Kaleidescope

This weekend I am off to Brisbane and environs. HR is working. There will not be a brunch date.
We did, however, have dinner last night (Thursday 23 June).
We went to a nifty place called Schnitz. Schnitz is a franchise restaurant bordering on fast food but by golly they know how to do schnitzel!!
We were unsure about meal sizes so we ordered a schnitzel each.  HR went the beef Schnitzel, chips and coleslaw. I went for the chicken, chips and salad.
These are some big meals and in future we will just share!! The chickens Scnitzel was tender and moist and the crumbs were perfect. I tasted HR's beef and it was tender as well. The chips were AMAZING!!! Homestyle chips with a seasoning that just hinted of chicken salt. I tasted the coleslaw ( I LOATHE coleslaw) it wasn't drowned in dressing and was healthy sized shreds of cabbage and carrot etc. I could actually eat this coleslaw. The garden salad was crisp and fresh and not even a HINT of ice berg lettuce!! We had a dipping sauce of Honey Mustard for the chips as well. Tasty.

There has been a few days hiatus in writing this blog. I have been to Brisbane and back.
It was a quick trip and I managed to catch up with The Mini Brat, the Normal Autistic Kid, Mother and even had interaction with the Boy Child and the Consort (brief electronic contact with the latter two).
The trip from Brisbane to the top of the Range and beyond never ceases to drive me insane.
I do enjoy staying at The Hotel Grand Chancellor though. The rooms are clean and modern, off street parking, nice views, the room service is great and the location is perfect.

The football team got beat - again. My brother in law will be annoying me tomorrow. Last week he predicted a St Kilda win (he's a Saints fan) and I told him he was delusional- they won (only by 3 points and he said 22 so I figure he was still delusional). The bloody filth won, Freo is officially off the tip list. Tipping is a mugs game.

I read a book over the weekend; Scattered Pearls by Sohila Zanjani. What a fascinating, engaging read. The story of three generations of Iranian women spanning over a hundred years. It reminded me of when I went to university (as a mature age student - my mid life crisis). I studied History, International Relations and Asian Studies. One of the last pieces of work I produced was a 9000 word mini thesis and I chose to write about women in Afghanistan pre and post Talliban. I was most fortunate in that I had a real life study in my classes and this beautiful woman agreed to be interviewed by me for this paper. Over a period of 6 weeks I was invited to join her in her home and ask any questions, what a wonderful experience. Outside her home she embraced the Australian culture and laws. Within her home she kept certain traditions of her culture alive and I was privileged to partake of her hospitality. We ate traditional foods seated in the traditional manner. We talked for hours and I still have the tapes I made of those conversations. The stories she told me of being a woman in Afghanistan are similar to those Sohila Zanjani in Iran.
I have also read Jung Chang's Wild Swans, another fascinating insight into three generations of Chinese women. Reading of how other women live/lived during the period I have been alive, trying to understand their cultures and how those cultures have evolved, regressed/progressed, is totally fascinating to me. One day I may get my uni papers out and blog about them - one day.

 Ah well, back to work tomorrow.

and another thing

So, I have a glass of O'Mara's in hand and it's time to have a bit of a rant about football. No not that round ball choreographed dance they call soccer, or thugby (rugby), or even that ugly throw-the-ball-backwards-to-go-forwards rubbish they call league (rugby league) (for our American friends your Grid Iron is not football either so deal with it). I am talking about the only game that could possibly call itself football, where men are men and the boys can go home, where padding is for the feint of heart and skills and fitness rule supreme. I refer to Australian Rules Football.

Now as everyone knows I am a slightly rabid Brisbane Lions fan. The Lions are having a very bad year . Actually bad doesn't quite cut it, HORRENDOUS is more like it. I know it, the media knows it, we ALL bloody know it.
Oh did I say media? MEDIA???? The bloody media ignores the crap out of the Lions when we are trundling along, not earth shattering wins or anything, just trundling, getting it done, winning some losing others. But you just wait until we do something wrong, like lose almost every game of the season so far (we've won one of thirteen to date) or some of our drafted players decide to go home (they're leaving in droves the headlines read). Suddenly the Lions are the hottest news in Australia. Suddenly every hack journalist has an expert opinion on what is wrong with the Lions and how to fix it.

Picture it: It's August 2013,13 August 2013 to be precise, the Normal Autistic Kid and I are at the hotel in Brisbane getting gussied up for the Brisbane Lions Gala Auction. We're keeping a weather eye on FaceBook and Twitter for messages from friends we will be meeting up with at the function. I am scrolling through the Tweets and there's something about Vossy (Lion's coach) I shake my head , reset my glasses and read again, Michael Voss, Lion's coach, has been sacked. WTF????? Two hours before a Gala event and they sack the coach? surely this is a joke, put the telly on, where's the news?
2013 was not the worst year for the Brisbane Lions. It wasn't a good one but hell Vossy was starting to come good, we thought. The media thought otherwise and in what can only be described as a sustained attack the media hounded Vossy up hill and down dale in the press, on telly, social media and anywhere else they could get a hearing. A man's career as a senior coach butchered by the press.
That evening was awful, truly awful. The players were stunned, the guests were angry and vocal in their anger.

Move to 2015 and the go home five. The AFL has a DRAFT system, where young players are picked up by teams these kids are supposed to be down with the fact that they may have to go interstate to get a gig on the big stage. For many it is their first time away from home and they get homesick. Nothing wrong with that, let them go home. But, the media cook it up as something else, they dream up tensions in the club - administration, coaches and even the fans.
How about we look at what the real issues are, how about we look at facts not fiction?
After the historical three peat of the early 2000's Eddie McGuire campaigned long and hard to have our retention allowance removed. Why did he do that one might ask??? Because two of the the Premierships were won against his team. Sour grapes much Eddie? He tried the same game when Sydney Swans started beating his team regularly. So, money that had helped to keep players at the club was suddenly removed and there was an exodus.There was the usual turn over over retiring players and coaches.

There was of course the incredibly idiotic recruiting debacle when Vossy thought getting Fev was a good idea and ended up losing two very good servants of the club over it.(that was also blown out of proportion in the press but Fev asked for it)
Then the AFL in its infinite wisdom decided that Queensland needed a second team and created what the Normal autistic Kid refers to as the fantastic plastic - the Gold Coast Suns (2011)- or cold toast scums, depends who you are right? Fans from the Gold Coast who used to be Lions supporters switched allegiance to 'their' team starting a membership loss for the Lions which the media ascribed to the fans being disenchanted with the Lions.
2016 - Brisbane Lions has the youngest list, we had a very tough draw, even the press agree, Leppa (coach) is changing the game plan. This year we have re-signed key players, some early because they want to stay.

There is more but you get the picture. Some good stuff and bad stuff and through it all the players keep on keeping on. When we win we are ignored by the media (unless it's against Eddies team) when we lose we're a basket case.

It is extremely difficult watching your team lose week after week. I loathe when so called fans think social media is there for them to abuse the players and coaches. I DETEST the media for  the continual negative press and their attempts to get yet another Lions coach sacked. In all fairness the media have been responsible for the sacking of other teams coaches as well but as they are not MY team I am not concerned with them here.
The media have set themselves up as demi gods, king makers, coach breakers and I for one have had quite enough. I am extending my media boycott to include such shows as AFL360, On the Couch as well as all print media, I am also culling my Twitter 'following' list to remove the more rabid negative so called Lions fans.

One day soon the tide will turn and my Lions will be up there winning and I am with them every tricky step of the way...

We are the pride of Brisbane town
We wear maroon, blue and gold
We will always fight for victory
Like Fitzroy and Bears of old
All for one and one for all
We will answer to the call
Go lions, Brisbane Lions we'll kick the winning score
You'll hear our mighty roar!!!!!!

the long and winding road

That leads to Brunch!!!

HR and I are doing the whole losing weight, learning to eat better thing and one day a week, usually the weekend we go a little nuts.  Generally starts Friday night and finishes Saturday after dinner-ish.

Friday night's are a trip to Grill'd (see previous blogs). Last week we shared the 'Front Bar'; a steak sandwich with egg, mesculin, tomato, Spanish Onion, Dijon mustard, beetroot relish and herbed mayo and of course the Chips Share Plate. Safe to say a total success as a meal!! I think that a second success has seen this place become a firm favourite and a definite part of the 'routine'.

The 'routine' is something HR and I are setting up to help establish a stable home life for us both. You may recall that for eighteen months HR and I were living in different states. When you add to that the fact that I have started a new job after seven years in the last one, moved after eighteen years in one place, and the car accident at the beginning of the year, I am one unsettled person!

Anyway, I digress, last Saturday HR and I took a drive to a lovely little town name of Gundaroo. A rustic little eatery called 'The Cork Street Cafe' served a particularly delicious repast for HR and I. HR chose the Eggs Benedict with Bacon and I had, wait for it, I had Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Bacon and Fried Eggs. OMG talk about deliciousness! Totally worth the drive out there I can tell you.
Then there is the Gundaroo Heritage Walk a meander through the historical high spots of the town.
One could do a lot worse than head to Gundaroo for a feed and a walk!

This Friday we again trekked off to Grill'd where we tried a Beef Burger with our usual accompaniment of Chips. We ordered the 'Almighty' .  'Grilled grass fed lean beef , tasty cheese, crispy trim bacon, free range egg, couple of slices of beetroot with salad, relish and herbed mayo' and we added some avocado. What a HUGE burger!! We cut the burger and I had to eat my share with a knife and fork. Seriously there was no way I was going to get a bite of that baby!! Needless to say it was a thoroughly enjoyable meal and we waddled out of there! We have dibs on a chicken burger next week.

This morning we trundled off to Yass to have a bit of a looksee. We wandered the high street and back streets, there are some beautiful old houses out that way. We decided to have a very late breakfast/early lunch at a lovely establishment named 'The Roses Cafe' where we ordered Eggs Benedict with Bacon, a cappuccino for HR and a pot of Green Tea for me. Next time we go there we will partake of the other delights they had there. Quiche's, savoury muffins, pies, wraps, all manner of delightful baked goods as well as traditional burgers and breakfast foods. A veritable cornucopia of culinary concoctions!!
HR did mention that he preferred the Cork Street Cafe Hollandaise to that of The Roses Cafe. Apparently he found The Roses Cafe Hollandaise a little 'claggy'. However the bacon was cooked just right at The Roses Cafe.
One could be forgiven for thinking we are on a crusade to find the perfect Eggs Benedict, at least HR may be.
Anyway we are scoping next weeks destination As I type so I'll update you when I know!

Oh yeah HR has lost nearly ten kilos, me not so much only four, mebbe if I got off my fat arse I might lose a bit more.............

Blah

It really has been a shitty week.
It was a week I wish had never happened and I guess the coup de grace was watching the Brisbane Lions not even try in their game against Carlton and subsequently get beat by 38 points.

There were maybe one or two high points in the week and these are what I will write about.
The first highpoint was Friday night. After working late ( DO NOT get me started about my supervisor saying I am not allowed to accrue flex but hey you need to be here for like more than the mandated 7.5 hours a day) I arrived home and greeted HR (bastard finished work almost three hours before me and he works in the same place) with the usual 'what's for dinner?' As usual he mumbled shrugged his shoulders and said 'what do YOU want?' Nothing is designed to drive me from calm to ballistic quicker than this typical HR response to any question I might ask. How the hell he makes decisions at work I have no idea!!!!!!!
Anyway, I digress.
Taking a deep breath, I refused to be riled by HR's irritating response, and made a snap decision; 'lets' go shopping' I said 'we can get some dinner while we're out.' HR said where do you want to go? It took more than a deep breath but, I retained my equanimity and said 'hey I chose what to do about dinner you choose where we go' Whereupon he chose a shopping venue and off we went.
Sadly we didn't get to his choice of shopping venue because he got lost. Yes my darling husband got lost. So we went to another shopping venue that we knew had a good selection of eateries.
Now earlier in the week I mentioned to HR that as we are now living in a new state it behoves us to explore the area within a three hour radius of home. He was amenable to such a suggestion and I further suggested that it would be cool to have a huge map of the state on the wall and draw some concentric circles at a one hour, two hour and three hour radius from home. We could place the map on the wall in the computer room and turn it into a little planning cell. HR agreed this was a good idea and so whilst we were out and about on Friday evening we purchased the appropriate map and pin board!!Of course the map was purchased in a book shop and of course I had to look at the books didn't I? I bought a couple of books (Bernard Cornwall 'Gallows' Thief and Ronnie Barker 'A Few Well Frozen Worms' I also picked up a couple of DVD/Book compilation one is for the Normal Autistic Kid 'The Grand Finale of British Steam'(she is mad keen on steam trains) she can have it next time I fly into Brisbane. I also found a truly awesome burnt orange sweater so I bought that too.
It was time to eat!

We strolled along the eatery walk way to see what was there. We had sampled the Dumpling House on a previous visit and would have been happy to revisit but it was so damned busy!!!! We decided to check some of the other places out and if push came to shove we would go dumplings.
There was a Nandos, not a lot of takers there, a Vietnamese place was as packed as the Dumpling House and the Thai restaurant was the same. We weren't in the mood for Indian and the Turkish place was too far away ( though I am partial to Turkish food) and we weren't up for Schnitzels or Snags. That left Grill'd (Healthy Burgers). Grill'd was well patronised and we figured why not? I am so glad we did!!
Now keeping in mind that HR and I are doing the whole diet/change of eating habit thing I suggested that we should share a burger and some chips. HR agreed (especially as he thought it might mean we could have some ice cream later for supper).
After some deliberation we ordered the 'Back Bar'; Grilled 100% grass fed scotch fillet, crispy trim bacon, mesculin, feta, tomato, Spanish onion, tomato relish and herbed mayo. We teamed it up with a Chips Share Platter; Grilled Chips, Sweet Potato Chips, Zucchini Chips, served with a trio of chip dips.

Every last bite was delicious!!! We were so glad we decided to share cos DAMN!!! There was so much food!! We are SO going back there!!
Yes we did have ice cream for supper, believe it or not a Coles brand Banana cone thingy. Not bad at all actually.
Saturday we slept late and then I totally needed my nails doing so we set off down the road. While I got my nails done HR scoped the nearby cafe's to find a suitable spot for brunch.
Now let me tell you, in QLD it took two year hard work to find a decent nail tech (miss you Shayliegh) and so I am in the process of trying to find a decent one in the new location. This is the result of today's effort;

Not too bad but I like a bit of conversation whilst I am sitting there getting nails done and old matey (yep he was male) said diddly squat. So I guess the quest will continue.
We went to a cafe on the main street for brunch. Sadly I forget the name, but I will never forget the Eggs Benedict!! The Hollandaise sauce was pretty close to the best I have tasted. It is always so obvious when places cheat and use a packet mix, but not this place the sauce was amazing, the bacon was crispy and the poached egg was delightfully yolky. I was a little bemused by the serve of chips on the side though. We could have shared one serve of this too but I ignored the toast (mostly) and didn't eat a chip!!! We will go there again I am sure and then I will get the name for my next foodie blog.
Right then the Giants have fallen to the Cats and as I type Freo is in front of the Bombers (Freo is between us and a wooden spoon. I'd rather they had it than us) and WTF is going on at Metricon? The Suns are in front.....ah well tipping is a mugs game.
Hopefully next week is better than this last one..............