The Week that Was Rockhampton

Last Wednesday at 4am I was up and off to Rockhampton.

The day before my good friend Donna and I headed to Sanitarium Kitchen for a light vegetarian lunch. But let me tell you, you will not miss the meat, it is beautiful.

Sorry, I had already started when I snapped the photo

It was nice to get out of the office to take a breath to enjoy my last day in Brisbane for a little while. And boy did I miss Brisbane.

Day one, I visited the power station which is always interesting.

Rockhampton’s Eifel Tower?

Then on the way back to meeting in town I stopped at this little antique store (as I always do when in Rocky)

Don't you just love the 'Vegi-Tarry-In' ?

So inside it is packed full with stuff and reminded me of my grandmothers house circa 1984 before a garage sale.

While looking at these canisters (very cute) as they made me think of my sister and how much she would love them, out of the corner of my eye, way down under a heap of dust I see a fantastic picnic basket.

You cant see it here, but its right in that dark corner

I pulled it out and asked a few questions and before I knew it, it was mine!

I place it carefully in the back of the hire car.

And it dawned on me that I have to get it home, on a plane. Oh well, these things always sort themselves out. And I thought my Spencer and Rutherford would be the envy of all in the airport!

Then two more days in Rocky of work and planning and during a visit to pick up supplies I stumbled across a 15 Litre bottle of Veuve. I had NEVER seen such a thing and was quick to tell everyone I know that I had seen a 15 Litre bottle full of Veuve, in Rockhampton.

That would have been the very last thing I would have suspected on seeing.

15 Litre, followed by a 10 Litre, then 7 litre, then 3 litre

I wish I had a spare thousand dollars and had a way to get it home.... I already had the basket dilemma to sort!

So after a very tiring week, my basket and I were on our way home to Brisbane.

On its way onto the plane.

While my friend Dee and I chatted and laughed all the way back in the plane I talked constantly about my new picnic basket and what I was going to fill it with and what could its name be and where I would take it. Give me a break – it was 3pm and they bar on the plane doesn’t open until 4pm flights (keep that info for further trips all)

While still at the airport sending messages back and forward between friends about my new basket, it was decided that his name would be Moses.

Wow, what a week!

New York, Bondi, Rockhampton?

Yeah, you read it right. I am off to Rockhampton. And I am not impressed. (I hope none of my colleagues (or as FF would say 'coal miners') in Rockhampton read my blog)

But I do have my Spencer and Rutherford luggage which makes the trip slightly more tolerable as I do enjoy having the most posh travel goods in the airport. But watch them like a hawk for fear of theft!

So although absent from my blog, I grab 10 minutes here and there to keep up to date with what has been happening in blog world.

I am in awe of the 1st Birthday Party over at My Life My Loves. I am not going to post a photo - GO THERE and see for yourself! It will be worth a few extra clicks!

I need to find out how to make these rose cupcakes over at Lou Boos and Shoes.

And I like these little tea tables on sale from The Old Boat House because they remind me of my great Aunt.

So what will keep me going over the next few days is that my very special extended family are heading to ...

 Black Pearl Epicure Open Day This Saturday

We plan to taste lots of yummy things, pick out some cheese and small goods, stop by Cru Bar's Cellar to choose some crisp white and full red and head to somewhere by the river for an afternoon of eating and drinking.

The thing I love best about my cousins is our inclusively, our love of good food and wine and that we laugh a lot. Last time we were together for pig on the spit and oyster shucking dinner, we took some photos (as we always do) but this time using inspiration from collages we have on the wall we recreated some from history.

Here is the outcome. (a little naughty)

THEN

NOW

We have Ben - the youngest of the group and growing into adulthood, Josh - the most amazing home cook I have ever met and the only person I know who uses laboratory equipment in the kitchen to cook meat in salt baths and loves good wine as much as I do, Tammie - my well travelled sister who lived and worked in advertising agency in London for four years (soooo Bridget Jones diary) and Sarah - so sweet and charming and also the only Anthropologist I have ever met!

TOO FUN!

So enjoy your week and have a great weekend remembering my pain about Rockhampton the whole time please!

~ Luggage Perfection ~

Most of us enjoy travelling. Well I do now. I remember a time, not that long ago that I actually HATED it. For me I approached each impending trip with the feeling "going on holidays is just the same shit as at home except you don't have your own bed and you have to pack and unpack 5+ peoples stuff" But the children were small, fought constantly over toys and required constant supervision / food / drink.  And we lived in Brisbane and my husband worked all over the place... we travelled a lot!

Now I have a different feeling. I enjoy it. The kids enjoy it. And we all work together and normally have a great time.

Travelling for work is a slightly different story. It breaks the week up and most of the time sees the finalisation of an event or important milestone. It is a good thing. However I really don't like packing and unpacking and I feel like I should look more glamorous doing the airport thing.

Spencer and Rutherford to the rescue!

For a limited time, buy any two items and you get a free business carry on for FREE!

I have been eyeing this off for a few weeks and soon it will be mine!