Since when do you live in this flat ? 

December 2018

How did you find it? (if there is a story behind it) 

My partner and I, had to move out from our previous place so I was looking on the real estate websites everyday. It’s hard to find a good and quite reasonably priced place in Sydney. One day I saw this apartment and it looked perfect! I was lucky enough to be the first person to see the flat as you can imagine there were a lot of people interested in the same property. The Sydney house hunting scene can be very wild, but luckily the agent was a sweetheart and he didn’t’ play the offer game. 

Our application was approved but we had to wait a month before we were able to move in. We spent a few weeks  between friends houses, airbnb and vanlife. Stressful, but absolutely worth it. Especially when we found out that the inner courtyard of the building has a swimming pool. Still not sure why it has never been advertised, it was definitely a cool surprise.

Which Neighbourhood? Why? 

Alexandria is still an industrial neighborhood becoming slowly more residential. For me, it’s the perfect location, as it’s only 20 min by bicycle to the beach, 10 min to the the vibrant alternative Newton/ Innerwest and 20 to Sydney city centre. We are moving a bit closer to the coast, maybe the next one will be just a short stroll to the beach.

Your favorite room? 

Kitchen/ living room because it’s an open space, it’s bright, I don’t feel trapped in a box and I can exercise.

What does “home sweet home” evoke you? 

I have been living in so many different homes in the past 8 years, I am not sure, I guess as long as I make it looking nice and cosy, it feels sweet as well.

If you had to find three words that describes your place:  

• Spacious, it makes me feel free to move and exercise.
• Intimate, there is a huge tree that covers all the windows from the bedrooms to the balcony 
• A good deal, for the location, the price and of course the swimming pool bonus surprise (still wondering if the real estate knows about it).

If your place would be a song or a type of music, what would it be? 

Eternal Dance by Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors.

I love to move, jump and dance  with my music quite loud, and to do so I find instrumental music the best.

It also helps me to calm my mind and nurture my soul.

What is the last item you bought for your place? 

Rather than bought I would say found. You can find all sorts of things in Sydney streets. My last finds are plants and like pretty much all my furniture, all the plants in my place they have been rescued or donated. There are few great facebook groups where people donate stuff, there is also a page dedicated to plants where people can swap or simply donate cuttings and pants.

Do you like to have people over? Yes or no, explain why… 

My place is my nest to regenerate and rebalance my inner self after the hustle and bustle of city life, I have noticed that lately I prefer to meet people outside.

La Mode, La Mode, La Mode: could you share any (fashion (clothing or jewelry) or beauty) items that you love

Oh yes my super cool Op Shop finds: Roxy shorts for only 5 AUD $  (3 euro). What a treasure! Sydney still has some good second hand shops where you can find real bargains. 

What do you do (job/ hobbies) ?  

I am a massage therapist and also, before the crisis, I used to manage a small plant-based/macrobiotic takeaway.

Listening and discovering new Music is a huge part of my day. I love Spotify and all the other platforms that feed you with music according to your taste and occasionally  surprise you with some awesome tunes and musicians.

I love music but I don’t play any instruments unfortunately, despite my lack of musical skills, last year I joined a samba group. I play the easiest beats with the Surdo, a large bass drum. 

I am also trying to learn a few songs with the Guitalele (a small 6 strings guitar tuned slightly like an ukulele). Last challenge is to learn to play some samba with a Brazilian pandeiro, because I love Brazilian music!

I take pictures when I feel inspired, I used to shoot with a Nikon reflex, but  since I bought my first iphone in 2013 I totally left the camera behind; the phone is portable and always with you. 

Although I recently felt nostalgic about using a good camera, so I bought a second-hand mirrorless Sony camera. I want to dedicate more time to photography and eventually create a website with my own pics. 

If you are a foodie, do you have some favourite cookbooks? 

In the last 5 years in Sydney I have been delving into healthy and wholesome food. Improving my Plant based food cooking skills and discovering the Fermentation world. I have been making Sauerkrauts, sourdough, kombucha, and pickling. I truly love cooking and discovering cultures through food is one of my biggest passions. 

I don’t have a favourite cook book, I usually check recipes on line and add my creativity to it. Peaceful Cuisine channel has lots of  healthy and absolutely eye pleasing video recipes.

I found a couple of nice books in the streets on vegetarian cooking and an Encyclopedia of Asian Food.

I have bought only one cooking book: the Art of Fermentation, is an encyclopedia style book about fermented food traditions around the world. 

What are your top 5 activities in general : ( just to get to know you better 😊) 

Go to the ocean for swims, I take my bicycle and ride to the closest Coogee beach, Gordon’s bay or Maroubra ocean pool. 

If I feel like going for a wander I go a bit further to explore new places. Sydney is a big city but it spoils you with the most gorgeous beaches, coastal walks and magic little swimming holes and waterfalls. You can easily forget to live in a urban environment

I go for walks and bike rides quite often, I feel good when I am in nature.

I would like to be able to surf, but in all honestly the thought of sharks still interferes with my motivation.

I enjoy learning new skills and new languages. I want to be able to speak 7 languages one day. I still have a long way ahead; I am learning French at the moment. 

Cooking is part of my being, it is something that I learned seeing and helping my mum out when I was a child. While I am cooking I feel in my creative zone and recipes for me are just suggestions, nothing to take too seriously. I have a feeling to be at home in any kitchen, I know what to do, where to look for things in other people’s kitchens like it was my own one. 

I am forever grateful to my parents for having passed me the passion for good quality food and to my mum for having taught me the ancient art of cooking.

If you like reading, do you have some favourite books?  

I am not an avid reader to be honest, it depends if an interesting book comes my way. I do like self development books and spiritual readings.

Do you have any ritual?

Everyday I try to keep a long gap between my dinner and my morning breakfast. According to the intermittent fasting principle, you should maintain a 16 hours gap, I generally do 14/15 hrs. 

So in the mornings I put the music on, I do my general tidying up routine, I do a bit of free movement, stretching, yoga.

By then I am ready for my favourite breakfast in the world: smashed avocado on sourdough toast, seasoned with lime, salt, pepper and olive oil, followed by a soy cappuccino with any  available treat.