Flashback Friday - REM

The year of 1991 introduced me to the beauty of REM. I had known them years before in High School where the song 'Orange Crush' was taped off the Top 40 and replayed numerous times on a blank tape. 'Losing My Religion' really hit REM up towards the top and I loved that song. A lot.

However my main memory of REM was having the privilege of seeing them live at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the summer of 1994/95. I had brilliant seats towards the front and enjoyed every moment of Michael Stipe's singing and dancing. Of course that summer, my favourite (REM) song was the following, 'What's the frequency Kenneth?'...



I still love it.

Not long after band members came and went and I still enjoy a few of their songs, but nothing like that summer of '94/95...

Excuse me whilst I go and re-listen to all those classic REM tunes....

Wednesday Arvo

(Two posts in one day?  Gee what's going on?)

I got my hair cut today at The Souk at The Shangri-la.  How posh.  I am going back to my 'new' hairdresser when the time comes.  He did a fabulous job and I am happy.  Don't think it will be looking like this tomorrow though... (Thank you for the photo shot Miss Monet!)

Lyndon had this afternoon off due to him working this evening, so after he and Monet picked me up from the hairdressers, we ventured into Abu Dhabi to visit the InterContinental Hotel.  

We had 'heard' there was a proper fish and chippery around those parts, but alas we didn't quite find it.  Instead we explored the marvellous hotel's environment.  It was rather beautiful with it's own marina.  And I am a sucker for a lovely marina.

Did you notice the 'typical UAE skyline?' in that above photo?  And just how green is that water?  That green is my favourite colour by far!

We sat down by the private beach and had a cool drink...

...and a bite to eat at the Beach Bar.  Some kind of Fish'n'Chips it had to be from the Bar Menu.

I felt we could have stayed there all day.

I could think of worse ways to spend a couple of spare hours in our new city.

Want A Slice?

As my home city of Melbourne sweats at 43 degrees today, we are experiencing some lovely winter days here in the UAE.  

Yesterday I sat in our little backyard flicking through cookbooks whilst I let Monet loose with the hose.  We can do that here.  Be free with a hose and use as much water as we like.  (It is not uncommon to water out one's carport for example.)  The villas here have their own desalination plant, so I am lead to believe, so yeah Monet, go for your life...

She cleaned her cubby, sorry, I mean her 'shed' (trying to be like her Poppy and his shed!) then proceeded to wash her trike...

(It is a pity the kids in Melbourne can't be doing that today, without being 'dobbed in' by a neighbour!)

As I flicked through the cookbooks I found a sudden urge to bake a Pavlova so inside I went and whipped up one.  

Now, I grew up with a mother who always insisted that she could not bake a Pav.  She always blamed her oven.  She has had a few ovens over the years and never once did I see her even attempt to make a Pav, so I know it had nothing to do with one's oven.  When I stayed at my parent's back in November I made them a Pavlova to indulge in, in her year old oven, and it turned out lovely.  I wanted to show her that her oven could bake one .  

So I have this thing about baking a Pavlova to test out your oven.  All I can say is my new oven works a treat....

(I used this recipe)

Flashback Friday - Hunters & Collectors

...or The Hunna's as they were affectionately known.  I loved H&C in the early to mid-90's and still do mind you.  The iPod has had a good dose of the band over the last day and I have even had Monet bopping around too!

For your enjoyment, I present to you their 1986 classic, 'Say Goodbye'.  

Oh the memories!  The album, Human Frailty was a definite favourite.

The Hunna's always remind me of my University years.  I saw them a few times - the most memorable time was in 1992 at St. Kilda's Palais Theatre.  

I had lined up early on the Monday morning to buy the tickets from where we used to buy concert tickets, on Collins Street in Melbourne City.  I think I was like third in line - a great effort on my behalf.  Now can you imagine how excited one was when I had the tickets in  my hot little hand.  Center tickets, three rows from the front.

The concert was fantastic.  They were a terrific band to see live.  Especially up close.  

For five years, beginning in the late 1990's Lyndon and I lived in Mark Seymour's (main songwriter, singer) suburb, our beloved East St. Kilda.  Used to 'always' see Mark at our local Coles or down in St. Kilda.  I used to always get a bit thrilled to see him, after all, I was a H&C's fan!

Even though the Melbourne band have long gone, their songs are still classics.  There are more classic songs rather than the two main ones they are known for, being 'Holy Grail' (Welcome to the AFL Grand Final) and 'Throw Your Arms Around Me'.... 

(I have decided to do a post like this on Fridays - hence Flashback Friday - on music from my past.  My sister does a similar thing on a Thursday.  Join me if you like.  I'd love to read and watch songs from your past...)

My Blonde Headed, Blue Eyed Girl.

We are living in a country where the site of a blonde headed, blue eyed child is not a common one.  Sure, there are plenty of westerners here with fairer haired children, but you can't be guaranteed you'll see them on an outing.  Most children you do see here are mostly Emirate children who are dark headed and dark eyed.  

When we go out, it is not uncommon for us to get smiles from the shop assistants, security guards, waiters, taxi drivers.  (Everyone bar the general public - there are a lot of rude people out there, let me tell you!)

Yesterday I ventured out to Abu Dhabi Mall with Monet and a friend down the road, Karen (whose husband works with Lyndon.)  As soon as we got in the taxi the driver greeted us with a smile so large it could have swallowed his whole face.  "Hello Baby" he said to Monet.  

As we wandered the Mall and went in and out shops we were usually greeted with smiles, due to us walking with Monet.  (This I know because I was alone at one stage for about 30 minutes - I wasn't greeted with big smiles.)  

At one particular shop the assistant patted Monet on the head (she's never impressed when this happens - and it happens a lot here - and I don't blame her!) and asked Monet "how old you are?  Your name?" She then produced a big pink teddy bear, fresh out of its plastic wrap, and gave it to Monet.  Shite.  Why doesn't this happen to me?  Admittedly Monet wasn't too impressed at first with being given a pink teddy for nothing (she's over the head petting act) but the bear grew on her and she ended up having a great day shopping with 'the ladies!'

In the taxi, the whole way home, Monet was chatting away per usual to Karen and I with the taxi driver in the front grinning away at her conversation.  (Monet's conversation was about her wanting to go to Karen's when we got home and me saying "no, not today - we've spent all day with Karen, she'll need a break".  But Monet got her way in the end and spent a good hour and 20 minutes at Karen's (about 5 doors down).  I don't know who was luckier - Monet or I?)

In other news I received a sad one from home.  My mother's nephew committed suicide in his parent's backyard.  I feel very sad for his parent's (my mother's brother) and their two daughters.  The son was a year older than I and it has been many years since I saw him, but it still has me wandering on how he got to that point.  So sad.  

Interview

This meme is doing the rounds in the blogosphere where you are interviewed by a fellow blogger if you choose to participate.  I shyly put my hands up on H&B's site, so she has taken the time to interview me.  

1 What started your blog, and who was your inspiration ?

 

I began my 'first' blog back in July 2004.  I had just about finished work and Monet was due in 6 weeks time.  (And yes, she arrived on her due date!)  As my only sibling was (and still is) living in London she suggested I start a blog and helped me do it.  I used one of her 'Typepad' blog space which she designed and emailed me on how to post etc., 

Kim had been blogging for a few years beforehand, it was one way to 'know' what she was doing on the other side of the world  so the idea was for me to regularly blog so she knew what I was up to.  As Lyndon and I lived a distance away from both our parents it was also a way for them to see what our new little family were up to.  Most posts were written about Monet (nothing much has changed!) so I saw it as a 'online' Monet diary.  (I have all those old posts saved onto disc somewhere.)  Nothing much has changed.  I still blog for the people we are separated from.

2 In your fictitious Gippsland HighSchool Yearbook of old, what would you have been voted "Most Likely" as, and how apt would this description be today ?

 

*chuckle chuckle*  

Gee, I am such a totally different person than that girl who went to High School back in the '80s.  

I remembered that when I was in Year 12 I was very (very) keen on living in Melbourne, rocking to INXS at any available opportunity and doing art work.  I would have therefore been voted "Most likely to be city living, INXS groupie (HA!), selling own art work at St.Kilda Esplanade Market".  

I would have never, ever imagined being where I am now - married with one child, not working (well working, but not working working - you know what I mean), living comfortably in Abu Dhabi in the middle east, with the world at our doorstep, owning a property in FNQ etc., etc.,  

Funny where life's highway takes us.  I have no regrets.  I am definitely not that girl I knew in 1985-1990.  I have my mid twenties to thank for that.  

3 Monet LuLu - very French and very different.  Naming babies is tough.  Everybody has an opinion, whether asked or not.  Any memorable reactions ?

I am *still* in love and in awe of my daughter's name.  Truly.  I have always received positive comments towards her name (well, to my face anyway).  

 I have had some people who said "Mon-ette" when trying to pronounce her name, but I say, "no, it is Mon-nay, as in the artist, Claude Mon-nay".  There are a lot of people out there who have never heard of Claude Monet, let me tell you.  

Then I have people who say"Oh that is the most lovely name I have heard.  Is she named after the artist Claude Monet?"  Of course she is.  Yes.  I studied Monet in High School and at University and I have always adored his art work.  So the name means a lot to me.  Lyndon came up with the Lulu, which I see is now becoming a popular first name.  We got in early.

If Monet ends up having any siblings, it is a tough name to beat!

4 You enjoy a good roast'n'bake and can obviously cook.  But tell us about the time you really stuffed it up... your WORST ever kitchen nightmare ?

 

There has been a few, no more than a few, ask my biggest critic Lyndon.  I can't pinpoint a certain time/place/meal but there has been meals when even I have said, I can't eat this - its revolting and Lyndon looks at me and says with his eyes, Phew!  The last time I made homemade gnocchi I felt physically ill.  That wasn't so long ago either.  Even the thought of it now makes my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth.  I'd be kicked off MasterChef straight away if I served that up to the judges.  

Because my cooking is usually pretty tasty (the guys at Lyndon's old work place in FNQ used to be jealous of the dinner he had eaten the night before!),  expectations are high around here, let me tell you. 

I can usually cook a tasty meal if I am organised - if I have all needed ingredients and time, the most important factor.  I can't 'just whip something up' as it will be rather bland or boring or something I wouldn't make again.  We don't 'do' leftovers here or if we do, it is on the rare occasion.   

5 Due to serious unspecified world events, all future travel is now banned.  Everyone is allowed to choose their final 'life' destination and will be transported there for free ( once there however, you will need to make your own way ).  Where shall we drop you ?

London.  No doubt about that.  I *heart* London and have been there a few times now.  There is something about London I find welcoming.  It is one of those cities that changes but then it feels like nothing changes.  I know part of me kind of belongs there - not that I have ever lived there and if I did my point of view on the city might change.  I find it a city that accepts you, no matter what.  It is a great city to base yourself in - a stepping stone to Europe and all its wonder and a (relatively) short flight over the pond to the US.  

I am planning a week holiday (hello Premier Inn) in London in the months to come.  When it warms up a bit.  How lucky am I?

If you'd like to be interviewed by me, pop your hand up and watch for an email in your inbox....

So Hot Right Now.

Not the weather.  It isn't hot here.  Bit chilly in fact in the mornings and late afternoons.  But this isn't supposed to be a post about the weather.  It is about what is 'so hot' to (me right) now.

IKEA is.  I *heart* IKEA.  Close to three years without being living anywhere near an IKEA, I am wondering how I ever survived without it.  

Do you love my new IKEA 'lounge' cushions?

Not the greatest of photos to show the colour.  This I know.

I love the new place mats I purchased too.

I think I loved the price even better.  (About $3AUD each)

I am loving the tiny cans of Coke you can buy here.  150ml.  Just enough for a cola hit.  I can never get through a 'normal sized' can without feeling bloated.  I can't help but smile when I see the teeny cans in my fridge.    

Spinney's (supermarket) donuts.  Shite they are tasty donuts.  And I don't usually 'do' donuts after working in a bakery for many years (and a week stint at Donut King - but that is another story!)  How could I not like these donuts.  Look at how pretty this one is.

I am very much enjoying my first cup of tea for the day.  A brew of  Twining's Earl Grey.  Sets my day off nicely.

And finally my iPod has had a new lease on life.  Ever since Lyndon got the bargain Denon Amplifier for the TV with brilliant speakers (same time I got the fridge, remember?), I have gone back to listening to more music than ever.  

These are the things I am finding so hot right now.  How about you?  What's hot in your household right now?

My Favourite Toy of 2008.

Yes, my favourite toy (for Monet).  Not sure if Monet would agree but if one can sit and play for hours on end with a particular toy, then hey, it is my favourite toy.  It was a toss up of course - there were a couple of beauties I purchased throughout the course of last year which Monet would use constantly and in peace.  

Runner-Up prize would be 'Melissa & Doug's Lace and Trace'.  Many an hour spent on the couch (and planes!) with Monet using the thread to sew around shapes.  

First prize I award to these...

PopBead People.  Not exactly plane friendly (too many little bits to drop and lose) but never the less, hours of fun, endless possibilities and still getting a good workout after having for over two months.  I got a packet each for the nieces as part of their Christmas presents and as far as I know, they liked them a lot.  

Any other worthy contenders out there that you know of worth me looking into?

The Normality of it All.

Life is getting to normal here at our house.  

My sister is now back in London and all of our stuff from the packing boxes have finally been sorted.  I have a big fridge full of perishable items and my pantry cupboards are near to over flowing.   All I really need to do is get Monet's education sorted (which I have begun to look into at long last) and get my UAE driver's license, once my passport with my newly issued resident's visa is back in my hands.

It was so nice to sleep in our own bed after not having it for over two and a half months.  It was also nice to sit back on our couches and listen to music, or watch tv.  

I have my kitchen all sorted out now and I just love it.  Lyndon calls it my shed.  I have basically everything I need or could possibly want, so the kitchen has been getting a work out.  It is nice to have my cookbooks back and close at hand.  I might not have a dishwasher (all in due time) and I am still on the lookout for a set of  'Global Knives', but otherwise... 

We have set up the stair landing as Monet's playroom.  It is huge.  HUGE.  And she loves it.  I quite love the fact that it deters her from having her toys in the living areas.   At least this way her mess isn't in my face all the time!  *heehee*  As our villa is only 2 bedrooms, but has enough room for four bedrooms, Monet's playroom will also be doubling as a guest room.  So be warned if you are planning a visit! *heehee*

Otherwise not much is happening in these parts of the woods.  I'm too busy getting on with normality!

Shopping Mall City? Construction City? Sim City? Yes, That's It! Sim City!

Dubai.

Is there anywhere else on earth quite like this city?  At the moment, I think not.  It blew us away.  And quite literally too, but more on that in a minute.  

I have never been to such a place where construction is everywhere.  E. V. E. R. Y. W. H. E. R. E.  Everywhere you looked you were either seeing road barriers, construction workers and labourers or cranes.  So many cranes.  Lyndon was in heaven.  

It took us about an hour on a straight (straight) road which basically took us literally into the center of Dubai.  We parked the car (on good advice) at Mall of the Emirates and browsed the shops for a good 90 minutes.  Mall of the Emirates is the place where they have 'Ski Dubai' - 400 meter ski slope indoors.  Amazing.  We were also happy to find a Borders, a Campers Shoe Store and also not one, but two H&M stores!  (Love H&M!)  

From the Mall we decided to catch one of those Big Bus Tours (also on good advice!) as it would save Lyndon driving and we could get on and off where we wanted and see all the famous sites (and some sights they were!)  We sat up the top and bloody hell, was it windy up there!  

The first thing we spied when we were on the tour was this...

The Burj Dubai. Photographs don't quite capture the enormity of it all.  This is the tallest building in the world, standing currently at like 850 meters high.  (I thought the Eureka in Melbourne was tall - but no, it isn't when compared to this.)  My sister looked over at me and said "Its like something out of Sim City!" and she was right.  (We were and probably still are, big Sim City fans!)   After she said that, low and behold, around the corner we spied this scene - directly out of Sim City...

The bus tour took us to about eight different malls (no kidding - Shopping Malls are everywhere in Dubai - no wonder they say it is Shopping Heaven here!)  and then we finally got to see up close, what I had been waiting to see in the flesh (for so very long), the Burj Al Arab Hotel.

What a stunning landmark.

We hopped off at the Souk Madinat, close to the Burj Al Arab to find some food and a drink.  The Souk was lovely with lots of stalls in a grand building and lots of restaurants on the waters edge.  

Back on the bus, it took us down to 'Atlantis on The Palm'.  It was here when I turned to Lyndon and said "This place is effing crazy!"  I was lost for words.  The Palm Island, fully man made is simply amazing.  It even had a deep tunnel we entered to reach the 'Atlantis', which I still can't get my head around.  A tunnel on a man-made island.  How does that work? To see this newly opened hotel was jaw-dropping...

It was like nothing I have ever seen before.  Just amazing. 

The bus took us back to where we had taken off from five hours prior.  

The drive home back down the road was easy, once we could navigate the road getting from going north to south (lack of signage!) but we got home a little over an hour later, with our minds ticking over what we had seen and done in Sim City.  

I'm looking forward to going back.  

(My sister left this morning - I suspect the next time we see her it will hopefully be in her stomping ground not too far down the track!)

Better Luck Next Time...

I went to The Grand Mosque today with Kim, Monet and my neighbour, Karen. 

(Note to oneself; Mosque is open to tourists between the hours of 9am and Noon.  Do not go after midday as you only get to explore part of the exterior of the fully-marble mosque.  The exterior looks magnificent, I can only imagine what the interior looks like.  Next time....next time....)

We Can Justify Anything.

Gotta love this little community of ours here at our villas.  Word on the 'grapevine' was that a Scottish lady in #93 was having a moving sale.  Everything is for sale to be sold asap.  

I went around with one of my new friends, as Lyndon had heard said she had a fridge for sale at a good price.  

There has been much discussion around these parts about a possible purchase of a new fridge with a bigger freezer.  I know that in months to come it will be too unbearable to go outside so one weekly shop will involve the purchase of loads of stuff to be frozen.  (Bread and meat for example.)  I know what humidity does, after living in Cairns, where nothing can really be kept out of the fridge for more than 5 minutes without melting (like butter) or getting mouldy very, very quickly (like bread).   Most things will have to be kept in our fridge and I am not sure if our fridge from home will be able to hold all that I wish.  

So I bought her fridge.  It is less than a year old and cost less than $700AUD.  Not bad for a double door fridge and freezer.  In stainless steel.  Very nice indeed.  Oh, did I mention too that it has a 'drink dispenser' on the front door? I'm showing off now aren't I?  Not really.  I'd be showing off more if it was an 'ice dispenser'....  Our fridge from Australia is now being resigned to be a 'drinks' fridge which is keeping the husband happy.  

I also scooped up a bargain 'butchers block/trolley'.  I have been wanting one of these for years.  That cost about $50AUD.  

Lyndon went around to collect the fridge and the trolley, with a couple of neighbours last night and came home with yet another (bargain) purchase - a digital surround sound package, never been used.  He was very excited as it is a top brand and our other one broke some time ago.  Lyndon assures me that the sound will be impeccable (which is a good thing).

By the way, did I mention that we actually got our shipping container on Monday night?  Made me very happy to say the least.  The removal guys (eight of them) arrived at about 4pm, brought in all the boxes, set up all the furniture, unpacked my kitchen and were gone less than 90 minutes later. 

 

This place is now beginning to feel a lot like home.  

(I will post photos when all has been unpacked and put into a proper home, which could be some weeks away! *heehee*)

Fun & Games

Abu Dhabi is known around these parts as being more 'green' (as in gardens), more 'casual' and more 'family orientated' than its cousin down the road (Dubai).  Now, I have not yet gone to Dubai but if Abu Dhabi is noted as those three things then I do tend to believe them.  (Not sure who 'them' is though!)

On Sunday, the beginning of the working week over here, my sister, Monet and I ventured into the 'Family Park' area of Abu Dhabi City.  Monet was in playground heaven...

She had a blast playing on all the little playgrounds situated in this park area, which was quite large.  The park caters for families with little kids, right through to your skateboarding teenagers.  And for one of those child's aunt and mother, an opportunity to take some photos of the city building surrounding the park.  

After a good wander around and Monet running from play equipment to play equipment we made our way to 'Marks and Spencers' in the city.  (Yes, Abu Dhabi has the British store, M&S.  Of course it does, this is the UAE and nothing, absolutely nothing should surprise you!)  

On the way we got to take some photos of the fantastic murals which line the underpasses.  They were good for a giggle!

We all made purchases at M&S and then walked back to the family park area along the 'Corniche'.  The 'Corniche' is a road that surrounds basically the whole island of Abu Dhabi, (because Abu Dhabi is an island).  It has been wonderfully thought out with walkways and parkland, looking out across the Arabian Gulf.  

The underpasses are like little architectural masterpieces with water fountains and mosaics.  They really were something else.

Lyndon met us and drove us home, as I am not quite yet confident to hail a taxi by the road side!  All in due time...

New Beginnings

Welcome to my 2009 edition of biglittlesister, dear readers!

I hope everyone had the New Years Eve they wanted.  We did.  We spent the late evening with new friends (and a couple of old friends, believe it or not) at neighbours.  SingStar got a good work out and most people had a go!  Love to see people enjoying themselves...

This is our very own Shaun Ryder (of Happy Mondays fame) belting out a tune.  (He is actually very good!)

I spent the first half of New Years Eve nursing a sore head, not that I drank much, true.  Just a couple over my 'so-called-limit' but Panadol killed it, thankfully.  After a good dose of a greasy bacon sandwich, chased by a Red Bull I was back to being Melody.  We decided to go on a bit of a drive and headed to the Al Raha Beach area of Abu Dhabi.  Most of this area is under construction - basically it seems the whole shoreline.  (Think they're building a new city area here along with schools, homes, shops, hotels.)  We ended up at a small Mall, which was next door to this...

I said to Lyndon I think it probably the most amazing building I have seen (to date - I am sure I'll see many more in the near future) but I do list it as a favourite!  It looked like one giant coin which was about to roll away.  Just amazing.  (Can you tell I am married to someone in the  construction industry?)

Yesterday we picked up my sister at the airport for a weeks stay.  It is good to see her again and wonder what we'll get up to today. 

 And speaking of today, it is my Father's Birthday!  Happy Birthday Grandad!  Someone is sad that they can't be with you....

*heehee*

2009 is already heading in the direction we wanted and is proving to be a very interesting year, to say the least.  Hope yours will be all you want too!