Weekends with friends – February 2020
Weekends are wonderful times. They are as busy or as quiet as you choose to make them. This one tended towards busy, as will the next couple of weekends I suspect. We started the weekend with a couple of bottles of sparkling, they were gifts from a little event we celebrated in November. We thought it high time to sample the contents as we approach our three month anniversary. It’s bring a timely reminder of how quickly time can pass whilst at the same time planning events some time into the future, waiting, waiting, waiting, then they are days away, then they are here, then gone and part of memories. So, live life and celebrate at every opportunity, which was what this weekend was about for other reasons.
After a little barre session and mat workout on Saturday, it was time to assemble the 5 night time pouches (of 20) that I have sewn and drop them off (picking up more fabric to make the remaining 15) on the way to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital open day. It was busy but well managed, hot, yet there were cooling icy-pols being handed out by the team as we waited for about 40 minutes. Whilst the tour was not very long, it was interesting. They were performing surgery whilst we were there – checking over a marsh snake, that will make the meow quite sick but not kill it (humans too) and giving it the “all clear”, after fishing it out from the lawn clippings in a bucket, getting a look at a turtle who needed attention and seeing the set up for surgery on koalas – which was quite interesting. The Sanctuary is a lovely place. The National Trust membership is a worthwhile investment as it covers parking ($10) and entry (normally about $50 per adult) and many other entries to places both in Queensland but also interstate and overseas.
The technology they are working with at the Hospital is, in part, donated machines from hospitals. Whilst not new, they do the trick and help, where possible, get creatures on the road to recovery. Sadly, there are those who cannot be helped, meaning euthanasia.
Curiosity assuaged, it is on to Fox & Hound for a night of murder and mystery. We don our fines 1920’s ensemble, get into character and participate in a night of fun. A welcome drink greets us as we check in to the room above the Hotel, and others as they arrive. It is a gorgeous pub, shipped out from England and re-assembled here. We will travel back through for their lunch/dinner fair as the food looked fantastic. The night was entertaining and lots of laughs were had. Tired, we retired to our digs with a beverage. Leaving in the morning was a challenge as we forgot to check what we needed to do to depart – it doesn’t open to the public until 11.00am. So, we escaped through some double doors, after scouting around to check departure points, then jammed them closed and headed off for a thoroughly delightful celebratory high tea at Tea and Niceties Tamborine.
We travel with 2 little characters, you might know them – Branston Bear and Pickles. Well, they made a new friend, Mr B, who thought they should be part of his play group. He was amusing. The gorgeous Mr B is a puppy in training for some pretty amazing work (service dog). He’s a bright cheeky personality and after being denied the opportunity to talk to Branston and Pickles on the floor, he surreptitiously attempted to sneak them under the table – and he might have succeeded except I happened to glance down at the same time as Branston and Pickles were quietly moving across the floor.
Back to tea – delightful, especially when accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate a couple of birthdays. Sated, we headed off to Tamborine Mountain Distillery where there was a tasting (modest price), knowledge and welcome. We already have a reasonable amount of bottled produce so we elected for test tubes and a small sample. Apparently the St John’s Wort liquer is good for menopause, the lemon myrtle vodka tasted gorgeous and the gingerbread liquer was divine. We tasted others and if you want more information, you will simply have to go and do your own research on this one. The tasting price is $5 and worth the time and effort. Mirinidi was gorgeous and it was time well spent as between the 4 of us, we have different tastes, we shared the flavours we were tasting and we enjoyed some fabulous time together.
Weekends like this are truly special. Whilst I do not have a big circle, I have a wonderful circle close. We have common interests that enable us to enjoy some pretty cool experiences. We are all from quite different backgrounds, working in different fields yet appreciating the skills of each other and reveling in the camaraderie and sense of humour that we bring together. This is what makes life so much more fun. Life is what you make it. It is about taking in the challenges, and dealing with them, getting on with it and having a go instead of being a victim of life, waiting for someone to come along and encourage and support. Not one of us has a life without something that causes challenge or reflection or something that does not go within your control. However, it is how you choose to deal with that, that shows true mettle. Life is not a participation award. If you do not step outside your comfort zone, or do something that you haven’t done before, nothing will change. So, enough of my ramblings. I shall go and enjoy a Gin and Tonic made from Brisbane Distillery Company Gin (very nice I might add and local at West End in Brisbane) and leave you alone to contemplate what adventures you might get up to.
For the record, nothing we do is sponsored. We get out there and spend our hard earned money sampling, trying, tasting and enjoying the wonderful things that we see around us.
Cheers and happy Sunday.
