As Magnus Magnusson used to say in Mastermind, “I’ve started so I’ll finish” That’s how I feel about the 10 on 10 Photography Circle, I can’t bear to miss a month! I’ve surprised myself once again by playing by the rules and posting 10 photos that I took all on the same day. Cue more halo polishing! Don’t forget, when you’ve finished checking out my pics, be sure to bob on over and say g’day to the lovely Shannon and see what she’s been clicking on her camera.
So it turns out I started April doing what I love most, making other people happy. And specifically, making people happy with cake. I love being a lunch lady at the Asylum Seeker’s Resource Centre.
Did you know I can’t/don’t/won’t drive? This is because I like to be environmentally friendly and also because I’ve had over 60 driving lessons and still failed my test (on five counts.) Let’s just say Sydney is safer with me on two legs than behind the wheel. I’ve never driven, so my theory is what you can’t do, you don’t miss, and besides, I love me a little train journey.
Here’s me and my giant fish bag at the station. My mum bought me this big fish bag years ago and it’s one of my most treasured possessions. By the by, don’t mind the double vision, you’re not drunk, it’s just that the person who painted this sign was not of steady hand.
Sydney is really basking in all it’s Autumnal glory, I mean will you look at that blue sky? And will you look at that tree? I call it a Toilet Brush Tree but I know that’s not technically correct, so if you know the proper name, please feel free to enlighten me!
There’s so much to see in Newtown, it’s a wonderful combination of old and new. I walk past rows of eclectic old cottages and on almost every street corner there’s some fantabulous street art to both dazzle the eye and scare you senseless!
Me, Lisa and Lorraine get lunch underway at the centre and between us we lay on a veritable feast. Lunch almost turns into a dessert buffet, but Lorraine saves the day with a wonderful vegetable curry and rice, and I bring a Roasted Tomato and Cheese Tart to the table (only I ran out of tomatoes!) some of those yummy Cinnamon Balls (recipe coming soon), ANZAC Blondies and some Egg Free Super Moist Cupcakes. There’s no such thing as too much cake is there? Lorraine, Lisa and I all come from small but perfectly formed families and are all classic over-caterers. Put it this way, no one will go hungry on our watch!
After lunch, me and Lisa grab a coffee at Black Star Pastry and while we’re there, we grab a piece of their infamous Strawberry and Watermelon Cake, because it is allegedly the most instagrammed cake in Sydney. Isn’t it pretty as a picture?
Not only do they have the most instagrammed cake, but they have the cutest coffee cups too! Foxes on my fingers, koalas on my cup and happy in my heart! What more can a girl ask?
We take an obligatory selfie while we’re at it. Coffee and cake becomes us!
After coffee, we pass the Orange Sky Laundry – a free mobile laundry service for the homeless. Robbie’s van is state of the art and equipped with two washers and two dryers and all the clothes that come out of there are expertly folded. The van has been servicing parks and drop in centres across Australia and Orange Sky now has 5 services across Australia in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney and SE Victoria. That’s just a whole lot of awesome!
It’s not the first time Lisa has featured in my 10 on 10 project. Remember in November how we practised the Art of Kindness? And how last month we captured some magic at magic hour? It’s like camera kismet! Continuing with my 10 on 10 tradition, here’s a shot of Lisa taking a shot!
As I walk back to the station, I see this. I stop to take a picture and busy people rush past. You know beauty is all around, if you just take some time to look for it. 
I’m very grateful to my friend Nicki who first hooked me up with being a lunch lady at the Asylum Seeker’s Resource Centre. I know making and serving lunch once a month is not going to change the world, but as Nicki says, if it changes just one person’s day, and makes one person feel welcome, that’s a great place to start. And I’m inclined to agree.
If you you’re in Sydney and have a few hours to spare one Friday a month, then just give me a shout. Or if you’d like to donate food, money or some time to the centre, contact them here.
Now remember friends, the fun of the photography circle doesn’t stop here. Do pop on over and say hello to Shannon. Be sure to check out her super snaps and then follow the circle to meet all the other fabulous photographers and see what they’ve been capturing. Enjoy the photo fest!
So tell me, what’s making your heart happy this month? What would I see if I had a look around your hood?
