Let’s go down to old Luna Park.

Luna Park is a fitting backdrop for St Kilda. The area buzzes with tourists all year round and the locals are an eclectic blend: contrasting life experiences, challenges and dreams.

The park is so iconic that it is on the Victorian Heritage Register and its features are protected through the National Trust of Australia. The park was the first amusement park built in Australia and is now over 100 years old. The park was developed by J D Williams, who modelled the park on its New York namesake in Coney Island, with similar ethos and design elements.

The entrance is garish and hyper, the rides are rickety and the fairy floss is sickly sweet. The sun shines through the palms and from the infamous scenic railway children shriek with fear and delight.

St Kilda continues to buzz…

Meander through the laneways to this.

The laneways of Melbourne are filled with gorgeous boutiques, jewellers, musicians, artists, cafes and restaurants. Spoilt for choice – hours of fun!

In the Degraves Precinct on Flinders Lane you will find Migo’s. It’s a true Melbourne treasure and follows the fine tradition of home style, rustic Italian cooking, with great coffee on the side. The menu includes ‘Seafood pasta to die for!’ and it is, absolutely, to die for!

We love it.

Vineyard retreat … ducklings included.

Small family owned vineyards are one of our favourite things. The generations of knowledge and years of perfecting both yield and method very rarely disappoint. Vineyard escapes that include accomodation, cellar door tastings and perhaps even a restaurant are divine all year round.

We could not resist sharing this local treasure with you. If you are partial to sparkling on arrival, a gorgeous breakfast basket of hand picked local produce, lakeside villas with crackling fireplace, restaurant on site with sommelier services and cellar door treats… Crittenden Estate may be just the place for you.

And we must say, there is nothing quite as gorgeous as being greeted by ducklings each morning as the sun rises over the vines.

Thank you Crittenden, such a pleasure indeed.

Gelato, seafood and pasta, pasta, pasta….

Italy is intoxicating, in the best possible way.

The dramatic cliffs, the vineyards and fresh produce, the endless gelato and seafood. Explore by sea, and drink it all in…

Italy will take your heart. Long after you’ve found your way home you will subconsciously find yourself having slightly stronger coffee, basil and fresh tomatoes, or baked tomatoes or dried tomatoes and meat in all its forms will become staple. If you haven’t already, you will master the art of the aperitif. You are likely to take to hosting your loved ones more frequently and freely in the home. Perhaps taking more time to celebrate fully… with heart and passion and music… and with lots and lots of food. You won’t mind freckles, or deep tans or erratic grey hair as much…or extra curves and smile lines, because they are signs of a rich and well lived life.

Oh Italy, it’s love.

Sip a limoncello and dream a little dream… A few JW photographs of our beloved Cinque Terre. Taken from sea, after enjoying an amazing seafood feast of course.

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Chasing the sun.

There is something about the sun. Everything slows just a little. Conversations meander, crowds linger and breakfast turns into lunch turns into dinner…. We all need a little heat and relaxation in our lives. While the local beach or river can do the trick, and sneaky weekends away are divine… there is nothing quite like escaping to a resort island to completely unwind and refresh.

Malaysia offers a myriad of stunning summer escapes, particularly during dry season (December to February). Langkawi Permata Kedah is a jewel. The sparkling sapphire and turquoise oceans, white sands, islands to explore, tall palms, fragrant tropical flowers and fresh fruits of Langkawi will certainly hit the spot. And if you happen to have a rush of adrenaline and manage to drag yourself away from languid days by the ocean (sigh) … the local markets, famed Malaysian cuisine and forests are a fine diversion.

For those who aren’t able to steal away for an indulgent escape this season, our heavenly selection of JW photographs give you a taste.

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Everybody needs a little sugar … Oh la la Laduree!

Nestled in the glamour and glitz of the Avenue des Champes-Élysées is the divine Laduree. Wander through the iconic doorway to find luscious pastries, cakes and exquisite interiors …. J’Adore!!

The magic began in the southwest of France in 1862 when Mr. Louis Ernest and Mrs. Jeanne Laduree, passionate intellectuals, bastions of free speech and social progress, and millers, established a bakery.

It was an era of fierce intellectualism, new architecture and Baron Hausmann leading the “new face” of Paris… The Laduree bakery was a destroyed in a (suspect) fire. In response to this slight, the Laduree family forged brave social and culinary innovation.

The famous artist Jules Cheret was commissioned and designed the celadon green, brass and gold detailing. Jeanne’s proposal to combine a traditional Parisian cafe and Patisserie with a Salon de The was unprecedented. In a time where women were prohibited from cafes, Jeanne’s Salon de The provided a exquisite (and instantly popular) meeting place for women intellectuals, artists and innovators.

In the 1930s, the next generation of the Laduree family produced the double layered macaron. The young Mr. Pierre Desfontaines took the 18th century macaron recipe, formed two shell of macaron and filled the perfectly formed shells with ganache.

This signature delicacy quickly gained fame throughout Europe and continues to be the beloved jewel of the Laduree…

C’est le paradis sur terre!

New year new adventures.

For this exciting new collaboration the new year poses lots of opportunities… for intellectual inquiry, creative expression and geographic exploration.

Meander and enjoy.

Jen and Willa

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