to Chadstone and then had a choccie break at Koko Black. We ordered a dark hot chocolate and a chocolate platter with a brownie, a cupcake and 2 shortbread. We asked for a light dark hot choc but it wasn't ready so we gave up. Who were we kidding anyway really??
Monica pre-pigout (she finished off everything and blamed me!)
Having another play with the kids... here's Logan making me a meal.
Peas on buttered bread anyone?
We had an outing to check out the new mall in Docklands that Sunday and stumbled across a Lambo meet. Hawtness!
My client used to have one of these. Sadly, I didn't get to go anywhere near it. Boo!
Old school lambos..
The white one was Logan's favourite...
Docklands is kinda like Viaduct Harbour in Auckland... with expensive apartments dotted everywhere right on the water and bars and restaurants on the ground level. This is where I'll be staying when I eventually move here. Monica is going to buy me an apartment here.
The kids spotted heaps of jellyfish in the harbour and were very fascinated with them.
There was also a little petting zoo happening..
This is the newly built Melbourne Eye... not sure if that's the actual name but it doesn't matter because the thing is already broken.
Logan working on his Mandarin school homework... Lauren had to get in amongst it too so she did some doodling.
Went into the city one last time the day before I left and took pics of the Royal Arcade... so pretty!
This is Central Place which always reminds me of Diagon Alley because of its narrowness..
Another gorgeous inner-city arcade.... can't remember the name now.
I visited Brunswick Street where the Alannah Hill outlet was (didn't buy anything... floral flirty skirts don't go well with punky short hair) and walked down the entire length of the street. There were some cool graffiti art on the side alleyways...
Monica and Haz treated me to lunch at a restaurant with a Chairman Mao theme.
What's with the deer caught in headlights look?
Peking duck, steamed fish with chilli sauce and a stir fried meat dish... yum yum.
Lauren wore a pink dress but refused to stand still for me to take the obligatory cute photo.
Look at the cheeky smile!
In other news, Logan lost a tooth. I hope the Tooth Fairy was generous to him!
Bye Melbourne. Hasta La Vista, Baby!
