Best not to fight

The next day I managed to get to the 'Garden of Eden’ - that is strange sounding, or is that just me? I had a falafel, with salad and sweet potato chips … the parsley inside & sweet potato chips were magnificent - which is not to say that other aspects were not, just that those particular elements really stood out, IMHO. I am unsure if it as magnificent as it could be, but that maybe because of the retail environment that it is in? The waiter was a queer fish, as he showed a certain lack of manners TBH … but I overheard his conversations with other people, and he seemed to be bringing a lot of joy to peoples’ lives, so it is (probably) just me ...

Went for a swim up at Rainbow Beach, then went to RBSLC for some XPA - and, just for a slight aside, it amazes me that at one end (RBSLC) it is $6.20, whereas down the other end, at the Coolangatta Sands Hotel, it is $7.50 for the same size of this product - which I am starting to get a bit of a taste for … certainly the strong flavour declines any intention to have more than about three (3) schooners at any one time. Which is always a good thing - in this environment, it is rather easy to settle back and enjoy a beery afternoon suffused by the warm weather & sun - see photo below. Although, having said that, the wind really, really blew up in the afternoon - it got to the point that when I went to walk back around the rocks, having been waiting for low tide - the ‘real’ reason I had spent the afternoon at RBSLC - the wind was so strong that I actually struggled a bit crossing the rocks, as it would blow me about as I tried to cross them. See the other photo below for how the sands looked as they blew along …

Also transferred funds around, so that Barwon Water & insurance could get paid … Also rang Black Bull to ‘confirm’ & pay for the Austin Wines dinner on 7 July, which coincides with Felix’s birthday, so we three are going to go celebrate, and drink lots of wine … maybe, doubt it will be an open bar, but we shall see, we shall see ...

Stopped at Aldi to get the pork mince & ingredients; also decided to get some ingredients for ‘toasties’ - got home to find that the sandwich maker I had seen, hence the inspiration, was in fact a pie maker … Anyway, as I was walking down the road, I saw a girl carrying a surfboard, with her watch on the right wrist … so stopped and asked after it. Paulii (?) explained that it was more comfortable, and that she was right handed … then she asked why I was enquiring, so I showed her my right wrist …

Got home to find that Clint had arrived, so invited him for pork mince rolls, and he bought some Corona. Later went down to Coolangatta, where he almost started a fight … Awoke feeling rather seedy …

Walking around Coolangatta at night, around 8PM, I was surprised that it seemed quiet, or (almost) empty ...

Amazing to hear that 'Brexit' went ahead, and that David Cameron resigned - seems a bit petulant TBH ...

Holiday in the sun

Well, foot hurts, awake too late watching Blindspot, so slept (erratically) until lunchtime. Then dragged my sorry arse down to have lunch at  'Garden of Eden eatery' … but apparently there had been a medical emergency, so it was shut! Ended up going to Jake’s and having breakfast - sausages, eggs, toast, mushrooms, bacon (yeah, I know, I know) and Jake’s famous sauce. All for $8 too. It is truly one of those places that is ‘old school’ - does traditional foods cheaply & more than adequately!

Wandered back to the bookshop to pick up Rosemary Hemphill’s herb book, then got another coffee & settled to read some of it … There are many good ideas in there, and plenty of worthwhile hints - especially for $5, as I think I will get a few amount of use out of it. Books are good like that!

Taking my new found energy, thanks to all that coffee, I managed to get up to the movie cinema to see ‘Hunt for the wilderpeople’ … cor blimey, am I glad I did that! The 1st six chapters & the car chase are very, very funny - which is not to say that the rest of the movie wasn’t, just that the 1st six chapters were more understated, IMHO. I especially enjoyed the way(s) that Sam Neill & Julian Dennison played off each other, as I found a good rythmn there. Although quite fantastical (& majestical), the plot was extremely secondary to the fun of the movie - quite enjoyed that one!

Here is a photo of the BOG Bullpup bag out for a walk:

Away we (I) go, again ...

Well, now is as good a time as any other … so much has happened, and so much more will happen, which I will share, I promise, but for now, let me concentrate on today :)

Sitting out on the verandah, out the back of my favourite Brother’s, with my favourite Sister’s upstairs, but both are away, so it is secluded & peaceful - makes a bit of change from the drama going on! I am trying to swim each day, which gives you an appreciation of how warm it is around here - even when complaining of the ‘cold’, it is still 20c …

Alright, first the ‘bad’ stuff around here:

• Coolangatta SLSC: Had been for a swim, thought to stop in for a beer to recover, but told that if I did not have a driver’s licence and/or a card from a Queensland club, I was going no further! No ifs, buts, or maybes … tried to explain, initially, that one simply did not carry such things as a matter of course when going for a swim - ID to enter the beaches? But, that was of no consequence, and to no avail;
• Red Cross: (sigh) came back from morning stroll along foreshore at Coolangatta, saw the mobile unit, and stopped to ask if I could offer some blood. As you do when on holidays. Five (5) minutes later, having stood around like the proverbial, being ignored, I then walked away - what ever … Apparently the woman who was standing there (volunteering?) was more concerned to regal the other woman there (donating?) with tales of how bad the coffee was at ‘The Mirage’ … Worst thing was, listening to them, as I was, hoping to find a break in the conversation to gently interrupt to offer my services, was a recognition that the conversation was going something like this:
‘OMG, the coffee was dreadful there, but what was worse, was the lack of customer service!'
‘Oh, I know what you mean! The last time I was there, they just ignored me, and left me standing there’.
‘That is so true! You know, I even made a complaint about them to the manager - who then had the audacity to apologise, and try to explain that they were very busy. Don’t they know who I am?’
I kid you not … and, they were not busy at the blood bank that morning; and,
• State of Origin: Seriously, it is just a game, not a life/death matter, so stop treating it like that! Although, to be fair, being on the border, there is a little more piquancy, I suppose? Mind you, compared to how Geelong used to be, maybe I should not complain too loudly? :p

It is quite noticeable that the rain here has been successful - 70 mm the other night ...