a merry little christmas dinner

 

Even though we were sick in bed on December 25, we didn't want to miss the opportunity to celebrate the most important birthday of the year (or of the history of the world, really!). So we loosely adopted the Ethiopian calendar, which celebrates Christmas in early January and hosted a cosy Christmas dinner with friends on January 5.

Our favourite memories from the night are probably the hilarious series of mishaps that almost made us cancel. First, some key ingredients for our Christmas menu were impossible to find at various shops, despite being on the shelves just a day earlier. And then our oven, which exploded a few months ago and was finally fixed the day before, actually turned out to still be broken. We only discovered it when I went to put a tray of brownies in, about an hour before we'd need it again to start the roast pork.

Long story short we got access to our neighbour's apartment and used their oven. Which also wasn't working perfectly, but managed to do the job. But not before we almost lost our pork roast and a tray of veggies when Will slipped on a huge unseen puddle of water and ended up flat on his back and dripping wet. Thanks to his super quick ninja skills the tray of food miraculously ended up on the counter and not all over the kitchen floor!

 

We decorated in red and gold and I diy'd some glittery safari animals - you can see more on my blog. The warm brie with honeyed raspberries and pistachios was a big hit and these paleo brownies (with santa hats) were rich and delicious. 

We had such a nice night - isn't good food and great company all you really need? It was a very merry belated Christmas indeed.

And this was what we woke to on 'Boxing Day'.

life in the big city

When friends have asked what life is like in Nairobi, I almost feel strange trying to explain to them just how comfortably we can live here. I'm sure images of mud huts, dirty water and bad roads are flashing through their minds, and while they are certainly part of the picture in Kenya, there's a whole other side to Nairobi / Kenya / Africa that perhaps we aren't so aware of in the West.

Nairobi is a big city. There are skyscrapers (best viewed from here). There are big shopping centres. There are restaurants from almost every corner of the earth. In rush hour, the streets are teeming with smartly dressed Kenyans, off to their office, to do the shopping, or to get to university. It's not so different from home.

There are small businesses on every second corner, selling electric goods, furniture, video and editing services, groceries, vehicles and so on. In the matatus, I've sat next people with vocations as diverse as a university lecturer, an IT officer, an NGO's driver, a school teacher, a young mum, and a lumberjack (with his chainsaw sitting awkwardly across his lap).



There's a growing middle class in Kenya and Nairobi caters well for them. Within 15-20 minutes of our apartment, you can find not one, but two, cinemas, hospitals, dentists and chemists, a golf course, a casino, an Irish pub, a horse racing track, a war memorial, a great green grocer, a fish market, a wine bar (which we just had to check out, see above) and a microbrewery bar with salsa dancing every week.

We've already tried out the local Ethiopian, Italian, joint Japanese/Lebanese, Chinese, American, Mediterranean, Brazillian, Swiss and Kenyan restaurants, and we certainly can't complain about the food. I'd even go as far to say that sometimes, we're eating much better than at home.

Nairobi feels surprisingly like our hometown, albeit a little more mud and far fewer blondes. Even the trees feel 'homely' at the moment - there are jacarandas in bloom throughout the city and I can't help but think of all the uni students studying for their final exams.

So when you're thinking of poor W + L in 'deepest darkest Africa', please imagine us eating delicious fresh sushi, heading out to see the latest Bond flick, or catching up with friends for a drink at the bar, because that might be just what we're up to!

bento box date

Featuring two Australians, eating bento at a Japanese / Lebanese restaurant, in the capital city of Kenya. We are so global right now.

We didn't realise just how big the bento box really is, we'll be sharing next time!

april snapshots

Little bits and pieces from the month that's almost gone...

 

We spent a day in costume filming silly videos for our work. There is something hilarious about seeing a 6'5 Sudanese man in a Flintstones outfit and mullet wig, I only wish we'd got a photo.

We also left home at 7am on Sunday for a rehearsal before morning church. A feat worth photographing given we get up no earlier than 8am on weekdays.

   

Aneela and Jeremy got married and their wedding was just delightful. We have a new sister and she's gorgeous and we will be talking about that delicious beef for many many years (more photos to come later!).

   

Family time. Uncle Will in his element. Thank you Paul and Lauren for making such sweet little people.

   

Our new, less-expensive habit is to bring in a homemade lunch and then get coffees together after. Working on the same street is a gem. And getting stuck in dreadful traffic is made so much sweeter when we're getting stuck in dreadful traffic together.

   

A perfect piece of art for Smurf Haus that is begging us to buy it. 

   

Hello French cooking in the slow cooker. Hello leftovers for lunch.

 

Copious study notes and nervous phone conversations. Fingers crossed.


 

 And five months in and (some of) our wedding herbs are still alive. We're way too proud. And a Saturday brunch with these beauties always makes me smile.

Mid-week movie.

The only thing funnier than watching a movie about 'older' folk, is watching it in a cinema full of 'older' folk. These people know how to laugh! We popped in to 1889 Pizzeria for dinner and saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and we spent the whole time smiling our faces off.

lunchtime in west end

you + me + icecream = happy days

 

oh hello february...

... when did you arrive? We're now in our third month of marriage - 2012 is flying!

Here are some little memories I'm shall we'll treasure down the track.

coffee, hot chocolates and dreaming about adventures..

 

our puppy, lucy, who now lives on our lounge room wall..

 

exploring the neighbourhood where Will grew up. stealing starfruit like he did as a kid..

 

cleaning, clearing, mowing and sorting..


 

new lunchboxes, packed lunches, and unusual additions in our salad..

 

the only takeaway indian worth eating (masala art) and grape fanta. so purple it'll probably kill me..

 

February, we like you.

West End Coffee House

Our epic quest to eat our way around West End was progressing very nicely until we tried this place, West End Coffee House. They serve food (Thai Isaan) and coffee (Campos) so good we don't dare go anywhere else anymore. If you're ever in the 'hood, let us know and we'll most definitely take you there.












Will was dreaming about sticky rice all evening, and I was up all night after my yearly coffee.

If you're new to Isaan cuisine, we recommend the thai beef salad or the larb. If you want to try something a little new, go the som tam. Seriously.