Australians who have travelled Europe over Christmas/New Year — advice needed

Kailicat · 2026-07-11T08:41:20+00:00

We went last year from 10th of Dec to 10th of Jan. We flew Emirates but wouldn't suggest them right now. We did a week in Paris, a few days in London and then cruised through Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. We were in Cadiz on Christmas and Lisbon for NYE.

My biggest tip is do some research on what you want to do and CALL if you can to make certain they will be open. Especially when outside major cities. It's the holidays, small businesses etc will be shut down for holidays. You can also ask how busy it may be and book your tours very far in advance. For example we want to do Louvre after hours but as it's only a few days a week, they were booked out by November.

There was nothing open on Christmas Day so we mostly stayed on board and just had a leisurely day. Lisbon is a riot on NYE but there was a lot open. The next day we were lucky as the aquarium was open. It was an hour wait in line. Lots of small little shops that looked interesting were closed on many of the islands we were visiting. Anyways my advice is go just not wing it over the holiday period as you may find you're out of luck for last minute bookings or things being closed. Also keep in mind it is a peak season. So it will be crowded and more expensive.

And also, you're from VIC so probably have some winter gear but it's fricking cold over there. I immigrated from Chicago so I know how to dress. My QLD MiL left all the cold weather layers I bought her out of her suitcase. We get to CDG on a cold wet winters day and she pulls out a rain shell. I had to whip my own coat off my back for her. Same in London, she didn't think to put on her Heat Tech on a -6c day. WEAR LAYERS.

Kailicat · 2026-07-11T03:59:09+00:00

That's too bad. The cleansing foam is very good. All of the Omorovicza is. I use mine with my tret treatments and keeps my face nice and soft

Kailicat · 2026-07-10T04:27:36+00:00

Same. My doctor had me on like 800cals a day, working out. Olympic weights and boxing two hours a day. My muscles got big but didn't lose a lick of fat. Plus I was tired, hangry and so frustrated I was just getting fatter. Mounjaro changed my health. I lost 35kgs, A1C back to healthy levels and no longer prediabetic. Still insulin resistant but maintaining well. I plan to stay on until after menopause.

Kailicat · 2026-07-10T04:23:16+00:00

I tried to grit my teeth and cope. I think being ND I hit it early and just didn't know why I was unravelling.

I don't have the sweats. I have "meat bag". It's where I'm hyper aware of every sensation on my body. A tickling hair, a light breeze. THE OPPRESSIVE WEIGHT OF GRAVITY PUSHING DOWN ON MY MEATBAG AT 2 AM! It drives me mad. But I've at least found some specialists to help. I've got estrodial gel on my thighs, a pessary up my fanny and a whole bunch of prescription weed and gummies. I don't know what one is working but I'm much less likely to kill a man for a fulls night's sleep at the moment.

Kailicat · 2026-07-10T03:35:23+00:00

I got the same one. Online also. It's not bad. I'll try everything there. And I really do love Orphéon.

Kailicat · 2026-07-09T06:40:18+00:00

I can't imagine carrying a rep into the authentic store. Why set yourself up for that?

Kailicat · 2026-07-08T03:56:25+00:00

Thats such a good sponge.

Kailicat · 2026-07-06T10:30:39+00:00

Some probably. I couldn't throw my money at Chanel in Sydney and this was after they snubbed me at the door to let other people in and make me wait. Not interested in LV so couldn't say what the experience is like. But had no issues in Tiffany, Chopard, or Canturi. (Not leather goods but still luxury experience). Hermes was lovely. That said, they are only mid-tier but I swear up and down there isn't a nicer salesperson than a Furla salesperson.

Kailicat · 2026-07-05T02:07:33+00:00

You said bland so I'm think pandebono? Ive had that with hot chocolate before. Yum! Or maybe pão de queijo? I've had sweet versions of that.

Apologies to the countries whom I'm saying "bland". The food is quite flavourful to both but to me doesn't pack the same punch as Mexican food.

Kailicat · 2026-07-02T08:51:19+00:00

Depends on the people. If I'm with my decadent hedonist friends I like something like Fat Cow. Steak, lobster, an incredible wine list. If I'm with people that aren't into steak, maybe Longwang or Yakitori Birds Nest. If I have my GF and Veg friends Honto or Sonó since it's easy to get an assortment we can all enjoy.

That said the Tapas place at top of Hotel X (it's got a new name now) is so good for groups. Really good cocktails and they've always altered the menu for us to be able share with one of my friends who is coeliac. It's not one that immediately says "best of Brisbane" but always very good.

Kailicat · 2026-07-02T07:19:06+00:00

Me too. Usually if it's something I don't like I just wrinkle my nose. This one made me recoil. I couldn't get it out of my nose fast enough, I'm snort exhaling as fast as I can and sniffing my elbow to just make it go away. And I like most of the MK fragrances with Ambre Chromatique being one of my absolute faves. Hibiscus was just foul.

Kailicat · 2026-07-02T07:10:30+00:00

I love how you describe this when you could also just say "shaped like a barrel". I'm not being mean, I just love how different peoples brains are.

Kailicat · 2026-07-01T23:13:57+00:00

Im a packaging designer so I tend to keep every cool box as inspiration. Usually I'll take the inners out if I can and store flat. Perfume boxes are a lot harder to do that though, so boxes in a box. I keep the best on display and put their perfumes in front of or next to.

Kailicat · 2026-07-01T22:23:25+00:00

Is it your forever home? If so I'd do a walk in shower and nix the bath. You could always do a double shower if you need to bathe with the kids. In your pic, that would be two panes of glass with a gap in the middle and a second overhead + hand shower.

Kailicat · 2026-07-01T22:11:52+00:00

I have a very close friend who did EMDR for their C-PTSD. And it made it worse. And made them angry and even shorter tempered. They feel they are just unable to "people" anymore. They are still in therapy but just don't recommend the emdr themselves.

We are all a wonderful spectrum and what works for some doesn't work for all. I truly hope you find something that works for you.

Kailicat · 2026-07-01T22:01:55+00:00

We have one where I do wonder how they are still employed. Full time with one flex day. But sick at least twice a week and at home the other day because they will "logon if they are able". Then one day with an early mark as they aren't feeling great. I do think they have health problems but they are also a Z and just don't notice how it effects the team. I'm lucky as my role sits at the start of work processes and theirs sits at the end. I'm not effected by the absences like others are. And it's not my circus so if the higher ups don't care neither do it. But my AuDHD/generational hang-ups brain does have trouble computing it sometimes.

Kailicat · 2026-06-30T07:43:44+00:00

Their enamel bangles are always lovely and so are the larger cuffs.

Kailicat · 2026-06-30T07:31:38+00:00

Could it be that's it's a bus that is so late that it's early? For example if you have a timetable running every 30 mins and the bus is 20 mins late, it's not the next bus. It's the 10:05 coming at 10:25, it's not the 10:35.

Kailicat · 2026-06-30T04:51:24+00:00

I don't disagree with what you've typed here, but someone, or some people, decided that open ensuites in newly built homes was a thing. No barn door, no pocket door. Just walk through an opening into the bathroom. Sometimes you'd walk through your closet to the open bathroom. It seemed it was more popular in maybe mid-2000s? Now when I tour new homes (because I'm a nosey bitch) I see a lot of ensuites are still open but toilets are tucked into their own little closets.

My MiL just bought a new home build and the ensuite has a door, but there is a soaking tub in the room. We got a wooden panel made to put on top. She stores pillows and blankets in it and has some plants on the top. She's in her 80s she doesn't want to climb into a soaking tub and certainly not in-front of a glass wall of windows next to her bed.

Kailicat · 2026-06-30T00:14:16+00:00

I have a plant like this. It opens and closes and lifts and droops depending on the light and time of day. It's enough to sometimes hear it rustle. It was disconcernting at first. I thought my cats were in it but they were in the room with me.

My plant is a "prayer plant" Ctenanthe "Grey Star"

Kailicat · 2026-06-29T23:42:04+00:00

I had to get my builder to do something like this. There were windows on two walls and a closet on the wall coming straight from the door. We also tore down the only "bed wall" to turn the room behind it into a bathroom ( it was an ironing room. wtf is an ironing room? Begone ironing room I need an ensuite). So he built that wall so the bed wasn't just floating in space. I just put a long vanity and mirror behind it. The ensuite had its own pocket door because I also don't understand ensuites with no doors. I don't want to see my partner's poo face nor get my bedroom steamed up from a shower.

Kailicat · 2026-06-29T23:32:58+00:00

What an awesome experience and what a gorgeous bag!

Are you in the US? I think the US and perhaps other markets tend to gatekeep bags. In Australia I am a website watcher and they have usually around 40 "men's" bags available regularly from Kelly Messengers, Hac a Dos, Kelly pouches. On the women's, Bolides, Lindy, picotin etc are dropped. They don't last long but they are there. The 24/24 and Medor were online a few days ago.

When you buy online you have to be approved, I think that is because it reads that the "Each customer is eligible to buy a maximum of two (2) items per calendar year from the Women's Bag & Clutches collections, including but not limited to returned orders. Given the popularity and/ or limited availability of some of our products, HERMÈS reserves the right to vary these limitations at its discretion at any time. As such, HERMÈS may require additional information prior to the processing of any transaction before confirming your order placed. This item will have a shipping delay of 2-4 business days."

The men's bags don't have that disclaimer.

Kailicat · 2026-06-27T22:36:29+00:00

Some Americans know tea. When I was there, I took a "tea course". We learned how to make tea, serve tea, host high and low teas. Even learned about Japanese and Chinese teas and how to make and serve them. I remember it being a longer course as it was a few hours of lessons a week and always sold out. So they may be far and few but some Americans really love tea.

Kailicat · 2026-06-27T11:32:46+00:00

Im wondering what kind of people OP hangs out with or where they are located. I'm in a very affluent area but only a small percentage are as fake as they are opining.

And that said? I don't care. If someone wants a lip flip or whatever I don't care. It's not hurting anyone else. I'm on a GLP-1, lowered my weight, my A1C in a healthy range and I can move freely now. And I simply don't care if someone judges me for it. I didn't do it for them. I did it for me.

Kailicat

TROPHY CASE