Seaside Strolls

Sydney National Park

Oh My Sushi!

Don't get me wrong, I lovvve sushi. But the idea of stuffing 50 large pieces of it into my mouth, followed by a scorching wasabi rice roll in under 10 minutes is not how I'd like to spend a Monday evening. However, it seems like Sydney has no shortage of crazed sushi fans who are happy to do just that and a vast number of them flocked to Niji Sushi Bar in Kingsford this week to take part in their infamous Sushi Challenge.

The record is demolishing a platter of sushi in just 6 minutes and 50 seconds (surely impossible) and Monday night saw 25 willing contestants ready and raring to try and smash that record. I threw on a Japanese kimono to step into the spirit and was signed up to act as a judge meaning I walked up and down the length of tables analysing tactics, wincing at hurlers and ensuring nobody was slyly dropping pieces into their pockets to eat on the bus ride home. 

The contestants had a total of 20 minutes to eat as much of their sushi platters as they could, with a record and a stash of Niji Japanese goodies up for grabs. It's safe to say that there were several moments that nearly put me off my own dinner. Several men (there were no women taking part this year unfortunately) wretched and one guy was sick at the table...right in front of me. But then, who can blame him when this is what they had to wolf down?  Looks great if you can leisurely graze over the course of a couple of hours but not to be inhaled in a matter of minutes. 

After 20 minutes, everybody was still smiling and there were surprisingly a fair few empty plates. 

And here's our winner, with his super proud family! 

Thankfully, I got to enjoy a wonderful sushi dinner afterwards courtesy of Niji Sushi Bar without the pressure of a stopwatch. 

Ice-Cream for Dinner

One definite highlight of summer evenings is being able to sit outside after work, watch the sun go down with a glass of wine and enjoy a film at the Open Air Cinema. I seem to be making a bit of a habit of it but it's such a nice way to wind down after work or prepare for the week ahead on a Sunday evening, that I'm happy to keep returning.

Just pray that you're not hit with an unexpected downpour which I'm rapidly learning does still happen in Australia. I was originally hoping to suss out the Ben & Jerry's Open Air Cinema at Bondi Beach to watch the second installment of The Hunger Games (a-mazing by the way) but it was rained off. Instead, I headed down on a sunny Sunday to enjoy the sequel to the legendary Anchorman and fill my belly with Ben & Jerry's special ice-cream 'Scotchy Scotch Scotch' for the occasion.

If you can make it down on a Sunday rather than during the week, DO IT. The Ben & Jerry's Sundae Sessions means live music while the sun goes down and (most importantly) free ice-cream. Unfortunately you can't quite see the beach or the sea from the venue but the sea breeze and buzzing atmosphere makes this a unique experience. 

Don't be fooled by how warm the weather is when you first arrive. I laughed at the people getting blankets before I realised too late that it gets chilly once the sun sets, by which point there were none left. The slight downside is that there are no toilets on site and so a quick dash to the Pavilion loos before the film starts is highly recommended. 

Check out the schedule on the website, prepare a picnic (no BYO alcohol though) and plonk yourself on a beanbag atop the hill while the Aussie summer storms on. 

A Dash of Colour

I don't like to exercise at weekends. Weekends are for lazy lie-ins, relaxing brunches and lying on beaches. But not last weekend. I've been intrigued by The Colour Run (technically 'Color' but I can't bring myself to spell it like that) since I saw a bunch of commuters covered in paint getting on my tube in London. So when the run arrived in Sydney, I had to get involved.

It's a 5k run, so nothing too taxing and we'd been forewarned that it's generally full to the brim of families and social walkers so not to expect anything serious, which was fine by us after a boozy BBQ the night before. The event guide stated we needed to collect our packs a few days before the event but we didn't have time, so we trekked to the Olympic Park super early to get our packs.

We were too keen. We were one of the first on site with several hours to go before the run and so ended up whiling away the time eating lunch on the grass and attempting (and failing) to apply our temporary tattoos.

Once the race kicked off, we were pumped after a warm-up zumba class and blaring chart music and keen to run. Running however, was pretty tricky. As predicted people were more set on walking and jogging and so we tried intervals of both interspersed with tunnels of colour where we were sprayed with various paints.

After 45 minutes we emerged at the finish line looking unrecognisable. I had well and truly embraced the theme of the day and was covered from head to toe in all shades of neon. 

We joined the crowds for the Festival of Colour finale and threw packets of powder into the air to create a cloud of rainbow shades above our heads. 

I spotted several girls who had covered their hair in cling film before the race began and mocked them for 'not getting into the spirit of it'. However, it's now almost a week later and my hair is still tinged pink. Maybe they had the right idea after all. 

A Film With A View

I've been dyyyying to see The Wolf of Wall Street ever since I saw the trailer last year and it's safe to say my expectations were high. I'd read several articles, heard rumours that 'it's just not as good as the book', but all in all I was ready for an Oscar-worthy performance from Leo and a top-notch movie. 

Such a movie event deserves to be seen in an epic setting, and so my friends and I headed to the St George Open Air Cinema with magnificent views of Sydney Harbour. 

Just look.

We set ourselves up with a glass of champagne (naturally) and a selection of food and watched the sunset over the beautiful Harbour Bridge and Opera House before taking our seats to watch the film. The screen lay flat so as not to spoil the view and slowly rose vertically in time for the opening credits. 

Wolf of Wall Street did not disappoint. Leo was at his best and the film offered moments of comedy, sadness and several 'did he really do that?' moments. I'm such a lover of the cinema but this really was the epitome of movie experiences. The incredible scenery combined with champagne, great company and a truly great film is not to be beaten. 

Tuesday Evening I Was

...zen.

I've never been inspired to try my hands at yoga. I'm more of a get-the-heart-pumping-and-get-sweaty kind of girl when I exercise as I like to feel like I've really achieved something. Yoga always seemed too slow and controlled for my liking so I always dismissed giving it a go.

However, Lululemon hold a free yoga class on a Tuesday evening at Bronte Beach, and so when my friend suggested we give it a whirl, I couldn't really say no. Since moving to Australia, I've adopted more of a try-anything-once attitude and so this slotted in nicely. We drove down to Bronte Beach (in my friend's Audi Convertible, no less - pretty nice for a hot summer evening in Sydney) and found a spot with beautiful scenic views and within the grasps of the sea breeze. Considering I'm not a yoga-pro, I didn't have my own mat, and so quickly claimed one from the teacher. 

I'm suspecting that the moves were not particularly challenging considering the nature of the class, but I managed to twist and turn my body into various positions (notably the downward facing dog) and was forced to test my balance (not good...).

After an hour or so, I think I can now say that I know yoga isn't really for me. I can't quite get on board with all of the 'umms' and 'ahhs' and 'connect your body with the earth' lingo and I still felt the need to run home afterwards owing to the fact that I hadn't worked up a sweat. However, I could feel a tug in my right shoulder with each move - a pain that has been annoying me for several weeks now - and felt encouraged to finally do something about it (any excuse for a massage). 

The class was great for a little taste of the yoga culture and I wouldn't rule off going again. I did feel genuinely relaxed listening to the sound of the ocean as we stretched and I can now tick off another activity on my list. 

Happy New Year

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014!

And what a way to say farewell to what has been a truly amazing year - sitting in Beare Park across from Sydney Harbour and watching the fireworks after years of oggling them from my TV screen in England.

We set ourselves up for the day complete with picnic blanket, eskee (or cool bag to us Brits) chock full of alcohol and treats and a good view and whiled away the day sipping champagne and playing cards.

We were treated to a series of firework displays throughout the night, building up to the finale when the clock struck midnight. As the first major city in the world to hit New Year, Sydney is always under pressure to deliver. And it didn't disappoint.

I must admit, I was slightly jealous to see that London was treated to the world's first edible firework display. Sounds weird - a concoction of strawberry flavours, banana confetti, peach snow and enormous 'zesty Spanish orange' bubbles. But I would've loved to have been there. Luckily, there's always next year and I'm already excited about what both cities will pull out of the bag.

Happy New Year! 

On Sunday I Was

...by the sea.

Well, the harbour to be precise as I dined at Cafe del Mar's rooftop terrace at Darling Harbour. I was kindly invited to sample the food and cocktail menu and enjoy the views over the harbour whilst their new Sunday Sessions vibe played out through the afternoon.

Cafe del Mar is renowned for it's hollistic Mediterranean beats, churning out some of the hottest DJs in Ibiza since 1975. I've sat at Cafe del Mar at the water's edge in Ibiza and experienced this for myself, so the Sydney offering had a lot to live up to.

It's not the easiest location to find but once you've figured it out, you can see why the spot is perfect for the aptly titled cafe. Sitting outside is definitely the way forward - otherwise you're missing all this. 

We began with a cocktail (Cafe del Mar-tini, naturally) and basked in the sunshine while we sipped. With the sun shining on us and the Sunday Sessions DJ spinning relaxed dance music, it was clear that everybody was having a good time. The 'cafe' was busy and the atmosphere buzzing and lively as groups enjoyed wine and cocktails over a variety of Mediterranean nibbles, from chorizo to shellfish. 

We started with the cured meats and tomato bread, padron peppers and charmoula chicken. The chicken especially, served in lettuce leaves with a wedge of lime, was refreshing and sat well with our cocktail. 

We had a small wait for our mains, but considering the amount of food we'd devoured for our first course, we didn't mind. The DJ plays music outside next to the bar at the perfect volume so you can listen to the tunes whilst not having to shout conversations over the bass. 

For our main course, I had artichoke and fennel barigoule (the waiter told me this meant 'sauce'), mascarpone, ligurian olives and polenta. I did feel a tad daunted by the menu when I first flipped it over. Everything sounds a bit fancy but once you get past the long words, the food is really tasty and fresh. We also tried the sauteed spanner crab linguine with zucchini flowers and bottarga (see what I mean?).

A truly relaxed and happy Sunday afternoon.

Sunday Sessions

Cafe del Mar Sydney have partnered up with Pulse Radio Finely Tuned to curate the most enviable of line ups for their Sunday Sessions. From 2-10pm every Sunday this summer, they will bring you the tastiest House and Sexy Deep House tunes in town. Bookings will be essential to guarantee you get a spot and get looked after in true warm Mediterranean style.

The Weeknd I Was

...horse racing.

Well, watching horse racing. I headed to Randwick Race Course with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday. We started off the day (as all good sunny weekends begin) in a beer garden sipping cider and debating plans for the day. Once we were well and truly in the spirit, we hopped in a taxi and headed to the race course. 

My only experience of horse racing has been Ascot Races in England and it's always a posh affair. Your ticket comes with a guide on fashion rules and boy, are they strict. Fascinators must be a certain width, dresses must be a certain length and cover specific body parts. Don't get me started. Very civilised. However, I had it on good authority that Randwick was a much more casual affair and so we went draped in our favourite maxi dresses and sandals. 

Needless to say, bets were placed and money was won. I was particularly pleased to come home with more money than I arrived with, despite my complete lack of knowledge and understanding of horse racing. (My usual tactic is 'choose the horse with the funniest name' but this weekend I opted to play it safe and pop all my dollar on the favourite. It paid off). 

We stayed until the horses had run their last leg and then headed to another beer garden to pick up an excellent chicken burger and fries at The Norfolk in Surry Hills. All this betting had left us with quite an appetite. 

At just $15 for a ticket to the race course (and if you're anything like me, you might just fund your day with your winnings), it's a cracking way to spend a Saturday. With the sun shining and the horses raring, it's a great excuse to get a little bit dolled up and have a day with a bit of a difference. 

Last Night I Was

...in the audience.

You have a problem if you don't tune into The Fox Problem. Coming to you live every Tuesday from The Birdcage by Old Street, London this show is a refreshing combination of live music, live chat, live audience and gin. Brought to you by Radio 1’s Gemma Cairney, SB.TV’s Georgia L-A and T4’s Georgia Okell, the three foxy G's are all about the fun. Their resident bar man, the hilarious Ollie Locke from Made in Chelsea completes the set and the four of them are ready to deliver interesting conversation, from sex to politics (last night, we talked about sex...) and lots of laughs. 

I was invited along to join the audience and was surprised to find how chilled and spontaneous the whole thing is. The girls plan each episode in the pub on a Sunday and the whole show epitomises this - it's like a chat about topics close to their hearts (and ours) with friends in the pub. Combined with music performances from under the radar acts and the odd celebrity audience member, it's an eclectic mix of items combined to make a fresh new show. 

Streamed live from their website on Tuesdays at 7.30, series one has already captured quite a following. Last night, the girls chatted (with a little help from Ollie and some familiar Made in Chelsea faces) about sex, sexuality, pornography and the stigmas around each. Don't worry though, it's nothing too heavy. And luckily I wasn't asked any awkward questions...

We finished the night partying in the pub, sipping more gin and eating macaroons. And next week's finale promises to be another blinder. 

This Afternoon I Was

...cultural.

Random International have brought their new emersive art installation to the Barbican Centre. Designed to challenge and test our instincts and intuitions, Rain Room is, well, a room of rain. The experience gives you the chance to feel in control of the weather with the power to control the rain. The project requires a great deal of trust as it goes against all our natural instincts to walk blindly into a torrential downpour. The outcome: walk through the rain without getting wet.

Rain Room by Random International, Barbican

Whilst the queue can stack up to a mammoth 2 hours long, the experience is truly unique. The trick is to patiently move through the rain at a slow pace in order to avoid actually getting wet. One lady who failed to fight her instincts ran through the rain and got drenched - the mechanism reacts to our presence and stops the rain wherever we stand providing you move slowly enough for it to catch you.

Well worth a visit if you can stomach the wait. 

Today I Am

...blogging in my lunch break.

I work in the media which is always busy, and yet this week I have had time. Lots of it. And all around me is Christmas.

The festive season seems to hit earlier and earlier each year, until we are celebrating the arrival of Santa whilst sunbathing in July. For now, it is November and the official Christmas Kick-Off has begun because *wait for it* the Coca-Cola advert is now back on our television screens.

Ever symbolic of Christmas, the advert has become a tradition for our generation and it isn't ever really Christmas until you've seen it. Should Coca-Cola ever try and re-vamp the advert, I fear there will be uproar.

John Lewis, however, have joined them in the advert stakes by pulling another Christmas classic out of the bag. We didn't think they could top the little boy longing for Christmas morning so he could give his mum and dad their gift (evidently purchased from John Lewis) and yet somehow, they have. The Snowman, topped off with Gabrielle Aplin's 'The Power of Love' is breaking hearts all over the nation.

Merry Christmas, kids.