O Week is the Australian equivalent of Freshers Week (Or Welcome Week as Manchester likes it to be known) and is generally a week for first years to get massively drunk and get free stuff.

As a sober second year with one uneventful Freshers Week behind her, I am embracing the latter more than the former.

I’ve already accumulated a haul of Uncle Bens rice, drinks, sweets, coffee sachets and heaps of pens and pencils. I don’t particularly want any of these things (bar the free pens) but have donated them to my housemates.

I’ve had an Introduction to Arts lecture which was very much aimed at First Years and have queued for my student ID. Twice. For an hour each time.

Today Lucy and I went on the Arts Society Pub Crawl Historical Tour. We made it to pub 3 of six before feeling like we were really old and boring and retiring for the day.

So yes, two more days to go.

The next two days both host societies fairs so I’m really looking forward to that. The plan is to sign up to loads of societies and Lucy’s convinced tram loads of friends will immediately follow. Or not.

But we shall see…

I may not have thrown myself into O Week nightlife (I’m currently at home watching Talking ‘Bout Your Generation instead of finishing off the pub crawl) but I definitely plan on getting much more involved over the next two days.

We’re also doing The Amazing Race through the city on Friday so that should be fun. Or really rubbish. Actually, whatever it is I’m sure we’ll make it fun.

So yes, I’m still a very poor attempt at being a Fresher. But you know what? I couldn’t care less.

I am loving every minute of my time in Melbourne. Soberly.

My camera is completely inept at taking photos at gigs. Yes, my camera. Not me.

Last night I saw Matt Corby’s sold out gig at The Corner Hotel in Richmond. The review below is an edited version of my review for Timber and Steel.

This was Matt Corby’s second chance to impress me. 

A year and a half ago, in the upstairs of a pub in Islington, North London, I went along to watch Matt Corby perform a free gig. There were, at most, twenty people in the room (including Corby and a bartender) and I left in awe of Corby’s vocals but feeling underwhelmed at his songs and lacklustre stage presence. (If you’re really keen, you can read this original review here)

Fast forward to February 2012 and I’m on the other side of the world at the first of five sold out shows at a venue with a capacity of around 850. I’d convinced Lucy to join me on account of his attractiveness and we headed off on a less eventful journey to East Melbourne than on Thursday. At this point, I should probably note that The Corner Hotel is seemingly in the world’s hottest venue. No joke, someone fainted in the encore. This was going to be a sweaty concert.

It’d be fair to say 2011 was Corby’s year. “Brother” was the song that was to be his big break and ultimately earn him the bronze medal equivalent in Triple J’s Hottest 100.

Tonight he casually strolls onto the stage; The theatrical red curtains open with smoke machines and lighting creating the kind of atmosphere one wouldn’t normally associate with an acoustic guitarist. As he begins with “Made of Stone”, I immediately fear this second chance was undeserved. Yet again, his vocals are faultless but there’s something missing.

It’s only when he bursts into his second song with the backing of the whole band that I realise how wrong I was.

By the time he plays his third song – a track he introduces as “a song that you might recognise” – I’m completely charmed. As he ramps up the tempo and the volume for the bridge of “Brother” it becomes clear that the more attitude Corby displays, the more enjoyable his performance is.

The set continues with a few solo performances and Corby’s clever rendition of The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy” which the crowd reacts well to.

Alone with his loop pedal, Corby records his softer notes before layering on harsher vocals to create something pretty special. But I still think I prefer his performance when accompanied by his band – the addition of a drummer particularly enhanced the songs.

Finishing with an encore of “Kings, Queens, Beggars and Thieves” – a song I vaguely remember from my first encounter with Corby – the improvement is immeasurable.

The boy I saw back then appeared awkward, uncertain and lacking. Tonight I saw a confident man, oozing stage presence and clearly adored by the packed out crowd.

Thanks to the lovely people at Popsugar Australia, I won two tickets to a Gold Class screening of My Week With Marilyn for Thursday evening.

On Thursday it rained. No actually, it stormed. And I foolishly didn’t own an umbrella at this point in time.

So when I left my house pre-screening (with over an hour and half to spare for a half hour journey) I exited in an entirely weather inappropriate All Saints dress and a disposable poncho workshopped into a waterproof bonnet. It was quite some look that unfortunately was not documented on camera.

I ran for the tram in my makeshift outfit. Got on it. Realised I had no change to buy a ticket and subsequently got off the same tram at Coles – about five minutes down the line – with the intention of buying a Metcard and an umbrella. I dutifully did both and sprinted for a passing tram only to get stuck on the other side of the road with the tram driver apologetically shrugging at me as the rain poured down.

Anyway… I caught the next tram. And then it stopped. It stopped behind a broken down tram.

(THIS WAS MY THIRD TRAM INTO THE CBD – TWO OF WHICH HAVE GOTTEN STUCK BEHIND BROKEN DOWN TRAMS.)

So after waiting for the tram to be fixed. Then walking for a bit. Then getting on another tram which was only going half of the journey. Then getting off that tram. Waiting for another tram. And getting on another tram. I eventually sprinted onto the platform at Flinders Street and hopped on a train to Camberwell.

This was where my luck changed. After loudly ranting to Lucy about my journey and how my Metcard had bent and wouldn’t even go through machines, a kind guy gave me a working Metcard he’d found next to his seat. Then another guy – who was clearly loving our entertaining conversation – reassured us we were on the right train and told us it was only a ten minute walk downhill to the cinema.

So eventually, an hour and three quarters after I left home in Brunswick West, I arrived at the art deco style Rivoli cinema in Camberwell for the screening.

It was definitely worth the trek.

We were greeted with canapes and free drinks all nice (although there is a limit to how much juice I can consume) and then led into the cinema. Gold Class doesn’t exist in the UK, but basically it’s where a cinema is converted to have fewer seats (probably only 30-odd) that are all individual reclining armchairs. Considering my actual bed is just a mattress on the floor, these chairs were something else.

The film itself exceeded expectations with a great British cast (the accents were homely) and the fact we were served a two course meal in the cinema definitely added to the enjoyment. We shared Fish and Chips and a Red Thai Curry, followed by a Sticky Date Pudding with Butterscotch sauce and a flourless chocolate cake.

YUM.

So yes, Gold Class is fun. I probably wouldn’t ever pay for it myself (a ticket without any food/drink is thirty-odd bucks alone) but I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more opportunities to get more tickets.

Thanks Popsugar!

Sweeter than I remember...

Iced Fingers from Bakers Delight are sickeningly sweet. And they are huge.

I chose the one with Hundreds and Thousands (to add to the healthiness) and was eventually defeated by it after working my way through three quarters of it. In fairness, I had just drank a mango smoothie big enough to  fill an olympic swimming pool.

Still, it was $1.50 well spent.

As good as I remembered.

Cupcakes can be good. Cupcakes can be underwhelming.

Hummingbird may be the best in London, Magnolia may rule New York and Manchester can have Hey Little Cupcake. But Little Cupcakes in Degraves Street has set a benchmark for Melbourne cupcakes.

So far, I’ve tried Red Velvet, Chocolate Cream Cheese, Chocolate and Salted Caramel. I recommend them all – particularly the latter. But still there are so many more for me to try…

Any Melburnians want to recommend where else I should try?

The editors and subs all seemed really keen and I definitely want to get further involved. I’ve just been sent the content list for Issue 2 so will hopefully find something to write about for that!

I’m looking forward to the first issue being published in O Week next week – it looks a bit more polished than The Mancunion but I’m guessing that’s largely down to it being a monthly as opposed to a weekly.

So yes, it’s a work in progress this one – but I certainly plan to continue my involvement.

It was the first house I saw in Melbourne. Actually, it was the only house I saw in Melbourne.

But I went for it. And now, five days after arriving in the city, I have found myself a home in Brunswick West.

It’s big, new and all together rather lovely. It’s a 15 minute tram ride from Uni, but the route goes past the zoo and through some parks so it’s all rather lovely. Especially on a sunny day such as today.

I celebrated moving in by having a solo housewarming evening sat on the sofa watching My Kitchen Rules (totally rivalling The Great British Bake Off for my all time favourite cookery show) and eating a bowl of pasta. Living across the globe is still yet to change my crazy party lifestyle.

So yeah, if anyone wants my address to stalk my adventure on Google Maps… let me know and I’ll send you it privately.

Enough Said.

With the best view of the Sydney Harbour and Peter Gilmore’s name behind the menu, it is no surprise Quay is currently the 26^th best restaurant in the world. I was being taken here as a Christmas present from my incredibly lovely aunt and was immediately wowed by the large glass windows and their panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

With two tasting menus to choose from (there was also a mammoth eight course menu), eating at Quay is not just a meal – it’s an experience.

To start was a complimentary amuse bouche. Cubes of jelly-like tuna sashimi were floating on an egg white cream. Likes and dislikes disappeared as I tasted the food and the combination of ingredients subtly greeted my palate.

My first course was the Marron. Aware I had no idea what this entailed, the waitress was quick to inform me it was a crustacean so I chose the dish in anticipation of what was to come.

The marron arrived on a bed of young almonds, bergamot marmalade, grapefruit, green mango, elder and chamomile (see what I mean about ignoring the description?!). The Marron itself was beautiful. Gently poached, it tasted not dissimilar to langoustine but with a meatier texture, whilst the surrounding flavours certainly packed a punch.

Next came the Tiger flathead line caught in Tasmania, salt cured wild oyster cream, black lipped abalone, ice plant, sea cabbage and warrigal greens. Clueless to what any of this meant I established in was fish and thought I’d follow my sea theme as I overlooked the harbour water.

A small white fish fillet arrived with a salad of micro-greens and a smoothe oyster cream. As I attempted to combine all the ingredients in one mouthful  it was easy to see Gilmore’s attention to detail coming across in the dish.

I went vegetarian for my third course. Risotto made from Acquerello rice enriched with rice germ, truffle and white asparagus cream translated onto the plate as rice crispie risotto. Obviously the flakes of truffle and asparagus flavours gave the rice a grown up taste, but the rice germ added a crisp texture to the dish that was unlike any risotto I’d ever tasted – in a good way, of course.

My cousin’s Berkshire pig jowl was the softest pork I’d even bitten into whilst the Poached Wagyu beef was equally melt in the mouth.

Dessert choices tend to be pretty easy for me. I see the word ‘Chocolate’ and my mind is made up.

Quay’s Eight texture chocolate cake was to be my final challenge of the night. As the eighth layer, a rich chocolate ganache, was poured onto the round cake the centre of the cake gradually sunk as the waterfall of chocolate cascaded into it. Could I taste eight textures? No, not quite, but I could definitely establish about six different textures ranging from a solid disc of milk chocolate at the top of the cake to a biscuit layer near thebottom with mousses and pralines in between. Delicious.

My aunt opted for the snow egg – now famed from its appearance on Australian Masterchef – which was created using white nectarines in this current incarnation. In a rounded glass sat the egg with its crisp shell, soft white and rich orange yolk. Just how Gilmore originally created this dessert is certainly a question of science with the egg itself balanced on tart nectarine flakes of ice.

Also worth a mention was the Ewe’s milk ice-cream with the most delectable pulled toffee base and chocolate bark that made the presentation look like a feat of architectural design.

As we left feeling fuller than ever, reminiscing on the experience we’d just had something became apparently to me. Gilmore’s menu is not primarily about the tastes; it’s about the textures and flavours and how they marry one another to create something worthy of his three Chef Hats.

Quay is something special. It’s somewhere worthy of a special occasion meal – although I can’t see myself justifying the cost for an entire wedding party as was the case with the table next to us – and certainly will be a meal I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.

Now I guess must remember I start student life in the next week or so. I’m feeling I may have to take a huge step back to prepare myself for Melbourne’s student dining options.

Any recommendations?