Lauren Mangioni

This is where I rang in the new year. One word…paradise.

New Years resolution? Cook more from my wonderful copy of Donna Hay’s Seasons, a late Christmas present from myself.

I’m very excited about spring and summer finally reaching the Southern Hemisphere but I spent the last weekend of winter in Melbourne in the rain and the cold. Whether rain or shine, Melbourne is one of my favourite cities in the world.

See full size images here and here.

I love Melbourne; it’s got charm, personality and a river. It’s come to my attention that a good percentage of my favourite cities have rivers. Melbourne’s got the Yarra, Paris has the Seine, Florence has the Arno and so on. What are some of your favourite cities in the world?

Away from it’s sneaky laneways and to-die-for breakfasts, Melbourne is also the home of St Kilda, a very popular seaside town filled to the brim with trendiness, yummy cakes, suave cafes and bars and even cooler people.

When we hit up St Kilda, it was cold but since my European winter, I’ve tried not to complain about being cold. (-6 is cold, 15 degrees is not).

I could live there.

On a side note, if you’re on tumblr, be sure to check out this one.

I have a grand plan.

My grand plan is not a life plan, so please don’t be mistaken. My grand plan is to be living, loving and writing in London by this time, maybe a few months later, 2010. That’s one year folks. And even thought this is my plan and it’s something I need and want to do, thinking about packing up and putting my life in Sydney on hold for a city I barely know (but again, don’t be mistaken, I love London) scares the pants off me.

And then I read this blog. The tales and musings of one former Sydney-sider who took the plunge overseas; to a non-English speaking country no less. And despite the poor woman suffering experiences like this, it’s inspiring and it makes me want to get out and leave yesterday.

What about you? What’s your grand plan?