I love my visits to see my kids and also my parents. The weather has recently turned sour in Canberra and Brisbane is maintaining its warm and wet weather. It rained most of the time I was in Brisbane. It was lovely. Driving in the rain is not something that worries me. It seems to cause Canberra drivers to panic a little. On Thursday afternoon Radio Station | @2CC reported nearly ten road incidents that afternoon. I suppose it’s what you get used to. I loved driving in Darwin and Katherine in the wet season. That said Canberra drivers are expert at driving in fog. Fog freaks out a lot of drivers from other places. Canberra is so fog laden in winter you get used to it.
Miss11 turns 12 this week so this visit was well timed. I had already bought her a new Wii U game and she wanted some books. Miss11 is an avid reader so part of the weekend was going to be devoted to buying books. Becoming 12 also means she becomes eligible (at least in our family) to have a mobile telephone. It had been worked out by Miss17, Miss15 and Miss11 that Miss11 would get Miss15′s old fashioned Nokia and Miss15 would get a new smartphone for her 16th birthday. So this weekend was also about telephone buying for Miss15.
The weekend started well. I left work and Bron also came to the airport to spend some time with me before I left Canberra.
Canberra Qantas Business Lounge
Liquorice all sorts and jaffas shared with some soda water with Bron.
———-
The flight into Brisbane was uneventful and as usual the landing was delayed because BNE is in such poor shape with its runways that only one was working. This is a constant problem to the extent I never believe the arrival time and always assume I’ll be between 30 and 60 minutes late. I picked up a hire car, a Toyota Yaris, and drove to my parents. I love that modern cars can all connect seamlessly through Bluetooth to my iPhone. It was good to drive to my parent’s place with my tunes.
As well as a birthday gift for Miss11 I also had a bag full of chocolate for all the girls (including Mum). I had recently spent some time in Adelaide and bought up big at Haigh’s and menz. I also bought Mum some Almond Roca from Costco. She loves Almond Roca.
We watched a movie and slept well.
———-
We woke up to another day of clouds and rain. I heard from Bron that Canberra was cold with 40 km/h winds. I felt for her but I was feeling pretty good. My skin was moist and I could walk around in shorts and a T-shirt.
———-
My type of weather
I love overcast rainy warm days
———-
Breakfast at my parents’ place on a Saturday
Peanut paste and strawberry jam
———-
Shopping for Miss11′s 12th birthday this week
I loved these books when I was in primary school. I know the words have been modified to make them politically correct. I understand why but I am disappointed. I would hope kids are smart enough to distinguish between modern language and old language and want to learn what it means. I only ever read one novel at primary school and one novel at high school. I loved short stories like these though.
Miss11 also got two other books.
———-
Plastic shopping bags
Queensland is yet to introduce legislation banning plastic shopping bags. In Darwin and Canberra before legislation was introduced to ban their use, I would use them to line bins at work and in my bathroom. I found them very useful for multiple uses rather than single use. I still use plastic bags to lin bins, I just buy them now.
———-
Lunch with Mum and Dad
Mum had some lamb meatballs which she cut up and with some Havarti cheese she made toasties. These were magnificent. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havarti
———-
After lunch fruit
This is my first sugar plum. It was nice.
———-
After picking up Miss11 and Miss15 from gymnastics training they needed something to eat. On Saturdays they train from 1100 to 1500 so lunch is difficult. An afternoon snack is always necessary. Usually they have fruit or a sandwich. With me today though they asked for a treat.
They had this white chocolate mocha frappuccino with cream and some coconut loaf.
———-
Someone couldn’t get my name correct
I don’t mumble. I speak clearly. I also speak with an Australian accent. The person behind the counter didn’t have English as his first language. For a second I wondered if there was a “Gally” waiting but then realised it was for me.
———-
Dinner preparation
Tonight I promised my daughters I’d cook dinner. They like it when I cook for them. I made salmon and salad. They love salmon. Yes that is a tomato vine in one of the salmon containers. I used it to impart a little flavour when cooking the salmon. As you can see there was a lot of beetroot. We all like beetroot.
———-
This was my plate
We all like lots of feta. Everyone liked the lemon zest too.
———-
Miss11 becomes Miss12 this week.
Yes, she is gorgeous.
———-
Dessert
Mum made the cake and we bought some Weis’ sorbet to go with it.
———-
The rain continues
The constant rain has been a feature of the weekend. It’s been warm and it’s been moist. It’s been good.
———-
Breakfast preparation
My job was setting the table while Mum, Dad and Miss17 cooked.
———-
My Mum’s Sunday breakfast
A big pikelet with bacon, maple syrup and whipped cream
———-
A snack before leaving Brisbane
I know I didn’t need it but I do like cheese.
———-
The snack on QF957 from Brisbane to Canberra
I love salted caramel
———-
Dinner tonight
This is a beef hamburger with spinach leaves, coriander (cilantro), grated carrot, sliced beetroot, tomatoes, sesame seeds and Havarti cheese.
———-
It’s been a good weekend. I enjoy them with my daughters. When I leave Brisbane there is always a touch of sadness. I hope I get to see them again soon.
———-
Weis’ is a well known name in Queensland. As a kid we would crave Weis’ bars.
I don’t think any person from South East Queensland of my age could not have heard of a Weis’ bar. They were and are amazing.
The sorbet tubs are a relatively new addition http://www.weis.com.au/#/products/sorbet-tubs and extraordinarily good.
