Virginie and the Haigh’s Chocolate Factory

October 24, 2014 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

One day I have read « LIFE happens, chocolate HELPS!’ I really think it is true. You see I adore chocolate, I particularly enjoy milk chocolate and in my opinion it is the best therapy ever! Luckily for me, there are Haigh’s chocolates in Australia and cherry or should I say chocolate on the cake the factory happens to be in Adelaide! If you are living abroad I bet you have never heard about them and neither did I… because they do not export their precious products overseas because the chocolate quality could not handle an oversea trip! Their chocolates are very famous here… Actually Haigh’s is one of a few Adelaide icons and deservedly so. They will celebrate in a couple of months their 100 existence anniversary! All of their chocolates are still made by hand and they are literally mouth watering!

I have fallen in love with the « milk rocky road » basically it is freshly made fluffy marshmallow with roasted hazelnuts, cherries and juicy raisins, smooth milk chocolate, glace… it tastes absolutely marvelous! No words to describe it…. it is sooooo good! So I went back to the shop to buy some more…. guess what…no more left! Not a single one….over! The nice lady in the shop informed me that these little treats were only seasonal products…which means they make them only in winter season and now it is spring time here in Australia so I will have to wait for next year…

But you know me I do not want to give up so easily….. so I have tried a second shop…. same answer… a third shop same answer….but this time the lady was so friendly and had so much empathy for the little poor french girl who could not possibly wait for next year that she asked « Do you want me to call the factory for you and check if by any chance they have some left? » of course I want « Please,dooooo! » and she did and guess what?! They still had some small and big boxes of them… they took my name and said I could pick them up directly at the factory on the following day and they offered me to take the opportunity to attend to their free factory guided tour too and I did!

What a lovely tour I must say, it is so interesting to learn about the story of Haigh’s chocolates, how they started and became famous. It is a family business and it reminded of my small home town Clermont-Ferrand where we do have also a old and famous family factory business called MICHELIN… pretty sure you have heard about them 😉 but let’s go back to chocolates… it smells better! So visiting the factory was in a way like visiting Willy Wonka Chocolate factory and see how the magic happens, the machines, products, staff gestures…. no wonder these chocolates are so amazingly good gorgeous, smooth, luxurious…. furthermore it is a good opportunity to taste a lot of sample chocolates for free and if like me you are crazy about them you can still purchase more from the outlet shop at the end of the tour…clever!

So next time when visiting Australia make sure to visit Haigh’s shops and eat their delicious chocolates! And if you happen to be in Adelaide take the tour in their amazing factory (it is very closed from Adelaide South Terrace and the lovely himeji garden), you will not regret and your belly will say thank you, I promise 🙂

Free guided Factory viewings tours

154 Greenhill Road, Parkside, SA 5063

Tours operate Monday to Saturday from 9am.

Please book your free tour online http://www.haighschocolates.com.au/tours

australia

A little taste of Australian wildlife…

October 8, 2014 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

Living abroad is sometimes embracing the unexpected and it is even more true when you have just moved in and you are exploring your new city.

Today, I was walking in Kurrangga park in Adelaide CBD when suddenly I have heard a noise next to me… Suddenly I have realised something was moving in the grass slowly…

At first, considering the way it was moving, I thought it was a snake and I have to admit I was a bit scared! Then it started to walk and that is when I have realised that obviously it could not be a snake since I could see its little legs moving on the concrete path!

Actually it looked like a kind of reptile…. but I was too afraid to come a little bit more closer to have a better look at it. I am not used to deal with these kind of animals. In France reptiles look like midgets comparing to this one! Somehow I have found the courage to take a picture of it with my Iphone (using the zoom so I don’t have to be too closed from the wild animal).

When I came back home I looked on the internet and discovered it was a blue tongue lizard… it is quite big and common to find it in Australia even around the cities…. hopefully it eats insects, snails, fruits that have fallen on the floor such as berries…. obviously not interested in eating girls like me… good lord I am relieved 😉

australia, lifestyle

Jump in!

September 14, 2014 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

“The secret of a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings” – Dave Weinbaum

My adventure in Australia is definitely a new beginning and a first of many things and I can’t wait to share with you my first impressions, experiences, pictures… To be honest my first week in Adelaide has been both exciting and challenging!

Challenging mostly because of the jet lag (it took me a whole week to recover), flat hunting, getting to know my new environment etc… but also incredibly exciting because it is always nice to discover a new city, to walk where you have never been before, to feel the vibes of your new country home, to get a feeling…

So far so good… actually I am pretty happy to be here! Adelaide is a nice little city, people are relaxed and friendly, the beach side is amazing, the food is great (I have sushi EVERYDAY lol) and sun is shining.

I really can’t believe this is still winter time here! Today I took the tramway, it took me around 30 minutes to reach Glenelg beach and I have spent a lovely afternoon!

England

Goodbye London!

September 4, 2014 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

September marks a year to the month that I packed my suitcase and moved to UK. A year to the day when I took the Eurostar wondering what London would bring me… so many questions in my head: Am I going to enjoy it? Is it a nice place to live and to work in? and what about the people there? I remember many of my (french) friends envying me because as they say “London is so COOL” … probably…but actually at that time, I had no clue and was not so sure about it… I mean there is a big gap between enjoying London over a weekend and living in the city for good!

But since I was there, I really wanted to give it a chance so I have jumped into London crazy rhythm: Flat hunting, museums, visits, work, sport, school….etc…. I have to say that time went by very quickly and actually I was pretty lucky (magic London) and succeeded in all the things I wanted to achieve here: I found a tiny but cute place to live in Notting Hill, I have met old friends from Portsmouth that I haven’t been seeing for 15 years or so, I have visited in 1 year more museums, palace, exhibitions etc. that I have done in my whole existence, I know Hyde Park like the back of my hand and it has became my favorite place in London, I have quickly and quite easily found a marketing manager position with a very good salary when a lot of people told me it was impossible because I am a foreigner, I have met an amazing Yoga teacher who brought me spiritual wisdom and peace when I needed it and I am so happy I could commit myself to Yoga every day during a year (which I never thought before I would be capable of), I have also enjoyed so much attending to the English evening classes at the Stanton School because it was a really nice way to practise and improve my language skills but most of all I have met amazing people from all other the world and it felt so nice to have new, fun and nice friends to share this amazing adventure and experience that is London with!!!

What initially struck me as odd and unusual is now part of the everyday and I can’t believe I am already leaving for new overseas adventures…even if it looks exciting, I am definitely going to miss London, scones and you my dear friends!

So after a year spent in London, I can now answer to the question what makes London so unique? without no doubt, it’s you people, the (international) Londoners!