Explore, explore, foot sore, weary, Elmo* and Pixi yearn for a pub and ale and a little lie
down…but wait! Too much to do and see within a short weekend. First up a brisk walk to ‘Bark in the Park’…a doggy morning hosted by Stevie Jacobs (wee weather guy) where Shih Tzu rub shoulders with Alsatians…or rather take a keen interest in each other’s pants while attempting to wriggle out of their cute woolie jackets lovingly selected by doting owners, while others examine the obstacle course and weigh up the worth…treat for completing or dignity for not?
Next stop the High Street…top of Rundle actually…oozing hip boutiques and coffee houses, the evening will find the same street buzzing with Restaurant/bar trawlers. A dawdle down to the Mall…tacky shops, quick exit past interesting architecture unique to the region, Cathedrals and lush parkland surrounding lakes adorned with ducks and on to the Markets.
Largest in southern hemisphere, we absorb the hustle of fish mongers jostling with spruiking
butchers and organic vege growers, breathe the aroma of Chinese herbs mingling with hot roasted nuts, marvel at whole truffles nestled in waxy paper beds, glistening coffee beans, bags of black eyed peas and orange lentils, rich Haigh’s chocolate nests…a visual, sensory and cultural feast for the senses. Pixie yearns for the lush bunches of flowers that populated the French markets but quickly finds solace in a box of exquisite rosy blushed miniature pears.
An afternoon trawling pub cider on tap, Pixie’s fave, a pint of local for Elmo, Crocodile Thai nosh…tasty! and home to nurse those weary feet.
*Elmo Briatore Spiderfoot – Brettles – photographer extraordinaire
et yet fully cognizant of the brevity of the work we will be undertaking today. Touch down as disgruntled kangaroos skitter and rabbits raise wary ears before returning to business…nothing of concern…just another arrival in this, ruggedly remote patch of our ‘wide brown land’.
End of day, work completed, a tour around the site, a fascinating business with intense consideration for minimizing environmental impact providing ethical solace for the product being harvested here. Embracing a crisp, clean night air we return weary and hungry to the mess consume half our body weight in good old home grown tucker before turning in.
Quirky situations – a shower recess so small that dropping soap meant poking ones butt out the door to retrieve, another resembling a space capsule that washed places you hadn’t thought shower nozzles were designed for, a loo in a cupboard, another under the sink, opera singing dogs, steps so steep ascent demanding all fours, a wonderful host waving an enormous British flag to herald the entrance, a delicate lace doily serving as a curtain.
Touching memories such as the dear little French man who happily assisted with automatic petrol pumps and an unexpected health emergency, private tour guides who went way beyond expectation, wait staff with wry senses of humour, Dicky stepping up with the most beautiful gestures…just when he was due a fork stab in the eye.
