What a day! We did the City2Surf 2026 together: hubby by my side, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend the morning. ❤️
For anyone who hasn’t done it, City2Surf is Sydney’s iconic 14 km fun run/walk from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach, bringing people from all walks of life together for one big day of movement, community and fun.
And we did it in 2 hours and 4 minutes! 🙌🏃♀️🏃♂️ I’m pretty happy with that, it felt like a really good run, especially with the hills and the distance. 💪😊
Around 90,000 people came together this year, and being part of that crowd was honestly so inspiring. From little kids running alongside their families, to older people showing that age is no barrier, and people in wheelchairs taking on the challenge — everyone had their own reason for being there, but the determination and energy were incredible. ❤️
I was especially grateful to have my hubby by my side. We ran, walked, talked, laughed, encouraged each other and enjoyed every bit of it. These are the moments and memories that make it all worthwhile. ❤️
And one thing I was VERY thankful for… no rain! 😂🌧️ After last year, when we got absolutely soaked, I was more than happy to see a dry morning this time!
Tired legs, happy hearts and a little sense of achievement. 💙
14 km done in 2:04 — City2Surf 2026, we did it! 🏃♀️🏃♂️🎉
The secret is finally out… we’ve escaped Sydney’s winter and are soaking up the tropical sunshine in beautiful Cairns!
We’re staying in the stunning Palm Cove, and it’s everything we hoped it would be and more. From the moment we arrived, we knew we’d made the right choice. Palm-lined beaches, warm ocean breezes, crystal-clear water and the relaxed tropical atmosphere make it the perfect place to unwind.
There’s something so calming about starting the day with a walk along the beach, listening to the waves and feeling the warmth of the sun on your face instead of Sydney’s chilly winter mornings. The beach here is absolutely beautiful – peaceful, spacious and perfect for slowing down and appreciating the simple things in life.
This holiday isn’t about rushing from one attraction to another or sticking to a packed itinerary. It’s about spending quality time together as a family, making memories and enjoying every moment. Sometimes the best holidays are the ones where you simply slow down, switch off and enjoy each other’s company.
Of course, we have plenty of adventures planned! We’re looking forward to exploring the incredible Great Barrier Reef, taking the scenic journey to Kuranda, wandering through the rainforest, visiting local markets and enjoying the famous Skyrail and heritage railway. We’re also excited to spend a day discovering the charm of Port Douglas, with its relaxed coastal vibe, beautiful beaches and amazing food.
For the kids, every day is a new adventure. Whether it’s spotting colourful fish, building sandcastles, swimming in the resort pool or discovering new places, seeing the excitement through their eyes makes every moment even more special.
One of the biggest highlights is travelling with my parents. Watching three generations laugh, explore and create memories together is something I truly treasure. These are the moments that remind me how fortunate we are to spend this precious time together.
Sometimes life gets so busy that we forget to pause. Holidays like this remind us that happiness isn’t found in being busy—it’s found in sharing meals together, watching sunsets, taking long walks, enjoying good conversations and simply being present with the people we love.
Cairns has already captured our hearts with its tropical beauty, warm weather and relaxed lifestyle. Whether we’re exploring, relaxing by the beach or just enjoying a quiet afternoon together, every day feels like a little slice of paradise.
Here’s to sunshine, family, adventure and making memories that will last a lifetime. We’re looking forward to every moment this beautiful tropical escape has to offer.
There is something magical about the winter school holidays. Every year, as the temperatures in Sydney begin to drop and the chilly mornings become harder to face, I find myself counting down the days until we can pack our bags and head somewhere warm.
For me, these holidays are about so much more than a change of scenery. They’re about pressing pause on our busy routines, stepping away from work, school and everyday responsibilities, and spending uninterrupted time with the people who matter most.
Can you guess where we’ve escaped to this winter? Here’s a hint: blue skies, warm sunshine, tropical breezes, crystal-clear water and the kind of weather that makes you forget it’s winter back home.
There’s something incredibly refreshing about swapping jackets and scarves for shorts, sandals and swimsuits. Waking up to sunshine instead of grey skies instantly lifts your mood, and watching the kids run around with endless energy reminds me how precious these moments really are.
The school holidays are always something I look forward to. Life moves so quickly, and between work commitments, school schedules, sports and everything else, quality family time can sometimes be hard to find. These holidays give us the chance to slow down, laugh together, explore new places and create memories that will stay with us for years to come.
One of the greatest blessings is being able to share these experiences across three generations. Travelling with my parents while watching them enjoy precious moments with their grandchildren is something I never take for granted. Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces, hearing the laughter and simply being together reminds me that these are the moments that truly matter.
Watching the kids discover new places, splash in the warm ocean, collect seashells, chase fish in the clear water and enjoy every little adventure fills my heart with joy. Their excitement is contagious, and it reminds me to appreciate life’s simple pleasures.
Travelling isn’t just about the destination; it’s about reconnecting with each other. It’s about slowing down enough to enjoy breakfast together, watching sunsets, sharing stories over dinner, taking long walks and making memories that no photograph can fully capture.
I’m incredibly grateful that we’re able to take this time away as a family. These holidays remind me that the best investment we can make isn’t in things—it’s in experiences, shared laughter and quality time with the people we love.
As we soak up the sunshine, I know these moments will become cherished memories long after we’ve returned home to Sydney’s winter. The tan will fade, the suitcases will be unpacked and life will return to normal, but the memories we’ve created together will stay with us forever.
Here’s to sunshine, family adventures, grateful hearts and making the most of every school holiday. Sometimes the best thing you can do is escape the cold, embrace the warmth and simply enjoy being together.
Until next time, we’ll be making the most of every sunny day while Sydney waits for us with its winter chill. ☀️❤️
One of the highlights of our anniversary staycation was our dinner at Altitude at Shangri-La Sydney — and it ended up becoming one of those evenings that reminded me that sometimes the most memorable experiences aren’t about perfection, they’re about the moments you create together.
Since we were celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary, we wanted the evening to feel special. One of the nicest parts of staying at the hotel was not having to go anywhere. We got dressed up, took our time and simply caught the lift straight up to the 36th floor for dinner. It already felt romantic before we even arrived.
When we booked, we had hoped for a window seat because who wouldn’t want those iconic Sydney views for an anniversary dinner? Unfortunately, it wasn’t available on the night. I’ll admit I was slightly disappointed at first because I had imagined us sitting right by the glass overlooking the harbour. But once we settled in, it honestly didn’t matter. The atmosphere was still beautiful and the evening quickly became about something much more important — celebrating us.
We decided to enjoy the three-course menu and paired it with some beautiful mocktails, which made the evening feel extra special. They were refreshing, beautifully presented and felt like the perfect way to celebrate — something fun and elegant to toast to 15 years together 🥂
For our entrée, we decided to share two dishes so we could experience more of the menu.
The first was the Shangri-La Honey Glazed Pepe’s Duck Breast, served with confit duck leg pithivier, muntries, Davidson plum and anise myrtle jus. The duck was beautifully cooked — tender, rich and full of flavour, with just the right touch of sweetness from the glaze. It felt elegant but comforting at the same time.
Our second entrée was the Yamba Prawn, served tempura style with curry apple syrup, lime mayonnaise, sesame and pickled apple. This was such a nice contrast to the duck — crispy, light and packed with flavour. The combination of sweetness, crunch and freshness worked so well together.
For mains, we continued sharing because we wanted to experience more of the menu.
We chose the Hampshire Downs Lamb Saddle, served with sheep yoghurt, black garlic, parsnip, mustard and caper leaves. The lamb was beautifully cooked and full of flavour — rich but balanced and perfect for a special occasion.
Alongside that, we had the Aquna Murray Cod, served with roasted miso, fermented daikon, burnt eggplant and kombu butter sauce. This ended up being one of our favourites of the night. The fish was delicate and buttery while the sauce added warmth and depth without overpowering it.
And because no celebration is complete without dessert, we shared both desserts too.
The Winter Citrus Mousse with yuzu mandarin mousse, chamomile meringue and blood orange sorbet was light, fresh and such a refreshing finish after the mains.
Then we had the Poached Bosc Pear served with dark chocolate genoise, candied hazelnut gelato and pear tuile — and this one felt indulgent and comforting, the perfect balance to finish the evening.
One detail that made the night feel even more special was a really thoughtful surprise from the team. At the end of dinner, they brought out a beautiful plate with macarons and “Happy Anniversary” written on it. It was such a simple gesture but honestly meant so much. After 15 years together, having that moment acknowledged felt really special and thoughtful. Those little touches are often the things you remember most ❤️
A special mention to Amy, our server for the evening, who shared that she is currently studying hospitality while working at Altitude. She was warm, attentive and genuinely lovely throughout the night. She looked after us so well and made the whole experience feel relaxed and personal. Thank you Amy for helping make our anniversary dinner even more memorable ❤️
And then came the unexpected highlight of the evening…
We were lucky enough to witness the drone show from above. Watching the lights move across the Sydney skyline while sitting together during dinner felt magical. It became one of those moments we never planned but will probably remember forever.
Looking back, not getting the window seat really didn’t matter. We still had incredible food, beautiful mocktails, wonderful service and uninterrupted time together.
After years of busy family life and putting everyone else first, it felt so special to celebrate us again.
Fifteen years later and I still feel incredibly lucky that I get to do life with my favourite person ❤️🥂
Here’s to 15 years together and many more beautiful memories ahead.
On 14 June, our little Chhora turned 7… and honestly, I still can’t believe I’m writing that.
How did seven years go by so quickly? It feels like yesterday I was holding this tiny little baby in my arms, and now here he is — growing into this kind, funny, thoughtful and incredibly mature little person. Time really does move too fast.
This year felt extra special because for the first time, he was so excited to celebrate with his school friends. Now that he’s in Year 1, he had been talking about his birthday party for weeks and had a very clear vision of what he wanted. Seeing him plan who to invite and get excited about celebrating with his friends made me realise how quickly he’s growing up.
So this year, we went big and invited 30+ kids to celebrate at an indoor play centre — and wow… what a day!
The moment we arrived and he saw everything set up, his face absolutely lit up. His party room was decorated with a superhero theme, and he was beyond excited. Watching him proudly welcome his friends and show everyone around made my heart so full.
The kids had the BEST time. They were running around non-stop between the giant slides, soft play area, laser tag, giant cupcake ride and dancing on the dance floor. There was so much energy, laughter and excitement everywhere you looked.
There’s something so magical about watching kids completely lose themselves in fun — making friends, cheering each other on and creating memories they’ll probably talk about at school for weeks.
And of course… there was plenty of food because no kids’ party is complete without it!
The kids enjoyed all their favourites — nuggets, chips, pizza, fruit and popcorn — and there was definitely no shortage of excitement and sugar 😂
For the adults, we were well looked after too with catered gozleme, pizza, chicken wings, salad and chips, which honestly helped keep all the parents going through the party chaos.
It was a long day. We were exhausted by the end of it. There was organising, hosting, making sure everyone was fed, keeping track of kids and all the little things mums and dads do behind the scenes that no one sees.
But then I looked over and saw him.
Running around with the biggest smile on his face. Laughing with his friends. Dancing. Playing. Just being seven.
And suddenly none of the tiredness mattered.
One thing I’ve realised as a mum is that birthdays become emotional in ways you never expect. You spend weeks planning the perfect day and then suddenly you find yourself standing in the corner watching your child grow up in front of you.
This little boy continues to surprise me every day. He is so mature for his age, thoughtful, caring and independent, but still gives the best cuddles and reminds me that he’s still my baby too.
Happy 7th Birthday to our beautiful Chhora ❤️
Thank you for making us laugh, keeping us on our toes and filling our lives with so much love and joy. Watching you grow is the greatest privilege and I hope you always stay kind, curious, confident and full of life.
nepaliaustralian 