Notes from the Neighbourhood » Uncategorized

Always a market, but rarely this chic!

neighbourhoodgirl — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:33:41 +0000

No shouting, no spruiking. Just polite, knowledgeable people in long white coats, tending picture-perfect produce.

Paradise for lovers of goats and sheeps cheese….

And for lovers of all things sausage and offal!

Posted in Uncategorized

There’s always a view to reward the climb!

neighbourhoodgirl — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:51:51 +0000

Posted in Uncategorized

neighbourhoodgirl — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:35:47 +0000

First day at school – mon amie Helen leads the way!

Posted in Uncategorized

Learning in Lyon

neighbourhoodgirl — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:20:28 +0000

A new window on the world? Well, on Lyon at least! College Hotel offers the perfect setting for a couple of weeks of learning. All Lyon is spread out below. A vast plain of buildings punctuated by church spires and the occasional concrete office tower. Lots to explore!

Posted in Uncategorized

Il pleut a Paris

neighbourhoodgirl — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:32:09 +0000

Grey, rainy, cool but still magical in the Marais! A scarf around every neck, a monument at every turn, a fromagerie and a patisserie on every corner.

Posted in Uncategorized

Steamy Singapore

neighbourhoodgirl — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:51:10 +0000

Such a contrast to the crispy dry foliage of late autumn in southern Australia! Up the hill from Pasir Panjang Village, Kent Ridge Park is lush and moist and teaming with green! In spite of the heat, it was tempting to stay and watch the jungle grow around me. Chocolate the labrador and I were glad of the view at the top of the hill – an excuse to catch our breath. Chocolate was more interested in the ants in the grass than the boats on the harbour!

Posted in Uncategorized

Tamar and Taramasalata

neighbourhoodgirl — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:31:56 +0000

The mist doesn’t diminish the beauty of the wide Tamar River. Makes the stop at Koukla’s (285 Gravelly Beach Road)even better – where else can you find a cheerful second family of Greeks whipping up great home-cooked food at any hour of the day?

Sublime Sunday

neighbourhoodgirl — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:54:06 +0000

Started the day with a tour of Sandy Bay, breakfast at the Beach House Cafe (which MDH loved because the classic car guys were there with their very beautiful bonnets open) and then a trip to the Brezel Backerie for eachte brezelen and Hill Street Grocer on our way back to Moorilla for lunch.

Swearing we were only going to have a light lunch (and confident The Source would be the perfect place for such a sublime snack) we were completely seduced into a tasting extravaganza by the charming and knowledgable Andrew and Shelley. What’s not to like about a grown-up tree house feel here? Perched up high above the Derwent in a crisp white interior with everyone murmuring happily around you? Fab dishes from Justin Harris (apparently the only home-grown exec chef on the Island) that combined local ingredients with a refined and playful palate (tuna tartare with preserved lemon, candied chilli and spicy rocket), amazing chestnut and rye bread from “Flukesie” and a flight of Moorilla wines that made the whole experience a long, enjoyable and interesting afternoon.

Salamanca Saturday

neighbourhoodgirl — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:25:38 +0000

Spent the day wandering around Salamanca Market – MDH was delighted to find a Dutch Olliebollen vendor and treated me to a couple of fruity deep-fried donuts rolled in sugar. That was sufficient to fuel us through a retail safari, several cafe stops and finally to stop at the dockside apartment for the night. Off to bars in North Hobart soon after (yes, there is a night life in Hobart in winter, provided you bring your beanie along!). Followed by dinner at Restaurant 373 which included a fabulous 2005 pinot noir from Winstead (which I confess to choosing because it came from Bagdad Tasmania) and an even more impressive wallaby shank in consomme and a lamb stew as only the French can do it.

Rental Car Insurance Scam?

neighbourhoodgirl — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:09:24 +0000

A nasty surprise greeted us at Hobart Arport. Went to the Avis desk to pick up our hire car. Was confronted by a laminated sign with badly chosen cartoon art and fonts that the choice for dealing with claims excess was, as they say in Victoria, “buckleys or none!”. Choice was: a) pay the excess if you have an accident (regardless of fault) of $3200-ish, or, b) insure against it for $30 a day. For an 18 day trip, that means almost $600 in insurance. Car hire fees only come to $700 for the trip. Not covered by credit card insurance, which only covers OVERSEAS rental car excess fees. Overheard someone else being told they could drive into town, find a travel agent, buy a travel insurance policy that covers DOMESTIC rental car excess. But NOT at the counter that sells hire car services. Wasn’t the only one steaming quietly about not being fully informed at the time of booking!!