LOUIS LAUMEN SCULPTURES

I passed by these bronze sculptures outside of St Marys Cathedral 

a while back and had to stop for a better look  ... they are the work of the very talented Melbourne based artist Louis Laumen in honor of
Mary MacKillop .......

..... just beautiful.

A PERFECT SATURDAY MORNING

We stayed in Sydney on Friday night to see this play (it was very good) ... we stayed at our home away from home (I posted about it here a while back) I always love staying there, going to sleep to the music  of whichever band is playing in the bar below and a bit of city noise, we live in such a quite, bushy street I actually love that hit of city noise, and I always sleep so well for some reason.

So we woke late Saturday morning all refreshed and ready for some coffee and breakfast .... we walked (the sun was shining) to our new favorite cafe "Room 10", I loooove this cafe, great food and coffee, gorgeous staff, good people watching, it's just a feel good place.

 It's a teeny tiny cafe with a few seats out the front and some more inside, I took the above pic from our seat at the back so you get the feel of just how small it actually is, and that's the kitchen to your left (it's all the one space).

I love the decor, especially their hanging lights and the raw brick walls

and the ceramic number 10 which is the only signage .

I had the sandwich of ham, tomato, smashed egg, cheddar, rocket and relish ....

Meg had the granola with stewed rhubarb and banana .... 

both perfect. 

This lovely local also wrote about "Room 10" being her favorite cafe here 

 Fueled with good food and caffeine we bounced over to the Organic Market,

I loved this cute market goer  .....

.... and this little guy in his winters best.

We bought some blossoms and fresh strawberries ....

 strolled past happy people playing Garden Games (I love this concept) ... there are tables set up with all sorts of games  .... 

.... and for a small donation in the jar you can play for as long as you want.

Spotted another cute dog .....

went for a walk around the neighborhood which has some of my favorite apartment buildings .....

.... and bought the weekend papers and some magazines at the local newsagent , which has one of the best selections of magazines in Sydney (and also some very funny greeting cards)
Oh and I bought a lottery ticket too, I think I might buy one of those apartments with my winnings !!!

So a great Saturday morning was had ... coffee, food, flowers, magazines and winter sunshine, my idea of the perfect Saturday morning.

WEEKEND THINGS

  It's a long weekend here .... and for about the last 24 hours we have had non-stop rain, and soooo much of it ....

luckily we got to spend some time in Sydney on Friday and Saturday before the big wet, staying at the same place we stayed at in this post (our home away from home)

I didn't have my camera so I took iphone shots instead .... 

I have been seeing a lot of this dalmatian on various walls around town, I like him ....
 I'm curious, does anyone know the artist ?

We came across this little cafe on Saturday morning and so glad we did, we had a yummy breakfast and very, very good coffee ( think I have found my new favorite cafe for when I'm in Sydney, this local girl said it is one of her favorites too) and there is a great op shop across from it as well.

Had a little browse in Pure & General, I had read about it and was curious, lots of beautiful things, but a little out of my price range, although I did buy some very attractive dish sponges (of all things).

 Strolled past one of my favorite apartment buildings in 

Darlinghurst ....

  this house painted the same shade of pink as the flowers on the
tree .....

  and this terrace (I showed you it on this post) ... the little windowsill pots were not looking as well this time.

 Bought some bread and goodies at Bourke St Bakery .....

I like their new little seats and tables ..... 

 .... and fell in love with this chair at eci et la.

... again a bit out of my price range, but I can dream can't I !!!

  We saw this film on Friday night at the MCA (a little disappointing) but the venue was great and Vivid Sydney was putting on the most amazing light show outside, my favorite was this interactive projection on the wall of the MCA  (so much fun) ... and this lighting of the Opera House sails was pretty spectacular too.

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

Think the rest of mine will be very low key now we are back home, this rain looks like it is here to stay.

COFFEE TEA & ME

I had to make a trip to Redfern last week, on my way back to the train I came across this little cafe "Coffee Tea & Me" ....

It's a tiny little hole in the wall cafe, it was actually a barber shop in a former life and most of the seating is outside .....

a great eclectic mix of furniture, old school chairs, stools made from bike seats and an ironing board table ....

I chose to sit at the laminate table ......

I think I was lucky to get a choice (it was very late afternoon) , I've heard the mornings are quite busy and the tables get the morning winter sunshine .....

..... Oh and did I mention the coffee was great, I'll definitely be back, think it might be for a sunny morning coffee next time !!!

This dog really has nothing to do with the cafe, I saw him waiting out the front of the hardware store next door and just thought he was sweet (and very well behaved !!!)

See some reviews of the cafe here, here and here

A LOVELY SATURDAY

 Yesterday was one of those perfect Sydney autumn days .... 

and what nicer way to spend it than on Sydney Harbor at The Sydney Writers Festival ....

we started with breakfast on the wharf

(bacon and egg tarts and coffee) ....

 with this great view ....

 watching the fishermen ....

 .... then it was here for this,

Brendan Cowell was great (and I saw A.A. Gill outside too) ....

 walked ....

 up these stairs ....

   dropped into Ariel Books at the rocks .....

 

 it was nice to see this wonderful blog has been made into a book ....

 called in here for a browse .....

 .... and then strolled back to the train station for our trip home.

I didn't take my camera with me so all these shots were taken on my iPhone ... it's the first time I have ever taken photos with it (my daughter had to show me how) I being not all that tech savvy only use my phone for "talking" to people ... must say it was kind of fun !!!