It's December, farewell November Rain

A work colleague got married secretly last week and to celebrate we held a super cute office party. We drank beer and ate Shapes and Samboys and watched YouTube clips on someone's computer.

The YouTube-ing got serious as we found ourselves playing songs from our youth: Bon Jovi's Blaze of Glory (the song I sing to my colleagues every afternoon when I SHUT DOWN... in a Blaze of Glory), Kylie and Danni and then, Guns n Roses' November Rain. An epic afternoon all completed by 6pm.

November Rain. What an awesome way to send off Spring and welcome in Summer. I LOVE SUMMER.

Here's why:
1.  Pikelets
Our family gets up at Dawn's Crack every day, even on weekends. So we make pikelets. Pikelets are fun to eat outside in your jimmy-jams when the sun is getting up.

2. Correspondence. 
I seem to have so many personal Christmas Cards (heaps from Real Estate agents). But my favourite correspondence to receive is a surprise parcel to pop under the Chrissie tree or to get home to a beautifully wrapped prezzie that has come all the way from London from my buddy Tan. Not because it's Christmas time but because the item reminded her of me. Heart. x

3. Party time.
So many rad parties at this time of year. Since becoming a mum my social life has cut sick. Last weekend we had our parent's group party complete with jumping castle and Santa. This was followed by our street Christmas party complete with Pasito, tartan eskies and Milo branded cricket sets. Ace.

4. Sandwiches.
I don't know why I don't eat sandwiches in Winter. I just don't. As soon as December 1 kicks in, I'm smashing up curried egg like there's no tomorrow.

5. Towels.
There's something about Summer that makes me a kid again. Is it all the swimming, running, biking, skateboarding? Nope, it's the really cool head gear who can make out of a damp towel by rolling it down your leg. Nothing says Summer like a good towel blanket, especially if you've been running around a sprinkler in the backyard.

Welcome Summer. You have been missed. I want to hold your hand in SPF for the next three months and dance to Bon Jovi like there's no tomorrow.

More Than Just A Milk Bar

It doesn’t matter which store you enter, they all have that familiar soft bell chime the minute you push open the door.

I find it fascinating that even today, in our world of online shopping, fast food, cheap milk and bread, and Status Quo waving big foam hands around, we can still find the classic milk bar on the corner or a corner nearby. And I encourage you to discover your local!

The inner west is filled with classic corner stores boasting shop counters and shelves filled with interesting items from coloured pens to raspberry licorice, mints to hair ties, toilet rolls to onions, the item you have gone in to find is usually there. Milk Bar owners, most likely living above or behind the store, seem to have a knack at having the right ‘last minute’ items you need ready in stock. 

Perhaps it’s because they live and breathe the store 7am-8pm, 7 days a week.

But besides from the highly sought after milk, bread and newspapers, these familiar stores can offer so much more, you just need to pretend you’re a child again.

Stepping into one of my favourite inner-westie milk bars located opposite Williamstown Beach train station, I’m always thrilled to purchase one of the homemade dips or other Lebanese goodies from the counter: cabbage rolls, dolmades, tabouli.  Add to this a sweet treat such as a baklava, Queen’s Finger or a Bird’s Nest and you have yourself a pretty impressive beach picnic. You can’t go pass the kebab though, the spiced minced lamb delight complimented with pinenuts and a dob of this Milk Bar’s special hummus is something to keep going back for.

The Milk Bar on the corner of Ovens and Stephen Street in Yarraville is just as special. This local gem has a glorious display of freshly packed mixed lolly bags placed in a neat grid-like pattern on the counter. There’s 15 lollies in every bag (choc buds, freckles, snakes, teeth, pineapples and milk bottles) and it’s hard to resist picking up a pack for your pocket as you purchase your paper.  

It’s touches like this that make every Milk Bar unique. A point of difference, whether it is the homemade goodies for sale, the ‘vintage’ Tazos on display behind the counter or the brilliant retro-esque signage screaming Mirinda, Kirks, Tarax, Tab Cola, Gobbledock, Ruffles, Smiths, Peters. 

There’s something fun about rediscovering candies from your youth that would make your eyes pop: Big Boss, Fags (now called Fads), Zappo, Hubba Bubba (remember when bubblegum used to be 50c and you’d get a free tattoo?).

Milk Bars are still a step back in time – the worn linoleum grey-marbled tiles, the timber and glass counters, the signs unashamedly advertising tobacco, the cans of Tarax lemonade in the fridge. Next time you walk past one, look up and check out the sign display most likely stating that ‘Tobacco’, ‘Cigarettes’, ‘The Herald’ or ‘The Sun’ can be found inside. Take a peek at the fonts used in the familiar words MILK BAR. And poke your head inside, there’s treasure to be found. Grab yourself a Killer Python and a can of Pasito to snack on after your Saturday afternoon lawn mow.

My favourite Milk Bars

Zac and Jenny Take Away Milk Bar, 74 Railway Crescent, Williamstown

Forget lugging an esky on the train, pick up awesome Lebanese goodies for the perfect beach picnic.

TT Milk Bar, 204 Somerville Road, Kingsville

Great selection of Kirks drinks to align with your fish and chips bought next door.

Milk Bar, Corner Ovens and Stephen Streets, Yarraville

Cheapest toilet paper and tissues around.

Milk Bar, 87 Anderson Street, Yarraville

Excellent lolly counter.

Photographs by Paul Large.

This article first appeared in The Westsider, October 2015 issue.

Summer Dreams and Ice Creams

There’s something in the air and it smells. It’s not just the smell of teen spirit. It’s the smell of summer. But it’s different this year and it smells so good.

The smell is popping up everywhere I go. At a recent dumpling showdown with friends, an argument broke out about whether it is ‘Creaming’ or ‘Creamy’ soda and then it reached new heights on the difference between brown or red soda, then it went even further as to who made it better: Kirks or Tarax? (In my opinion it’s Creamy, it’s brown and Tarax did a ripper version in a black can with a gold stripe).

As a kid, my brothers and I were only ever allowed soft drink at special occasions. We would have Creamy Soda or Pasito at Christmas and it was such a treat.