Monday 28 December 2015

So This Is Christmas

Given that HR was working Christmas day and beyond, and The Mini Brat was in Germany, I decided to spend Christmas with HR where he lives.
Using my frequent flyer points I booked and boarded a plane.
The main dilemma here was always going to be what to create for Christmas Lunch. I had several ideas and after wasting my time and energy asking HR what he would like (whatever  you thinks best Dear is his stock standard answer, man refuses to make a decision) I decided that a Watermelon and Prawn Salad, Morton Bay Bugs in Dijon Sauce, Ham, Cheeses and sundry salads would be an appropriate repast (ever notice how difficult it is to cut down the amount of food you prepare when the kids are gone?).
Left over prawns would be made into garlic prawns and one must always have too much ham for the obligatory ham and eggs on Boxing Day.
I warned HR that we would go shopping for comestibles as soon as he picked me up from the airport and he dutifully chauffeured me to the appropriate stores. Thank fully we were unable to get the Bugs.
We lumbered up the stairs to HR's apartment laden with groceries and suitcases (I DO travel light... sometimes) and while I put stuff away HR made the cuppas (what else are men good for? nuffin!!!).

Christmas Eve was a busy day. We toddled off to the Crematorium, taking some lovely pink Carnations to lay on my Father's resting spot. It's always calming sitting beside the Golden Carp infested water ways and communing with Dad ( most of my comms with Dad are had at a hectic pace whilst driving long distances to get to sporting events). Then we went to my Brother's place, talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous!

The best that can be said about my Brother is that he is eccentric. I always say to HR that we're only staying an hour and then whoooshka three hours later......he can be an interesting bloke and this time we had some robust discussions on politics and religion, go figure.

After a nice dinner, and bemoaning the fact there was no Big Bash Cricket on, we watched some NCIS and retired. HR had to start work at 0600 Christmas Day.
Barely an hour had passed when the stomach cramps started. The pain was akin to the contractions one has when giving birth. Not long after that the inevitable nausea and diarrhoea started and there went the whole Christmas ball game.
I managed not to disturb HR and wandered aimlessly about the lounge room (with quick dashes to the loo every 20 minutes or so). Suffice to say I was a very sore and sorry camper!!! I did not have any medication with me whatsoever.
HR went to work and I suffered the rest of the day BUT we managed to find a Chemist open and HR secured the magic concoctions to save me!

Needless to say there was no Christmas dinner for anyone, I think HR had toast. There was no way I was preparing any food at all until I was totally cured!!! Boxing Day was spent finsing the fixings for some very bland home made fried rice.

Ah well........

Wednesday 23 December 2015

Another One Bites The Dust

I think this is the last lost tradition post for 2015 and I have saved the big one for last.

This year, for the first time in 27 Years (yes the Normal Autistic Girl ,Kezz, is 27) I will not have my children with me for Christmas.
I am not sure how I feel about this.
I am not responsible for this.
HR started the demise of this tradition by agreeing to work Christmas Day (remember HR works in another state) and in all good conscience I couldn't let him fend for himself on a day that is about family.
The Mini Brat compounded the deal by announcing she was going to Germany for Christmas (alas it has not snowed so she may not get the white Christmas she was hoping for).
Further complicating it all is the fact that for the first time in 15 years I will not be seeing The Dragon Lady (my Mother) for Christmas.
The Normal Autistic one will pick up the slack and go and see her Nana on Christmas day and then she will go and see The Boy Child, his Consort (the saint in making) and my gorgeous Grand Sons.

So, a tradition that has lasted as long as my parenthood is now broken. No mad rush to clean the house before The Dragon Lady comes for lunch, no mad rush to shop for the perfect foods to serve, no mad rush to buy and wrap appropriate presents and place them just so around the tree, no wondering where the hell the kids are, those who have had to travel to be with us,no wondering will HR get back from his parent's place in time to go and pick The Dragon Lady up.

No more will we fear the annual critique of the gardens ,we bought the house off The Dragon Lady and once a year she visits, Christmas, and criticises (not always constructively) the gardens and any 'improvements' we have made to the house.

Last year the Consort was suffering food poisoning, so we thought, seems she was pregnant!!

So this year it will be just HR and I.
I am not sure how I feel about this.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Ch Ch Ch Changes

For the last seven years I have worked with a team of five. For four and a bit years I have been the 'boss'. There's been some changes over the years, people have come and gone but there was always me and Grasshopper.
Grasshopper and I have had an interesting relationship over the time and only last year she shocked me by telling me she identified as Indigenous (it's not half obvious really). We got a lot of mileage out of that, people never know when to take us seriously. We have always dressed 'corporate' in black suits and heels. We have been referred to as 'the mafia'. Some people think they're funny.

Anyway, Grasshopper and I have a tradition (here we go again) of 'decorating' our work space in some sort of theme. The other members of the team have always been happy to go along and we always as for their input but they leave it to us.
Over the years we've had a Zen garden, Ayers Rock/Uluru, and some of the more recent ones are shown here:
Christmas 2014
 Christmas 2015
 The Bazaar 2015

We have had a lot of fun putting these together and dealing with some of the more silly comments from the rest of the building's inhabitants as they walk past or through our little section. Some people think they're funny and make dumb comment, some people have said what a great thing we do and they love to see what we will do next, some people contribute small things to the theme. No matter what the contribution, we have achieved what we set out to do.... create a space where people feel free to be themselves whatever that is, to get people talking and involved in some way.

Grasshopper has gone and gotten herself a job in another state. Now there is only me left and 'they' have decided, in their infinite fricken wisdom, that I am  to be incorporated into another unit.
No more themes ... another tradition is gone....All the very best of wishes to you Grasshopper!!!

Monday 21 December 2015

Its the End of the World as We Know It

Here at The Mausoleum we have several traditions that are about to hit the dirt. (The Mausoleum is in the process of size reduction and eventual move to Brisvegas)
The first tradition to go is the Manager Finance (MF) BBQ-ing every day for the last two weeks of December. During the year we have a welfare club that provides snags (sausages) every Tuesday and Thursday, and bacon and egg burgers every pay day (fortnightly). The welfare club ceases this activity (due to most people being on holidays) the second week of December. MF bravely steps in and provides us with all manner of bbqed delicacies from chicken skewers to bacon and egg burgers and a lot in between. He sends an email every morning to apprise us of the day’s offerings and then off he goes at 0930 to light the barbie!
But now, alas, the MF has chosen to leave us! There was a collective groan throughout The Mausoleum at the announcement. Who will cook for us next year? What will we do without the delicious little morsels to look forward to on otherwise boring days? MF saves us all in these last few working days and next year he won’t be here…….
To the Manager Finance I offer my heartfelt thanks for the years of service to the tongs, and wish you every happiness and success in whatever you do in your future!!!

The second tradition is the Punters Club (PC). The PC has existed time out of mind and is/was a bunch of like minded people who liked to take a chance with Lady Luck on the horses, dogs, keno, lotto, two flies crawling up a wall, you get the picture! Now, one of the mainstays of this club, DD, has decided retirement is the go and thus the club will disband after March next year (Hagalicious can’t go on without DD apparently). Never again will we gloat or bemoan the weekends tipping and check the spreadsheets to see who has won the most. Never again will we sit, as a club, in the Legends Room at Clifford Park Raceway on our special yearly break up day. 
Enjoy your retirement DD!!!!

The third tradition is the Christmas Pub Crawl (CPC). Every year, Management (yes that means me), puts on a Chicken and Champagne breakfast for our staff to say Thank You  for making us look good all year. The CPC takes place after the Chicken and Champagne. Designated Drivers ferry the festive folk to the nominated starting pub and the crawl begins! We sample most of the 'in' pubs playing pool and cranking up the juke box singing along to the tunes. Sadly there will be one last hurrah and then no more. To the stalwarts who are there every year, thank you for your company SALUTE!!!

There are a few other traditions that are coming to an end and I will blog about them separately over the coming days. It has been said that 'change is goodness' I'm not convinced.....

Monday 14 December 2015

Sweet Dreams Are Made of Cheese (parody)

I am partial to the odd piece of cheese. I like ALL kinds of cheese from a nice Camembert to a strong Blue Vein and everything in between. I especially like the Blue Vein in a sauce on a medium rare steak...but that's another story.

Today I feel constrained to blog about a cheese I have been nibbling over the last week: Mainland Smoked Cheddar. 'A smokey flavoured cheddar that's warm and cheery like an open fire' is he blurb on the packaging. It lives up to its name! A lovely tasty, smokey, slightly crumbly, cheddar that tantalises the taste buds and goes with anything!

Just now I had some cold roast chicken, salami, cherries, apricots and the delicious smoked cheddar for a light evening repast. The cheese doesn't overwhelm the taste of its culinary companions but niether is it lost in their various flavours - it holds its own in any company.

There are occasions when a biscuit is needed with one's cheese and with this little beauty I match it with a multigrain Salada and a sweet white wine, Brown Brother's Moscato, is my preferred tipple. Yes yes I am told red wine is served with cheese but.....as I always point out...I am not a food connoisseur I just eat and drink what I like.

Sometimes I have been known to wrap the delicious morsels of smokey cheddar goodness in a slice of salami as a quick pick me up snack!
 
Now if HR were here to assist me in the consumption of said cheese, he'd be looking for some olives and cellery! And of course we would argue about what kind of olives!



 So all in all this Mainland Smoked Cheddar is a tasty versatile cheese that I will be looking for again when I hit the shops!!!

Friday 11 December 2015

Baby you can drive my car

Cars have naff all to do with food I hear you say, and you're quite right but...cars are a necessary evil in getting one to and from restaurants and grocery stores hence this post.

Once upon a time I owned a gorgeously cheeky little Kia Cerato Koup, I loved that car and we had many good times together.

Then HR (the husband, remember?) decided he wanted to exchange his crappy piece of Euro Trash Mondeo for a Mazda BT 50 (The BT). My little Kia was sacrificed on the altar of his masculine stupidity (I'll stop sobbing momentarily) and I inherited my first piece of Euro Trash.

 Next thing is The Boy Child is living 50 mins away from work and his piece of shit Holden Commodore (hereafter referred to as The Crummy) was costing him a fortune in fuel, maybe he could use the Mondeo (diesel is cheaper and more economical apparently) and I could use The Crummy. Well the big problem there is that I will NEVER willingly drive a Holden.

So we have a conundrum! BUT the Normal Autistic Girl lives in Brisvegas and uses public transport so her car (Tenny the Veloster) is in an advanced state of disuse, perhaps Mother could use that? Well yes but it is unregistered and some bastard has side swiped it and driven off so........

Anyway, long story short, Tenny got registered and repaired and came to live with me for ten months.
Keeping up are we?
So, the Normal Autistic Girl suddenly needs her car back!! More than a conundrum here, we have a fricken DILEMMA!! What will Mother drive? How will she get from here to there and to her many food sources?
Check the classified boards at work!! Genius right? Mebbe.

There's a car for sale (more Euro Trash). An Audi, going cheap, but in good condition. Hmm I think to myself let's be looking at this then. Long story short, again, I bought said Audi, bargain yeah? Mebbe.

The Audi passed a roadworthy and has new tyres and is generally ready to rock (The Mini Brat Lurvs the Audi and wants it when I get my new Kia). Let's take Tenny back to Brisvegas!

I drive the Audi, the Mini Brat drives Tenny ( a story in itself but not right now). It's raining all the way there. We meet the Normal Autistic Girl at Macca's near the Gabba, give her her car and the Mini Brat and I start the drive back (forgetting to get my house keys off Tenny's keyring...we had to climb in a window when we got home).

Merrily driving along and fielding abuse from the Mini Brat, seems my attempt to be considerate by not speeding along on the way TO Brisvegas annoyed her (she was following me), we lost a little traction on a wet, rough bit of road near Buranda shopping centre. No Biggy, corrected and motored on. Except that suddenly I have no oomph in the accelerator, and if I try to speed up the car bucks like a Bronco!!! What the hell, have I bought a lemon????? Will I get back up the Range? will we get home in time for the Mini Brat to get her nails done?? Sounds like some kind of melodrama right?

I was right to be concerned about the Range. Oh dear. It was embarassing and humiliating and I found out JUST how much the MiniBrat is like her Father (HR). She huffed, she puffed she was downright fricken annoying whilst I tried to baby this piece of EuroTrash up the hill!!
Four times it stalled going up the hill and just because we were at the top didn't seem to make a difference. We must have stalled through at least three sets of lights ( yeah thanks to the dickheads who tooted in annoyance even though we had hazzard lights flashing and all cos like we weren't embarassed enough you know?). We finally made it home. My nerves were shot, the Mini Brat made her appointment so, you know, everything worked out yeah.
I rang HR. HR rang the Audi dealers. The Audi dealers inform HR of something called 'Limp Mode'.
Apparently the Audi has all these sensors everywhere and if somethng is off the car will go into the 'Limp Mode' to protect the car. You have enough power to get the vehicle to a garage apparently.

WHY WASN'T I TOLD????????????

SO, I will get the Audi to the mechanic on Monday and then hopefully I can get back to driving to wherever it is I need to drive.........In PEACE!!!!!


Wednesday 25 November 2015

Lucy in the sky...

Picture yourself in a boat on a river with tangerine tress and marmalade skies...

or a badly directed episode of Yes Minister...you chose

This is the farcical, sometimes comical, but always frustrating state The Mausleum finds itself in these days. "Organisational Change' it's called and it's doing my head in big time. Let's split from 'this' and call ourselves 'that' even though we're doing the same things as 'them' but wait lets consolidate that bit and relocate this bit and dammmit let's do it all again just one more time with feeling!!! Confused yet? Try living through it. Now we've reverted to 'that' name because after all we really ARE all working in the same domain after all and you know that bit that was ours for 12 months? well we can't have it any more because it fits better over there.......

oh and job security? WTF is that these days....

three new bosses in 12 months, or is it 6 in nine and hell where do I actually fit in any more and is my work really cotributing to the organisations goals?

So let's find a new job I says to meself......
where shall I work? shall I move interstate, inter ity or just inter current site?
what am I actually quallified for and Lord help me writing the application because I am damned if I know what to write after seven years in one spot.
Then there's the interview...can someone PLEASE tell me how NOT to look like a babbling idiot in front of an interview panel.....

Anyway I guess I screwed that one up...better luck next time eh?


Cruisin' (Part 3)

There's nothing quite like the gentle motion of a ship on the seas to rock you off to sleep.
The dozen or so cockatils consumed had nothing to do with it!!!

Waking up knowing someone has cooked breakfast and you don't have to clean up the wreckage is so cool. Then while you consume said breakfast someone cleans the bathroom, makes the bed and replenishes the fresh fruit basket. Bliss.
After breakfast a brisk walk around the 'top' deck watching as the serious runners breeze by you (really who does THAT much exercise on hols?) and then down to deck 5 to the coffee shop for tea, coffee and trivia!
Ok so there are lifts on board to get us from lowly deck 5 to the lofty heights of deck 11 but HR and I chose to take the stairs! Theres a hell of a lot of stairs between decks you know, sometimes we had to take a break at deck 8...at the Casino.

Hagalicious and I did a Martini Masters course. So much fun!!! and of course the martini's were not wasted (on me anyway) Hagalicious decided martini is not her preferred tipple. The wait staff in the Orient bar (deck 7) are a very talented bunch. They sing, they dance, and make a wicked martini. Lots of audience participation in the dancing. Haven't laughed so much for ages.

HR and CR sat at another bar drinking and doing whatever it is blokes do when women aren't around to advise them.

Now on board the beautiful Pacific Dawn there are two Cocktail folders, each with a different selection to choose from. In the fine tradition of Bar Auditors around the world I sampled ALL of them (except the choclatey ones, I don't do chocolatey drinks, though the Toblerone almost got me to change my mind). I coud do a seperate blog comaparing the relative merits of each drink I tried but I think I woud be the only one who enjoyed it. One cannot drink vicariously, it just doesn't work.

Whilst this blog is predominantly about food I won't go into graphic detail, but suffice to say the Eggs Florentine were deliciously perfect, the Salmon and Cream Cheese Omelette was divine and the cheese boards were very acceptable!
I will however, mention Luna one of the specialty restaurants on board. There is a cover charge of $29 per person but it is so worth it! The restaurant rotates between various Asian cusines and this cruise was a Japanese degustation. Eight courses of  beautifully cooked and presented Japanes foods ( the menu is downloadable from the Luna link in this blog). Some different tatses for us to try and I enjoyed it all.

Now when I mention Bingo a lot of you will groan but...when the jackpot sits at $5000.00 and you're two numbers off it can be pretty exciting ( no we didn't win but hell we had a good try).

Apart from Bingo and trivia there was plenty more to occupy us including a very funny Hypnotist (Anthony B Laffan) who had some of the guests doing very funny things, an excellent review called Life as We Know It, an engrossing talk from the Pilot who navigated us through The Great Barrier Reef section of the trip, oh and Name That Song ( another hilarious take on trivia) to name a few.

And every day that lovely cabin person came cleaned the bathroom and made the bed !
Cruising is such a joy!

HR and I have already booked an amazing deal to sail on the Pacific Aria (yes she was 'christened' today in that P&O spectacular in Sydney Harbour) , A seven day cruise to Cairns, Willis Island etc in a Balcony room with a drinks package each and $300 room credit for $1729.00 each! Outstanding value.
I could go on and on and on...you get the picture, but I will make this the last Part of the cruisin' post.
If you're enjoying the read please leave a comment, feedback good/constructive is always welcome.







Tuesday 24 November 2015

Cruisn' (Part 2)

So here's how it all went down....

The afformentioned friends from the Mausoleum, HR and I all trundled down to Brisvegas the day before the cruise left We like to stay at the Airolodge and congregate around the pool sipping coldies of some description and generally getting into holiday mode. The Airolodge has the added advantage of 1.) cheap parking for the car while you cruise and 2.) they have a shuttle takes you down to the wharf in time for embarkation as well s being a comfy well priced hotel.
Next morning we saunter out for breakie and make sure we have the cash we want to leave with the purser for drinkies on the cruise (using debit//credit cards can freeze funds for a little while after the cruise so we use cash). Into the shuttle and off to the wharf for boarding. As we were in a Mini Suite we had priority boarding so we escaped the cattle crush of the lower decks (oh yeah we were snobby).
 On board we went to check out our suite and then up  the Lido deck for a cruising cocktail or six.
Watching the ebb and flow of the punters at the bar as the ship started to fill up with passengers is thirsty work.
After the Dawn set sail, promptly at 1600 hours, we went downstairs to get our bags unpacked and settle in before dinner. Problem:it seems HR had left some sort of multi tool in his bag from a previous trip and security wanted to have a word with him before he could have his bag!!! Seriously! Who does that???
Crisis averted and some welcome aboard champagne later, we went to dinner with our travel companions.
We dined at the Waterfront Restaurant Deck 7. It was a schemozzle!! There were several large parties aboard and the staff , God bless them, were overwhelmed.. mostly by the rudeness of some people!!
There was a wedding party (I'll swear they were from Bogan Central) very large in number and size...
The first lot of bread rolls had been consumed and a second lot was going round and then a third...but wait! Old mate in the back row didn't get a third roll ( he didn't need one either from the size of him) all hell broke loose! He chased the poor little wait person all the way back to the wait staion and commenced harranguing them at the top of his voice in front of a packed restaurant! Appalling behaviour, even his own family was embarassed.
Sadly the food that night was not what we had experienced on previous cruises and so we did not eat an evening meal there again this cruise.
After dinner we went to the coffee shop on Deck 5 for a soothing Jasmine tea (me) and a cappacino (HR). All in all a good start to the cruise. More to come soon!


Sunday 22 November 2015

Cruisin' (Part 1)

I LOVE cruising! Yes yes I have only been on two cruises BUT...I will be going on more in the near future. Technically I guess the trip from England to Australia on the Castel Felice in 1967 counts as a cruise so we'll call it three cruises then.
Cruising is the ultimate in relaxing and having everything done for you. Someone makes the bed every morning, turns down the covers every evening, and leaves a choccy on the pillow. Someone cooks every meal for you, with a variety of eating spots, and a variety of foods available. Someone clears away the dirty dishes and then washes them (you never see any of the cooking or cleaning going on...it's like magic...). Someone makes all the different cocktails you could ever want to drink and there's heaps of entertaining things to do every day and night!!!! Oh and apparently some cruises stop at interesting places that you can leave the ship and go and visit for awhile.

The cruise HR and I just completed was a four day trip from Brisbane to Airlie Beach and back. We've been to Airlie Beach before so we didn't see the need to leave the ship at all.

We organised the cruise earlier this year and counted down the months, weeks, days, hours even the minutes. We were one of four couples from The Mausoleum to sail away (it's always fun to have friends to hang with). The beautiful Pacific Dawn (formerly Regal Princess from the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy), part of the P&O Fleet, was the ship to take us away!!! (Take me away P&O was an advertising jingle back in the day). I love the gorgeous curves and old worldliness of her interior decor (go google images of her).

On our previous cruise we had booked a Balcony room, this time we went with the Mini Suite. There are a few advantages to a Mini Suite including; priority boarding, bigger room, lots of perks (canapes and champagne in room), fresh fruit daily, a bath in the bathroom and priority disembarkation to name a few. Mini Suites have balconies too. Only issue is that the Mini Suites are below the Lido deck where all the parties and nightlife go on, makes a hell of a racket at night if you're staying in or wanting an early night.
Other than that I think a Mini Suite is a damned good option!!
Time for a post cruise cocktail......part 2 coming up soon.





Thursday 12 November 2015

Trains and Boats and Planes (well boats mostly)

HR and I are going on a four day cruise to somewhere (destination doesn't matter , it's the someone else cooking, cleaning, making the bed etc). We're being joined by a few friends we've travelled with before (DO NOT get me started on the Adelaide trip), an amusing bunch with similar interest; namely the auditing of the bars and restaurants aboard ship and of course the ever important stock rotation policy (which we intend to give a solid helping hand to).

Before one sets sail on a cruise there are a few things that MUST be taken care of first!!!
 At the risk of giving away more info on my whereabouts than I generally care to here are two of my favourite pamper places.

1. Nails: Stunning Edge Studio. Shaylee does the best nails ever! The search for the perfect nail tech has taken several years of hit and miss and finally we found Shaylee. 90 Plus colours and an amazing range of glitters and foils. Manicures, Pedicures and sundry other Beauty treatments this place is clean, professional and the customer service is beyond compare!!!

2. Hair: Engineering Hair and Beauty. It takes forever to find someone who cuts, styles and colours your hair JUST the way you like it. Jodi and her team are totally amazing. They provide a whole range of services from waxing and tinting to facials and massage as well as fabulous hair technicians. I miss Naomi still, but Jodi has stepped up beautifully ( ok she's the boss and taught Naomi everything but it did take a little while for me to be confident with the change (Luvya Jodes!).
From the minute you walk into the salon you feel good with a friendly welcome from ladies who genuinely care and make the whole experience about YOU. You walk in feeling dowdy and miserable and you walk out feeling and looking BEAUTIFUL.

3. THE TAN: On my best day I resemble a great white whale in a swim suit- nasty. So off I go to Engineering Hair and Beauty for a Spray Tan! Casey is the ultimate spray tanner! A beautifully even tan that is not orange or too dark or fake looking and it lasts a week. LOVE it.

Of course there is the waxing etc charmingly referred to as 'Beauty' after all one does NOT got to sea looking Walrussy (no offence to the Walrus) for which one goes to the afformentioned establishment.

Ok, that's the aesthetics taken care of, I better go pack a bag.........

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Viva Brisvegas (with apologies to Elvis)

Every now and then we're given day leave from The Mausoleum (work), we're allowed to (shock horror) TRAVEL! Decadent huh?
Day trips are the order of the day, after all, the tax payers dollar should not be wasted!
Anywhoo Brisvegas was today's destination and, as Miranda would say, 'Such Fun'!

A quick two hours down the road and we arrived at our destination somewhere near the Roma st station, parked the chariot (work vehicle) and commenced the meet and greet ritual with those we HAVE to see and then sneak off to catch up with colleagues we haven't seen for awhile. Of course LUNCH is a must.

There are so many little eateries we could frequent but we opted for the tried and tested Hog's Breath at The Barracks.
On a whim we sat inside (the boss was seated outside, avoidence mode engaged) a move we came to regret as it was bloody cold in there! I mean seriously one dresses for heat and humidity in Brisbane, it was a cool day and they have the aircon on 'freeze hell over attempt'.
Now we have been to Hoggies many times and we know what we want, mostly anyway, and so it was the lunch special -  Flathead and Curly fries. There's just something about those curly fries......
I love the way they serve this meal, in a little pail lined with paper, a generous serve of tartare sauce and a slice of lemon.
Crispy crumbed fish dipped in tartare is just what's required for a catch up lunch, stuff the cutlery, fingers came first. Washed down with a sober Lemon, Lime and Bitters it fortifies one for the barrage of afternoon meetings and the subsequent trek home.
The usual 30 minute lunch became an hour, we had a lot of catching up to do, and we scurried back to the office with a happy tummy.

The trip home was uneventful and one will be attending The Mausoleum tomorrow for debrief and enhanced workload!!

However, as of Friday 13 Nov I am on 9 days leave!!! Oh HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY.
Look out for my cruise blog when I get back!!!!



Saturday 31 October 2015

Talk about it: 25 Toorak Road

So, HR and I went to 25 Toorak Road last night for dinner.
Now let me remind you again that we are not connoisseurs we just know what we like and sometimes we make mistakes ( yes Theo I did get the cutlery wrong) and pair the wrong foods with the wrong wines etc. 
We were welcomed by Theo and seated at our table.
The understated, elegant, decor has a lovely little quirk in that three chairs at the table are wooden dining chairs and the fourth is upholstered.
I opted for a glass of champagne (Laurent Perrier Brut  L-P (Tours-sur-Marne France)) and HR ordered French Beer while we studied the Menu.
I knew I was going to have the Escargot (I had them last time I dined here) but there was the siren call of the Scallops. What was I to do? Theo and I decided I would have two entrees no main and we'd work out dessert later.
HR went with the daily special, entrée of Beef Carpaccio and a main course of Chicken Breast Fillet (another daily special).

Surrounded by the buzz of other diners enjoying their evening we eagerly awaited our entrees.
The Escargot and Beef Carpaccio arrived and we took a moment to savour the aromas and presentation. (You can see pictures of the delicious food at the web page 25 Toorak Road)
The Escargot are lightly sautéed in garlic, white wine and tarragon,topped with light fluffy puff pastry and are served in two small ramekins. This is such a lovely combination of flavours and textures and I even got HR to sample a snail!!! He was pleasantly surprised though not a convert. Of course I sopped up as much sauce as I could with the puff pastry (I am all class!)

HR enjoyed his Beef and the little taste I had was quite nice but I think the Escargot was the right option.
HR stayed with the French beer and I decided a little sparkling water was my preferred tipple for the main course.

After a suitable break, out came HR's chicken and my Scallops (entrée size). The Scallops are seared and served with cauliflower puree and truffle pangrattato and tasted divine and I supplemented them with the steamed green vegetables (lightly steamed with an agreeable crispness) HR had ordered to go with his chicken. I snared a bite of his chicken and it was delicious; moist and tender perfectly cooked served on a bed of potato and beetroot. There was not even a pattern left on the plate when we were done!!!

HR and I settled back with fresh drinks and chatted amiably about this and that before asking the lovely Kate to help us with our dessert selection (we settled on sharing a Soufflé to be followed by a cheese plate). I am not a red wine drinker at all but I thought why not ask for suggestions to go with the cheese. Kate was very knowledgeable and listened to my criteria before suggesting two Pinot's and actually bringing them out for me to sample! Having made my choice ( a light French Pinot I cannot recall the name of, yes I will write it down next time) We chatted the time away until the Soufflé arrived.

There are no words to describe the experience that was the Soufflé ... every time I try to type a description I get lost in the memory of the whole experience. Light, fluffy, lemony deliciousness that wafted across the taste buds in an orgy of flavour so perfectly awesome I almost didn't get to the Lemon Curd ice cream it was served with. I'm pretty sure HR enjoyed the Soufflé too, I forgot to ask :)

At some stage I returned from the euphoric state the Soufflé had placed me in and we asked Kate for the Cheese.
HR likes his cheese. There was Camembert, Blue Vein and a Cheddar served with quince paste, flat bread and fruit toast. I love a good Blue Vein and this one was particularly nice, even old grumble bum HR thought it was ok and he generally loathes Blue Vein.

We sat back replete....there was not a thing more we needed.

Over a period of two and a half hours we had experienced yet another perfect dining experience.

I congratulate Denis, the owner, on creating the perfect partnership of decor, staff and food!

I thank Theo, Kate (wait staff), Steven (bar), Julian (Sous Chef), Tom (Chef) and Rory (Chef). One day I hope to have David Kapay (Head Chef) cook for me, I'll keep going on the off chance ( I hope all is well with you and yours David :)).

I travel 1,561 kms to eat at 25 Toorak Road and it is worth every minute of travel!!!!!!!

As Molly Meldrum said 'Do yourself a favour..' and get to 25 Toorak Road and enjoy your own fine dining experience.







Thursday 29 October 2015

Just the Basic Facts.

Due to work requirements, HR and I live in different states from each other. One of the perks of this is that we get reunion visits. Most of the time I fly to where he is and we either hang out and explore the eateries there or we hop in The Beast and travel.
Another reason for travel is my Aussie Rules Footy Team THE MIGHTY BRISBANE LIONS.
We chose at least one none Queensland game a year and build a holiday around it.
2013 we went to Launceston to watch the Lions take on the Hawks, we enjoyed sampling the boutique wineries, chocolate, and cheese factories.
2013 I was at Kardinia Park (no matter what they call it it will always be Kardinia to me)  when whatshisface Chapman dived for the free kick and stopped us winning.
2014 we went to Wellington, New Zealand where the Lions hung on by the skin of their teeth to beat the Saints.
Anyway, you get the point, we travel A LOT!

One of my favorite destinations is Melbourne. I am writing this blog from the beautiful Toorak Manor Hotel in Toorak Victoria. We've just spent six hours wandering around St Kilda, South Melbourne, and Queen Victoria Markets.

This evening we will dine at one of the most amazing restaurants I have ever had the pleasure to eat at:  25 Toorak Road  South Yarra.

How did I discover this gourmet gem you might ask. Well let me explain.....
As a Lions supporter I frequent Twitter and Facebook and engage with other Lions Fans. One of these fans happens to be involved with 25 Toorak Road. Earlier this year HR and I decided to go and see what all the fuss was about.
We were delighted with what we found! So much so that we have travelled again to immerse ourselves in the finest dining experience we have encountered for quite some time.

Tonight's dining experience will be the subject of my next blog!!!!

In the beginning

Why am I blogging you might ask and I would answer: because it seemed like a good idea at the time (same reason most of us got married). Another reason to blog is to keep an account of the travels HR Puffnstuf (he who annoys me/husband) and I do over the next few years or so. The final reason I will offer for blogging is because it appears I am a foody and as such it behooves me to give my uneducated yet important opinion to the world on all the different restaurants HR and I dine at in the course of the aforementioned travels.
(Pauses while the comma f*&#kers of the world get over the lack of punctuation etc in the previous paragraph, of course that presupposes someone will actually read this)

Having made the decision to blog I then got the Normal Autistic Girl (Kezzstar) to get me started.

I am sure over the course of my blogging career I will make many mistakes (Kezzstar will make sure I know about them) but it's all about having fun yeah?

A quick list of characters that may feature regularly in my blogs:

HRPuffnstuf - Husband, annoying person extraordinaire, driver.
Kezzstar - eldest daughter, annoying know it all, tech support (reluctant)
The Boy Child -  Son, takes after his father
The Consort -  Son's partner, Mother of my Gorgeous Grandsons, Saint in the making
The Mini Brat - youngest daughter, tells the Tales of Tinder, loves her Mother (when it suits)
Skitteh - the Kitteh
The Beast - vehicle HR drives
Tenny - Kezzstar's car which I drive

And now to post my Very First Blog... Gee I hope someone reads it.