Moonbah Hut

This time last year, we were stressed. It had been a long twelve months, the first three spent apart (visa issues), the next three consisted of job interviews and six hour round trips up and down the highway. The six months following that was full of non-stop work. We were both burned out and in desperate need of a break so we packed our bags and headed south into the mountains. 

It was a rocky start - we awoke to no hot water in our apartment block and unseasonably warm weather. These are not major problems. Anyone who knows me knows that I am strangely calm when faced with major problems. Minor problems like these are my kryptonite. We left the city under a dark cloud, unsettled. Neither of us spoke for such a long time. The built up areas gave way to wide blue sky, golden fields and the ever present mountain range urging us onward. We started to breathe again and tentative smiles crept on to our faces. The distance between each town then village grew larger, the population tallies grew smaller and our furrowed brows began to relax.

It was late afternoon by the time we arrived at Moonbah Hut, 20km outside of Jindabyne NSW. The mountain air was already turning cool and the autumnal sunshine cast a golden glow over the scene. We put our bags inside and sat on the porch in silence, trying to take it all in. In front of the hut is a small lake, a wooden pontoon accessible by a few stepping stones. Every now and then a clumsy splash reveals the playful trout below the calm surface. Off to one side is a stack of wood for the fire and wood-burning oven, to the other side is a small vegetable garden and a chicken coop. We are too timid to venture in and look for eggs. Behind the hut are rows of berry bushes. We collect a handful of raspberries for dessert, plump and still warm from the now setting sun.

The night air creeps in, the crispness of it is unexpected but warmly welcomed. Jumpers are pulled on, a fire is lit and the gift of a bottle of red wine is found inside. We curl up with our glasses and watch the fire grow. As the lick of the flames reach higher, our voices come back to us. We talk, listen, laugh, connect in a way we haven't in a long time. We know this is a special evening and savour its sweetness. Our glasses empty and a simple dinner is prepared and shared. Before being drawn back to the fire, we step out into the evening chill, hand in hand and look up at a night of stars more beautiful than anything seen before.

It has been a year since our stay at the hut and we still speak of it often, the memory of our time there bringing wistful smiles to our faces. These last twelve months have, in ways, been harder than the twelve before them. We must escape again, we say, we must go back to the hut by the lake.

Six rabbits before lunch

One thing I love about my new workplace is that there is so much green space, which results in quite a few wildlife encounters. This morning I walked past a warren of six rabbits. They are normally quite skittish but I have learned to walk very quietly so as to not disturb them. I am sure someone will catch me one day and wonder why on earth I am creeping to work! No matter, it makes me smile to see them and keeps me in a good mood all morning.

Date night

Wow. You don't know it yet but this is a big thing for us - we never go out. I think our last date was about seven or eight months ago!

Wednesday was pretty warm here in the capital and when we got home, neither of us felt like cooking. I made the passing suggestion that we could go out for a meal and, since there was no outright protest, I got ready immediately - I may have set a record! The evening was still warm and the sun was shining to we headed over to Ainslie. We had intended to pop into Edgar's Inn for dinner but had to walk past Pulp Kitchen to get there - it smelled too good to walk any further so we pulled up a seat there instead.

The staff were friendly and accommodating and there were enough diners for a good atmosphere but not too many that it was rowdy. I had the spatchcock two ways with braised baby endives and a lemon thyme jus. One portion of the spatchcock came panfried and the other was in the form of a sausage. Both were delicious, succulent, sweet and did I mention delicious? He had the perfectly cooked and tender beef medallions with mustard béarnaise and wonderfully crispy shoestring fries. I may have tasted one, for research... We shared a serving of the best green beans I think I have ever eaten in my life!

An evening of easy conversation in the sunshine, well deserved glasses of Schofferhoffer Hefeweizen (him) and local Jeir Creek Riesling (me) and a perfect meal. We really should do this more often. Many thanks to the lovely folks at Pulp Kitchen - we will definitely be back!

Blue on blue

Did I mention that I'm partial to the colour blue? No? Well, consider it mentioned. For some people, black is a miraculous clothing colour that hides a multitude of sins and makes the wearer look effortlessly chic and serious. Not me. On me, black manages to drain my complexion while also highlighting any and all rosiness, freckles and blemishes. How is that possible? I don't know. It just is. Let's say: science. Enter navy blue, my saviour. Dark enough to be slimming but soft enough to keep me from looking like a vampire with chicken pox.

As an aside, I must draw your attention to my shoes, which I love and my husband despises. Win - win, really :)

Spot on!

Remember how I said that my new job was kicking my butt? Well, in the spirit of Superbowl Sunday (which is actually Monday here) I shrugged on my team colours (favourite polka dot shirt), put on my game face (favourite pink lipstick) and gave myself a pep talk that Coach Boone himself would have been proud of... Ok, yes, fine, he is actually the fictional football coach from Remember The Titans. But come on! Denzel sure knows how to inspire when he's in character. Long story short, I punched today right in the face and it felt great! Hope your Monday was just as productive. Bring on Tuesday!

Really should have ironed my skirt...yikes!

Really should have ironed my skirt...yikes!

Ch-check it out

It's Sunday, the day of doing nothing. So of course I went grocery shopping, did two loads of laundry, cleaned the bathroom, slow roasted some ribs, made blue cheese sauce and baked brownies...phew! We are experiencing a very welcome cool snap at the moment (single digits this morning!) but not cold enough for a jumper. Thus today I am wearing my cosy plaid shirt. I always feel happy when I put this on in the morning.

My feet are now up for the rest of the afternoon and I'm listening to the BBC 6 Music top 100 tracks of the decade. Overall a great list of tunes, a few duds and a major blast from the past, as referenced in this post title - can you guess who it is?

Shirt: Boden (similar)

Working wardrobe

When I started my first full time job I went overboard with shopping. I had no financial awareness at all and often spent money on clothes when I should have been saving for slightly more important things, like rent (yikes!). After moving overseas, I worked mostly temp jobs so was never earning much but had to make sure I was budgeting what I did earn. As such, I learned to keep my wardrobe simple but fun and try to pick things that I can wear for work and play.

Confession: I have had a bit of a relapse over the last twelve months. Now, I'm certainly not buying new clothes with rent money or anything like that. But my spending has increased and I need to curb it again. I am planning on doing some outfit posts over the next few months with what I currently have in my wardrobe to disprove the constant cry "I have nothing to wear!"

Amanda from HerCanberra has instigated a seven day photo challenge, #HerCanWhatIWore, so what better time to start these outfit posts than right now? I'm super excited and hope you'll follow along on Twitter or Instagram!

Welcome 2013!

Happy New Year! I hope you have had or will have a wonderful evening filled with fun, laughter and a bit of sparkle. We usually like to keep things quiet here on New Years Eve, to take time for reflection and talk about our hopes for the coming year, what we would like to change, what has been working for us and what hasn't. We followed that up with a couple of glasses of Rolling Sparkling Pinot Grigio Chardonnay and some mighty fine steaks on the barbeque. As we sat on the balcony, hand in hand, listening to people enjoy their last few hours of 2012, he turned to me and said "We have a good life, don't we?" I couldn't do any more than smile and nod in agreement. We do have a good life and I am glad we get to live it together. Here's to 2013!

nye sparkle

image via the willows {blog}

Day 30 - Her Canberra

Today is the last day of the HerCanberra Photo A Day challenge and we have been asked to share our favourite thing about Canberra. I am greedy and my photo shows five of my favourite things about Canberra! This was taken from Weston Park,Yarralumla. It is a true oasis to me. We usually visit early in the morning before anyone else is about. The only company we have are the kangaroos lazing in the sun and rowers on the lake. It is filled with lovely big pines and trees whose names I don't know yet but make for some pretty spectacular autumn foliage. From this spot, I can look out over Lake Burley Griffin to Black Mountain and Telstra Tower. Wherever I am in the city, I can usually see the mountain and I always feel at peace when I am by the lake. If we have been away from the city, the first sight of the top of the tower, peeking over the mountain range, means we are nearly home.

Day 29 - Building

It is stinking hot. You may not know this about me but I do not like the heat. I swelter, I wilt, I complain. I am counting the days until the cool, dappled sunshine of Autumn finds its way back. Until then, my days will be spent a) by the water or b) next to the air conditioner.  The air conditioner scenario is much more likely. What you see here is the Captain Cook fountain in the middle of Lake Burley Griffin. In the background you can also see the National Library and the flag atop Parliament House. If you look at it just right, this really is an amazing city to live in.

Day 28 - Mirror

Nope, no photo of my reflection today. I couldn't pass up sharing this view with you. This is along my drive to work. After turning off the busy parkway, we take a quiet, winding shortcut along the edge of the lake, past the zoo, the river, fields and horses. Sometimes we see kangaroos hopping about on the golf course. It is during this part of the trip that I try and visually drink in all the calm and natural elements around me before parking myself in front of a computer for eight hours. One day I'll stop along the way.

Day 27 - Colour

My favourite colour? Hi, I'm Kate, perhaps we haven't met yet. If there is one thing you should know about me it is that I have never met a colour I didn't like. I try so hard to rein myself in. "C'mon Kate, keep it classic, stick to neutrals." I just can't help myself. Don't get me wrong, I love a plain white tee and jeans or head-to-toe-black as much as the next person, but I am probably going to add a splash of colour by way of a scarf or cute shoes. Even better if it is a bright, lightweight merino cardigan, because that is how I roll.

Day 25 - Three

Three lonely chairs, waiting for me to pull myself together, make some friends in this new city of ours and invite them around for dinner. Back in Belfast, I was never happier than when I was with friends or family, around a table, sharing a meal and good banter. Now our family and friends are more than just down the road or across the other side of the city. They get me down sometimes, these empty chairs. I'll fill them up one day.

Day 24 - Up

Back in Belfast, the views from our previous apartments were of their respective parking lots and bin areas. Certainly not awe-inspiring views. The view from our place here in Canberra is a different story. Endless sky, Black Mountain and the odd-yet-homely Telstra Tower. Early morning or late evening, when the world is still asleep or readying themselves for more, I quietly sit, look up and out into this beautiful expanse of sky and just breathe.

Update: I missed a trick with this one, the Pixar film, "Up" was on TV this evening. I may have watched it. I may have cried. Three times. Don't judge me.