Anzac and Avengers

Anzac day, we had contemplated going into town to watch the commemorative service, parades and marches starting at 3am – 1. I didn’t fancy getting up at 2am and 2. There were over 8,000 descending on the central business district (CBD). After a lazy morning Mike and I did the 21^st century thing and watched the events on TV – better view for me anyway.

We had some lunch and then caught a Citycat ferry to Bulimba, meeting Pieter and Renee, since neither of the cinemas in the CBD had any tickets left for The Avengers!

Mike and I are self-confessed comic book movie fans and just had to see the most anticipated movie of the Summer on the day of opening. Queues were out the door (luckily we’d had the brains to book online) we were in good company, the geeks…. People around us were discussing the potential for this movie to be dreadful (I could not entertain this thought!) and pitting the characters against each other in fantasy fights; Hulk always seemed to win.

Anyway, the film was awesome, had it not been sold out I would of excitedly gone straight back in for another viewing, I won’t say much more than that – too easy to give it away, and I wouldn’t want to ruin it for any fellow Marvel fans!

Borrowed from IMDB.com

The four of us spent the next two hours going over the quote’s and scenes in a coffee shop; the staff there had to (not so) subtlety start locking up and putting chairs on tables before we relinquished our mini Avengers fan club meeting.

So there you have it; our Anzac day, not very patriotic but action packed never the less; now to wait for the sequel!

L x 

Battleships and Bad Chicken

Wednesday of our last week here was Anzac day; a national holiday originally celebrated to honor members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.  In more recent times Anzac day is used to commemorate all soldiers who’ve lost their lives in battle.

So Tuesday became an honorary Friday, so I met up with my cousin Andrew for Sushi at a restaurant call Ginga on the South Bank. I’ve not eaten rice in so long (it’s weight watchers equivalent of the devil) I didn’t eat much, but the avocado, salmon and tuna rolls I ate were  fresh and mouthwatering.

Having time to kill before Mike got out of work Andrew and I nipped next door from Ginga to the Cineplex cinema where we watching Battleship starring Liam Neeson and Rihanna. A typical Alien invasion movie; think Abyss, crossed with Transformers – done  with heaps of stereotypes and cheesy one liners – I would suggest waiting to watch it on DVD or Netflix.

Just as the film finished Mike arrived and we went to find a coffee house whilst we waited for Andrews’s friend LJ to turn up and join us for dinner. They met through skydiving and spoke about it all evening – talk about rubbing it in, I’ve been so tempted to skydive here and ignore the medical advice I’ve had against it – sadly the advice won!

Any Stephen Fry fans like me know that if Mr Fry hates a book or small business he will not review it publically so as to spare people’s feelings. I am the same; I have no problem outing big productions, multi franchised businesses and government services as dud’s but I hate the thought of personally upsetting a person/family/small project.  Too soft I suppose.

So I will not name and shame the family run restaurant we went to that evening; just a small piece of; common sense driven advice for any eatery – don’t serve a “chicken breast” full of veins, arteries, bone and served undercooked!

Seeing as we would be leaving in three day’s; Andrew and I said our Goodbye’s hoping that it wouldn’t be another 13 years before we see each other. Mike and Andrew have made plans to meet up when Mike comes back (once again!!) and I hate to think what that “boy’s night out” will end up!

What goes on tour stays on tour – this is probably best!

L x

Montville and Mooloolaba

Just like your average 9-5 couple/housewife the weekends are for making the most out off. I've felt very much the little wifey at home whilst here -  Monday to Friday’s – waiting for the hubby to return at 6! So after two late nights’ we still got up to go exploring with Pieter and Renee on Sunday.

Driving up the North coast first stop was the Maleny CheeseFactory, after ten minutes trying all types of the stinky stuff we bought – milkshakes and smoothies (Like I needed food to sit in the apartment and nibble on!?!)

From here we had a quick peek at the Montville Scenic lookout point; my fancy SLR got a healthy work out here!

Monville Scenic Lookout

An hour North from Brisbane, sitting pretty on the Sunshine coast was the town of Montville. 430M Above sea level it boasts some stunning lake, mountain and rain forest views.

A very hilly Main street is where you find the cutest café's, Antique dealerships and boutiques. With shop names like Chocolate Country, Jasmin Cottage, Ruby and Rose Interiors, plus there’s even an old fashion clock shop selling grandfather and cook coo clocks.

The Clock Shop

We stopped at the Poet Café for Scones with fresh cream and jam. These were delicious; but not proper scones, more like cakes – Renee laughed at Mike and I for declaring their non scone status – we’re “so English” – well of course we are darlings – poncey Southerners too!

After a bit more exploring Montville we headed to Mooloolaba Beach. Although a cloudy day it was still a gorgeous 25 degree’s. Mike and Pieter played Frisbee whilst Renee and I sprawled out on towels laughing at the boys pride in being able to throw and catch with decent aim lol!

Mooloolaba – meaning red snapper fish and/or red bellied black snake in Aboriginal is in the heart of the Sunshine coast, once a sleep surfer’s haven now a busy town of high class cuisine and shopping.

We stayed on the beach until Sunset and headed to an Italian restaurant (For the life of me I can’t remember its name!) where I enjoyed wild rabbit cannelloni.

Mooloolaba

Although by now Pieter and Renee should be sick of us, we made plans to meet up at least once more before we left.

And so the final week started.

L x