Alone time in Brunswick East

Today was a "do-stuff-on-my-own" kinda day. Although it also ended up being a "spend-a-lot-of-money" kinda day too.

First up - a much needed haircut. The salon I go to had rang me two weeks ago saying that my hairdresser had quit (!!!) hairdressing totally (because of an ongoing neck injury) and that they will let me know when they get someone new. I was like "ohmigawd, hasn't there been enough change and upheaval in my life already?!" Yeah, I'm dramatic like that. I've been going to her for like, years! Her quitting is like me having shit hair all over again.

Anyway. She rang last week and said that she's gonna be doing some work from home with some regular clients and would I like an appointment? HELLZ YEAH! And there I was, today, at 10.30am, at her apartment in Brunswick East.

Now, I've driven through/past Brunswick East a few times, but never really hung out there. I've been to Matsumoto on Lygon St, which is just past the Carlton end, and once to Atticus Finch, but haven't really had a chance to check out all the cool cafes that have been popping up in the area over the last few years.

Both my hairdresser and a workmate told me to check out this cafe called A Minor Place. I've heard of this cafe before, and it has probably been reviewed by every food blogger in Australia, so this post is probably not going to be in any way revolutionary. So, from here on, I will be endeavour to be quite brief with words.

And...yes. Me. Alone Time. Brunch. At A Minor Place. Soy latte. Scrambled eggs on toast with avocado and tomato. Eggs were really really good, with lots of chive. In fact, I haven't had such good scrambled eggs in a while. Total outlay: $19.70.

Messing around with the camera. As you do.

I think this shot would've looked much better with people in it.

Soy latte at A Minor Place

Alone time. Me, a book and brunch.

Scrambled eggs, toast, avocado and tomato at A Minor Place.

I wanted to go to Padre/Brunswick East Project after lunch to see about some coffee beans, and managed to walk past the place without realising it. Doh.

I really liked the look of this place. So many nice thing to photograph! But I got a bit shy with the camera and managed to snap this one stealthily. I try not to take too many photos of strangers, in case they jump online and somehow find that photo and see their face without expecting it. Don't know why I feel this way, it's just another weird thing about me I guess :P

Check out the coffee paraphernalia.

Got my coffee beans (Padre blend), and let the guy talk me into buying a hand grinder as well (for $78!). Um...I thought I was saving for Canada? Well, I guess the grinder has been a long time coming, it's been on my to-buy list for ages now, and I was feeling whimsical today. Hanging out by yourself does that to you.

And since I can't not have a coffee while I'm there, here's a photo of another soy latte. I must say it was better than the one at A Minor Place. I like my coffee a bit stronger, to cut through the slight sweetness of the soy milk, and this one did that. The one I had at A Minor Place, while still good, was a little bit weak for my liking.

Another soy latte. At Brunswick East Project/Padre.

For dinner I did what most single people would probably do on a Saturday night - have seafood tom yum noodle soup at your local Thai joint. To Thai Saffron on the corner of Riversdale and Burwood Roads I went. And felt a bit sad and lonely with my tom yum noodle soup, as every table in the joint consisted of couples or families. I guess single people tend to get takeaway so that we can sob quietly (or loudly) into our tom yum noodle soup in the comfort of our own homes.

And that was my day. Alone time was fine in the morning, but turned into a bit of a self-pity party at dinnertime, as evidenced by the above. Anyhoo - 10k run tomorrow! Hope that will make me feel better.

Of travel, living life and healing

Oh, hello. Long time no see. I realise it's been a long time between posts (more than a month - but in blog time it might as well have been a year!). There's been much going on, and you know what, it actually feels nice to say that I haven't been blogging because I've been too busy living life :)

Yes, much has been happening since my last blog post on Anzac Day. First, I went on a holly-holiday to Malaysia and Hong Kong - yahh! Pics and blog posts to come. It was a really really good trip - lots of family time and awesome food and some amazing healing too. Then it was back to Melbourne, where I think things started coming together and I began, slowly and step-by-step, to pull myself together again. I also ran the MS Fun Run - 10k, y'all!! - and started to recover at work too. And...this is the best one...I've just submitted my last assignment. Ever.

But more on all that later.

It's really starting to feel like this year is one of new beginnings. They may not all be good (insert my breakup here), but they are here nonetheless. I guess at the end of the day they can all be viewed as being good - after all it is what you choose to view a certain situation and what you choose to make of it that really defines it. And when something ends - like a relationship with someone you thought you'd marry or when your hairdresser quits hairdressing and leaves you hyperventilating with panic because ohmigod who is going to cut my hair now?! (all true and happened to me!) - it's also an opportunity to start something new. Explore new possibilities. Broaden your horizons and all that.

And the opportunities are endless. I mean, you can do just about ANYTHING you want. Which is something that I am slowly starting to realise, and relish, now that I am starting to emerge from that foggy haze I've been lost in for the last two months. I can do anything.

I can eat whatever I want, when I want. I can read in bed all day, or I can go for a run. I can flirt with boys and not feel guilty (the best part!). I can try new hairdressers, get new hair styles. It's like I have an open datebook, all I gotta do is pencil in all those awesome possibilities.

Ok, you can still do all of the above even if you're in a relationship. In my case, however, the realisation of all this freedom and possibility is quite significant and a super giant step for me, given that I've spent the last couple of months being tied down by my own sadness. Being entangled in all those negative emotions and self-loathing, of feeling unworthy of love (because, if the person who's supposed to love me the most, doesn't love me anymore - then who else could?).

So yeah. There is much to look forward to, although I'm being careful to take things one step at a time, and not to jump into anything before I'm ready or if I'm uncomfortable with it. After all, I've only just hit the reset button on my life and it will take some time to get back out there. I feel, in some ways, like I'm starting to rebuild and so far I've got this really fragile veneer up - my protective walls that keep me insulated (as much as they can) from pain and hurt. But right now they are really fragile, like the slightest poke will take them down (don't even mention the thought of seeing him again - not sure how that would go!). So it's gonna be slowly, slowly for now.