DOWN BY THE WHARF

Once a year Darwin has a harbour clean up day, which I'm lucky enough to be allowed to get involved with through the organisation I work for (though 'lucky' might be a matter of opinion, in proper 'oh god I'm getting old' fashion, I managed to properly strain a thigh muscle during the course of my day).

POT SET PERFECTION

So, I got down to the make-or-break remains of my store bought yoghurt yesterday. Granted, it was one of those biodynamic, ABC culture brand of creations, but in the interests of sticking with my Plastic Free July commitment then I was really going to have to give this DIY yoghurt thing a go without further ado.

DE LA PLAGE

There's a newish cafe on the scene for us northern suburbanites, who tend to spend our leisure beachtime around the beaches of Nightcliff and Casuarina. Although there are a few pop up food and coffee shacks along the foreshore these days, on the whole there's been a long-standing dearth of places to grab a drink and a snack.

A self-proclaimed 'Turkish-Belgian inspired beach cafe', De La Plage is a laid-back beachside establishment whose casually ramshackle setup alongside the Surf Lifesaving Club belies its delicious and not-unreasonably priced menu. Sitting in the cool shade of the foreshores wispy casuarina trees, it's the perfect spot to wile away the hours over the weekend - and often puts on some juicy tunes to boot.

Mostly staffed by a crew of the fairly constant flow of cute European backpackers that Darwin attracts for most of the dry season, the service is....ok, well to be honest it's a little on the slow side but then again this is not an eat and run kind of space either. It's a lazy day kind of cafe, where you'll get the most enjoyment by relaxing on the grass; at a table, in a hammock, on a beanbag or on your own rug, and watch the waves and the gulls until your order arrives...

SPECTACULAR

A few weeks ago (somehow, already) I chipped in a little elbow grease to the annual Tropical Garden Spectacular down at Darwin's beautiful botanic gardens. After taking a little time out during the week to help prepare some pop up garden beds (and remembering that while shoveling soil is good dirty work, due care is needed to avoid unwanted muscle twinges - or complete spinal displacement come to think of it), I also lent my barista skills over the weekend at the community cafe.

PEAKS AND TROUGHS

I must admit that I've been stumped for ideas these last few weeks. It's gradually crept up on me that I've felt like I've been in a holding pattern for the last year or so now, working mostly on getting another decent notch on the career bedpost and putting together some cash for the next step. But now that I've well and truly reached the point where I feel like it's time to start walking - or at least drawing a map - it's like my boots have got stuck in the mud somewhere along the way.

RETURN

Down to earth with a bump.
My three-week quasi-offline Indian summeresque trip over the Tasman was done and dusted a good couple of weeks ago now, and mostly I've been sitting around wondering what to do with myself ever since getting back. Whether it's a case of the post holiday blues, a culmination of a work life/home life slump or the simple fact that the month before the fun, festivities and weather of the dry season properly kick in is a notoriously frustrating time for this part of the world (or all three, it's currently up for discussion...) In the meantime I'll get on with some sweet imagery and nostalgic reminiscence...