CAKE FACE

I caught a taxi the other night and struck up a conversation with the lovely man driving the cab. We spoke for the 20 minutes it took to get me home. He spoke fondly of his wife and family, I spoke of my night and my plans for the weekend. Very casual, idle chit chat, but it was nice to connect with a complete stranger who you knew was a kind, generous soul. As I was hopping out of the taxi he said 'are you from here, Sydney I mean?'. I told him that I wasn't and he said 'I can tell, please don't let this place change you.' I walked the rest of the way home with his statement going round and round in my head.

I have always been one of those people who says good morning to every random stranger that walks past or is happy to strike up a conversation with anyone. Always happy to offer a helping hand or to meet new people. I found the taxi drivers comment distressing because it meant that to him, I was a minority. To him most people were the opposite, cold, distant and not eager to go out of their way to be kind. 

I felt so disheartened by this. Happy that he thought well of me, but disheartened that there were so many individuals out there who were the opposite. I was sad in human kind for the way we have become. That a simple small thing for someone is now viewed as a hassle; to be kind to a stranger is now few and far between. 

So when I went to coffee the other day I was so surprised when the waiter gave me free cake. The man had no hidden agenda it was just a beautiful sunday morning and he felt like being selfless and providing myself and my friend with cake. Immediately my spirits soared and my faith was once again restored in human kind. I know what you are probably thinking 'is this chick on crack, he gave her some cake' but it is about more than the cake. It is about doing a nice gesture that you as an individual gain nothing from. It is about being kind without receiving any benefits from your kindness. Instead of doing something out of selfishness this was an act purely out of compassion. 

To the man at the coffee shop you will never know just what that piece of cake meant. Other than it being absolutely delicious (summer bod you can wait) it showed me that there are still people out there willing to do things for others without benefit for themselves. Thanks Mr cake man.

XOXO

Sydney Tea Festival

Tea enthusiasts, if you missed the annual Sydney Tea festival on the weekend then boy did you miss out. I was in tea heaven. As I walked through the door I smelt cinnamon and nutmeg, fruity aromatics and baked goods. I knew from that moment forward it was going to be a good day. 

Three of my friends and I strolled through Carriageworks taste testing tea to our hearts content. Some were aromatic, delicious and moreish, others were less to be desired. Each various tea adding a story an experience to that of tea tasting. The tea stalls were a mix of various teas from green, peppermint to hibiscus, served by sexy men with beards and man buns. Scattered throughout the stalls were tempting sweet and savoury treats. I consumed salted caramel macaroons, vegan cherry ripe granola, lemon semolina bars and chocolate ganache. Any idealisations of a summer bod were out the window with zero thoughts of regret and it felt good. 

For those of you who aren't lovers of tea hopefully you got dragged along to the festival to just share in the atmosphere. I am not sure my friend was impressed when we rocked up. She saw the sign stating 'Sydney Tea Festival' and goes 'f*ck right when all I wanted was a coffee.' Bless her cotton socks. So after hours of tea tasting we took her for coffee at the end and stuffed our faces with dumplings. Oh what a glorious day 

XOXO

 This my friends is a face of pure content :D 

Jenny From The Block

Oh my, oh my, oh my!! My FAVOURITE meal of the day would have to be breakfast. I could eat breakfast for every meal, so when someone asks 'do you want to go for breakfast', oh boy, I am there! 

By the way that delicious bowl of organic goodness placed in front of me is a spiced tapioca pudding with coconut, mango and pineapple. Get in my belly!!

When I got dressed for my breakfast date I had the song Jenny from the block stuck in my head. So i tossed my usual gypsy get up out the window and I decided to embrace my inner hood girl. Bring on the high socks, big hoops and beanie. 

Im still, Im still Marlow from the block… Jokes that was so lame ha.