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Interview
Zanzibar, Tanzania. My sister spends much of her time on the African continent, especially Tanzania and Kenya, and we’ve shared unforgettable journeys there together. With her fluent Swahili, deep knowledge of the region, and friends in every corner, she’s the most extraordinary guide I could wish for.
To me, the African continent is unlike anywhere else on earth. The vivid colours, I’ve never seen a sky so brilliantly blue, the unfamiliar yet intoxicating scents, the mesmerising flora and fauna, and the warmth and beauty of its people is unparalleled.
I adore it and can never get enough. Take me back!
As your companion, I always rise to the occasion; feminine, elegant and sophisticated is my personal style and what you can expect. Of course, no outfit is complete without my big smile.
And behind the scenes? Growing up between Germany and Sweden taught me that less is often more … I’m sure you can picture what that might mean.
My taste in music is as eclectic as it is passionate. From Leonard Cohen, Sturgill Simpson, and Guns N’ Roses over Kendrick Lamar to Rush, David Bowie, Queen, The Clash, and the irresistible pull of 90s hip-hop. The timeless rhythms of The Dave Brubeck Quartet often fill my space.
Classical music holds a special place in my heart. I adore the delicate mastery of Vladimir Horowitz, the sweeping drama of Richard Wagner and Gustav Mahler, Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi make my heart sing. La traviata, because truly, how could it be any different, remains my favourite opera of all time.
CrossFit, trail running, and floating in the ocean. The latter may not count as exercise, but for me, it’s pure indulgence, being surrounded by all four elements at once is a restoring and rejuvenating experience for my mind, body and soul.
I love watching football, I refuse to call it soccer, though I’ve reluctantly let go of following the Champions League and European leagues due to the time difference to Australia. That said, when the World Cup or UEFA European Championship taking place, you’ll still find me happily waking at 2am to catch the games.
Tennis is another passion of mine, with the Australian Open, naturally, being my favourite. It’s a tradition I look forward to attending every year.
What book don’t I plan on reading?
As an avid reader, you’ll rarely find me without a book in hand; I always have multiple books in rotation - a challenging book that leads me to think and learn, one that delights through prose, and another that thrills with story.
In my teens, I immersed myself in the German, Russian, and French classics; as you know, this list is endless. But it was Nana, part of Émile Zola’s magnificent Les Rougon-Macquart series, that first planted the seed inspiring me to become a companion to men of taste.
In my twenties, I turned to more contemporary voices: Max Frisch, Jonathan Franzen, Cormac McCarthy, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison. I was, and still am, captivated by African writers such as Doris Lessing, J.M. Coetzee, Yaa Gyasi,and, of course, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Hertha Müller, Orhan Pamuk and DFW have filled me with great joy to read.
These days, my thirties have pulled me towards the philosophical and spiritual. Philosophy, consciousness and spirituality, in short the art of escaping the mundanity of human existence. Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now as well as Meditations by Marcus Aurelius are a daily staple of mine. Michael A. Singer, Deepak Chopra and Sadhguru sit on my shelves alongside the rich storytelling of Louise Erdrich, Annie Proulx, Hanif Kureishi and Cixin Liu.
I wish I could choose both.
With a Swedish father and having grown up mostly in Germany, my mother’s homeland, skiing is deeply tied to my Viking heart and soul. Downhill, cross country, or snowshoeing I love it all.
But since moving to Australia in 2010, I’ve fallen for its white sandy beaches, the heat on my skin, and the crystal-clear turquoise waters of this astonishing continent.
So if I must choose … surfing it is. Let’s head to the beach.
Adventure. To me, adventure is not always about grand gestures or faraway places. It lives in curiosity, in the willingness to step into the unknown, and in the quiet thrill of discovering and exploring something, or someone, new.
Culture. Culture is the soul of a place, but also of a person. It’s the stories we tell, the art we create, and the way we choose to live and connect with the world around us.
Cuisine. Cuisine is sensuality made tangible. It’s nourishment, pleasure, and a celebration of life’s simplest yet most profound joys.
It’s a firm no to brunch from me. I’m neither a brunch nor a breakfast kind of woman.
What I most enjoy are leisurely late lunches or early dinners. In summer, fresh fish and seafood paired with crisp, green sides feel just right. Asian and contemporary Australian flavours are my go-to this time of year; light, vibrant, and full of life.
When the weather cools, I crave the comfort of hearty dishes like Osso Buco or Raclette, a childhood favourite that always warms my soul. This is when Mediterranean and traditional Australian cuisine come into their own.
I’ve curated a list of my current favourite MELBOURNE RESTAURANTS (https://www.freyablume.com/post/melbourne-with-freya-a-culinary-experience-for-mind-body-and-soul)to inspire you.
The Sopranos is, without question, my number one series of all time.
I also have a soft spot for other American gems like Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development, and Better Call Saul.
As a devoted British comedy fan, I can’t leave out Toast of London, Fleabag, The Mighty Boosh, Fawlty Towers, The League of Gentlemen, and of course, The Office - the original British version.
And when it comes to animated series, I adore BoJack Horseman, F is for Family, and Daria.
Films? That’s a conversation best had in person.
Bill Burr, always Bill Burr. His stand-up, his interviews, his series F is for Family, simply brilliant. Have you seen Moral Compass?
I also very much enjoy Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle.
At a quiet beach, listening to the waves, the sun on my skin, and the wind in my hair; that’s bliss for me. A true time out for mind, body and soul, nourishing all the senses.
If I can’t make it to the ocean, you’ll find me unwinding with a massage and spa treatment, or curled up in my favourite chair with a book and a purring cat in my lap.
Though honestly? The best kind of relaxation … well, I’m sure you know exactly what I mean.
The Perfect Day
If I were to describe the perfect day, it would not be one of grand gestures or faraway escapes. I have travelled across continents, walked through bustling metropoles around the world, floated in turquoise waters on many beaches, and skied the sharp slopes of my Nordic youth. Those moments have etched themselves in my heart forever. But the perfection I speak of here is closer, simpler, and deeply rooted in the city I call home: Melbourne, my heartland.
A day like this does not need to be extraordinary in any obvious way. It unfolds in quiet rhythm, sensual detail, and nourishing connection; the very things that make life worth savouring. My beloved Melbourne, my muse, with all her moods, textures, and contradictions, has a way of holding me and reminding me that I am exactly where I need to be. And perhaps, if you were to join me, you would see how this city, and I within her, can transform the ordinary into the exquisite.
Morning Light
The day begins early. I am an early bird, always drawn to the stillness before the world fully wakes. The air in Melbourne’s inner north carries a freshness that feels almost European in autumn, though softer, more forgiving. I open the windows wide, let the breeze rush through, and settle into meditation. A few minutes with Marcus Aurelius ground me in perspective: we do not control the world, only how we meet it. My body unfurls with stretches, my breath deepens, and I am alive, vibrant energy coursing through me like a quiet promise.
By mid-morning, I am in motion. Some days I slip into my trainers and take to one of Melbourne’s leafy park trails, running until my cheeks flush and my body hums with vitality. Other mornings, I join my girlfriends for a fiery CrossFit session, the kind that leaves me glowing, strong, and buzzing with camaraderie. And then there are times when I prefer the slower rhythm of a walk instead, listening to music that stirs me, from Leonard Cohen’s gravelly wisdom over Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical genius to the soaring beauty of opera filling my ears. Whether it’s a run, a walk, or CrossFit, the intention is the same: to feel the city under my feet, to let her flow into me, to return home luminous, refreshed, and ready for the pleasures ahead.
Midday Nourishment
Food is my indulgence, my pleasure, and one of my favourite indulgences. For lunch, I may choose something spontaneous like a small restaurant hidden away in the back streets of my neighbourhood, a table tucked inside where light filters through industrial windows and the scent of lemongrass or garlic drifts from the kitchen. Melbourne is a city where cuisines collide, where authenticity matters, and where quality is worshipped. It is a city that matches my own philosophy: less is more, but what is chosen must be the best.
I might order oysters, fresh and briny, a plate of sashimi so delicate it almost melts, or perhaps something heartier, such as a slow-braised lamb or a bowl of handmade pasta, shared with someone across the table who delights as much as I do in savouring every bite. In conversation, I find the real feast. To sit across a man of taste, to listen to stories, dreams, and engage with questions, this is nourishment of the soul. It is never just small talk with me. Conversations, like meals, are to be savoured, deep and inspiring. I live for those moments where laughter escapes unplanned, where curiosity is awakened, where the mind dances as much as the palate.
Afternoon Indulgence
The perfect afternoon calls for culture and inspiration entwined. I may spend the afternoon in one of Melbourne’s many art galleries, letting my eyes move from painting to sculpture, from light to shadow. Sometimes a piece makes me smile, sometimes it provokes, and often it stays in my thoughts long after I’ve left. I experience art as a conversation and a mirror, another way to think, to feel, to connect with the world around me.
And sometimes, an afternoon can take an altogether different turn. A retreat into privacy, where doors close and the outside world falls away. To indulge in closeness, touch, laughter, and sensual exploration. Feel Melbourne's pulse of intimacy, adventure, and the spark of true connection between us.
Evening Glow
As the sun sets, Melbourne transforms. The light turns golden, then dusky pink, and I love nothing more than to mosey through the streets with someone by my side, letting the city reveal herself in all her layers. The clink of glasses from small bars spilling onto the streets, the laughter drifting from gatherings on the sidewalks, the smells of restaurants mixing with spices from home cooking and the bewitching scent of jasmine and cherry blossoms lining the gardens nearby - this is the symphony of the city I love.
Dinner, to me, is a celebration. Not rushed, not functional, but a celebration. The perfect evening might mean slipping into one of Melbourne's many exquisite restaurants, dressed in style and savouring each course with care, each glass of wine thoughtfully chosen. But just as often, my heart is happiest in life’s simple pleasures. Sharing a meal that is comforting and flavoursome, laughing together, enjoying each other's company is the centrepiece. For me, it is never just about the food; it is about our genuine connection across the table.
Nightfall Intimacy
The night is where inspiration, nourishment, and adventure converge. To return home with someone, to slip off my heels and pour a drink, to change the music and the scene to something more primal - my sensual side comes to life again.
I live for the intimacy of meaningful connection, the kind that engages not just your body, but also your mind and soul. To be touched, tasted, savoured; to watch and be watched; to sigh and sing; to surrender into passion. These are the moments when time dissolves, when all that matters is being present, being in the moment, when the world outside no longer exists.
It is about immersion, about feeling alive, about letting desires surface, about exploring the fantasies that linger unspoken until they are finally given room to unfold. This, to me, is what makes a day perfect: when every sense is nourished, when laughter and pleasure flow freely, when we part not just satisfied but renewed.
The Return
And so the day ends, not with exhaustion, but with gratitude. Gratitude for a city that offers endless possibilities. Gratitude for a body that is strong, radiant, alive. Gratitude for the company of someone who dared to share, to connect, to let go.
The perfect day in my Melbourne is not extraordinary in the usual sense. It is extraordinary because it is real, because it is lived with intention, curiosity, and joy. It is mind, body, and soul in harmony.
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