This happened.

This cheered me up no end. Also, this might be the first time Gwyneth and poo are mentioned on the same page?

What would I do without you guys? Well I would probably still be moping around ugly crying. I have to apologise for being such a whiny whinerson yesterday but it felt so good to have you all reaffirm that which I already knew but my over-stressed brain and heart keep forgetting. This too shall pass, I will just have to do the one thing I have never been able to: Have Patience. In other news, while I have been moving Down Under, Gwynnie seems to have teamed up with Stella McCartney to create some beautiful classic wardrobe staples (albeit pricey staples that will forever live in my “in your dreams” folder). I’ve got to say, I’m a coveting. Big time.

Happy weekend all! Hope it’s a good one – I will be doing some serious interview prepping and practicing how not to come across as a bundle of nerves!

The Ups and Downs

I know, I know. I have been a sporadic blogger at best but I’m not going to lie, this week has been really tough on me. Dozens of agency interviews (and well, you know how those go) but nothing really has come to fruition for either of us. The worry and panic really set in for me yesterday (Jordan kept chanting “DAY 3” at me, like I was some kind of crazy person for cracking so soon) and I spent the morning moping about in my pyjamas with unbrushed hair, ugly crying. Of course we have been told by many that things move slower in Australia and we need to be patient but one day without work brings us ever closer to the end of our studio lease and the inevitable financial worry. Having been in my previous job for almost 5 years, I had forgotten the feelings of rejection that flood you when you receive no response to your application or worse, are told you are unsuitable or under-qualified. Jordan realised an intervention was needed STAT and took me for long walk on the beach to clear my head. It did wonders for reminding me of all the reasons why we are here and made me all the more determined to be around to enjoy it when I finally have a stable income. I was lucky enough to come back to the prospect of another two interviews (one I was so excited about that I actually squealed in delight when I put the phone down, only to realise that I didn’t put the phone down at all. Cringe). Despite the rollercoaster of ups and downs I have had this week, I have not once doubted our decision or felt homesick. I’m adapting, relaxing, re-evaluating and ugly crying in between.

And these images? Just because they soothed me.

A travelling Aussie treasure trove

I’ve still got heaps of photo sorting to do and this whole sharing one laptop malarkey has already resulted in a couple of bickering arguments. So I’m conceding defeat and spending less time in front of the screen (which I am actually rather enjoying). In the meantime, I will leave you with an absolutely gorgeous Australian (of course) treasure trove I found yesterday. Run by Kara Rosenlund, this little travelling caravan is filled to bursting with interesting vintage finds. Each and every item is unique and beautifully styled – I actually wanted to reach into my computer screen and touch them. Even the caravan itself is a thing of beauty, the rope doors pulls, black and white exterior, nautical colours and the white panelling made me weak at the knees! Now I know I have mentioned my dream of opening a little beach side shop before but how cool would it be to have a travelling shop? Having different customers and a change of scenery whenever you want? Dream come true.  

If you are in Australia, and are wondering where Kara will be next, visit her website. Alternatively, she has an online shop (that I have already spent far too much time browsing) -Travelling Wares.

Images via

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Chinatown and Jalan Alor

Kuala Lumpur was so removed from my radar that I all but forgot we were going there until we actually landed. It was my very first Asian visit (if you don’t count the Maldives) and oh boy, was it a Baptism of Fire. The city seems to pulse with energy and life, the air is so unbelievably humid that at times, it feels like you could cut it with a knife (I sported a rather impressive ‘fro for 4 days), the traffic is so dense and moves so fast that it is virtually impossible to cross the road – you just have to kiss your butt goodbye and run for it. I have to admit that I was incredibly overwhelmed on that first day, the heat, the breakneck pace of life, the smells, the poverty, it all just felt a little too much for me but by the last day, I was heart-sore to leave. It grew on me, got under my skin like no other city before. KLites (as the locals are affectionately called) are super friendly, we had more than one stop us to hand out maps, directions and photo ops – they are BIG on photo ops in Asia. I also had no idea how diverse the culture would be as Malaysia is made up predominantly of Islamic Malays, Chinese and Indians (there are also large numbers of foreigners). It makes for an extremely interesting mix of neighbourhoods, foods and languages. For me, it’s a city of vast contrasts, from the abject poverty and rundown buildings in the old quarter, to the city with its unashamed displays of wealth and glamorous high rises. I’ll start with Chinatown and the famous street food market, Jalon Alor. We ate like kings during our few days there but the princess in me just couldn’t bring myself to eat in Jalan Alor, especially not with the giant rats that scuttle around your feet. No siree. 

(I couldn’t resist a bit of editing with these photos, as they served as the perfect backdrop for some filters).

All images via Wishful Thinking