Liz Carey has lead a pretty interesting life - just reading the bio on her website - Bird Handbags it says she was married to someone in Oasis, a model and now a designer.
She has designed some pretty beautiful bags and has opted to stage the photography in this seemingly fashionable way at the moment - under-water photography. Im seeing it everywhere over here. Maybe TP could get a tank?!
On two counts.
Firstly - how cool is it that I can post to Tulip Cheeks from my new place of work! Im seeing it as my fag break - coz Mr TC senior and I were discussing how much time is lost due to people nipping out for 'quick fags' - how productive am I to be using my fag time to keep in-touch with my lovely friends!
Secondly - how cool is it that Look Magazine deliver internationally - and that they are offering 20% off their yearly subscription. Im in talks with the people with the power at this end to get us on that list - I LOVE Look Magazine - its fashion heaven with just the right amount of goss.
We had a lovely day out just the 3 of us - Mr TC, his sister (Cock) and I. We drove down to Phillip Island - about a 1 hour 45 min drive. We stopped off on the way to have a BBQ - Id popped some snags in the cool box just incase.
Theres some lovely little shops down on the main high street there in Cowes. Some are lovely because of the comedy factor - and all the random goods they are selling. We drove all over the island (at least twice) as we couldnt resist getting fish and chips for the well renound restaurant at the bridge leading over to the island. Mr TC had a great game of crazy golf - by his-self and with an audience - just the way he like it - only he can win!Just as it was getting dusk we paid our £10 each for the entrance fee to go watch the penguins coming home to bed, after a hard days fishing out at sea. We sat there patiently for quite a while. No photos were allowed after a certain point (didnt stop some people) - hense theres no pictures of the dear little creatures that came waddling out of the sea. They were so cute - they come out in little clusters and at first they look like a shole of fish as their little tummys catch the light from the beach. At this point I thought it a little disappointing that we weren't very close at all to the little penguins - they are the smallest in the world. but then as we were heading back up the path we were actually walking along side them - mere feet away. They were off home to bed like us...I dont know how they found their correct beds every night but they must do.
We had a lovely day out at this sanctuary - dedicated to Australian native animals. All 5 of us Tulips picked up a Wendy on the way and off we went. Its quite a long drive - it felt it anyway as Cock and I sat in the very back of an 8 seater truck - my knees were wrapped round my ears.
It was lovely to see the Australian animals, in very good condition and very happy in their natural habitats. I now have a new favourite animal - the Koala.
He was just so chilled! And super-cute - just like our best mate Pete.
There were all sorts of animals there - even a bird show - which I thought I'd hate as Im petrified of flapping animals. I only hid in Wendy's shoulder twice and i didnt even pull a neck muscle like I normally do around flapping in face animals. Word of advice - dont ever walk down a pigeon- filled high street with me - total embarrassment.
This roo looked just like Mr TC had told her his Wide Mouth Frog joke (said with a cats bottom mouth) "you dont see many of those round here do you" to which she lets out a massive sheeps-baaaa style laugh.
Notice the shadow in this picture...This belongs to a Japanese tourist. Im quite happy to treat everyone as equals until they prove me wrong, but it seems that all too often this nationality of people have NO idea of how to behave in a tourist situation.* They (* and I say 'they' but dont want to tar the whole nation, most, Im sure are perfectly behaved) have no courticy skills. They push their way to the front, they talk when theyre not supposed to, they take pictures when they are not supposed to, they HOG photo opportunities so no one else can get a look in and they have had the potential to spoil certain things that I too have paid good money to see.
There, rant over. We had a lovely time though, after we pushed OUR way to the front and then moved aside for others to enjoy :-)
What a beautiful view to have while youre enjoying lunch with a nice glass of wine. Unfortunatly we went just after Mr TC's 30th Birthday party and i was, lets just say, off the wine.
The wine here isnt any cheaper than in the UK, which is funny as you think it would be. They do do something called 'clean skins' which is where a winery over produces and needs to get rid of some stock. Their prices then dramatically drop to about £2-3. When youre in a Vintage Cellars or anyother booze shop they have an area deadicated to these clean skins - but you run the risk of getting a not so great one - but hey, just save them for the end of the night and evey ones a winner.
We drove down the coast a little more - to Arthur's Seat - a beautiful lookout with Arthur's seat being something there for a reason but I cant find out why. All I know is that it was a lovely view.
Hasnt he just got the most adoreable face! In a funny kinda way? Hasnt he? I think so.
This is the afore mentioned Bosco - our lovely friend Joel's dog. When Mr TC, Cock (his sister) and I went for a gay day our to Phillip Island (more to come later) we couldnt resist this sweater for little Bosco (or 'Pig-Dog' as Joel calls him sometimes).
How good would he be on a Tigerprint card!
A very cute place Wendy has brought me. I popped over to see Our Wendy for the day and we had a lovely run out. We had a glass of lemonade each - sat on the balcony of a very Victorian looking boat house - full of charm and lots of funny little signs everywhere.
Wendy and I sat and watched the world go by - just what a needed as Ive had alot on my plate recently.
We resisted hiring a boat and thank God we did, as nearly everybody was coming back in soaked and i didnt fancy that.
Above was a vintage ride for the kiddlywinks - supposed to be the very famous Australian racehorse - Pharlap - CUTE!
Can I just say how ridiculous *some (*most) drivers are here in Melbourne, Australia. I mean how wrong is it that there is absolutely NO lane discipline on the motorways? people just seem to 'pick' a lane and thats it. It seems like as long as they are heading in the right direction they dont care. The other day for-instance I was in the left hand lane - approaching a car SAT in the middle lane - with nothing to overtake in its immediate or long-term future. So, to make a very British point I a)looked in my mirror b) indicated c) moved out in into the middle lane and then the outer lane and made a huge point of overtaking and then moving infront of it, casually about to position myself back in the slower lane - when NEEEEEAMPH.... a sodding car is flying up the inside lane! I nearly soiled myself! This kinda situation happens most days (never followed through with the soiling, but the feelings never change) and IM SICK OF IT!
Did they not teach drivers here the art of lane discipline? Theres one sign on the way to work clearly stating "keep left unless overtaking' so why the hell dont they? and why dont they get the sodding hint? I cant keep over-exaggerating my overtaking - its exhausting, and down right dangerous.Ive got a 3 hour round trip to my new place of work, yes thats right TC lovers, 3 hours - so everyday Im need to have eyes on bendy straws. My neck feels about 2 inches longer from the constant 'swivel' required. I need to write to someone and sort this mess out.
I fancied a coffee the other day& thought i'd treat myself. I caught eye contact with the young lad serving on the counter of Gloria Jeans coffee shop. His eyes locked with mine all my walk up to the counter.
"hi there" he says " what can I get you?" (grinning profusely) I ask for a soy latte, he asks me my name. I say " my name is TC, why do you wanna know?" he then says "because I wanna shout you out". My, my I think, these Aussie men are much more forward than I thought! I try to let him down gently "I'm really sorry" I say, going slightly red "i'm actually married". He then goes " I wanted your name so I can shout it out when your coffees ready!".
What a d*ck i've just made of myself, I rush to the end counter, and sure enough they shout my name when my coffees ready. Oh the technology, the advancements things have made recently. What a dick!
Sat on my own, eating sushi is a new one for me. At least, I haven't had lunch on my own since I started work at tigerprint- way back when no one really returned my conversation- and noone asked if I'd like to come to lunch too. So I used to take my skinny little ass off and sit in my car. This lasted about 2 weeks untill people started to realise-I wasn't going away!
After that, the rest was easy. And, in an attempt not to let anyone else feel the pain I felt, I always made sure I asked new ones to lunch- temp or not.
I don't know how long I will eat lunch by myself this time... Hopefully not long. X
Here I am at the biggest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere- learning the ropes and also checking out our competition. I love DJ's Christmas range. It's the most similar in quality to good old M&S. I just love their brights range-which most stores do a version over here as being in a hot climate- bright, bold colours sit well. I also like the way they have displayed a multi-pack of baubles- like one giant bauble.
I wanted to show you Mr TCs 1st Birthday cake. Its supposed to represent a Caterpillar cake famously sold in good old Marks and Sparks and bought by Mrs TC senior every birthday in the T household. Can you believe there is NO WHERE in the surrounding area that does anything similar. Thats why ive had to mock up a Caterpillar of our own - what a good wifey i am.
The cakes here are without doubt some of the best in the world - but individual cakes or carrot cake etc. To get a decent birthday cake Im guessing people improvise - or make do with whippy icing. One shop even suggested I get a plain old square cake and pick a stencil and they would spray on an image. I dont think so.
I just wanted to share with you this little picture of a wild parrot up in the Dandenongs. I don't think I will ever get used to seeing parrots and coca-teals flying around in their natural habitat and me living alongside them.
We went for a cuppa at a the Cuckoo restaurant up there and watched all these beautiful birds flying around - it was amazing. I can really see where fashion designers can get their colour influences, and why my tutors at art college and uni always told us to start our research by looking at nature. Someone really knew what they were doing when they made animals, plants and, well, everything! The coca-teals with their white bodies and an amazing shade of lemon for their head dress, and their grey feet - thats a dress from French Connection any day!
....is out of this world! Please check out their really nice website here.
Cock and I (Mr TC's sister - keep up!) went to a vintage fair there called 'Hello Sailor" check out this link as its on a really cool website called threethousand - a Melbourne based, no nonsense guide to the city (3000 being our state's post-code). We met lovely Suzie, had some sushi and off we went.
Inside the entrance of the Carlton Hotel every surface possible was covered in red flock - the pillars, the walls, the plinths with vases on - all covered in red flock. We turned into the bar area where a few rails of vintage clothes were on display - behind this taxidermy ostridge in a stunning set of pearls. It was so dark we decided to give the 1st floor a try first. Lots of tiny rooms filled with vintage finds. But I must say - not a patch on the vintage fair in sunny Leeds twice a year. I did make a purchase tho (standard!) a lovely bobbly cream draw-string bag and a red blouse.
In the same room as the ostridge was a real giraffe's head coming out of the wall - with false glittery eyelashes on. Also a stuffed peacock over the bar with its tail falling under the rays of a spotlight.
We left there and joy of all joys - my sailor suit was all paid up and ready to be collected! So its now in my possession! lay-bys is brilliant. paying it off bit by bit every week has really helped. Without that I wouldn't have my dream outfit.
While I was waiting at the Airport for the Tulips to return from a trip to Sydney I saw all these drivers waiting for VIP people.
Do you think they knew each other before hand? Or are they all chatting about their next pick up?
I finally got to go inside. Remeber when I told you about me doing the tour of Fitzroy gardens - where I first met my Lovely Wendy? And Mr TC had borrowed some money out of my purse for his train and not told me, and I couldn't afford the £2.50 entrance fee?
Us Tulips met Wendy at our usual spot - on the steps at Flinder's Street station, at the usual time. this was the first meeting of Wendy for the Tulips - I just knew they would love her too.
We wandered along the city streets, calling in at the Sofitel Hotel and going in the lift up to floor 35 to use the loo - great views of Melbourne while you wee - fan-toilet-tastic!
After a spot of lunch we took the same free tour of the Fitzroy garden which Wendy and I had done, as strangers 5 friendship-filled months ago. I gave Wendy a huge hug when we got there, and the lady guide remembered us and thought our meeting and subsequent friendship to be very special.
The tour of the gardens is lovely, and well worth doing. Sue (the guide) makes things really interesting and the hour flies by.
So, i finally got to go inside the house from North Yorkshire. it was tiny and very compact as you can see in the above picture. It had 2 bedrooms. check out Mays post to see what the outside looks like. This was the typically English garden -
Very cute.
After here we caught the circle tram and did a full lap of the city, taking in the Dock-lands, Parliament and much more. Then we caught the tram down to stop number 19 - the Shrine of Remembrance which ive told you about before - ray of light, passing over stone, great views back to Melbourne...
Another great day had with Wendy, this time with family too.
It looks dead doesn't it! But believe me, it wasn't.
The full bunch of Tulips were barbecuing in the woods of the Dandenongs (they have the most fantastic set up for BBQs in public here - just press a button and you're away!) So after a few snags and bacon butties Momma Tulip decides she needs to go see Uncle George (Mi Pa-pa always referred to a toilet stop as going to see Uncle George - no idea why). She told us the story of how she did the classic 'check under the toilet seat, check all around the door - no spiders, great she thought. She adopted a squat at the same split second her eyes glanced oner her shoulder and above to the right, to spot this.....a giant Huntsman spider. Luckily Momma Tulip hadn't started anything she couldn't finish in time to run out and call us all over.
Mr TC very camp-ly lobbed a screwed up bit of tissue at the spider to see if it would move.....it did, and so did we. All 5 of us ran out of the ladies toilet block screaming.
Apparently the Huntsman spider is the most gentlest of all the massive spiders here as they don't bite....their mouths are too small - phew I hear you say, coz we were really worried about their gnashers!
At long last I finally got to go on Puffing Billy - right through the heart of the Dandenong ranges. I took the above picture on my i-phone so I could send it to Mi Pa-pa and make him proud!
I absolutely loved the ride. We got our own carriage on the way there and kids of all ages were sitting with their legs dangling out the window - I say kids of all ages - TC in-laws included!
It was lovely scenery, and at one point it just looked like my beloved North Yorkshire....
Can almost imagine the intro for Emmerdale.
Der ner ner neeeeer, ner ner ner ner neeer, ner ner neeeeer. - Man I love that show. Weve just had Jack Sugdens funeral here - v.sad. It was a BIG dream of mine to be a set designer for Emmerdale and I actually went to Yorkshire TV for work experience there for a short time (before I was offered a full time job a Tigerprint and realised I had a mortgage to pay). I was in my element. I helped order Chris Tates head stone, his coffin, made notices for the church notice board - I just loved it. I really love looking at characters and imagining what their surroundings look like. Even now I look at the backgrounds of programs more than the action as I just adore admiring the decisions people have made.
This looks very french. Which reminds me of the time I was walking out of the Emmerdale studios and heard a little voice saying "doest she look love-alie" for me to turn round to see Loraine Chase admiring my outfit. "you look love-alie you do" she went on to say. "Vew-wey fwench". I had black and white stripes on and then forgot where i'd parked, in my tiz of thanking her.
We got off at lakeside -about an hours ride from Belgrave. We walked down to the cafe to
discover it was shutting, so we just hopped back onto the next
available Puffing Billy and came back.
Check out how they cant turn him around and must
just wack his pistons into reverse!
Either a very good sense of humour or Boti means 'delicious Indian cuisine'. Mr TC and I gave it a whirl the other night - not having had a *decent curry since Yorkshire (*its what you grow up with = a good bench mark- there are so many variations on everyones perfect curry). It went off to a great start - the restaurant seemed authentic, and pretty busy for a monday night. We ordered Popadums for £1 each x4 and had to order the pickles separately - FOR £3 each!? We opted for the onion one and the mango chutney. The latter came in a concentrate form - literally like jam. i could have bought a jar for £3.
We had ordered pretty safe main courses - ones we felt confident that we knew we could tell if they were any good - Butter Chicken and Lamb Pasanda. Well, if there is such a thing as Indian Stew then thats what we got. Its been a regular occurrence unfortunately. They just seem like they are missing something. - not the same in any way shape or form. Akbar and Aggraa - if youre reading this....COME OVER HERE AND MAKE YOUR MILLIONS - THERE IS NOTHING LIKE YOU AND YOU WILL CLEAN UP! Just dont call yourself Roti Boti a) its already taken and b) its just not a good idea to spoil your guests experience by telling them what they will have the next morning.
Our Brisbane mates came to see us for the weekend. As usual, when we are with them, we laugh and laugh and laugh - and this weekend was no different. Mr TC and I thought we would base the weekend in and around the city as Melbourne's charm (in my opinion) is where its at.
So, after a spot of ice-berging (yes TC friends - I actually did it - I didnt love it or hate it, but Ive done it) we trotted into the city and had a lovely mooch around. Melbourne's weather was putting on a bit of a show for our Brisbane hotties (its nearly always hot in Brisbane) and it got up to about 23 degrees. Mr TC had forgotten to put any underpants on (?how can you forget?) so he ducked into a shop and bought some - avoiding any chaffing issues.
After a spot of table tennis action at Mr TC's office (thank God he got the underpants first) we headed to the Eureka Tower - the highest building for thousands of miles. Up we go to the 88th floor and have 360 degrees of our lovely Melbourne to view.
Here you can see the MCG (the massive sports arena), the river Yarra and the Dandenongs in the background....
My picture above was taken from the open-air balcony which cost a mere $16.50 to get to - that was well worth it. What was to follow was not.
For an extra $12 we could wear these blue shoe covers and go out on 'The Edge'
"Skydeck 88 is the only observation deck in the world that can thrill you with 'The Edge' - a glass cube which projects 3 metres out from the building - with you in it - suspended almost 300 metres above the ground!"
The view from the glass box was just the same as from the viewing balcony and didnt feel remotely suspended. We weren't allowed to take cameras and had to share the box with about 6 others - AWKWARD!
The box slowly moves out and the glass is frosted. Then, when you a re all the way out it pings see-through and then sound effects of cracking noises are turned up. The floor is glass, but there are metal struts at regular intervals. Im guessing we had to wear the blue socky things so we keep the glass floor clean, and maybe even have a positive effect of giving it a little polish while we are supposed to be crapping ourselves at being so high up, in a very safe and sturdy viewing platform, with no danger WHAT SO EVER, seeing less than what we could before we paid our $12!
I think you can get the idea that I wasnt that impressed.
You can see here what happens - that protruding glass room moves out of the main building.
And here what it looked like from inside the box - minus 6 other strangers blocking the view.
So, if you come here -go up the 88 floors - with my blessing, it really is a good view, but save yourselves £6 and 20 minutes and give 'the Edge' a miss.
No photos of this one as it would make you wince. I had a little accident lastnight. I bumped our car.
I was driving from my first afternoon freelancing at a very lovely fashion company - Metalicus Id had a super best time there, the people are lovely and I was looking forward to going back the next day. off I set to meet my little and extraordinarily lovely and very good at giving advice friend Suzie (my Blog find). So Im using the very special present our friend had treated us to - a Sat Nav. Its been my hero since we've had it and performed exceptionally well on every single journey so far. But, this was my first time navigating through the city at rush hour. One minute I was driving down a road - with it showing me I was driving down a road - then it started going nuts and spinning (do you think it knew?) So, without too much thought, (i thought) - pull into that space there and have a think about things. The space was down the central section of a busy road and I was in the middle lane. So, I swung my content with life, happy little ass over to the right and BANG, SCRAPE, SQUEEL. OH MY GOD I SHOUTED as I glance over to see the driver look as shocked as me. For a split second I thought, aw, thats not bad - just felt like a dodgem bump - keep going! but that only lasted a second and I pulled over to the left. I jumped out my car - dreading what i was going to find - Screaming man? Gripper of a woman full of rage? Neither - there was a girl - just like me! I ran across the road shouting 'IM SORRY, SO SORRY" and we flung our arms around each other whilst confirming each of us were ok. She was so calm - I hope Im that calm if ever a dickhead hits me - I could'nt have hit a nicer person (you know what I mean). We swapped particulars and moved on. I parked up there - too shaken to drive much farther. My little friend Suzie rode to my rescue and we walked to our destination - this time to no announcement from Mr Sat Nav 'you have reached your destination!'.
The restaurant was lovely - its called Cookies (check out the website -its FAB) Its like a huge beer hall -no like about it - it is! And is inside the most fantastic building called Curtain House. the food was delicious and the atmosphere in there was similar to being in a dream (or maybe that was the shock?) naaah - it was very special in its own right. After a sumptuous feed we took the lift up to the top floor where there was a roof top bar! and a huge cinema screen with deck chairs to watch the movies. The whole building was magic - in-fact I bet when I try to find it again I wont.
So I reluctantly said my goodbyes to Suzie and ventured back to check out the damage - ahhh, not too bad me thinks. So I get in to drive home and CLUNK - the steering wheel goes all floppy and the tires start squealing. I make it through the centre of town - on reflection - highly embarrassing as the noise was just hideous. But at the time I just wanted to get out of the city. I wobbled down to a safe little hide away - in a bus lane south of the river. Mr TC is in Sydney for the night so Im panicking all by myself. I call the insurance company - who are utterly unhelpful, they put me through to a tow truck company charging £120 for up to 8k. Then, after a phone call to Mr TC (what I thought he was gonna do from Sydney is beyond me) out of the smoke of the city appears Paul's friends from work - Joel and Brent! After a big man hug I toughen the f*ck up and drive the car all the way home (canceling the tow truck like a good girl). It was awful, it was very definitely dangerous, but thats what i did...and i made it. Im never gonna get annoyed with slow drivers ever again - you dont know what their situation is. Although I did say that to myself some years back when id got my Grandad in the car and he was scared to go over 20 - in a 60....so I really need to have a good word with myself this time.
I drove the car first thing - just around the corner to the garage - looks like it may take 2 weeks to get fixed costing us £250 excess - but hey - like Joel said - 'TC, some people just have one crash and they die' - so that made me feel better - in a way.
Joel was a real star and lent me his car for my second day at Metalicus (which went even better than the first) and as a thankyou Im going to introduce him to Mr TC's siser - Cock, when she arrives this weekend (yipeee) along with Mother and father figure - Mr and Mrs TC Senior.
And how lucky are we? Our friends we met through cute Mrs Dell are lending us their car while the TC clan are here - so, out of a terrible situation we have coped. Why Oh why its happened is beyond me - my only excuse is - lots on my mind and the Sat Nav - bloody Sat Nav!
At Middle Brighton Baths theres a restaurant, cafe and a gym. At the gym theres an option of paying £5 for a swim and a steam room session. This means going in the freezing cold sea (but in the above enclosure) and then quickly into the steam room. I dont know exactly HOW its good for you, but I suppose it runs on the same principal of Turkish baths? There are newspaper articles and photos on the walls inside showing older people who have done this - some, EVERY day for over 45 years! They are nicknamed Ice-Bergers. The people in the photos look good, but it doesnt look like they have found the key to eternal youth - if you know what I mean :-/
I dont think I will be trying this again. I cant swim, I hate getting wet and Im petrified of fish. So not great, but Mr TC still thought I should give it a go.
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