I was determined that this year’s visit to the market would yield a meal from Jackie M’s stall. The doyenne of Malaysian food in Sydney, I’ve been meaning to eat at her restaurant for ages but haven’t quite made it yet. I lucked out and the lady herself was actually at the wok, cooking my noodles.

As paper lanterns bobbed in the breeze above us, we took a seat and kicked back with our food and drink. The scent of food from all over South East Asia wafted around us, woks could be heard tossing and orders shouted out. It never ceases to amaze me how easily you can be transported to other parts of the world in Sydney.

 

 

I ordered a roti cenai to share with the group as well as some char kway teow. The roti managed to stay hot and flaky despite the transit time between picking up my order and finding a place to sit. The dhal curry that accompanied it was the real deal with an authentic Malaysian curry flavour.

 

This year, the market was held in conjunction with a couple of photography exhibitions which were part of Art and About Sydney. A gentle walk through the the park gardens where the photographs were displayed was the perfect thing to do after a big dinner.

 

 

Sydney is a city that’s all about light and colour. Even at night. I took the photo above at one of the fountains at Hyde Park.

 

My days at the moment have a lovely rewind and repeat quality to them. The mornings begin with a burst of sun across brilliant blue skies and I run beneath it all on streets lined with some beautiful old buildings that hint at the history of this part of Sydney. Then I potter and do what I have to do for the day before my regular date with the pool which has become my home away from my away from home. It’s a change in routine that’s doing my spirits (and politically incorrect ‘natural’ tan) wonders.

I’m not completely divorced from reality, though. Remember my promise to do more home cooking and brown bag my work lunches? I made a start today with that old standard of mine – Japanese curry. In the slow cooker because it’s too hot to be cooking over the stove. The heat is also the excuse for the microwave sachets of jasmine rice.

 

Oh, those Sun Kissed shorts? They’re mine. It all started with those Sportsgirl running shorts. Which, incidentally, are travelling very well. Once you’ve bought yourself running shorts, short shorts as casual day wear don’t seem so ridiculous after all. Especially in a Gap change room. I always feel so preppy, footloose and fancy free inside them. I’m seeing them with a blazer if the weather cools down again or else a t shirt and a Red Phoenix necklace if it doesn’t.