Retail Therapy

What with the weather having been very much of the "British" variety ever since my arrival (with the exception of today, actually), I felt the need to buy something warm. I also felt the need for some instant gratification of the retail therapy variety. Thankfully, most of the winter stuff is on sale here now, such as this woollen dress by Autralian brand Country Road: 
It wasn't actually that cold here that you'd want to put on something made out of wool, but I can definitely wear it at home when I get back to winter temperatures. What I really felt like wearing to protect my sinuses from the wind, was a hoodie. It's not as if I didn't own any, but all three of them are in my wardrobe at home. After much research I ended up buying this hoodie by Ben Sherman: 
The alternative would have been getting either something with big letters shouting "Australia", "Bondi Beach" or some other Sydney suburb or something ridiculously overpriced. This hoodie was on sale and so I did not mind having to take off all 18 buttons. I though the "Napoleon look" was a bit too much and I much prefer it in its buttonless reincarnation.

Today, I walked past a shop with merchandise in bright colours and a big fat "Sale" sign. Needless to say, I had to check it out. It was a two-storied shop selling prints, clothes and accessories by Australian artist Ken Done (of whom I hadn't heard). His art seems heavily influenced by Matisse and partly by Keith Haring, but it certainly looks decorative. I bought this bag - discounted to $ 19 and a set of textile coasters with a brush-stroke pattern:

What I really like about Sydney is the fact that thanks to its large Asian popolation and relative vicinity to China and Japan, there is a big variety of Asian shops and restaurant. Some booty from the Asian supermarket in the Market City mall in Chinatown:
I haven't lost my interest in glossy mags, either. Although the AU version of Marie Claire is nowhere near as good as the UK one. Magazines are rather expensive here, but they sometimes come with freebies, such as this sample bag exclusive to Woolworth:
We all know about my obsession with all things Japanese. Yesterday I visited the big Kinokunya branch on George Street and marvelled at its books, magazines and stationery items. I could have spent all day there. Drinks-wise, I've found a new love, Chatime, where I can satisfy my matcha cravings. I've tried their hot matcha latte and cold matcha milk-tea with red beans (pictured below). I prefer the hot one as the iced tea with beans was way too filling, almost like a dessert. Some Starbucks branches also seem to sell matcha lattes here and I'll have to check out if they are as good as I remember them from Japan. The sushi-rolls in the picture are stocked in the micro-kitchens in our office:
Today I seized the sunshine for a ferry-ride to Manly. What do I see when disembarking from the ferry? An Aldi branch (and a Bavarian beergarden). I didn't actually need anything, but on my way back I went in to have a look anyway and picked up a few things, including a leaflet, just for the novelty of it.