How is it that January feels just like the longest month on the planet then, when it’s lastly over, you look again and surprise how these first 31 days went so shortly?
It’s loopy to assume that firstly of the yr, I used to be nonetheless within the UK with my household and Christina had been again in Sydney for every week and a half. It’s even crazier to assume that between the time of me flying residence and now, we’ve managed to suit a lot in. And so little on the similar time.
January! What the flux capacitor? You’re a gap within the matrix, a unfastened thread in string idea, a spelling error in E=MC².
Be that as it could, right here’s what we’ve been as much as over the past month. We’re speaking visits to lovely stately houses, steaks in one of many instructional heartlands of the planet, loopy jetski adventures, journeys down the coast and a lunch to have fun our favorite a part of Queensland.
Cheers – Jim & Christina xx
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Carrying on from our final Flavour of the Month, I’m nonetheless within the UK with my of us after a beautiful Christmas and new yr. I’ve solely bought a couple of days left earlier than I head again to Sydney, so I’m overlaying off a couple of issues I needed to do earlier than I am going.
Mum, Dad and I’ve come to the attractive grounds and iconic rotunda of Ickworth Home in Suffolk. This 18th Century manor home in on huge grounds and has two totally different cafes to seize a chew to eat.
The preliminary plan was to have lunch right here then go for a stroll, however after we’ve eaten, we realise it’s so chilly right now {that a} fast stroll within the gardens is all we are able to handle. However the magnificent rotunda and its domed roof has been definitely worth the drive.
I’m excited to be visiting Cambridge right now. Not due to its historical past or structure or something like that; I’m catching up with my sister! It’s been ages since we’ve spent any time collectively simply the 2 of us, and we had been just about inseparable after we had been youthful.
To my shock, she’s stipulated lunch is to be a steak, so we’re going to Butch Annie’s. Promising nice burgers and even higher steaks, Annie’s is a straightforward selection.
My sister’s picaña is great and full of flavour, however I feel I win with my selection: hanger steak. You don’t see this lower on menus all that usually and for good purpose: it not often makes it. The butchers preserve it for themselves!
We stroll round city for a bit, chewing the fats so to talk, and have a fast have a look at the little market on the town. It’s beautiful to meet up with my large sis. Want we may do it extra typically.
I’m lastly on my first flight again to Australia. It’s been nice to spend time with household, however it’s simply too chilly in England this time of yr!
As I fly over Europe, I occur to look out and see this website under me. In response to the in-flight map, that is what Romania’s capital Bucharest appears like at evening. Not dangerous, is it.
Again in Sydney, again at residence, it’s time to have fun a really particular fella’s birthday. Christina’s dad Sergio would have been 93 right now. He’s been gone for 16 years, however all of us miss him a lot.
As he was Italian, we normally discover an Italian restaurant to go to, and this yr isn’t any totally different. Nonetheless, that is the primary time we’ve been to Oliveto Ristorante e Bar in Rhodes. If you happen to’re on the lookout for someplace that does excellent Italian fare that’s on the water, near town and has a prepare station close by, that is the best choice.
The meals at Oliveto is wonderful. The highest hit is the crispy calamari fritti (high). It simply has a dusting of coating is so contemporary. It reminds us all of how Sergio used to cook dinner calamari at residence.
Mains are additionally excellent – my complete stuffed calamari (left), Christina’s sister’s steak with mushrooms (mid) and her mum’s cappelletti pasta filled with spinach, zucchini and prawns, and is available in a lobster bisque sauce (proper)is wonderful.
Desserts listed below are additionally off the planet and effectively value saving room for. Comfortable birthday, Sergio.
This night, Christina and I are catching up with a few of our mates from the travel-writing neighborhood on the Shakespeare Resort in Surry Hills. It’s been ages since we’ve seen one another (and even longer since we’ve been within the Shakey), however it’s like all of us noticed one another yesterday.
Impressively, we don’t have any pictures of the evening aside from one thing much more spectacular than that: my parking efforts. How’s that area?!
Acquired it in there in a single go along with no parking cameras or alarms and with a supply truck onerous on my tail for a little bit of stress. Assume I can retire now.
As we speak, we’ve headed north to the waterside city of Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River. However we’re not right here to chill out and benefit from the surroundings right now; we’re right here for top power and adrenaline.
Uncover Boating Australia has organised for us and few different journey creators to have a crack at using Jet Skis – or to make use of the right time period PWCs – Private Water Craft.
We’re being guided across the lovely environment of the Hawkesbury by Jet Ski Safaris NSW, who’ve quite a lot of totally different excursions leaving from the marina at Brooklyn.
That is my first time on a Jet Ski and I now perceive what the fuss is all about. It’s actually essentially the most enjoyable you’ll be able to have on the water. Plus, you look fairly cool using one!
You don’t want a ship licence to go on these excursions, however there’s a bit of coaching you do beforehand that Jet Ski Safaris lead you thru.
After our hour-long tour across the river, we hurtle again to dry land for a scrumptious lunch on the marina. What a day!
It’s the Australia Day lengthy weekend and we’ve travelled down the South Coast to our pal’s vacation home within the lovely peninsular city of Tuross Head.
There are such a lot of beautiful little spots all the best way down the coast that few folks have even heard of. It’s at all times so stunning, particularly when you have got views like this simply from the facet of the street.
As we speak’s the large day – our pal has organised a complete pig on a pit, and the native butcher not solely delivers it however even offers the barbecue to cook dinner it with!
This magnificence has been cooking since this morning and the family is getting fairly hungry.
Fortunately there are folks in the home who know what to do – it’s so good having succesful buddies! Earlier than lengthy, the superbly roasted piggy is off the pinnacle and being ready for lunch.
Now all now we have to do is sit again, crack a tinny or two and benefit from the day.
As a result of I’m so very intelligent, I determine to go for a stroll within the moonlight after greater than a tinny or two and take a look at the seaside. It’s solely a brief stroll from the home, however I don’t rely on having to cross a pile of rocks and driftwood to get to the sand.
I additionally don’t rely on being fairly so uncoordinated.
Not a fantastic combine once you’re by yourself in the course of the evening a couple of sheets to the wind. Fortunately my fall isn’t too dangerous and the cuts and bruises look worse than they’re. Like I stated: intelligent.
The drive again as much as Sydney goes effectively till we flip and see this cloud following us. Fortunately, I’m not driving and Mr Brown is completely satisfied to truck together with torrential rain, sensible flashes of lightning and booming thunder hurling their fury at him.
What a dramatic technique to end what’s been a really splendid lengthy weekend.
This afternoon, we’re excited to be seeing much more of our travel-writing pals on the newest luncheon with the great folks from Go to Sunshine Coast and Go to Noosa.
They’re internet hosting a media get-together at Repair Wine Bar and Restaurant on Elizabeth Road in Sydney. It’s a venue that’s been right here since 2006 and it’s positively someplace it’s best to take a look at when you take pleasure in wonderful meals and a replete wine checklist.
We sit all the way down to an exquisite lunch beginning with oysters, roast beetroot and goat cheese salad, seared scallops with fennel, and salumi.
Subsequent is a platter of barramundi fillets in a lobster bisque, pumpkin risotto, completely cooked rump steak and what I feel may effectively be the most effective veal schnitzel I’ve had. There’s additionally great madeleines and cheese plates to complete, however by this time, we’re stuffed.
The wine can be out of this world. I missed the title, however the Gruner Veltliner from Marlborough NZ is excellent.
The wonderful Peter Hook, representing Go to Sunshine Coast, introduces Repair’s proprietor, Stu Knox who talks us via right now’s delectable meal. Peter, with the assistance of Maddy Schilg, then leads us via the most recent information from the Sunny Coast. Listed here are a few of the highlights you need to be conscious of:
- Thai-based luxurious resort model Avani is opening its first Australian property quickly in Mooloolaba, which is setting as much as be one of many coolest cities within the nation forward of 2032 Olympics.
- Comparatively unknown Bokarina Seashore, simply between Caloundra and Mooloolaba, a string of latest properties – Zinc Bokarina, Oceanus, Seanna Residences – have opened, creating a brand new vacation spot to discover simply
- Noosa additionally has a brand new resort arising: The Calile Noosa. This lovely resort model at all times creates gorgeous properties and if the Calile in Brisbane is something to go by (learn our assessment right here), Noosa’s new construct will set new requirements
- Heli-tour firm Oceanview Helicopters has a brand new providing that we’re very eager to take a look at. The Picnic on a Peak tour flies you alongside the attractive coast and hinterland, and as much as the enduring Glass Home Mountains to drop you off at a personal peak for a secluded picnic. I presume they decide you up once more on the finish
- The Sunny Coast at all times has nice meals and crafts festivals, and this yr isn’t any totally different. Mark these mid-year dates down in your calendar:
– 1-31 Might GourMay Mary Valley‘s month-long competition championing the produce of Mary Valley and its surrounding space
– 2-11 Might for Horizon Pageant, a 10-day multi-arts truthful celebrating the land and tradition of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Peoples of the area
– 29 Might – 1 June is Noosa Eat & Drink Pageant – it’s all within the title, isn’t it? A four-day culinary extravaganza with loads of stay leisure in addition
– 25 July – 3 August is the large one: The Curated Plate. The premier meals competition of Queensland, this has the whole lot a meals competition ought to have in addition to superstar and chef’s hatfuls of awards
And don’t overlook the longest-running competition within the nation is on each weekend come rain or shine within the inventive hub that’s Eumundi.
We hope you’ve loved this style of January. We will’t wait to see what Feb has in retailer for us!
Cheers
Christina & Jim xx
