A trip to The Mountains!

Ah, it's that time of the year again, when us girls head away to The Mountains for the weekend.  Crisp days, blue skies, sleep-ins, lamb shanks, fluffy mash, homemade sticky toffee pud with cream AND icecream (very naughty!), open fireplace (thank goodness for Jiffy's firelighters ha?!), red wine, browsing the shops and bookstores, gluwein and Whisk & Pin Cafe in Medlow Bath for a very late brunch (2pm) after a luscious, long sleep in!  It's Heaven and I can't wait! :)


My gorgeous friend Nads and I have been going to a friend's little timber cottage in the woods every Winter for about 5 or 6 years now - each year, we pick a different friend to come along for the ride.  This year, Sophie (who is visiting from London) is the very lucky nominee!  So, get in quick if you want to be first on the list for next year :)  I think you'll be hard pressed beating my little sis to it... !


It's welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, work and the hectic nature of Sydney life in general.  Here's some pics from our adventure last year, with the beautiful Adge...

The gorgeous little Chapel down the road...

Chilling with a bottle of red & a good book :)

Our photo shoot in the woods!

Miss Manly all rugged up amongst the trees.

The wee timber cottage in the trees

Adgey & Nads off for a stroll...

The tiny Chapel that Nads almost bought!

Whisk & Pin Cafe - divine!

Chilling with a coffee & the Sunday papers

Whisk & Pin, Medlow Bath

So, it's off to The Blue Mountains for us 3 ladies this weekend - only 3 more sleeps to go! :)

I hope your weekend is just as beautiful, whatever it is that you're getting up to... Enjoy!

Love,

Miss Manly x

Dry July? Not I!

Well, it seems that I'm in the minority amongst my nearest and dearest, not having signed up to do Dry July - a painful, impossible task of staying off the turps for the month of July in order to raise much needed funds for cancer research.  Not that I don't want to support cancer research (and I am more than happy to donate my hard-earned pennies to such a worthwhile cause, having been touched so closely (personally and professionally) by cancer... BUT I am a realist and there are so many other great things to do in Sydney in July, without having to give up the bubbles.  In fact, I can think of a million things I'd rather do than 'dry out'!  


Here are just a few of the fab things going on in Sydney at the mo...


THE ALPINE WINTER FESTIVALS
http://www.winterfestival.com.au/sydney.html

Sydney: 28th July - 14th August 
Ice skate next to beautiful St Mary's Cathedral (right in the heart of the city) and enjoy schnapps and traditional alpine fare in a log cabin.  It looks so cool! (pardon the pun)
Bondi: 30th June - 17th July
The Bergstation will open again in Bondi for its second consecutive year, promising to transform Sydney’s most famous beach into a winter wonderland.  Ice skate right on the sands of world famous (being a Manly local, it kills me to say that!) Bondi Beach.


WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2011 & Sydney Morning Herald Photos 1440 exhibition 
The State Library of NSW: 2nd July - 24 July 


http://www.nswevents.com/Event/02-07-2011/world-press-photo-2011-and-sydney-morning-herald-photos-1440/
http://www.worldpressphoto.org/


This is a must for all photography lovers / enthusiasts and photo-journalism afficionados.  It is an annual collection of award-winning photos from the prestigious and world renowned World Press Photo competition. 

The sheer, wild beauty of this photo took my breath away.

I have been the last few years and have walked away with a jumble of emotions - heartbreak, joy, love, amazement, wonderment, appreciation, awe and gratitude.  So, do yourself a favour and check out this amazing collection before it disappears.

The unfailing love of a mother for her son and the senseless atrocities of war reduced me to tears when I saw this photo last year...

52 SUBURBS

Museum of Sydney: 14th May - 9th October

A search for beauty in the suburbs 

http://www.52suburbs.com/

Manly.  Suburb number 42 to Louise Hawson.  Suburb number 1 to me.

"When photographer Louise Hawson realized she was a stranger in her own city, she set herself a mission – to explore and photograph one new Sydney suburb a week for a year. Originally presented as a weekly blog with a strong online following, 52 suburbs reveals Sydney beyond the clichés of its harbour and beaches and captures beauty in the burbs in a refreshingly unconventional way.  This exhibition celebrates the vibrancy, multiculturalism and community of Sydney’s suburbs."

We are off to 52 Suburbs this Sunday and I can't wait to see all 52 suburbs in all their glory, but most of all, I look forward to seeing the hidden beauty Louise discovered in my beloved hometown of Manly.

So, whatever it is that you have planned for July, make the most of our crisp, blue sky sunny Sydney Winter days.  And if you ARE doing Dry July, you are a better man / woman than I!

Love,

Miss Manly x