Epic Journey Home - NGV and Royal Croquet Club

There was a general sense of excitement with the news that I would be coming back. Time to do some of my favourite things - meet up with friends, eat food, and see what's new in the city! And preferably all three at the same time!

On my first day back, me and Pooey caught up with Rachie-Poo and her little fella at Hinoki!

Mmmmmm, love sushi and sashimi...
Also, this was the right size for the three of us :D

Then we went to Gelato Messina. I can't remember what I ordered but it was pretty delicious and look at this guy trying to grab it!

Next stop - NGV to see the Andy Warhol/Ai Wei Wei exhibit

The Waterwall was nice and cooling on this hot day

Ai's Chandelier with Restored Han Dynasty Lamps for the Emperor (2015)

I spent a lot of time running around Ai's and Warhol's interactive balloon exhibits. Pooey spent a lot of time documenting it.

The interactive "Studio Cats" is supposed to be for children but it's pretty damn awesome for adults as well! (Or we are just two big children).

Pooey and I were both really impressed with the exhibit. Or course, going into the exhibit I was more familiar with Warhol, but I walked out with a greater appreciation for Ai's works particularly the sense of playfulness masking serious commentary, or sometimes when the commentary wasn't masked. Anyway, go see it while you can - it's on at NGV International until April 24. 

After the gallery, Pooey and I crossed over the river to enjoy the Royal Croquet Club. 

Like a lady!

Enjoying watching the play

And the view

Taking part of the play!

Presents for Pooey and Ma.

A few months ago, I got a message from Pooey asking me to buy her some Longchamp Le Pliage shopper bags in some colours. A few days after that message, I received another one asking me to buy some for Ma as well. I then promptly forgot these messages and didn't purchase these bags. Then I got more messages asking if I'd done the shopping yet to which I went to Oberpollinger only to find out that they didn't have all of the requested colours.  In the end I ordered them online and then had the great joy of tearing them open!

The bags were individually packed in these boxes, making the carton that held them all quite large.

Wonderful daughter/sister that I am, I have chosen to leave one of the bags in the packaging so that the joy of tearing it open can be shared!

I'm thinking some people are looking forward to seeing me in a month ;)

Pooey playing Street Fighter IV

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Someone I showed this to said it looked like her hands were having a seizure.

Defeated by Cake

Wai haro! Since it's a long weekend in Munich and Pooey is back in the UK, I've decided to go and hang out in London for a few days. And having found that I've lost enough weight to be similar to the size I was nearly 15 years ago, I gave the following instructions: "Fatten me up, Pooey! FATTEN ME UP!!!" So she booked us in for lunch/afternoon tea at Fortnum & Masons. Cue tea dresses and happy cake faces!

The menu and silverware.

Happy to be back on that banquette!

Happy anticipating face!

Because it was basically midday, we decided to have High Tea because it would start us off with a savoury dish before moving onto the sweet rounds. Usually when we do this kind of thing, Pooey and I choose different dishes so we can maximise flavour. We were having none of that this time as we both zeroed in on what we wanted...

 Truffled lobster omlette bisque!!!

Pooey's happy claw hands!

Yep, that didn't last long.

I was got a bit scared after wolfing that down though - I felt a bit full after that protein bomb! But then the tea service arrived and our faces got happy again!

YAY!!! From the top, we had a selection of cakes, sweet scones, and (I think) strawberry shortcake (shortbread). For the scones, we had strawberry jam, lemon curd, and clotted cream. Naturally.

More happy faces!

Mmmm, clotted cream...

Ol' Crazy Eyes thinking, "I can't wait to eat you up, clotted cream!"

In addition to the standard tea service, we also had a selection of celebration cakes because it had been 60 years since the Queen's coronation. I can't remember the flavour of all the cakes here but I sure looked forward to giving them a good home!

I can't remember if this was a normal thing or if it was specific to High Tea, but the staff mentioned that they could refresh our tea pots and any of the tiers as much as we wanted! ALL RIGHT!!! We got the sweet scones again so we could have our way with the cream but...we were so full that finishing the top cake tier was a struggle! And we had to turn down the celebration cakes! Like...what?! Since when do Mooey and Pooey turn down cake?!?! I mean sure, we could have stayed a couple of hours until we digested the previous rounds until we were ready for the celebration cakes...but no. At least it wasn't just us though, the couple next to us were in the same situation.

 Ol' Angry Eyes looking at the cake tier with resentment. Damn you cake, you've beaten us this time, but we'll be back!

Return of the Spu.

Spu has actually been wandering around Eastern Europe (well, Germany, Poland, and Russia) for the last few weeks. With me so conveniently located, Spu was flying in and out of Munich and upon his arrival back from his journeys, requested that we eat Asian food. Well, his exact words were that he really needed vegetables and food that wasn't meat, potatoes, cabbage, or the like. Pooey recommended that we go back to Kushi-Tei so off we went.

We shared set menus C and D because they had a variety of vegetables, seafood and meats. Spu is so happy to have his asparagus skewers.

Yakitori. Also, I should grill zucchini more often.

California roll side

When Spu ate his prawn, he actually said something along the lines of, "I miss seafood that's not fish sooooo much...."

And some beef and shiitake skwers.

The next day while on a tour of Berchtesgaden (where it snowed despite being May), Spu actually looked up a viet restaurant he wanted to check out.

Spu with his mixed Viet meats, vegetables and rice.

My bun cha gio and bo. Mmmm

 But eventually, there reached a point where there were simply some German/Bavarian foods that Spu needed to eat before venturing back to Melbs. We had German tapas one night where I criminally forgot to take any photos, but I'm sure I'll go back there and will have more opportunities for photos.

Also, Spu finally got a Spanferkel haxn (suckling pig pork knuckle). While he was carving into it, you could hear the crackling crackle!

I had lamb fillets with beans and 'taters.

So bai Spu! And thanks for the FCB shirt and the tub of ice cream you left in my freezer!!!

Pooey got married!

AT LAST!!!

Being part of the bridal party, I didn't manage to take a great deal of photos for myself but here's a few I managed to capture when I wasn't doing wedding-y stuff.

Relaxed bride!

Pooey about to get her makeup done!

Me with my made up face. Great makeup artist!

Lymbo getting her hair done. Great hair stylist!

The wedding cake.

Look carefully, the toppers matched Smee and Pooey's wedding outfits!

When we were discussing what she was going to serve for food at the wedding, she gave me a verbal smackdown - for her, an Asian wedding is all about the banquet, so she was going the whole 9 course shebang!

Course 1 &2 - suckling pig and pickled jellyfish, and the crab claw ball!

And you're damn right Pooey was going to be one of those eating brides while Smee was one of those drinking grooms!

Course 3 - shark fin soup with crab meat.

Course 4 - yep, half a lobster.

Course 5 - yep, half a quail.

Course 6 - abalone and mushrooms

Course 7 & 8 - Steamed barramundi and fried rice in lotus leaf.

Course 9a - Mango pudding dessert

Course 9b - creme caramel dessert.

But the wedding wasn't just makeup and food - it was also one helluva party! Apart from dancing, there was a photobooth with costumes for guests to record their party. In fact, it was real competition between the two locations!

Cha siu bao made the most of both though...

he was an epic photobomber.

The groom and groomsmen ham it up

As did the bride and bridesmaids

And all of us together being nice (for once).

To end, I think I said it all in my speech, but once again, all the best on your lives together, Pooey and Smee. Ruv, Moodles.