Harvey Nichols Sale

I remember distinctly raving to everyone that London was heaven because the sales were astronomical and it was delirious trying to fathom the idea of designer bags lurking in bargain bins when London goes on sale. Incredulous looks I got, and when I was here during the Boxing day sales five years after that ethereal experience, I couldn't find it, and I thought it was merely a mirage.

Lo and behold. I didn't dream it all. I saw a man on the tube reading his paper and on the front, it said, Harvey Nichols sale now on. #HNSTAYCALM. How to stay calm? I was moments away from experiencing that glory again! And this time I made sure I documented it because I didn't want people to disbelieve anymore that this heavenly experience existed.

Marc Jacobs in Bargain bin

You know what you spy behind the massive bins?

 Rows upon rows of Alexander Mcqueen discounted Pashminas and chiffon classic skull scarves!

GBP 134 for the Pashmina

GBP 83 for the scarf

Proenza Schouler Tote in the 70% off racks!

Alexander Wang 45% off!

PS1 bag in Paprika only GBP792!

I only hyperventilated in the bags department, but I must say the shoe department evoked the same emotions from shoe aficionados. Overheard, "I am at the Harvey Nichols sale, stuck in the shoe department. I have been here for a few hours trying on every pair of shoes that are on sale. I don't want to ever leave".

These Balenciagas caught my eye

 I didn't want to leave, but I couldn't buy up the store either, seeing I made a pact that I wasn't going to amass all these new wants before I make this move to London. Ah well, more for others to enjoy. I ask you again, How to stay calm?

Nobu Melbourne

This is a scheduled post for whilst I am still on a plane and battling jetlag and until I catch up from all the great travel and haul posts.

The first time I was here, I was having a lonesome lunch at the bar and ordered the Bento box. I must say that experience was a lot better than this time. We got a large table but because we were work colleagues with various dietary requirements, sharing food, especially something as unique as Japanese where raw food was an acquired delicacy, not everyone came to the party. And that may have foiled the experience somewhat.

I can only share with you what I ate:

Sashimi Dinner

 This dish is very generous in portion and variety but the quality of the fish could be a tad better. I'd have better in less expensive restaurant chains in Sydney - Musashi/ Miso. And this was a little less fresh leaving the fish texture to be a tad harder to chew and less firm to the bite. I couldn't find a soy sauce dish to mix my condiments in either so eating this platter was awkward for me, not being able to get the ratios of sauce and wasabi done right, the way I like it.

Mushroom Tobanyaki

I do like my mushrooms, so this dish was heaven for me, The flavours and textures were delightfully balanced and the dish served with rice was really comforting to have in winter. I did think there was a bit too much to have just this one dish for dinner though and I'd suggest this is one the ones that's better shared amongst the table.

I had other guests on the table that got sick from the food that night so I was lucky in a way we didn't share food. But that isn't acceptable standards in a fancy restaurant like Nobu and I'd say, if I had to pay for premium Japanese, I wouldn't be considering Nobu Melbourne for the time being.

Bistro Guillaume

I have been here before for work and I swear the service was a lot better then. Granted they were really accommodating in us bringing in a pram so that I could meet my 7 month old nephew and very thoughtfully placed us in a corner against the wall so that the pram wouldn't be in the way. However, they weren't as attentive beyond that and given that I had to try to get their attention each time to order, to get dessert and the bill, I wasn't overly pleased with the service this time.

That's where the fault ends however, the dining here is divine for the price. It's not exorbitant and yet everything is cooked with a certain care and finesse befitting of the Guillaume name and French bistro dining.

2009 La Bastide Dauzac Margaux Bordeaux FR

 Starting off with the most easy drinking Bordeaux, mellow yet full bodied, whilst waiting for my company to arrive. They were stuck in traffic.

Chargrilled King Salmon iwth braised Jerusalem artichokes,
broad beans and balsamic vinaigrette

 The Salmon was cooked to perfection and elegantly presented.

Sides: Spinach wtih extra virgin olive oil and garlic and French Fries

 Getting our three veg quota in. I love the copper dinnerware presentation. Adds a touch of french to french fries.

Barramundi with celeriac purée, field mushrooms and sage butter

 Perhaps the Barramundi is the dish that has the most flair, but the portion of barramundi looked measly underneath all that. Can't fault the fish though. Again cooked perfectly and just moist and lovely to eat.

John Dory with beurre noisette, capers and lemon

I liked the simplicity of this dish. Browned butter, capers and lemon, just as I would do at home. It's not fancy but it was comforting for me who had been away from home all week and had been eating out all the time.

Valrhona chocolate and salted caramel tart with rum and raisin ice cream

A rich dessert that was just the right edge to finish off our light dinners.

Overall, I still think this place is good value for its spend, especially if you get discounts with the Entertainment card, you'd love the Crown atmosphere, sitting along the bank in its invigorated apple green diner enjoying great food.

May in Australia

I have been travelling heaps in May, Roadshow conferences all around Australia, five states in one month kinda thing. Totally exhausted. It has been jam packed with social things too and catching up with old friends and family that I hadn't seen in yonks.

Adelaide:

How gorgeous is this door?

Anyone missing a baby?

Sipped at sparkling ale whilst lamenting the disappointment experienced with the Malaysian  elections

Brisbane:

The only place I hung out at in Brisbane both nights I was there. I have great friends in  town and loads to chat about

Perth:

Gorgeous jazz concert next to Perth MOMA. A small consolation for not being to see the Dali and Van Gogh exhibition

An airport full of engineers and miners headed to work at 5.30a.m. in the morning.

Melbourne:

Didn't see much of Melbourne, but what's more Melbournian than AFL and Crown? 

Other than the pics above, I only have food pics of what I ate. But I might save them for restaurant reviews later. By the way. It has been a tough month the past two weeks especially. I feel like my passion has been turned into something really negative and through other people's inability to cope and adjust, I have had to suffer the consequences and the backlash and mortification. These two quotes I looked at everyday on my phone until it all subsided and the stress went away with time.

What I have learnt is:

Shit happens and its not your fault

To hell with hierarchy at work, those who play the games best prevails.

Now looking forward to travelling not for work.

May Empties

1 spray fresh 24hr action baby powder deodorant - purchased in a hurry on the way to the gym one time when I forgot to pack one. This scent really is a baby powder scent and it is pleasant enough, but I don't even remember where I bought it from, so I am not sure if I will zoom to purchase it again.

2 Olay Total effects 7-in-1 anti aging cream for Blemish prone/oily skin - I do find Olay products bang for buck. A good price, does the job. I don't really need blemish prone and must have bought this cause it was either the only one on the shelf, or it was purchased pre-menstrual during one of my usual breakout fests.

3 Precision Chanel Ultra Correction Line Repair Anti-wrinkle eye cream - I squeezed every last drop out of this 3 ml sample and the texture is divine and so soothing for the tired eye. I tend to use this on the nights that I needed a little more pampering after a tough day in front of the computer and I found it worked quite well, absorbs quickly and is virtually scentless.

4 Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup with 10 SPF in shade 032 - I must never ever buy foundation when I am travelling in summer. This is the second failed product I have ever bought on impulse (Century 21 in New York 2010) where I got caught up by the bright lights and the garishly charming makeup counter lady who told me this was the closest shade to my skin colour. It wasn't and I didn't like the matte texture all that much. It caked on my skin and was best worn with BB cream to even out the whiteness and to make it more 'spreadable'. And the pump always gets stuck, very messy situations for rushed morning applications. I don't know why Dior keeps discontinuing the lines I do like. This one I don't.

5 Neutrogena Oil-free Daily scrub for acne prone skin - Again, I must have picked it more because I was going through an irregular break out sesh. I have generally good skin with a few enlarged pores in my T-Zone that normally does get infected when I am stressed and the hormones are raging. This scrub irritated at first because of the mild salicylic acid content, but I don't mind the scrub as it is a good, hardworking one. Perhaps do avoid if you have sensitive skin as I tend to be more punishing with my scrub preferences.

6 Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater & Glycerine Body Lotion - I had forgotten how good Rose lotions smell. I am talking the luxurious scents of Jurlique. Old fashioned but associated with so many pleasant memories for me. I could keep using this, but I have several other lotions to get through first, so will park this one for the moment.

7 Sensodyne proven relief for sensitive teeth Freshmint with fluoride toothpaste - Mr.HEA's dentist loads him up with these toothpaste tubes everytime he visits and that's why when we travel, he's usually the one that packs toothpaste (He just keeps these tubes in his travel pouch permanently). I borrowed some for my massive work travel spree this entire month and this finished up whilst on the road.

8 Nak Aroma Hair Oil - Giving off a soft baby powder scent, this Hair Oil tames wild frizz, good for hair succumbed to 24 hr air-cond in hotel stays. It is waxy and gel like from the bottle but absorbs surprisingly quick into hair leaving nice soft ends.

9 Revlon Colorburst Lip butter in Pink Truffle 001 - I think this is my colour and I love the moisture in the lipstick, although it annoyingly melts like butter when temperatures rise and I no longer can carry it in my bag beyond that point as I'd have to apply with a lip brush (not so convenient for quick reapplications on the go).

10 SK-II Facial treatment clear lotion - much like Mr.HEA's dentist gives him toothpaste samples, SKII sales assistants in Malaysia give me toner samples. I had three bottles of this to tide me through the days before I buy a proper bottle, but they're also perfect travel companions.

11 SK-II facial treatment cleansing gel - One of my favourite makeup removers of all time, it is effective, gentle, luxurious and can sometimes be the highlight of my day when I am dying for a fresh face-feel. Anyways, I have drawn out the remnants of this sample as I have had other makeup removers to rely on and I haven't been brave enough to part with this. I think I'll buy a fresh tub when I transit in KL on my Europe trip next week.

That's the equivalent of 7 products finished this month (3 samples equate to one product)! So I have finished 30.33 products so far! At GBP60 I think I should be able to purchase quite a delightful spend. Should it be one luxury beauty item or massive drugstore haul ladies?