I love The Ekka (aka the exhibition or the Royal Queensland Show). Every year I try to go. This year I’d booked tickets and had been chatting about it with my daughters for months. There was a new nights show we all wanted to see.
I flew up on Friday evening on Qantas Flight (QF) 1554 and when I arrived Dad was watching the Brisbane Broncos defeat the team from Illawarra.
After a restless sleep the girls and I went to Westfield Chermside to get some groceries for Mum and grab a bite to eat for breakfast.
I went with a nice slice of coconut loaf and a tall white chocolate mocha.
After taking Miss14 and Miss18 to gymnastics training Miss20 and I did a few things to help with her university study.
If you want to see the photographs as a gallery check out Google Photos. Click on one image to see it full size. To see the EXIF data (including a map if the photograph was geotagged) click on the information (i) icon in the top right corner. You can navigate through the gallery using the arrow keys or by swiping if you’re using a tablet or smartphone. Here’s another gallery that I created with Adobe Lightroom web gallery module.
We picked up Miss14 and Miss18 at 2 pm and proceeded to Wooloowin Train Station to catch a train to Fortitude Valley Station and then the Loop ride.
When we arrived we went straight to the racing pigs to check out how these little porkers run around a ring and dive into a pool of water.
We then went to the food pavilion and checked out the free tasting treats. We had caramelised onion dip, doughnuts, bread, meatballs and other samples. We then went through and bought some dumplings and samosas. They were delicious.
Next on the list of things to do was the cake decoration display.
We’d agreed that at around 4.45 pm we’d wander over to the main arena to settle in for the evening’s entertainment. But before that we had one very important thing to do.
The best ice cream in the whole world is the strawberry sundae made by volunteers for The Prince Charles Hospital. If you’ve never had one you need to go to The Ekka and try one. They are so good when I worked at The Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1995 we used to go over everyday and get someone on the inside to buy a tray for us and bring them back to the laboratory.
After inhaling the ice cream we went to the main arena and sat on Machinery Hill.
We watched the horse whisperers and then the wood chop and then the rest of the light entertainment waiting for the monster trucks, motorcycles and drift cars.
I apologise these photographs are pretty crap. They’re mostly unprocessed and RAW out of the camera. I used a long lens with an aperture that was too small. The shutter speed was too long for sharp shots. I hope the ‘vibe’ of the photographs are okay.
After the wood chop Miss20 went and bought some popcorn which we devoured.
The entertainment ended with fireworks. I love fireworks. I’m so grateful I have eyes and ears to see and hear them. They are so beautiful. The Ekka fireworks are awesome.
I apologise these photographs are pretty crap. They’re unprocessed and RAW out of the camera.
After the fireworks we walked through sideshow alley and settled down to share a foot (12 inches) long Dagwood super dog.
We left on the train, got off at Central Train Station and proceeded to have a late night Maccas run. I had a cheeseburger, small chips and vanilla thick shake.
After a much better sleep Mum and Dad made us all waffles with eggs, bacon and sausage.
Have you ever been to The Ekka? How did you spend your weekend?
This weekend just past has been awfully cold in Canberra. On Sunday I heard the maximum temperature didn’t get above 5 °C. So how would I have the best weekend with that sort of temperature? I escaped of course. I went to visit my kids and parents in Brisbane and had the best weekend I’ve had in ages.
The flight up was comfortable and I enjoyed a tuna salad for tea.
When I arrived we started planning the following day. Toast for breakfast, drive to Nambour and check out the markets at the Big Pineapple and hopefully pick up some morning tea. Drive on to Noosa, walk around and enjoy lunch. Drive back via Yandina and visit the Buderim Ginger Factory and Nutworks, hopefully for afternoon tea and then back to my parents’ place for dinner.
It sort of worked out that way. When we got to the Big Pineapple we enjoyed a walk around the old building and into the pineapple. The markets have taken over which is good. I’m glad to see the buildings are still getting use. The little zoölogical gardens are still there and fields of pineapples too. The cafe didn’t seem to have any pastries so we decided to look through Nambour.
As we drove through the main drag of Nambour we were surprised at how many of the shops were closed. Some were boarded up and most of the others were closed for business. We drove around and around and couldn’t see a bakery or a cafe open. Disappointed we drove on.
As we approach Eumundi we thought we’d check out the markets. Well that was great in theory but rubbish practically. We spent thirty minutes lined up along the road trying to find a park. In the end we decided to give it a miss. The place was so crowded it would have wasted time we didn’t have.
We drove on to Noosa, found a car park pretty easily and started walking around. We found a bakery and had morning tea. I had a small pecan tart.
As we walked up and down Hastings Street we had fun walking in and out of shops and checking things out.
We thought we’d buy some lunch and have it on the beach. Miss18 had brought a couple of beach towels and the girls wanted chips and gravy while I wanted sushi rolls. We bought both and shared it all
The beach was glorious. It was about 22 °C and sunny. The water was so blue, the sand so white and fine. I looked at my weather app for Canberra and laughed out loud. I was in a T-shirt basking in the sunny goodness.
My daughters went to town taking selfies. All through the day they had their telephones out capturing everything around them. We were so happy, we kept saying to each other how glorious the weather was and how we wished we had brought our togs. The water would be cold but there was no wind and with the sunshine we could warm up on the sand.
After a couple of hours of just sitting under the shade of some trees looking out into the ocean we packed up and drove to Yandina.
We headed to the Buderim Ginger Factory and Nutworks.
This ginger beer and pear was delicious.
Miss18 loved her afternoon tea
I’ve never tried crocodile jerky.
After buying Mum some Queensland nuts for Sunday breakfast we headed back to Brisbane.
Mum had tea ready for us. I got to carve an amazing butterflied and stuffed lamb shoulder. It was glorious.
After a good sleep Mum and Miss18 put together waffles for breakfast. We had butterscotch sauce, caramel ice cream, Nutella, Queensland nuts and fruit. They were amazing.
After such a great weekend it was difficult to say goodbye and catch my flight back to Canberra.
When I landed in Canberra it was 3 °C and I was back to reality. I’d had a dream weekend. The best weekend. It’s a good thing I love my job, the people of Canberra and small town life in Canberra. They are the only things keeping me here.
This weekend has been one of the best. I got to celebrate my 50th birthday with my parents and daughters. After the Friday, it carried on in a similar vein to most weekends in Brisbane. That is, driving daughters to and from gymnastics training, to and from gymnastics events, having breakfast out as well as dinner.
So on Saturday morning I took Miss19, Miss17 and Miss14 to Groove Train for breakfast. Miss19 tried the corn fritters for the first time. She thought the fritters were okay but not a super breakfast. I had a taste and agreed the fritters were a little dense but did have a really nice corn flavour. Miss17 had a breakfast burger which of late has become her ‘thing’. Miss14 surprised us all and selected the granola. I went for the eggs Florentine and asked for a side of smoked salmon.
I was pretty happy with the eggs and salmon. I got so much salmon I was able to share some with Miss17 who really likes smoked salmon.
After dropping Miss17 and Miss14 at training I spent some time with Miss19 who was busy with an assignment and wrote my birthday blog post. We avoided lunch in preparation for afternoon tea and dinner while Mum and Dad enjoyed some really great smelling tomato soup.
At 3 pm we picked up the gymnasts and drove to Cold Rock to see if my birthday ice cream cake that Miss17 made had survived the power outage from the previous day’s deluge.
GOOD NEWS, the cake survived. It looked fabulous. Three glorious layers and extra scoops on top. The ground layer was Queensland nut ice cream with extra Queensland nuts added. The middle layer was mint chocolate chip with TimTams. The top layer was coconut ice cream with 100s and 1000s added. The cake was superb and the perfect afternoon tea.
After afternoon tea we went to the Kedron-Wavell Services Club for dinner in Cafe HQ. Miss19 had to go to work so it was Mum, Dad, Miss17, Miss14 and me.
Mum and Dad had the tempura battered snapper, Miss14 had beef nachos, Miss17 had crumbed flathead and I had surf and turf.
On Sunday morning, Miss14 and my parents went to a gymnastics event while I took Miss19 and MIs14 to breakfast at 63 Cafe Wilston. They had waffles and I had what was called the Stockman’s treat. The Stockman’s treat consists of lamb’s liver, bacon and gravy. I asked for a couple of fried eggs too.
I’d have to say this was a pretty good breakfast. I’d happily have it again.
On the flight home back to Canberra (QF1549) I enjoyed some delicious cheese and a piece of coconut cake.
After getting home I went and bought some food for dinner and switched on the TV to watch New Zealand defeat Australia in the Rugby League test match. I wonder what the result might have been in the wet conditions of Friday night with Dad and me there to cheer on the Kangaroos.
For dinner I made some salmon with noodles. A nice light meal after a huge weekend of eating.
Who would have thought I’d make my 50th birthday the way I eat! This year on Friday 1 May I was able to celebrate 50 years ex utero. Few people know that in the eight or so months of my gestation I travelled around the world in utero. You see I was conceived on the Indian Ocean on a merchant ship with my Dad as the ship’s doctor. He and Mum were travelling to England so Dad could sit examinations. On the way to England I visited Cairo and while Mum saw the pyramids I was busy with organogenesis. On learning she was pregnant Mum wanted to return to Australia to confine. If I’d been born in England I’d be a citizen of Britain and Fiji. Dad was born in Fiji and was yet to become an Australian citizen. Mum wanted me to be Australian. So Dad’s youngest brother, then an engineer for Qantas, flew over to England and picked Mum (and me) up and took her (us) to Brisbane via Boston, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Nadi.
I had arranged with work to take my birthday as a formal leave day. Normally on Fridays I’m working at The Canberra Hospital in ACT Pathology as an Hon. VMO. I cleared it with both workplaces first. I wouldn’t normally take a day off work just to celebrate a birthday but I’ve noticed it’s a growing trend and I really wanted to share my 50th birthday with blood, kin, family.
I had booked a flight and arranged with Qantas for an upgrade in my seat to Business Class as a present to myself.
Breakfast was a salmon and boiled eggs plate which was served with some bread and a small bowl of yoghurt. It was quite delicious.
Prior to boarding I’d been called by my daughters and they had mentioned South East Queensland was about to be hit with a deluge of rain because of the formation of a significant tropical low pressure depression off the coast. My eldest also told me that my birthday present was a ticket to the Rugby League test match between Australia and New Zealand that night at Lang Park (very close to where I spent the first few years of my ex utero existence). I was so excited. Miss19’s voice quavered a little though because she was concerned about the weather. The other bonus was that she had arranged tickets for Dad and wheelchair access because he’s now quite frail. Dad’s birthday is later in the month.
As QF950 began its descent into Brisbane the turbulence become noticeable and as we flew lower the bumps were increasing in amplitude and frequency. I tightened my seat belt a little more. Out of the window it was grey. Just grey.
The pilot of QF950 on Friday 1 May did a splendid job, despite the bumps the landing was smooth. I was in Brisbane. It was noticeably warmer than Canberra so I removed my coat and let my skin drink in the moisture in the air.
Sitting in a Hertz rental (a Ford Mondeo…my first Mondeo) I quickly learnt where all the windscreen wiping actuators were and quickly put them into use. The rain was quite heavy but nothing out of the ordinary.
On reaching my parents’ retirement complex we arranged lunch. We would be joined by Miss17 and Miss19. Next Friday they will become Miss18 and Miss20. Mum had booked the Aspley Oriental Chinese Restaurant for yum cha. We’d been to this place before. It was local, convenient and the maître d’ was well known for his brusque mannerisms and behaviour. He didn’t disappoint! I wouldn’t say that the Aspley Oriental Chinese Restaurant has the best yum cha in Brisbane. Not even close but for Mum and Dad convenience is key.
We enjoyed some steamed and deep fried dumplings, some Chinese tea and finished our meal with some custard tarts.
After lunch we visited Coles and Aldi and then headed back to home base.
This is when the fun began. I had to pick up Miss14 from school and drop Miss17 at gymnastics training (she’s competing for Queensland in a fortnight in Melbourne at the national championships in WAG Level 10). The rain was now very heavy but nothing I’m not used to. The radio was calling it a super storm.
For what should be a 15 minute drive took 35 minutes to pick up Miss14 and then drop off Miss17. Sandgate Road was moving at a slow pace. It took about 45 minutes to get to Gympie Road in Lutwyche and then I spent three hours on Gympie Road trying to get to Chermside.
By this stage the rain was sort of reminding me of a decent shower in Darwin. I love this sort of whether and don’t mind driving in heavy rain.
I had the radio on the whole time and listening to 4BC for updates. I like 4BC because they carry most of the good rugby league news and much better than the ABC. I was even sending them road updates via twitter
Hi @NewsTalk4BC northbound Gympie Rd Chermside covered in water. Cars traversing Middle island to get through
Up until about the last 100 metres of our journey the footy match was still on. I’d been calling Mum and Dad and Miss19 throughout the traffic hold up as well as Mr43 (youngest brother) to discuss the logistics of the evening and how to get to Lang Park. After many iterations of how we were going to do this, we ended up with catching a bus from Chermside. Then on the radio the message was read that the NRL in conjunction with the television broadcaster had agreed to reschedule the game to Sunday 2015-05-03 1600 AEST. Poor Miss19 was so upset. She and her sisters had been planning this as a big surprise for me and my Dad. The weather got the better of the situation. I’m not sure as you read this if you’re aware that as of Saturday 2015-05-02 1400 AEST five people have been confirmed dead as a result of the water. I’m guessing they were in motor vehicles trying to cross flooded roads and were swept away. The Queensland emergency services and state emergency service undertook a large number of swift water rescues. We saw some quite extraordinary scenes. Water covering the entire northbound lanes of Gympie Road in two sections in Chermside. Later in the evening we saw cars floating on Shaw Road.
Once we got to home base Mum had burgers ready for us to eat. The original intention was a quick and light meal to get Dad and me to the footy but in the end it was my birthday dinner
The next bit to this story was the trip to pick up Miss17 from training. The rain was still pretty heavy and we knew there were numerous road closures. The added importance of this trip is that Miss17 had made me a birthday ice cream cake at Cold Rock (she has a part time job at a local Cold Rock Ice Creamery). We set out and immediately got stuck in some traffic. We eventually got to Miss17 who told us she’d seen that her Cold Rock had suffered a power outage that evening because of the bad weather and she didn’t know if the freezers were affected or not. By the time we crawled past the lights were out and no one was there. Who knows if my birthday cake still exists or if it’s a milky creamy mess on the floor seeping out of a freezer. Determined to celebrate my 50th birthday with cake after an hour being in traffic we got to a Coles and bought a cake (only a few were left).
We got home and Mum added candles. There was singing cutting and then eating. Mum thought it would be funny to get a 40 candle and surround it with 10 candles to signify 50. This would also make it easier for me to blow out the candles.
All in all it was a memorable 50th birthday. I was with my parents and daughters. I spent about 5 hours in a Ford Mondeo in traffic. I enjoyed some nice tropical rain. I ate well and I laughed a lot. I smiled the entire day. Check out the next post to see if the ice cream cake survived.
Some might say every weekend is an eating adventure for me
I spent the weekend in Brisbane to visit my parents and daughters. This week Miss13 becomes Miss14!
Saturday morning we enjoyed breakfast at Groove Train Chermside. I enjoyed the granola.
For lunch Miss19 and I made Mum and Dad a simple salad for lunch.
I taught Miss19 how to extract Pomegranate arils
I love coleslaw
The final product. Gee I love streaky bacon and avocado in a salad.
For dinner we celebrated soon to be Miss14’s birthday at Hog’s breath cafe. I had a lite cut prime rib with avocado and a side of calamari to enjoy a surf and turf or reef and beef meal
After the main meal we came home and enjoyed Mum’s beetroot chocolate cake. Yes this was made with a large tin of beetroot. No taste of vinegar or beetroot at all.
For Sunday breakfast we went to Cafe 63 Wilston and I had fruit. Who would believe it, I ate fruit while my daughters has poached and fried eggs and waffles and similar
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy