Feb 25th 2013
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Recently Tasted
Australia is one health food conscious place. Sumo Salad taps into that market offering the fast food concept but with grains, super foods and salads to help busy people lead a life of well being. In particular their spicy lentils and chicken avocado sandwiches were filling and flavoursome.
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Recently Saw
There are plenty of pet lovers down under. Pet City is an all-under-one-roof super store for all your domesticated animal needs. They stock any number of accessories, food and care products. You can even take your doggy in for a quick wash for just $10 in a self-service style car wash machine.
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Recently Watched
Watched it during Valentine’s week at a novel cinema screen in Perth with bean bags for seats. Josh Duhamel (Alex) and Julianne Hough (Katie) bag the leading roles in a story which sees Katie mysteriously escape to a seaside town to spark up a romance with Alex, only for her past to start catching up with her.
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Recently Read
This A3 sized colour magazine serves the Sub-Continent population based in Australia. From the latest Bollywood movie reviews, restaurant recommendations to concerts featuring popular Indian artists and where to buy your spices – it’s a fascinating insight into the community of the fourth largest overseas born population in Australia.
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Feb 18th 2013
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Recently Read
A great publication covering travel, eating out and where to get the best beach action. You can get the low down on events happening, jobs, visa updates and a few maps thrown in for good measure. And the best thing is, it’s totally free!
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Recently Bought
Stocking up on some of my teaching materials before I go back to China. This Macmillan published book covers some essential grammar points which I will jazz up to a more fun and appealing level. In no time, my students will be begging to learn the present perfect.
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Recently Visited
The pride of Western Australia, Red Dot stores. This budget chain was like walking into an Aladdin’s Cave with everything from personal care products and party items to household goods, toys, pet section, DIY and boy band dolls. It definitely was a surprise to discover near-normal prices.
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Recently Tasted
An up-and-coming franchise in Perth, Pastacup does exactly what it says – serves pasta in a cup. There are three different sizes, all types of pasta to choose from and countless sauces to mix in. With each helping you get pieces of bread for dunking in the leftover sauce. Handmade and delicious.
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Feb 11th 2013
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Recently TAsted
As South African food chain Nandos has yet to arrive in China, the moment I spotted it in Australia, we pulled in for a pit stop. Succulent chicken with peri-peri chips and coleslaw. Yum! I only wish their takeaway delivery service extends to Shanghai.
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Recently Bought
Again, a product that is pretty hard to find in China and when you do find it, you pay a premium. I’m stocking up on Blu Tak which comes in handy for all my classroom usage. Plus, it keeps the kiddies entertained with most of them thinking it’s blue chewing gum.
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REcently Watched
How I miss this show! I used to watch it all the time back in the UK. I was delighted to find that The Lifestyle Channel in Australia broadcasts the Oz version which is slightly revamped. Four contestants (instead of five) and the whole competition is shown in an hour’s episode.
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Recently Watched
The second season of Smash has started to air in Australia. Season one was left on a total cliffhanger where the new musical series promises to throw up some explosive story lines. Not to mention a delicious run of guest appearances by the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Liza Minnelli and Uma Thurman. Those theatrical jazz hands never looked so inviting.
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Feb 5th 2013
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Recently Listened
A local Perth radio channel which brands itself as a family station. You can just as likely hear Christian artists like Third Day or Plum alongside more mainstream offerings from Usher, Goo Goo Dolls and Cold Play. A light-hearted approach to religious programming.
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Recently Bought
With a sizeable South African community living in Perth, it’s not hard to find a number of small import stores selling a number of SA products including the much loved Mrs Balls Chutney. Made from a recipe dating back to the late 1800s, it has become synonymous with South African cuisine.
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Recently Watched
Mindy Kaling builds on her The Office character Kelly Kapoor by staring and creating her very own sitcom. In this comedy Mindy, a doctor, is set on building her career and has to handle whatever awkward situation life throws at her including a number of rocky relationships with men.
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Recently Watched
It’s the ultimate in trash reality TV viewing. Having found fame from her appearances on TLC’s Toddles & Tiaras – Alana Thompson now stars in her own show which follows her family’s southern American antics in Georgia. Plenty of ‘oh my gosh’ moments to be had.
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Feb 2nd 2013
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Recently Read
The latest book from motivational speaker and Christian evangelist Nick Vujicic. Surprisingly enough, his previous book ‘Life Without Limits’ has been a best seller on the Chinese book market. Here, he dishes out continued positive thinking to live a “ridiculously good life”.
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REcently Bought
Choosing a design and purchasing a new folding screen on China’s online shopping site Tao Bao. Originating back over 1,000 years to the Han Dynasty, our modernised waterproof version has a traditional mountainous water scene bringing a touch of tranquillity to our home.
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Recently Watched
Viola Davis (The Help) picks up another dramatic role where she plays a teacher at a failing school. Teaming up with a frustrated mother (Maggie Gyllenhaal), together they challenge bureaucracy and a teacher’s union in a bid to bring change to their children’s education.
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REcently Watched
Five city police rookies tackle fraud, gangs, drug cartels and abductions - not to mention the ups and downs of their own personal lives. This popular Canadian-produced series has already been commissioned for a fourth season. For McNally, Epstein, Peck, Nash and Diaz the urban adventure continues.
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