Where did February go? Someone call the police

Erm, excuse me but did anybody see February at all? Did that month even exist this year? I swear I never saw it??

It's safe to say that February was a blur of kids activities, late-night drinking and dinner's out with little spare time in-between because I can honestly say that was the fastest month to go by to date. Not that I am complaining as such, because it means its closer to my Asia Adventure but also because March 1st was when Future Music Festival hit Brisbane's RNA show grounds with a corker of a line-up (Exl. Pharrell Williams & 2-chainz!) 

Having been to a few festivals in my time - This was going to be the BEST I was sure of it before I had even arrived and I was disappointed. Obviously the fantastic sunny/hot weather made the day even more enjoyable than the rain I am use to in the UK, but also because I went with a group of girls from around the world I had met along my travels. With an abundance of acts to chose from - I already had my hit list with me - Martin Garrix, Naughty Boy, Tinie Tempah, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Rudimental, Eric Prydz & Deadmau5 to name a few I actually remember seeing before I was too drunk to care what was happening! 

For me, Macklemore blew the crowd away and it was such a great set - the only downside on the day was that most of the acts ran into each other on others stages, but that happens at most festivals. So here I share with you the small selection of photos I managed to take before becoming non-sober & partying it up like an animal...

Enjoy March because who know's - That could disappear before you're very own eyes too!

XOXO

Is going home after life on the road as scary as it seems?

Since I began travelling I have always had this little voice in the back of my mind saying that going home is the worst idea and to stay travelling for as long as possible but with most things in life there is an expiry date - Is there with travelling?

I have seen some amazing sights around the world and there are many more on my bucket list, I just wish there was enough money in my back pocket to fund all of these wonderful things. Having fount jobs along the way pretty easily I have had the chance to pack up & move on when the time felt right however in my latest venture of becoming an Au Pair I have spent a lot more time here than expected. This as well as the fact that I have some savings at the end intend to travel Asia and after that... well, who know's?! 

For most the idea of going home is frightening to say the least and some also see this as a sign of failure within their own personal mindset, for me - well I don't want to go home however with most of my friends now having children as well as my family, and other factors going home is looking to be quite a reality after my Asia stint where I can then re-save before hopefully hitting the open road again. 

What am I scared of you ask? That nothing has changed and unfortunately in most cases this might be correct. I also think I am scared of missing out, the all important phrase F.O.M.O (Fear of missing out) springs to mind! I don't want to miss my sister in law having her baby and me becoming an aunt, I don't want to miss my best friend's wedding and I certainly don't want to miss out on all the girly chit chat. 

When I put all of that together it seems quite a nice thought of going home but then again I left for a reason right?...

XOXO

The long & short of it

Since having my hair cut super short on August 20th last year, I have had my ups and downs on how I feel about it. Like most people I suffer 95% of the time with bad hair days with the humidity as well as the lack of energy to make an effort with it - however getting it cut short was a step in the right direction! It meant less time in the bathroom and more time just getting about my day to day life, until I decided to start the painful journey of growing it back out to have long & healthy hair again. 

Well its now January 17th 2014 - Roughly 5 months since getting the chop and its slowly growing and I am just about able to put it into a ponytail with bits failing back out. So to celebrate my hair growing I thought I shared a picture of my progress & I WILL NOT CUT my hair until it is at least past my shoulders! 

So here is to Friday's - May yours be relaxing & more eventful than mine?! 

Happy Friday All...

XOXO

Food Watch! Eat Street Markets, Northshore Hamilton

So Saturday 11th a group of friends and I decided that it was overdue to visit the newest (well maybe not so new now!) eating & outdoor experience in Brisbane down at Northshore Hamilton. It has old shipping containers that have been gutted and re-modelled to make way for express eating outlets in a market style, including clothing stalls, fresh fruit & veg and onto artwork & vintage pieces. 

It's open Friday and Saturday's between 4pm - 10pm and would highly recommend going around 5-6pm as it gets pretty busy especially if you want to get a seat for the live music that is on or to eat at a table rather than your lap! 

The first thing that took my eye when we got there was the way it was brightly coloured and lit with fairy lights and had a sort of carnival fell to it. As soon as you get out of your car, the aromas of fresh food being cooked fills the street & you have this urge to try as much as possible.

With the weather as it has been, we opted for Cloudy Cider at the Rib Bar which is in the far right corner as you come in through the front & a great place for the live music as its slightly raised from the ground & at $8.00 not breaking the bank so to speak! 

Moving on from alcoholic beverages we then opted for a walk around where I settled on The Three Sisters Greek Food which was divine for a started of Grilled Haloumi (2slices) for $5.00 and the main I chose came from non other than Jake & Elle's stall "Chitty Banh Banh" from MKR and I decided on a Chilli Caramel Pork with salad priced at $9.50!!!! See below - its the dish furthest to the back!

After eating what seemed a mountain of food, I went back for more cloudy cider's to wet the whistle and keep us all on our way to a fantastic evening filled of fresh food, live music & summery alcoholic beverages as well as laughter. Out of 5, I rate Eat Street Markets 5/5... 

XOXO

Happy New Year!!!....

Welcome 2014... What you saying?

Well another year done and dusted and I can hand on heart say that mine was definitely one to remember. It was the year I embarked on travelling Australia and meeting with friends old and new across the globe, it was the year I finally started ticking off things from my bucket list & it was also the year I become content and super happy with everything in my life right now! 

If there was one moment that would sum up my year it would be when I completed my skydive! From start to finish that day was insane, I felt free, I felt invincible, I felt AWESOME! I would do it all again in a heartbeat but... there are still new challenges and places to see and visit in 2014 and I am excited to be travelling over to Asia in August, starting with Singapore! A new chapter for me to explore and learn all about. 

So guys - What are your new year's resolutions? .. Stop drinking (yeah right?)? Quit smoking? Get fit? Start saving?.. Well I don't normal make them because let's be fair who actually sticks with them? Not me. But this year I hope to not buy a single magazine and instead save the $12-20 each week I would spend on trashy mags and put into my savings for future travels!.. I wonder how long it will take before I crack, so far so good - day 2 and going strong!

So seeing as I have 7 months left in Australia I would like to think of things I haven't yet done & get those into action in the coming months, but I seem to be struggling... I would most definitely like to swim with dolphins if this can come true, that would be great however I can't think of anything I haven't already done that doesn't cost the earth because we all know that Australia is crazy expensive.

If you think of anything, hit me up I would love to hear. Until then enjoy the beginning of the year with happiness and time of reflection before creating some more kick-ass memories.

XOXO

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!!!

Can you believe that 2013 is nearly over and Christmas is finally out of the way? In other news its only 362 until the next... YIKES! 

Well here is wishing to a fabulous 2014 and praying for an even better year than 2013 if that is possible! I have done so much this year that I never thought possible, from moving one from Sydney to Mission Beach and back to Brisbane, seeing old friends & meeting new, skydiving over the Gold Coast & reef to becoming a Nanny & actually enjoying it (well most days!) I really couldn't have asked for a better year and I am sure there is much more to add to what has happened this year but really don't have the time to go through them all. 

2013 is ending on a high as I have booked my travel to leave Australia in August 2014 and moving onto Asia, starting with Singapore - So any tips, places to visit, sleep, eat - feel free to hit me up! But by far, the highlight of 2013 was doing my Skydive - I have never been so excited & scared at the same time as well as feeling the almighty rush of jumping from a perfectly good plane!... 

This christmas has been spent up the Sunshine Coast at Caloundra and I can honestly say that it has been relaxing and hot. This is the first christmas where I have spent it in above 10 degrees temperature in my life, hitting 35 degrees christmas day was a little strange but fabulous all the same. 

Being away from home means that there really is no spare space for me to carry belongings back to the UK on my travels, therefore this year has been great because I have been given money, clothing & beauty products which fit with my lifestyle right now. The new year will mean cut backs and looking to buy some new luggage ready for when I leave in August, my OCD is already in planning mode with 7months to go but I don't go over-board, just the necessities like flights, a sturdy suitcase or backpack, travel bits & pieces and of course money! 

So with NYE fast approaching - enjoy the last few days of 2013 and make the most of them! Wishing you all the best for 2014 whatever it may bring for you. 

XOXO 

Skydiving... Not for the faint hearted

Yesterday 9th December 2013 I completed my first skydive from 12,000 ft and loved it! I had been brought my skydive for my birthday in August and hadn't got around to jumping although to be honest I was happy to wait awhile until the weather picked up for the Australian summertime. 

It is something that I have always wanted to do & sat highly on my bucket list of things in life to do, so when a friend told me she also had a voucher for the same place, it made complete sense to do the jump together - you know for moral support and what not!

It all felt so surreal getting into a harness and going through safety checks before heading to the airport, with the tiny plane, with no door might I add to begin our climb into the air and jump... from a perfectly good plane!! Mixed emotions ran through my body from - what the hell am I doing to this is going to be insane, but nothing prepares you for the rush of adrenaline whilst you hang out of a plane 12,000 ft in the air before jumping out. 

Once in the air, I felt so alive & loving life to the absolute max - from being scared of how high we were to thinking hell yeah I'm doing this!! I am so happy I finally did it & it has made 2013 the best year of my life to date as well as everything else I have done this year - its been a cracker for sure.

And on that note, I leave you with a few photos from the day :)

XOXO 

 

Being an Au Pair

When I first came to Australia I wasn't sure what line of work I would fall into & how I would even find work but luckily I have had my fair share of good luck on this side - having worked in hostels in Sydney & Mission Beach, to working in an Irish tea shop in Sydney's The Rocks, however my latest role isn't something I thought I would ever do.

I became an Au Pair in March 2012 and I am still working with the family to this day & probably will be until my second working holiday visa ends next year in October. It is safe to say that this has been something that has changed the way I acted, spoke & thought about family life, coming from a relatively large family back home I felt right at home when I joined my current family however as the months have gone on, I have started to feel the strain on our relationship's and started to miss my own family more which I didn't think would ever happen. That's not because I don't like my family (everyone's families have flaws) but because I spent so much time away from them going on holidays each year before coming to Australia that the time away didn't make much difference to my life prior. 

However, working in another family and seeing how they interact, etc plays a big part of your life and wether your ready for that or not, makes a huge impact on how you act as a person. I look after two boys aged 6 & 7, and boys being boys they do argue like cat & dog but are also lovely children to work with. It's lovely to see them grow and they almost at times feel like my own children - but thats when I have to draw the line. As much as I love children I don't wish for my own, having seen the struggles that families go through to make ends meet or to make sure the family dynamics work out equal is a lot of hard work if you don't have extra help and I am just not ready for that. I am only 26 so there is still time for me to change my mind but I just have never been a maternal person. 

When I first started as an Au Pair, I loved every minute of it and learning new things both about my family I work for but also about Australia joining them on holidays and day trips has been awesome, but I think over the past couple months I have started to drift away from what I first found exciting about what I do and now feel ready for another adventure. It's not to say I wish to leave so suddenly but more of a phase that I now think I have out-grown. 

Most other Au Pair's I know are aged between 18-21 years old and with myself being 26 (27 in Aug 2014) I feel like I am too old to do what I do, so I ask the question: Does being an Au Pair have an expiry date?

Answers on a postcard....

Hair Drama

Seriously thought my hair would grow stupidly fast and then I would be able to put it up again!?? NO... It feels like the more I want it to grow, the longer it is taking and it doesn't help that its at that length where I literally can't do anything with it...

I put a head band on and I look like Chucky the doll. It isn't long enough to wear in a ponytail and all I can do is clip the front out of my face for fear of sweating!!! I am so annoyed by it, it almost makes me want to cut it super short again then I wouldn't have to get all hot & bother everyday trying to sort it.

Anyway, just fancied a little rant for the time being - I will stay strong & resist the urge to cut my hair even if it means looking like a sweating pig! Oh the joys... XOXO

No-bake Jaffa Cake Cheesecake

Another recipe that I use a lot is my Jaffa Cake Cheesecake - If you don't know what Jaffa Cake's are then shame on you because they are so delicious! But seriously if you don't know then please Google it!

This is what it should look like when its finished and hopefully you will love it just as much as I do. It's safe to say that there is never any left in our house!

My Jaffa Cake Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 x 250g packet plain biscuits


• 100g butter, melted


• 1 tablespoon caster sugar


• 1 1/2 teaspoons powdered gelatine


• 500g cream cheese


• 500g milk cooking chocolate, chopped


• 1 x 395g tin condensed milk


• 1 cup thickened cream, whipped

Method

1.Break the biscuits to a rough crumb and the add the butter and sugar and mix well. Press firmly into the base of a roughly 26cm spring form cake tin and refrigerate.

2.Sprinkle the gelatine over 2/3 cup lukewarm water and stir until dissolved.

3.Place the chocolate in a microwave bowl and melt gently or do this over a pan of simmering water - whichever is easiest for you. Stir until the chocolate is just melted.

4.In a bowl, mix cream cheese and melted chocolate until light and fluffy  with electric whisk if possible. With the mixer running, pour in the condensed milk. Stir through the gelatine mixture, then fold through the whipped cream.

5. Pour half the mixture into the refrigerated tin then place back in the fridge to set for approx. 15-20minutes.

6. Layer whole Jaffa Cakes over the layer then pour the rest of the cream cheese mixture over the top to cover & refrigerate for approx.30 minutes. 

7. Place Jaffa Cakes on the top layer in the design that you wish & place back into the fridge for roughly 5-6 hours.

8. Serve alone or with ice cream!

Enjoy!

Yikes..

I cannot believe that it is already nearing the end of November and will soon be December!? Where has this month gone? I feel like I haven't had time to stop and breathe this month as I have been busy with work & also took a trip to Melbourne & still have to book my skydive to do... JEEZ...

Melbourne was lovely & I thoroughly enjoyed a week away with time to myself & to enjoy being a tourist for the week exploring a new city. Unfortunately though when I arrived it was raining which continued into the next day, so what's a girl to do when it rains? SHOP!!! I got a few bargains so it wasn't a bank card massacre this time, luckily. I made sure to hit up the night market on Wednesday's at Queen Victoria Market & it didn't disappoint - fantastic atmosphere, food from around the globe (I opted for Korean food & sangria's to wash it down!) & local vintage clothes, accessories & other bits and bobs. The live bands that were on whilst I was there were great too - I listened to some Jazz and a really cool indie band - although I cannot find the flyer for them now :(

Thursday followed with a trip to The Pancake Parlour where I indulged in a heart breakfast - literally could have given myself a heart attack with the amount of sugar I had before 9am!! Opting for a latte & the Alice in wonderland pancake special I really did feel a little crazy after my sugar-fest but it did set me up for a great day visiting St.Kilda & most of the free museums in Melbourne.

Friday however was my favourite day of all - I took a last minute Groupon for a day trip of The Great Ocean Road & it was fantastic! Again the weather was a et down but did manage to hold of from actually wetting any of us that day, thankfully. Getting up for a 7.45am departure was pretty hard considering I had been drinking in the hostel bar the night before but I made it there ready for an adventure by the sea like no other. 

When I use to think about visiting Australia before I knew I was going to eventually come here, I always use to see this advert on the TV back home in the UK - its tagline was "there's nothing quite like Australia" and boy did they hit the nail on the head! Showing images of the Great Ocean Road with the 12 apostles as well as obviously the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge to name a few other things, really summed up exactly what I thought of Australia - BEAUTIFUL. Even though the trip itself was a long day leaving at 7.45am and getting back just shy of 9pm it was worth the long bus journey and the money - costing me only $79.00!!! You must go if you ever get chance, you won't regret it at all.

Below are some photos from the day, but they don't capture the real feelings of when you are there, its just amazing to see. And with that, I am signing off as have little time to do everything else I planned to do... XOXO

The 12 Apostles    

London Bridge, The Great Ocean Road

A quick post..

It has only just been Halloween and already Christmas is being shoved so far down my throat that I no longer enjoy food shopping! (Yes I am one of those strangely weird people who likes food shopping) 

I love Christmas but I just can't focus when shopping as I see so much that I want to buy, not good for the bank card - actually another thing - this stupid pay wave is sooooo bad for spenders like me, who feel the need to buy something no matter how big or small on a daily basis. It's just a tap away! 

Anyway, Project 365 has been quiet easy so far although I do want to make sure I make an effort with capturing great photos but so far so good & I haven't missed a day - a week into it now. 

In other exciting news, I am off to Melbourne Tuesday 12th and looking forward to ticking another place off my list to do. Have a few plans for when I am there and of course I have to visit the Great Ocean Road!!

I will post while I am there if I get chance... This is me until next week unfortunately! XOXO

Project 365

Recently I have been slack on the old journal front because to be honest I haven't had the time & some of the things I have done recently are just not that exciting unfortunately. After looking around for inspiration on what I can do to liven things up on the journal front, I came across the idea for project 365, where you take a photo a day for a year to document with photographic evidence every day in your past year. 

Sounds like hard work you ask yourself? But consider most of the population nowadays has a camera enabled smart phone I think this challenge might be easier than me growing my hair for the next year. The only thing I might struggle with is actually limiting myself to uploading just one photo a day! 

So here is to the next 364 days left in which I will take a photo a day, some may be classed as dull or boring and some may actually help me become a better photographer - but whatever the outcome, at least I will be able to look back in years to come & see what I was actually doing on a certain day?!

Day 1: My horoscope which is freakishly right for a change... I'm a Leo by the way...

New Challenge accepted! Operation Hair-grow

I have been known for as long as I can remember 'the one who changes her hair more than anything'. It started when I was in sixth form at school, and feeling the teenage rebellious streak decided against my mums wishes to have some "cringe" PINK streaks put through my blonde hair! And as they say, the rest is history or not quite as I have some photograph proof of all the hair colours, cuts & everything in between to share with you all. Thankfully what I will share is quite normal.

From streaks, full black hair, bangs, bob's & pob's to extensions & super short do's... I have been there/done that & now I am finally, at 26 years old & with the idea coming from a good friend of mine going to grow my hair out from my short cut for the next year to see how long I can get it to grow by October 2014! 

From the top to the bottom is my hair over the past 2 years (plus these are the only photos I don't mind sharing with you!) Some of the other hairstyles I have partaken in are plain hideous therefore I would not put that on you, it's just plain wrong.

So wish me well on this hair-story - I thought I would relish in the fact that I have 'short hair, don't care' but the attitude is not me, ok I have the confidence for this 'do but I feel most girlie with longer locks, so let the hair race begin... 

GO!

Treasury Casino... Oh dear!

Having been on the road or should I say settling into life in Brisbane, it seems only fitting to try out Treasury Casino, not only is it central with local food joints & the Queens street mall across the way but also because it is part of Brisbane history.

Treasury building is actually a heritage listed building therefore I see it as I am getting 2 for the price of 1 when I go.

This time round I had a sneaky play & thankfully it paid off having left the machines over $70 up! Moving on as it was closely reaching lunchtime (ok so I was at the casino early, what can I say - The early bird catches the worm & all that) a friend and I decided on food whilst we were here but seeing as we had already had lunch prior at Fat Noodle, we opted for The Kitchen at Treasury Casino this time round. 

I started with Toasted sourdough bread w. selection of dips and went onto enjoy a Spicy duck curry w. roasted peanuts & jasmine rice. Both equally as nice, and very well priced I would recommend here for their fast service, reasonable priced meals & all in the comfort of within the casino!

I must try not to go out for food as much because it seems my bank account is getting smaller but not my waist... Moving on...

Easy chocolate bailey's trifle

So I love a good dessert & normally I make a Jaffa cake Cheesecake, but more recently I have been making a simple chocolate trifle to a recipe that I made up one day & has stuck with me ever since.. and so here I share this! It's quick, taste's great & so simple... So enjoy & go make it!

Ingredients Required:

2 x Medium sized Chocolate logs
2 x tubs - Strawberries
500ml Whipping cream
500ml Chocolate instant pudding 
100ml Baileys Irish cream (or more if you want it strong!)
4/5 squares of Chocolate to grate 



1. Cut the chocolate log into small slices to line your bowl & for other layers, and create a base with the chocolate log in a bowl. Pour a small amount of Baileys over your chocolate log. 

2. Cut strawberries thinly and line over the chocolate log base, followed by a layer of chocolate instant pudding.

3. Follow another layer of chocolate log, then cover with a small amount of baileys, then a thin layer of whipping cream.

4. Follow steps 1,2 & 3 until you reach the top of the bowl - then cover in whipping cream & grate chocolate to finish & a few strawberry slices to decorate.

5. Serve!

http://onebrokechatterbox.blogspot.com.au/p/food-love-here-there-everywhere.html

So..

I am totally new to the world of Blogging but I am sure I will find things that I would like to share with others around the world. 

I am a 26 year old Pom living in AUSTRALIA or Straya as I now like to call it (I think I'm a local!) - currently Brisbane, and have been so for the past year. Having left my boring desk job & so called 'life' behind me to head out onto the road of dreams & go wherever the wind may take me. Considering I have never been able to save this is a miracle that I am 1) Still alive & 2) Still alive.. but seriously I never imagined being actually able to be so mature & responsible. 

I mean all those drunken nights out & late night cab rides home with total strangers were a thing of the past right?... Oh wait that was only last week..

Anyway, So here I am - 'Living the dream' if that is to you, living on the bread line & consuming copious amounts of 'GOON" to see you through each day! 

Follow my adventures, through the up's & down's, my tried & tested recipes and my love for photography whilst I attempt to save money for my next travel destination.....

Toodles XOXO