It’s nice to get what’s in the brochure on the 1st of January in Melbourne Australia. Across the road from home. It’s beautiful high 20’s and a cloudless sky… Happy New Year world. #melbourne #1stjanuaty2026 #home #gratitude #hygge

Happy New Year everybody

It’s simply blooming lovely around the house at the moment. Having bright flowers all over the place is I guess the nicest thing about Christmas in Australia.

Not boring really lol. Testing my induction plates in my events area today. I’m thinking an Asian style hot pot for our New Year’s Day dinner. I love these things. Considering I was anti electric as a chef! We like direct instant control over heat. They are truly a boon for the chef or home cook.

So happy my first dahlia flower opened today here in Seaford Melbourne. I’m love these flowers and they just keep giving. #dahlia #tubers #lovemygardem ##hygge #home

Peeking duck pancakes this evening with crispy white wine #perkingduck #lightdinner #letscook #relaxing

It’s been a long and busy one. Often stressful. But here we are #2025 #busyme #creatuve #foodie

People are asking for the Lycheeni (lychee martini) formula. Here it is. I can promise you all it’s very festive. 🍸🎄😉

Ahh these nice quiet and sometimes solitude treats. Creamy scrambled eggs on my favourite sourdough bread. So nice and peaceful today. #brunch #solitude #treat #home #letscook

Ahh legs have a nibble, dumplings and spicy chicken pieces. Just what we need 🤤

These martini’s are really so nice… it’s time to find food… cheers 🍸

Ahh Boxing Day lycheenies (lychee Martin), with friend Anthony 🍸a relax after the big show!

Twin Hudson & I start carving for Christmas 🎄

Ladies & gentlemen Christmas dinner is served. Gee it was a lot of fun pulling this together. It is the “BIG” one and it’s wonderful to spoil friends and family. A week long food-a-thon starts today! Merry Christmas 🎄

Christmas Eve and it was time to put the goose & turkey into the brine to keep them moist during cooking tomorrow. This is a yearly ritual in our home. The spices, herbs, fruits, onions, caster sugar and Maldron salt do their magic overnight.

Christmas Eve and I’m pottering about in my kitchen preparing tomorrow’s feast. Ham is baked and looking rather mouth watering. Red wine vinegar, cinnamon, smoked paprika & red current jelly. Such an easy but tasty glaze.

4# trees up and enjoying it… Christmas movies going in the background and a nice drink. So much nostalgia when decorating Christmas trees.

Ahh finally some rain here in Melbourne after a real blast of heat. I’m loving it as is my garden.

Roasted ham hock until crispy. Mash with Dijon & grain mustard, gravy made from pan juices with baby peas… finally a reprieve from the heat!

The tree goes up at Mayfair finally! First ornament on is “the heart of Mayfair”… Christmas officially starts tonight in my home. Merry Christmas #heartofmayfair #christmastreedecorating #hyggehome #heartwarming

And here are the little penguins, formally known as “Fairy Penguins” at Phillip Island. It’s called “The Penguin Parade”. Visitors are not allowed to take photos or videos, but they give us a QR scan to go to the gallery. So cute. 🐧

Phillip Island, we are here to see the fairy penguins at sunset. Western Port bay Victoria Australia. #phillipisland #australia #friends

Phillip Island, we are here to see the fairy penguins at sunset. Western Port bay Victoria Australia. #phillipisland #australia #friends

Yesterday, a ferry ride from Sorento to Queenscliff for the day with friend Sylvia. A beautiful sunny day to a very lovely costal town. Head of the bay here in Melbourne.

I love Melbournes street art. I will be going on a guided tour soon. Lots of creatively. This display is located in HOSIER LANE Melbourne, near Flinders Street train station and Federation Square

Beautiful Saint Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne. Truly a beautiful place. It’s so worth visiting.

It’s a thing in Melbourne to say to a person you are meeting in the city “let’s meet under the clocks”, this means under the clocks at Flinders Street train station. With my darling friend Sylvia and her children, visiting Melbourne.

Also nearly there with this piece. Had visitors which has stopped play. I hope I can get these pieces into the shop before Christmas? 🎄

My beautiful friend Sylvia arrived in Melbourne from Brisbane for a weeks visit! It’s wonderful to be able to spend some time together finally.

Time to get through my scheduled furniture refurbishment projects. Weather did stop play! And no doubt Christmas will also slow things down a little as well now. But I do enjoy it all.

All done and dusted. The presentation was a little off I know, but my household was hungry. Not a lot of time for staging. Really well received however. They loved the salad & garlic bread as well. All with a nice glass of white for me.

Let’s get this pasta made! Pappardelle pasta and loosely related to carbonara, a favourite. We all make it our own.

I am refurbishing rusted outdoor furniture for a new outdoor food offering. I have just finished a prototype chair. I’m pleased with the resume and will now do the other 5# of them. I wanted something smart clean & comfortable, that didn’t scream and shout against the tables I have just finished.

Celebrated a nice win with a really nice afternoon tea. First Christmas cake 🎄 of the season today. YUM!

December has been kind so far. Even a $900+ win on lotto today! It was such a thrill. I feel very grateful!

A real easy treat, and freshly made tzatziki dip, it makes all the difference.

Dinner is served… lamb kofta, sweet meat, and very spicy. A nice warm sunny evening in Melbourne. Again a nice easy meal.

Lamb kofta preparation done for dinner tonight. Cooked on the BBQ. Fresh tabouli and homemade tzatziki dip. The weather is perfect for it.

Ahh afternoon tea never fails me… relaxing me time, it replenishes me… #afternoontea #home #hygge #christmasseason

Ahh duck pancakes for dinner last night with some bubbles. Light and tasty. Very quick to make. I use things like this when busy or having unexpected visitors.

It’s December for sure. Time to start rolling out the Christmas mugs and cups. I’d love to see everyones favourite drinking vessels 🎄#christmas #home #mugs&cups

Ahhh Melbourne, it is true this city can throw all 4 seasons at you in one day! But when she shines, she shines… #melbourneaustralia🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 #summerarrives #beautfulday #acrosstheroad

Ahh December! It is going to be a busy but fulfilling month. I think always find time to start the day with a nice quiet pot of tea, today with crumpets. A nice slow wake up. I usually have pen & pad in hand to start or continue planing. Christmas is upon us…#potoftea #christmas #me-time #planing

A bangers & mash night! Pork sausages. Yes, it was covered in gravy when served. Perfect on a chilly night. #bsngers&mash #porksauages #letscook #home

VEGAN PACK ALERT!! They are coming for me again over my rib post this time! What is it with these cherry picking nut jobs. I know it’s not all, but hell it is most. Suggestion please? They go to so much trouble to be difficult and nasty. Real pack attitude.

BBQ. Pork ribs and hiding underneath is meaty turkey wings. Served with a big beautiful fully loaded jacket potatoes & coleslaw. The marinade is easy. 2 cups ABC soya sauce 1 cup sweet chilli sauce I lime juiced keep the husk Mix well. Meat into snap lock bags with husk. Overnight is good.

This was so much fun. It’s amazing how a simple board game can bring people together and produce so much laughter. It was a late finish, but so with it. #gamenight #grazing #fun&laughter #home

It was individual charcuterie boards last night. It’s was games night here at home. A “Indiana Jones” version of monopoly. Great fun. Went to Luckys Delicatessen in Frankston. Beautiful authentic produce and pricing. Great lunches and such good fun service. #monopoly #games-night #charcruterue

The first of the cafe tables I am refinishing for a new gourmet food offering. It has been really enjoyable working on something different. I love the copper colour I settled on. I’m excited to move into testing my new offering. More on that later. I will start on number 2# tomorrow. #cafetables

Back to yummy basics this morning. Soft boiled eggs with toast fingers with a nice cup of really hot tea, whilst I’d was bucketing down outside. #breakfast #brekkie #boildeggs #nurseryfood #oldiebutgoodie