When we were first married we lived in Elizabeth Bay in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Right near the red light district actually. If we felt like a coffee fix at 2am, it was no problem, we just strolled up the street to our favourite little cafe and abracadabra there it was. One of our favourite things was to walk down the road to the Cruising Yacht Club & Rushcutters Bay Park(where the Sydney to Hobart race starts) and have brunch at a little cafe at the marina.
Anyway, anyway, anyway, we love that our lives have led us to our little leafy haven in the suburbs and wouldn't want it any other way. However, every now and then we do like to "drop in" on the busy-ness and self-importance of the eastern suburbs just for a change of scene and a little bit of nostalgia.
One of my fondest Christmas memories is the year we were still living in Elizabeth Bay and we bought our very own REAL Christmas tree. We left it until the last minute unfortunately, but we were undeterred. We had a dream!! We looked everywhere and finally ended up driving all the way down to Watson's Bay and found a modest little milkbar which magically had one mangled tree left. Jackpot! We paid about $20 for it and then, with it hanging out both sides of the back windows of my 1978 Toyota Corona, proudly drove it home. One the way, we stopped at the traffic lights in the heart of Rose Bay when a very "fabulous" young man wearing an inordinate amount of sparkles and carrying a cane flower basket stopped in the middle of the intersection and yelled out "Oh. My. God!! I just love you guys!! How adorable are you??" and started clapping his hands wildly. Rose Bay is a deeply conservative (apart from the occasional flamboyant soul), Mercedes-driving, Dior-sunglass wearing sort of a place. You can imagine how we stood out. Embarrassment is a choice, I always say.
Anyway, anyway, anyway, today was totally delicious. We started off at Bills in Woollahra for a light brunch and yummy coffee. Bills is also located in the same courtyard as Sotheby's. We tried not to stare at the parade of well-heeled business people bringing in their family heirlooms wrapped in brown paper. Global financial crisis anyone? It is also happily located right next to my favourite mainstream bookshop, Lesley McKay Books. Lots of oohing and aahhing over divine coffee table books which wouldn't last five minutes in our house, even if we could afford them. We then went to lovely Jo Malone and tried out some beautiful colognes for Chrissie gifts to each other. While Dave was loading Mr H-2 and Mr A-4mths back into the car, I quickly snuck (is that a word?) into Seed for a little inspiration. A newborn's skivvy costs about $60, so I was just window shopping, but it is a sensory exercise in deliciousness just to be in the store.
Jo Malone - Woollahra
Seed - Woollahra
To finish off the day, we drove down to the famous Doyle's at Watson's Bay. We were debating the merits of taking a two year old into the restaurant and decided that it was a patently ridiculous idea. We decided on seafood takeaway and were about to eat it in the park when we realised that the old Doyle's wharf restaurant (separate from the original) is now used as a sort of takeaway/restaurant seating area. We had the informality of a food court (only with kitsch seafaring decor), on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour with a gourmet takeaway meal. Happy days! We ended our little adventure with Mr H-2 running along the beach trying to catch seagulls and squealing with delight every time they flew away.
Doyle's Watson's Bay
If you've been reading previous posts you will know that this is by far the most hedonistic day I've had in a looooong time (apart from my brief respite yesterday which was also very rare). Today was not a true reflection of my real life. And that's just fine by me. I wouldn't swap my beautiful, busy, messy, slightly maniacal life for all the superficial perfection of the places we visited today. I am well planted where I am and with a little prayer and fortitude, and the support of a truly magnificent husband, I intend to make this family of ours flourish as best as God will allow.
p.s. what a ridiculously long, verbose post! I promise to be heavily edited in future. Really. I promise. Are you still awake?
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