One Year On…

It seems a little odd that only a year ago we were living in Canberra, and waiting eagerly the arrival of friends and family as we prepared for forthcoming nuptials. Sunday was our first anniversary, and we celebrated the weekend in style by spoiling each other and doing little of anything else! We found a cute little French restaurant inside walking distance from home, and had lunch on the Saturday. Saturday night was reserved for the rugby, with both the All Blacks and the Wallabies getting out for a trot. Sunday was the actual day, but we did gifts on the Saturday night (it is true- I just couldn’t hold out any longer!). I bought Jane a book on farming pigs (future inspiration), and then departed a little from tradition. I got her paper patterns for knitting (and a VERY handy how to guide), and needles and wool to go with it, as well as chocolate (she deserves it) and a very sexy top (because I deserve it!). Jane went very traditional, and got me a box full of paper- a fabulous baking text, baking paper, note paper, and a lottery ticket. All round, a box of winners except for the ticket!

Sunday was a bit of a lazy day, and I cooked. I did a twice roasted duck with balsamic glaze, set on savoy cabbage and glazed baby carrots. As a side, I did Lyonnaise potatoes, using Tony Bilson’s recipe from this month’s Gourmet Traveller. Just gorgeous. Steamed potatoes, sautéed with garlic, onions and thyme in butter and duck fat. Rich, unctuous, glorious, and screaming celebration!

Dessert was the mud cake we had for the wedding. Jane asserts she never had a chance to try it, so she made it again yesterday. We served that with a warm chocolate ganache and new season South Queensland strawberries.

A dinner like that needs a good wine, for which we must thank Boris. Old, red, lots of gongs and expensive was how he described the 1997 Orlando Lawson’s Padthaway Shiraz. Definitely at it’s peak, but a very nice complement to the duck. We were very happy when we went to bed!

We got lots of congratulatory cards and calls, for which we are thankful- Good friends and family are hard to come by, and we are certainly grateful for the ones we have.

Us- One year on, and still a couple of very happy little vegemites!

A Tropical Winter

I had to travel to Canberra in early June, to give a presentation at RMC. It was a shock to the system to travel from the 25 degrees of Townsville down to the -5 degree mornings of Canberra. We packed everything we could find, and off I went. I expected to suffer a little, but in the end really enjoyed the freshness of the frosty air. I even went for a run in shorts and a singlet at -2 deg. I was fine, but people were looking at me as though I was a bit funny!

Because it coincided with the June long weekend, Jane also went down, and we had the weekend with family. As always with rush trips, it was packed from beginning to end, but I think we got most of the things done that we wanted to.

We shopped. Didn’t spend any money, but just took the opportunity to walk past ‘real’, grown up shops. Here in Townsville, there are very few quality shops. Certainly no DJ’s, Myer, Jacqui E, Country Road, Rodd & Gunn, etc… Instead there are a range of junky shops that sell to the tween set (I know I sound old, but it is true!). It was so nice to just be able to walk and see quality stuff. Maybe one day we will be able to do that again.

We also had the idea that we might be able to consider buying a property and land banking it for the next few years, and slowly develop it. There were a couple of likely properties on the internet that we thought we might be able to look at, so off we went. It seems that the best place to take photographs from is the property boundary- looking in any direction but at the property you are trying to sell, if the properties we saw are anything to go by. I get the impression that a lot of the 100 acre properties for sale are on the market for aging farmers who can no longer work the hills!

The property photographed below was one that we did quite like, although not for practical purposes. The road in was about 15 km of 4wd track, and the nearest power is 3 km away (definitely a concern when power is $35,000 per km to connect). 

The views are certainly lovely....

The House just might need a little work. I think that the combined talents of our chippie brothers might just pull it off!

The woolshed is OK. Boards are springy...

The timber is lovely (what is left)

And THIS is the kitchen.....

Looks Ok from the front

At least the chimneys look sound!

We have decided to leave it for now- a purchase that is. I will certainly keep looking at property, and bugging Jane!

As for the rest of the weekend, we brunched with Pete and Katrina at Cream, had chinese with Pete and Melissa, and caught up with old friends for the rugby at The Southern Cross Club (The All Blacks won, in a sterling game of footy!). On the Sunday, we cooked for family, and had a nice relaxing day before flying home. Jane decided it is time to indulge her crafty self, and took a knitting class. She does need to practice now though!