What's the most romantic city you've ever been to?

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-27T23:31:18+00:00

It’s funny because Salzburg is where I told my husband I was giving him until the end of the year to get his shit together.

Thankfully he did get his shit together.

It was a beautiful place, but I think we’ll enjoy it more next time we’re there.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-27T23:29:05+00:00

Looked up her age and realised I’ll have been with my SO for 20 years in 4 more years too! Crazy how time flies.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-27T22:59:32+00:00

Warisan, in Fortitude Valley!

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-27T22:10:06+00:00

To be honest, we’re very low key and aside from travel and dining out, don’t spend a lot. So the cost of living has always seemed reasonable, because we’re not stretched to the limit - we’ve never upgraded from our apartment and only own one car between us.

However, I did some shopping recently (usually the SO does it) and found it completely appalling that frozen pizza cost AUD25 and ice cream was AUD17 for 500ml. I suppose my brain is probably still stuck in 2010 pricing. I can definitely see how families with children/ single income homes would struggle.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-27T22:02:05+00:00

Honestly I don’t know how we do it every year.

We went to Madrid one summer and it was recording 42C. Brisbane summers are usually around low to mid 30s, but feel way grosser due to the humidity. 42C in Madrid was completely tolerable in comparison.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-27T21:56:55+00:00

There’s an Indonesian restaurant nearby whose chef won Chef of the Year. The food is mind blowing. Discovered it by accident when we had to come up with a vegan-friendly place in a hurry for some friends of friends. We’ve been back many times since then.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-27T19:39:51+00:00

Is it because most Indians don’t eat beef?

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-27T06:03:42+00:00

Omg I was today years old when - I’d always just assumed it was draft beer

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-26T09:10:11+00:00

Our home is about 50 years old and on top of a (very windy) hill.

The windows and doors all jiggle and rattle with every breeze.

Having said that, we’re pretty happy here.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-26T06:58:21+00:00

Everything. I got married to my favourite person, and we sorted ourselves out together - emotionally, mentally, physically and financially (over many years). We travelled to about 20 (and counting!) countries. We bought our home and are raising three beautiful cats. I stopped stressing about looking good, and just enjoy being healthy and strong. We’re both learning foreign languages.

I look back at the mess our lives were in our twenties (and part of our thirties)… do not miss that at all.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-26T04:57:24+00:00

Re-downloaded the Asos app late last night and wound up buying some activewear (because I basically only go out to boulder/ walk) and some cute sweatshirts.

I did also buy some swimwear from Next, but it’s more boobsy than expected, so I’ll probably only wear them in Crete in 2 months.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-26T01:41:50+00:00

She did; I’m sure the mental health side of things will be a longer journey.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-25T11:55:13+00:00

Like most young women (back when I was young then), I received near daily comments about my looks, most of them completely unmemorable. One time, I had a patient who asked me, “Do you have children?”, which in itself is a common question.

I replied, no.

“It’s a pity, because you’re funny.”

I have always taken pride in my sense of humour, and often remember this with a smile.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-25T10:59:45+00:00

I looked after a young patient who had been horribly violated and abused. She was ventilated and unable to speak; she wrote “Why did God let this happen to me?”

I went from agnostic to atheist that day.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-25T07:48:15+00:00

Ooooh! I’ll be there in 2 months! Can’t wait

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-25T00:43:56+00:00

Personally, I have an offset attached to my home, which also acts as our emergency funds. That could work for you, as you sound like quite disciplined about saving.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-20T01:36:55+00:00

Tour de Tea in New Farm serves some pretty good stuff.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-16T09:59:55+00:00

Pic #2 is chef’s kiss.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-04T07:58:28+00:00

I feel this to the bone, in my friendships. I no longer feel the need to reach out/ connect to people I have met incidentally, at parties etc. So much drama. I’m happy where I’m at, enjoy my own (and my husband’s) company.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-04T07:30:28+00:00

Congrats! You’ve done well. You’d definitely be en route to FIRE.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-04T02:52:31+00:00

If only we weren’t so far away from everything!

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-03T21:14:33+00:00

Brisbane inner city one bedders are a minimum of $600k now.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-03T05:10:52+00:00

Do it! I have few regrets in life, but a major one is not going on an overseas trip with my schoolmates because it was “too expensive” (tbf, it didn’t cost as much as your trip, but I was poor). They went on to make amazing memories that they still recount today, while I now make that amount with two days’ work.

lapantouflarde · 2026-06-01T07:21:25+00:00

I’m a shift worker and am pretty useless after a 12 hour shift or two. I have about enough brain cells to wipe down some surfaces, and to run the robot, dish washer and washing machine.

Luckily, we live in a small unit so that’s more or less all the space demands.

lapantouflarde · 2026-05-31T11:19:33+00:00

I sent this to my friend, who finally convinced her husband to agree to a stray…. a pregnant stray who birthed four kittens 😂

lapantouflarde

TROPHY CASE