So I'm not clucky, but...

Definitely don't want a baby anytime soon, especially not since I have been nannying these past few weeks, but this is just too cute. And it is even better because it is Florence + The Machine playing in the background!

My little car

Just a short blog post to let you know that I sold my little car yesterday. It's the end of an era.

My little VW Golf has seen me through my university years. The many drives from Sydney to Bathurst in my sturdy car make me so grateful I listened to my Dad and didn't buy a dodgy $500 car.

Unfortunately though, traveling overseas, I just had to sell it. And with only seven days until I leave, it was great timing too.

Also, tomorrow is my 21st birthday. Amazing. Can't quite believe that milestone is soon upon me.

I will be having a party on Saturday night. Having put the arrangements together with my Mum over the past few months, it will be brilliant to see everyone having fun and meeting each other. I have my uni friends and my school friends and, although they haven't really met each other before, I hope they'll get on well.

Ten days to go.

In ten days' time I will be at Sydney International Airport with my family, kissing them goodbye as I embark on what I hope to be the 'Trip of a Lifetime'.

It's been years in the planning and finally all those dreams are about to be put into motion.

Of course I am excited, but it's starting to sink in that I won't see my immediate family for a really long time - the longest yet for me. When I did my foreign exchange to France in 2005 (I was 15) I found that tough. I'll be away for a lot longer than that!

I will spend my first week staying with my grandparents in Oxfordshire, and visiting friends and relatives, before leaving for Geneva on the 1st December.

From there, a coach ride will take me to Tignes, where I will begin my ski season as a chalet girl working in a lovely hotel.

I really have no clue what to expect once I arrive in Tignes. What will the people I'm working for be like? I literally know nobody. Will we become instant best friends, or will there be conflicts? Will we go out drinking on our first night? ? And if we do, are they going to drink me under the table? If we play 'Never Ever', should I be honest? So many questions.

The unknown can be exciting. For me, it is. But it is also a scenario wherein I have little control. And I like to be in control. I like to know what to expect. I like to be mentally prepared for the situation.

I think that this year away will be good for me. I'll have to go with the flow, take everything as it comes, and lower my expectations so I don't get disappointed when things don't go as I've planned.

Do you have any tips about traveling and backpacking? How would you cope with living away (for me, it will be for five months as a chalet girl) not knowing anyone?

I'm making my final arrangements and beginning to pack. The moment I'm looking forward to is when I am sitting on that plane, with everything sorted, reflecting on my 21st birthday (which will be held two days prior) and looking into the future.

Note: The above photo is from http://startlinemtb.com/index.php?p=1_4_Tignes and is taken of Tignes, where I'll be living and working during my ski season.

Table for 20

Last night I went to my beautiful friend Rosie's 21st birthday party/ farewell.

The event was held in an incredibly gorgeous and sophisticated wine bar and restaurant in Surry Hills, called Tablefor20.

When we arrived, we came across a door that had a small sign on it, requesting we text a number with a secret code to be allowed into the venue. It was all very exclusive and secretive and was a good way to increase my curiosity about what the night had in store for us.

What makes the Table for 20 restaurant so special is that there are two very long benches where the guests are seated and, on a regular evening, the guests won't know each other - it is very similar to a dinner party scenario.

The food is served as a set three course menu, and arrives on large platters spread across the table. Everyone serves themselves and passes the plates around. Very homely, very Italian.

Last night's meal consisted of orecchiette (which means little ears in Italian) with truffles as the entree, for the main we enjoyed a rack of pork on a bed of spinach, with roast vegetables and the most incredible berlotti bean and sesame salad, and for dessert we had a baked lemon ricotta which was delicious. Bottles of rose were also spread along the table for us to enjoy... fitting given the name of the birthday girl is Rosie.

The atmosphere was so intimate and special, with dimmed lights, candles and a guy playing acoustic guitar and singing beautifully in the corner.

As 21sts go, this was definitely one of my favourites! The speeches were excellent, they played a very funny movie they had put together of Crazy In Love, where all the family/ extended family were singing to rosie from across the world.

A gorgeous evening and, what's even better is that Table for 20 gives most of its proceeds to a charity aimed at those living on the streets - the host mentioned that in the past year alone they have raised $300,000 for the charity.

Definitely recommend this restaurant and wine bar.

Image courtesy of: http://foodies-club.com/2009/05/review-table-for-20-may-2009/

I am loving this video clip

Just a quick post because I discovered a new video clip that I am obsessed with.

It's probably going to sound pathetic but I actually get goosebumps when I watch it.