Not a Subtle Bag

This was another Saturday where I barely had a half hour to myself.  I used my half hour to sit on the courtyard steps, drinking coffee and enjoying the sunshine and the plants.  However, once I'd finished teaching I had 15 minutes to get changed and get to the Botanic Gardens for a gig, then to the cathedral for the final rehearsal then performance of Handel's Theodora.  I decided to use my bright floral bag.  It is not subtle, it is not black, but it does hold a lot of stuff.  I'm pretty sure nearly everything would have fit into my bright green handbag, but not the music as well.

After last week, when I'd done the "I'll buy something to eat on the way" thing which resulted in really bad food choices, I decided to pack dinner (including a fork) and a snack for today.  Plus an extra snack for just in case.  I was really good and actually ate the snack with post-gig coffee instead of indulging in fruit toast.  Also in this bag I packed a long-sleeved top, my black velvet jacket, and a black scarf.  The Theodora music (slightly bigger than A4) was the reason for the large bag so in it went.  My normal handbag things also made it in - water bottle, purse, phone, gocard, earphones, lip balm, and lip gloss.  I think that was about it. 

Although I like being able to fit music in this bag, I can't actually get anything out of it without using 2 hands.  And today I did feel seasonally mismatched.  I may have mentioned before the problem of having my brother take photos.  This was the least weird of the cast-offs.  You can still tell I'm laughing, but I'm not blurry which is a plus.  Also, I think in this one he'd actually told me he was about to take the photo, unlike several others.  Candid shots (at least for me) are usually very strange shots.

It was a beautiful day for a wedding - clear blue skies, a bit of warmth.  Gorgeous.  I snapped this last picture as we were leaving the gardens.  I missed out on a photo of a reptile swimming after the ducks which was disappointing, but Theodora awaited.

Vapiano

You know how my last post was made at about 2am this morning?  Well, I had to be up at 7am...  Admittedly, my original forecast for the day's activities meant leaving home at 8:30 this morning and returning home at 7:30 this evening.  I realised I could come home between church this morning and the rehearsal, but it was still a rest-free day.  I've been feeling in need of toothpicks to hold up my eyelids since about 9am.  It was a Many Coffee Day.

After the rehearsal (for Handel's oratorio, Theodora - performance is in St John's Cathedral this coming Saturday, 7:30pm), I had a bit of time spare in the city.  As my brother is also playing in Theodora, I shouted him coffee.  We were going to go to a certain coffee chain...But Vapiano was closer.  Phew.  It's located just off the Queen St Mall, in the bit of Albert St that leads in the direction of the Botanic Gardens.  A fairly new building development that also houses Kathmandu, a tea house, and a sushi restaurant, I felt like a cool person just walking towards it.

Vapiano does things differently (how perfect for my blog!).  As we approached the register, we were greeted by a friendly staff member who asked if we'd dined there before.  Total newbies, he gave us each a chip card (like a credit card) and invited us to the bar to order coffees.  How this works: whatever you order is put on the card, when you leave you present the card and they then let you know how much to pay.  Just don't lose the card.

I'd had lunch at 11:30, and I knew I wouldn't be eating until about 7:30, so I was hoping to have a little something to eat.  Hoping to have a little something vaguely healthy to eat.  Without actually ordering something real (like pizza or pasta), I was left with only sweet things.  I almost didn't give in, but I mentioned the presence of tiramisu... My brother was unable to resist, so I opted for a Creme di Fragola.  It included strawberries - they're healthy, right?

I like the red of the decor, and a wall of black and white prints - love it.  I had a moment of "I wonder if that would work in my place..." Probably not though.  I also had my brother take photos.  Hm.  Really hard to keep a straight face.  Sometimes, really hard!

Good coffee, good decor, good wait staff.  Will visit again for real food.  Ooh, and they have real basil in pots on the tables (just not on the comfy cool red-cushioned area tables).