Muddy's

For some reason the weather has come good on our last full day. We did nine days of onshore heavy duty winds, accompanied by rain most mornings which cleared up well by the afternoon, except for the last two days of non stop soaking. My backpack is still wet and I need to dry it for todays outings. We went back to Muddy's cafe. Even mid week it is very busy with a 30min wait for coffee. We also had our first cooked breakfast which was very tasty and very large which is why we had half each of one serve. They also sell the trusty egg and lettuce sandwich so we are ready for our beach session later. Some of the other eateries we have used are Treasure Court for chinese and Splash for seafood. No shortage of choices.

Muddy's because on the other side of the path it is nothing but mud at low tide

Sunny New Order

 We found a coffee place nearby to the Alfred. On a weekday there are a dozen coffee spots inside the complex but on the weekend it seems a bit ghost townish.  If the patients need some air then just on the other side of Punt Rd is the New Order. Sounds like a scifi book.  I also recommed the scrambled eggs. Mind you sitting around with a very large scar and a drainage line on display is not a good look, so there was some fashion engineering to be able to go for a walk.  James had the chilli eggs and they had some heat.

Barista Creatista

 This could be a case of opening Christmas presents early. It is actually part birthday present so that is my excuse. We have a new replacement coffee machine as the old one gave up.  I have completed the training manual, put it thru the activation cycle and produced my first brew.  The certificate of competency is in the mail but I did not venture into the realm of grinding beans with notes of chicory. I stuck with the PODS technology eg (Please Order Drink Separately) just like in the shops.  I used to know people from work a decade ago that would order coffees at least twice a day sometimes three per day.  We are more like getting coffees on bike rides.  This machine is fully computerised with a touch screen and I have added a brew with my characteristics saved as a permanent option. Ah the technology. I have also added a babycino with choco powder.  The next version of these will have WIFI capability so you can start the process from your watch.

Mr & Mrs Jones

 Our coffee shop wish has come true. We now have an ice cream shop (since last year) and a coffee shop, 5 mins walk away. They have local food stuffs like Otway Pasta, Beck's Honey, Daryl's Peanut Butter and Ridiculousy Delicious Chocolate, whoever they are.  Other things I don't understand like Tony's Chocolonely. The main thing is they sell the newspaper and have tables and chairs inside and out.  I tried a takeaway large cappucino. It is the real thing and cost me $5.50 so that seems to be what they go for elsewhere. It is a quiet location but they come from everywhere for the ice cream. Mr Jones was flat out keeping the coffees coming on this Saturday morning so I guess it will be a winner.  

take your pick

7:00am

11:00am

Home day

 We just finished a coffee/breakfast catchup with Loretta Barnard who I met in Tassie about a half a century ago.  We have been corresponding since then and happens to live 5 mins from our hotel. I got her to sign her book that I brought with me and mostly talked grand children. We now have to make our way to the airport for afternoon flights. 

This is the playroom at the Newport. Note the scrabble on the wall complete with librarian access ladder.

Zoo to the Rescue

 After a few froffies on the balcony last night as well as pizzas and snags we were ready for brunch this morning at the local golf club.  I checked they were open at 10:00am and the walk there was timed perfectly along the beach then up to the cliff tops. There were 50 mothers club members filing into the pokies but there was no breakfast.  You can have a coffee but that's it.  So we retraced our steps and drove off to the Zoo Cafe. Now they do a good breakfast.  

If the hat fits

Blue Wren Dell

Zoo coffee but no animals today

Coffee and Lunch

Evie has her own schedule today with her first turn in the Sandgate Room.  Imagine lots of staff for your every whim, a bed if you need it, entertainment on demand and all meals laid on.  We had time for Fraser coffee and then picked up Laura for lunch at Fuel & Co.  We got the call at 1:00pm just after lunch that Evie had requested a pickup. She did ok for the first session and will now start to get used to her two days a week in care.

a selfie 

Black Code Coffee

 We made our way to Brunswick to a huge coffee factory called Black Code.  We met Heidi's folks Tony and Jackie for a lunch which James and Heidi sneakily paid for.  It has taken a while to get us together but the count down is on for baby and the house move to Watsonia,which is about three weeks away.  Tony  and Jackie announced that they are moving to the Gold Coast and the only hold up has been the COVID business. The food was just the right size and a bit European. We got to know some of their interests and that they were going to retire ASAP.

Danger Signs

Caffeine City

table talk

Antarctic Blast

 Arktos means bear and antarcktos no bears.  But we had to bare the cold from Antarctica today as a front swept across and we dropped from 12° to 4° in minutes.  We were out and about at Pakington St when it hit. We can't complain about being allowed out though and Pako St is your trendy spot to be when doing a shopping splurge.  We had one umbrella between us and spotted a place called Pako Raw. Inside it was a sprawling barn. We were going to have lunch but Debbie had a three hour meeting that spanned the world, which took precedence so we had the warm up coffee and tea before heading back. 

Pako Raw

Early Ride

 The wind was meant to pick up by midday so we went on an earlier ride like at 8:30am. I can tell you the wind was picking up even then.  The coffee van at Drysdale station is one business that is not in any financial trouble.  On our way back the closer we got to the Bay the stronger was the wind.  I have put yesterdays cart together with its wheels. That is a rugged pull along dune buggy. Now we need a beach day to test it.

Who gives a crap?

 This box was delivered yesterday so I am claiming it as a present.  We have more dunny paper than you can wallpaper a house with.  We also went looking for some other gifts but in covid times places that say are open are not open.  We did get our staghorn back that had been attacked by the possum and we have placed it in a different location, as the orchid man says the poss will be back. We need to make a wire football to put inside it. The coffee at Port Arlington was the take away sort but they gave me a fathers day beer to go with it. 

beer cake and coffee

Rehung Staghorn

The Emergency roll is on top