It’s true, I really do run faster in Sydney.  About one minute per kilometre to be precise.

Slightly different route on this last run.  I took a right turn and attacked the hill and winding roads of the suburb over from mine.  It’s a neighbourhood that loves a good wrought iron fence as well as a high, manicured hedge.  There’s all manner of things you can peak at through the fences under the watchful eyes of security cameras.  This is the Malaysian Embassy and I think the German and Kiribati (an island state of the central Pacific Ocean) Embassies aren’t too far away either.  I had to look all of that up, by the way. Isn’t it grand that blogging helps a girl improve her general knowledge?

I always get a bit apprehensive when I go running through unfamiliar suburbs.  It’s so easy to get lost and disoriented when you’re so absorbed in all the new and interesting around you.  Even with the GPS maps on smart phones these days.  Please tell me I’m not the only person in 2016 who still manages to get lost whilst using Google maps on her iPhone.  Or not.

You know how there’s always that one block of shops that just says ‘welcome, you’re nearly home’ as you pass them?  I was so very relieved to run past mine at the end of yesterday’s run.

Plus ricotta cakes.

 Plus biscuits.

And streudels.

Such a shame I’d eaten such a wholesome and filling slab of baked oats for breakfast this morning.  Though I am motivated to go without breakfast one Thursday and to have brunch here instead.

www.toysformagic.com

This is a piece of budget friendly news for the toy buyers among you.  These Magmagic magnetic building shapes are all the rage with the little ones (and their parents) right now.  The only thing is that the Magmagic brand are quite expensive at around $50 for a basic 30 piece set.  Which is fair enough if you’re buying for more than one child but a bit of a steep investment if you’re getting them for just the one child who may or may not remain interested in them after getting them out of their box.

Enter Kmart’s $29 version.  It even includes two sets of wheels that the basic Magmagic set does not. They’re selling out pretty quickly in store at the moment but I did see that Kmart’s online store does have good stock levels at the moment.  There’s actually quite a few other things I’m interested in from Kmart’s toy range.  There’s a large Etch A Sketch type board for $20 for one.

Elsewhere at Kmart today, there were these beautiful  double layered fleece blankets,

and some Instagram worthy bits and pieces for your study or home office.

www.plitkar.com

I’m working my way through the Oliver family soup recipes here in the SSG Kitchen.

Dinner tonight was Jools Oliver’s Wholesome Vegetable and Bean Soup.  It’s so easy to make and the MVP of the ingredients list is a couple of rashers of streaky bacon.  I’ve not eaten streaky bacon before but it seems saltier than the regular bacon at the supermarket.

All you need to do is chop up the bacon and vegetables, fry up the bacon with rosemary then add the vegetables before simmering it all with the stock and beans.  The greens are added at the end.  I love the colours of this soup and the heartiness of the beans.  I’m going to be rotating Jools’ recipe with Jamie’s beef and barley soup all winter by the looks of things.

Until next time.