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The Urban Mum The Travel Guide

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25.01.2022 Now, more than ever, I want to be surrounded by beauty & images that transport us far, far away from reality as it sits. At night I slip into slumber with purpose - beginning the countdown to sleep with a particular ‘theatre in mind’. Generally it’s a travel rewind - a solo version of slide show nights of old. The click of the projector replaced by my deepening breath - it works a treat...usually I’ve barely ‘checked into the hotel’ before I’m off sweetly to the land of nod. ...Similarly I’m surrounding myself with ‘bright & beautiful’ at home, a joyous riot of texture and colour. A talented friend just opened his first solo show @martinbrownecontemporary in Paddington. A celebration of botanicals that feel transcendent- a thing of such beauty, a place we all need to be suspended right now. This artwork is coming home with me, it’s humongous in scale (I’m not entirely kidding when I say a ceiling might need to move...), take a look @mindfoodmike - guaranteed to transport you somewhere beautiful. Hugs x #beautifulartwork #botanicalart #artistontherise See more

24.01.2022 From the last day of pre-school to the last day of high school - time has evaporated, just as my MIL said it would. This Friday marks the last official full day of school for the eldest, that it coincides with the eve of our ‘New Year’ is serendipitous. As new beginnings are celebrated around my dining table with three generations, I’ll barely have time to process the enormity of the gaping hole that is about to present itself. One nearly flying the coop, & the youngest nippi...ng at his heels. My darling eldest has not always found school to be his happy place, round peg - square hole & all that. His innate sense of spatial brilliance, practical cleverness, resilience and a shining ability to engage does not always translate onto the pages of a two paper English exam. In spite of this he will graduate well, & with early entry to Uni...taking the pressure slightly off the looming HSC & helping to mitigate a sense of self that might otherwise be reduced to a number on a certificate at the end of 13 years in a classroom. We will never know if we did the best thing for him, by pushing him through a ‘conservative system’ - I hope we didn’t quash his curiosity & stifle his love of learning. My gut feeling is my darling Benny will go forth & soar, playing no small part is the ‘team’ of dedicated educators in his camp - a privilege we could afford. I’m ever mindful so many equally clever & delightful individuals slip through the cracks. It’s not really good enough is it - as I ponder my ‘second act’ this weighs heavily, every child deserves a start that sets them up for a lifetime of contentment & contribution. We continue to diagnose, label, pussyfoot & debate - however I’m not certain we’ve made more than small steps since our family began our ‘journey’ - certainly not the strides that might have propelled our education system toward world class. Enough for now on that...instead a hug & moment to pause for all our Year 12 2020 leavers, the carers that have helped them over the line, & the wonderful teachers who do so much with never enough resources & certainly not the reverence & reward they deserve. X #educatingthenextgeneration #endofschool #newbegininngs See more

24.01.2022 Good Morning! I hope you are off to a fabulous start in your corner of the world...I woke to a glorious stream of sunlight through the curtains (a wonderful thing if you’ve managed a good sleep, which isn’t always a given...I’ll talk more about that on another day). The sunny beginning put a spring in my step, & a morning walk of glorious colour ensued (Insta stories if you are interested). On that note I thought it was time for another @iris.apfel image - & joy of joys I’ve also discovered there is now an ‘Iris’ colouring book available (part of her collaboration with a textiles/art Uni in the US). For the life of me, puzzles & games of Solitaire et al have never been my thing - however this book might just be the ticket. I’ll let you know how I go. Wishing you the best sort of colourful day. Hugs x #colourfull #irisapfel #bringsjoy

22.01.2022 Last night I indulged in a ‘rabbit hole of images’. My design tastes are vast (schizophrenic) & run the gamut from minimalist (Japan) to maximalist (India), & historic European in-between. If pressed to choose my busy mind revels in the starker Bauhaus/Brutalism/Metabolism style - & as I have been helping the eldest study for his HSC Art History (Kandinsky one of his chosen artists...) these architectural movements have been on my mind. Lo, I stumbled upon a copy of @elledeco...rationuk & the stunning (...Bauhaus lines) Sth African home of @laureenrossouw - my current morning walk takes me past ‘South Coogee Castle’ (apparently available to rent). Middle sister @chalet345lesgets took us on a ‘ski safari’ when last we stayed, our route meandering through the startling, purpose built village of #avoriaz. Another home in Bali caught my eye - quite a standout amidst the usual tropical style (which I also love). The distinctive capsule building in Tokyo my first intro to Metabolism. Sadly I have an innate ‘attention to detail deficit’ & thus any fantasy of a career in Architecture I might have harboured would never have materialised. Therefore (like all good Jewish mothers) I am holding out hope that one of my offspring will take the route I have planned for him (hello Youngest). Just joking, just joking. Although now I’ve put it in writing he will be sure to take the well trodden teenage path of the opposite direction! Do you have a firm design favourite, & are you a pain in the arse mother too? Big hugs x #architecturelovers #simplicityisbeauty See more

22.01.2022 Pink & Green should always be seen! With less than a week until HSC (Senior school year exams for o’seas friends...) I’m trying to keep things bright around here. On high rotation for The Eldest; healthy meals, enough sleep & exercise, soothing cups of tea, keeping younger brother’s penchant for loud Rock music on shhhhhh - lots of routine not much fun. However, this too shall pass in a blink...so taking it in our stride. Have a super week, keep me distracted, what is on your calendar? Hugs x #onlyexams #notthendoftheworld #longhaul

21.01.2022 Lbe my daily gym/yoga class @flowathletic (I mention this because I want to remind you to pop over to @activeyogi for Kate’s incredible ‘free’ insta classes if you can’t make it into their location, an absolute tonic, esp during these ‘less than ideal’ times. Kate also has a great book with loads of sage, zen observations). As a side note; I’ve decided I’m past my ‘used by date’ for strolling the street in active wear with my butt on show. In my opinion - regardless of age -... it never really looks particularly fab more than a few streets from the gym - a debate that’s certain to raise someone’s ire, but there it is. Solution; a cotton Kantha coat to zhoosh up style stakes post workout (I also always take one with me on the plane - for you know... when we travel again ). @cashpalaceemporium has long been my go to for wonderful traditional textiles - Elaine has a stall in Potts Point on Saturday’s, her current new shipment is Suzani’s (on my stories). She also supplies the treasure trove @styletraderstore who currently have glorious coats on SALE (a $100/$200 rack, thank you very much). Generously I left the orange version of my coat for you... They are ‘voluminous’ so I have the shoulders & sleeves taken in. Sydney friends take an outing, pop in and say hi to Julie from me. Hugs to you & hello to Spring x #traditionaltextiles #suzani #kanthastitch #vintage #sydney See more

21.01.2022 It’s been a gradual shift, a work in progress, one I’ve still not entirely nailed - yet daily I gain ground. My aim? To remove myself from conspicuous consumption, or rather - to buy just what we need, making sure quality trumps quantity. This is as it should be. Don’t get me wrong, I love discovering new - I simply want to make sure items last, besides this is how our parents lived isn’t it? To that note I’ve been pondering the fate of knitwear my family created back in ‘5...0’s-‘70’s NZ. Many years later the scent of wool still transports me to the factory floor. The clack of knitting machines, huge paper patterns meticulously laid out, the yarn spools a kaleidoscope of colour (always lots of clean primary hues). Every childhood photo I’m wearing some form of knitwear. For a year or so I’ve been searching the web for any sign of these garments. Queue yesterday & thrillingly I found (& bought) one. Dad incredibly chuffed when I told him last night; the style was part of his 1977 range, made exclusively for the USA market. From the pictures it’s pristine and has definitely stood the test of time. Testament to great design and quality craftsmanship - now it’s ‘coming home’. A happy story on a glorious Sydney spring day. Enjoy! X #likeme #olderandbetter #fromthepast #buywellbuyless See more

18.01.2022 Well this is sad...RIP Kenzo Takada - we will miss your visionary, bright & glorious view of the world. xoxo lovely @sophie.griotto_illustration #kenzo #yourartwillliveon #greatdesign #lastsforever

14.01.2022 Happy Friday! What a week it’s been; endings, beginnings, and a DREAM opportunity appearing for my ‘Second Act’ - at a time when the very real situation of an empty nest looms (all will be revealed soonest I promise). Amid this flurry - the closing & opening of doors - I’ve needed to confront my mindset. I know many of you will relate - years of too little time, kids, commitments, a busy partner, work squeezed in somewhere - necessity making for a fairly structured existence.... For my adult life I’ve erred on the side of ‘make your bed...’ it’s served me well - until now. Although if I’m honest, it’s also been a spot to hide - comfort & routine can breed a loss of your ‘edge’ & thus confidence. To continue doing things simply because ‘that’s the way its been’ is ageing - now I’m feeling revitalised, ready for a new chapter and a new approach. There is also a long buried part of me that thinks ‘just leave the bloody bed unmade’. As a youngster I was a chaotic ‘shit storm’ - truly there is no more elegant way to state this. I literally read all day, pausing only to throw another apple core under my bed, I housed sweet little field mice secreted in shoe boxes in my wardrobe, a dolls house (remember the glory of these) was in a constant state of redecoration with wallpaper offcuts & fabric samples leaving a trail, pottery creations lay drying on the window sill, & Lego structures covered any remaining space. I don’t long for a return to that scenario (I’m also quite certain The Husband will be glad to hear this), yet a small step back into ‘me’ will be a gift to myself. Beginning today; a morning spent in an unmade bed while I create some space in my head, everyone else will be just fine without me for a moment (or they will learn to be)...a fresh start, how very exciting. Any changes on your horizon? Hugs x ps if you live in Sydney pop into @mujiaus for the most fab Japanese mens, 100% cotton PJs, size up #changeisgood #dreamscometrue #learningtoletgo See more

14.01.2022 A day in #Manly truly is just like a holiday! If you are in need of an outing do pop in & say hi to ‘youngest sister’ Brigitte...of course I forgot to take a photo of us so you’ll recognise her (nabbed a photo of her from insta @manlyjewellers ). I dropped off stunning textiles + Brigitte has some lovely estate jewellery, is brilliant at redesigning old jewellery (spring clean & redo), & does every manner of watch/jewellery repairs. Say hi from me! Hugs x #sisters #vintagekimono #furoshikibag #shiboriscarf #estatejewelry

12.01.2022 Here is a little fun...my friends Visit Japan have a competition (Facebook), share your fav Japan food experience (bucket list if you’re yet to visit). I spent a glorious hr flipping through photos from annual visits (6 years, lots of memories). Naming a fav foodie tale is akin to choosing a particular child - doable, yet dependant on the day/weather/circumstances. Unlike offspring; Japanese people are forever welcoming, focused on producing brilliance, mindful & quite simply... ARE the experience. Food in Japan is excellent whether you are dining in a myriad of Michelin Star establishments, or partaking in a Convenience Store feast in your hotel room. Therefore in no particular order, a selection; 1. Taking ‘tea’ The Peninsula Tokyo / with the General Manager, an Aussie whose tips were gold & set me up for many future Tokyo visits. 2. ‘Wanko Soba’ noodle eating contest in #morioka - it was ridiculous & funny. Kids would love it. 3. Interviewing an author of a Foodie book, she chose a #kissaten (Japan meets ‘old Euro’ coffee house) to share her knowledge - as wonderful as the lace curtains, tea cakes & yes coffee. Seek one out. 4. A modern ‘tea ceremony’ in posh #Omotesando @sakurai_tea - go alone, it’s meditative. 5. Hot coffee (or sweet milky tea), in a can, on a freezing winters day - don’t knock it. 6. One word, Artisan. Japan is teeming with artisans - mastering their skill for generations, proudly. A sweet red bean #mochi a taste & texture initially tricky for a Western palette. Now I crave them. 7. #samuraijoeokada ‘the’ Kyoto Tour Guide (I cannot keep up with him & he recently celebrated his 90th). Dining in temple grounds, simple bowls of steaming broth & hand rolled noodles, fading light, gentle snow falling - transformative. 8. Drinks & bar menu high above the city, experimental jazz, subdued lighting - try somewhere different to the usual Park Hyatt haunt, @westintokyo 9. In #NozawaOnsen this gentleman makes French pastries that will make you weep, then calculates the cost of your indulgences on an Abacus. 10. Convenience Store supper, leave room for Hokkaido cheesecake. Quickly, the comp closes just before ‘pumpkin hr’ tonight. Hugs x #japanfood @ The Peninsula Tokyo / See more

10.01.2022 A tiny twinge of regret - on a clear and crisp, late February afternoon in Tokyo, I took the train to Roppongi s ‘Art District’. I’d braced myself for Sunday afternoon crowds, instead serendipitously hitting the sweet spot - that time between lunch, and supper when it appeared the entire population had elected to stay home for a catnap. The city quite literally, slept - save a few fellow browsers, I had the place to myself. The ‘Gallery’ trail includes @21_21_design_sight -... a design museum created by architect Tadao Ando and fashion designer Issey Miyake. "The idea was to create not only a museum that shows exhibits, but also a place for researching the potentiality of design as an element that enriches our daily life, a place that fosters the public's interest in design by arousing in them different sights and perspectives on how we can view the world and the objects surrounding us." (Ando). The minimalist aesthetic and attention to detail is as you would expect; the hand-sanded steel roof ( inspired by Issey Miyake's A-POC ‘A Piece of Cloth’ concept) and endless long glass panels through which glimpses of the surrounding parkland become part of the exhibition. Pop this spot on your Tokyo Itinerary! The regret? Not bringing home one of those gloriously hued bags...Happy Thursday. Hugs x #tokyo #isseymiyake #artgalleries #21_21designsight @visitjapanau See more

10.01.2022 Glorious #Manly & Vintage Kimono. My range is curated from travels throughout Japan. I visit each purveyor, sit to chat & take tea, while they kindly spread out their gorgeous garments. Most of these Kimono have never been worn, instead languishing for decades, carefully stored, in someone’s cupboard. With hand stitched silk linings, gently cleaned, & tweaked so they are a little easier to wear for ‘western’ frames. My grandma used to take me for ‘after school’ sewing lesson...s when I was seven, occasionally I’d get to try on the stunning ‘folk’ dresses my grandad would buy on business trips to Scandinavia - grandma was well ahead of the ‘artisan’ dressing curve. I’m deeply saddened that her dresses disappeared over the years, but know she would have loved that I’m extending the life of Japanese pieces. Supplies are limited (until my next trip), so if these are for you, pop into my little sister Brigitte @manlyjewellers - she is open today! Happy weekend. Hugs x #vintagekimono #artisanfashion #vintagefashion #traditionaltextiles See more

07.01.2022 ‘The Painting’ is in situ...thank you @mindfoodmike it’s glorious! No sooner had the delightful ‘art installers’ departed ( @martinbrownecontemporary ), Olive had nabbed the best position from which to gaze. Her verdict? Art IS transformative, transfixing, and holds the power to lift spirits - go and put something bright on your walls now. Yes a beautiful painting - although if this is not in your realm do not let that stop you, be creative...stretch vintage silk scarves on ...a frame (perfect for the bedroom), investigate any art student exhibitions (now more than ever they need support), lots of auction houses around the country (@lawsonsauctioneers et al), or find upholstery textile remnants, some designs are truly pieces of art. So much so, I’ve recently found upholstery fabric I’m having made into a rather regal looking Kaftan. There is of course the risk you’ll end up looking like a couch...so choose carefully. A topic for another day perhaps - the return of having your clothes made - a perfect style uniquely yours. For now - Happy Saturday. X#artcollector #colour #cavaliersofinstagram See more

06.01.2022 Sunday stroll - Gordon’s Bay is undeniably beautiful, yet hardly a ‘hidden gem’...as thousands pass by each week. Several friends recently returned from travels - not their usual European jaunt - instead a road trip around New South Wales. A common theme in our conversation was their surprise at the ‘hidden gems’ on offer...boutique gin ‘curating’ courses, exquisite hand crafted textiles, sublime fresh produce. I’m not surprised, we are a lucky, lucky country with so much on ...offer. Yet I’m as guilty as the next of remaining within the city confines, for the large part my own State remains a mystery. In the interests of supporting our Regional ‘families’ Id love you to share the spots & businesses you’ve discovered around Australia so we can enjoy visiting them this summer. Happy Sunday. Hugs x #regionalnsw @tourismnsw #buyinglocal #australia See more

05.01.2022 A Verandah where I’d love to recline; book in hand, chai tea within reach (or gin...time of day dependant of course)...& simply sit, lost in thought. Many of you will recognise this apartment @m.a.jaipur - the renowned decorator of so many glorious spaces @barpalladio & #aquazurracapri to name but a few. If you are new to Marie-Anne’s style, it is a design inspiration ‘rabbit-hole’ definitely worthy of your time. You might also love the back story of her ‘spur of the moment’ decision to uproot her successful Parisian life for a new start in Jaipur. Enjoy x #takeaplunge #nevertoolate #inspiringinteriors #homestocovet

02.01.2022 Is this not simply delicious- the blooms, the napery, the crockery - the idea of glorious festivities the image conjures @ladoublej ...to say ‘it’s been a year’ might just be the understatement - well, of the year. Yet despite set backs, sadness, sickness - I feel a twinge of hope. Our family has twirled through the lowest of lows, & the highest of highs - in this we are not alone. Somehow we’ve survived - resilience is my middle name, however it doesn’t hurt to be reminded o...f strength that might have lain dormant under the comfort of complacency. Goodness only knows what 2021 has in store for the universe...let’s not ponder that for now. Instead look towards the Festive Season that is fast approaching (okay it’s three months away...) - whatever your shtick (religion/whatevs) the end of the year is fun! This year it need not all be about gifts and abundance; of more relevance will be togetherness (actual or virtual), thankfulness - with faces toward the sun we can take on whatever the future holds. For now though it’s time for a lighter mood - a time to make it a bright jumble of whatever takes your fancy. In our house 25 December this year will be filled with pavlova and mangoes for breakfast, all the ‘best’ china & crystal, and as many of those I love (that we are allowed) crammed into our home. Hugs x #iknowitsnotpartytimeyet #planningahead #forchristmas #somethingtolookforwardto See more

01.01.2022 Listening to @indagaretravel interview with Hotel Architect/Landscape/Design extraordinaire @billbensley . For a girl who never, ever loved PINK I’m currently getting carried away with it...something about the sheer joy a splash of Hot Pink evokes. @jwmarriottphuquoc case in hand...whilst there are ‘changes’ I’d make in this space (not that anyone is asking, although I’ll share anyway...I’m not entirely enamoured with the upholstery textile choices - with so many fabric choic...es available in Vietnam the lavender/peacock blue is not doing it for me), yet there is no denying it’s a happy space! The sentiment behind Mr Bensley’s work is indeed worthy - integrating properties within local communities rather than simply turning up with a huge hotel chain & little regard of the space it occupies (as so many developers do). Take a look at my ‘stories’ for more of his hotel eye candy (& listen to @indagareceo ). Happy Friday. Hugs x #interestinginteriors #pinkforthewin #colour #notneutral See more