We are up to last Friday - another work day for me, pretty non eventful, apart from a couple of wide smiles from TDE thrown in my direction. Seriously, I am wondering what I am continuing to do around there, I have surely got my call centre experience for any other likely jobs now, this flat patch towards work has been going on for a few months now - same sort of customers with the same sort of problems issues, fun fun fun.
V came in to town, had done a bit of shopping for a couple hours, and met me at the train station again. We were meeting up with one of her old old friends from down south and his new girlfriend, at some Mexican restaurant out in Milton - SOW had gotten V to make up a map, but didn't have the name of the place on it, hmm. So we got to Milton, started walking towards Park Road, where all the restaurants are, but V said that Mum had advised her to turn the other direction, and the map wasn't clear. So we went down the other direction, into a darkened business area, and realised we were lost. V tried ringing SOW but wasn't getting any response - I was getting huffy LOL, and realised that the map was confusing.
We took a punt on the fact that we had come out the wrong side of the railway station, the south exit instead of the north exit, and failing finding a Mexican restaurant anywhere in that direction we would have bailed. After almost half an hour of lost walking, we found the place, SOW and NQU (the new girlfriend). Thank goodness for that. He, of course, had left the mobile phone at home LOL.
The place was chosen because when NQU had lived in Milton, it was her local lunch haunt. Mmm, nachos with salsa and guacamole for starters. Was a BYO place, although there was a bottle store a couple of shops down, but really, the night went well enough that alcohol could have just made it less than it actually turned out to be. Water and Mexican punch yum LOL.
V had said to me to be 'out there' with my conversation making as she feared that the other two would be quiet and reserved, but I have to say that the dinner had the most sparkling conversation I can ever remember. Couldn't get SOW or NQU to shut up, not that we wanted to, and both V and I were just as into talking that night as the other two. Touched a myriad of topics, and went in depth on a few. Was just a perfect evening, the highlight of the trip - apart from V actually being in the same city as me of course. If ever we have a dinner party, SOW and NQU are first on the 'will have intelligent conversation with' list - of course, if we haven't burned them out this time around LOL.
Had the combo meal, with a chicken enchilada, beef burrito, beans, rice, and other bits and pieces - V had the chicken tortilla, which was nice apart from the guacamole apparently. I think SOW, who had the same combo as me, was the only one that managed to completely finish his food, and that was only because he kept eating another twenty minutes longer than the rest of us. And then, instead of feeling we had to rush out the door, because seriously, there was no more room in my stomach that night and dessert was just a pipe dream, we finished off the water and kept talking for another twenty five or thirty minutes. A very good meal, and very glad that we found the place and didn't bail after getting lost at the train station.
SOW even drove us home - we were on the way to the train station before he insisted we be driven home - NQU apparently lives only a few suburbs away, so it was just slightly out of their way. And then during the half hour drive home, even more funny stories came out, including the 'me and my passport' ones - reminds me, I have to get a new one, my one has expired grr. And how V's family likes me lots, and all sorts of other stories, was a very very good time out and I would really want to do it again, maybe next time V is up or something. Sorry, I know I'm gushing a bit here, but very enjoyable.
Got home, Mum helped V watch Dirty Dancing, I played a bit of pool and watched some of the Ashes, but went to bed early, even before V - which hardly ever happens. We had an early start in the morning, early start for a Saturday at least, because we were headed up to the Eumundi markets on the Sunshine Coast in the morning. First Saturday in ages that Dad had gotten off, apart from the NZ trip of course, and first time in ages that my parents had had a drive in the countryside, apart from going to do groceries or retail therapy, and that is only in the nearby suburbs.
Nice, brilliantly sunny day, the only cloud in the metaphorical sky being petrol prices the way they are, and luckily we didn't have to fill up. Nothing like a road trip on a sunny day, where you get to just seems less important than getting out - and yes, was reminded a few times during V's holiday that I should get my driving license (one of my quirks, I just never have been interested in driving, and with petrol prices today LOL). Was nice to get out of the city and drive past the Glasshouse Mountains, and felt like asking the parents to drive all the way to Cairns or Melbourne or something.
Got to Eumundi just before ten, and almost drove the extra ten kays to Noosa to find a parking spot LOL, all the way down the end of the furthrest parking field I am sure - the markets started at 6.30, and we were NOT going to get up and head off in time for arriving then, 4 ayem starts on a Saturday are only for international flights LOL. It was more packed than I can remember last time around, of course my last time at Eumundi was 2000 or 2001 I think, that pre-9/11 time of myths and legend. The world did seem to change that day, at least for the West. But enough of geo-politics, this is a market day report.
It seems that the place has been taken over by more permanent stalls than true whoever has stuff to sell that weekend only vendors - Mum said that it may be because they changed the frequency of the market from once a month to weekly. But sure a lot of interesting things to buy and all, although the better stuff wasn't particularly cheap, and hmm it seemed a bit of the time like we were in the usual shopping mall than a market. Both V and myself commented later that we would have liked to get a palm reading or iridology or tarot card thing, but didn't want to delay the parents any longer.
Dad was just walking around, not really looking at anything. Mum and V get on really really well, personally it seems sometimes they are ganging up on me, in a good natured way, but it's just good to see Mum talkative with someone. V and I both think it's the girly conversation factor that she doesn't seem to get with either my sister or my brother's girlfriend.
V bought more family birthday presents - trains with names spelt out for two of the babies she knows, but apart from that it was pretty lean pickings. Lots of stuff we could have bought if we had money LOL, Mum bought a first Xmas shirt for the granddaughter, with the specific name put on to order, and I had food (bratwurst, Mongolian mo-mos - mini spring rolls basically - and real ginger ale), but, despite a late swing by the garden stall, that was that. Oh, and chocolate licorice LOL. We had a McDonald's lunch at the Morayfield service stop, and headed home.
Quiet afternoon, and then it was out for dinner - to Gilhooley's at Chermside, apparently the best steakhouse in north Brisbane. What with my father loving steak, it was the best place to try out, especially replacing steak and chips night as it did. Was worried that the Broncos game starting at 6.30 would mean the place would be packed, and wouldn't be able to get an outside table, but it was all good - especially with the game being a home one last weekend, I guess all the die hard fans were actually at Suncorp Stadium rather than in the suburbs LOL.
Had a lovely meal, grilled barramundi. Eating fish out can be a bit of a gamble, but last Saturday it was melt in the mouth material yum. Mum had the same thing, and she liked it, apart from the was it sweet potato or pumpkin mash LOL. V had some chicken thing, which seemed nice as well, but I was happier with the fish from the taste I got of the chicken. My sister, as per usual, picked at a salad, which I should have remembered to keep as an entree serve, and Dad was very happy with his rib eye steak. But Guinness, it's just so wrong LOL, and it's not a REAL Irish bar.
The kite was flown to go to the movies to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mum, my sister and V were keen to go, I was happy to go along with the idea, but Dad was saying a guy at work didn't like it - although his own daughter recommended it, and Mum and my sis are big Jonny Depp fans. We finished dinner and we had like two minutes to get to the next session, or an extra hour's wait to the session after that - Dad was OK having another beer and then maybe seeing what would happen, but we decided to see the session in a couple of minutes and rushed up to the cinemas.
And I can't remember the last time I was actually at the cinema's on a Saturday night, rush hour in the trade I am sure. The lines were long, and we got the tickets for the later session, and then found ourselves with about fifty minutes to kill. No one was in the mood for dessert, coffee, or going back to the bar, apart from me it seemed, and V later told me it was funny how we had tried for the earlier session that late in the piece - my only bad decision of the day I took it as, but V thought Mum was just as keen to get to the cinemas before Dad could change his mind. The last movie my parents went to at the cinema was Pirates of the Caribbean, and that was in 2002 wasn't it? And then there is me, going to the cinema almost every week LOL.
And the only other time the parents have gone out for a meal this year was when I took them out for lunch for Mother's Day. So to have markets, a meal and a movie all in the same day, Mum was joking that it would take them a year or so to recover from the shock of having a sociable day. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was good, and Jonny Depp is a great actor, although apart from him probably only a shade or so better than the original - although Jonny's weird Wonka was a heck of a lot better than Gene Wilder's hippy LOL. I can see myself doing a repeat viewing of it, the new one, probably on DVD.
A long enough entry for now, more later :)
Pauly
V came in to town, had done a bit of shopping for a couple hours, and met me at the train station again. We were meeting up with one of her old old friends from down south and his new girlfriend, at some Mexican restaurant out in Milton - SOW had gotten V to make up a map, but didn't have the name of the place on it, hmm. So we got to Milton, started walking towards Park Road, where all the restaurants are, but V said that Mum had advised her to turn the other direction, and the map wasn't clear. So we went down the other direction, into a darkened business area, and realised we were lost. V tried ringing SOW but wasn't getting any response - I was getting huffy LOL, and realised that the map was confusing.
We took a punt on the fact that we had come out the wrong side of the railway station, the south exit instead of the north exit, and failing finding a Mexican restaurant anywhere in that direction we would have bailed. After almost half an hour of lost walking, we found the place, SOW and NQU (the new girlfriend). Thank goodness for that. He, of course, had left the mobile phone at home LOL.
The place was chosen because when NQU had lived in Milton, it was her local lunch haunt. Mmm, nachos with salsa and guacamole for starters. Was a BYO place, although there was a bottle store a couple of shops down, but really, the night went well enough that alcohol could have just made it less than it actually turned out to be. Water and Mexican punch yum LOL.
V had said to me to be 'out there' with my conversation making as she feared that the other two would be quiet and reserved, but I have to say that the dinner had the most sparkling conversation I can ever remember. Couldn't get SOW or NQU to shut up, not that we wanted to, and both V and I were just as into talking that night as the other two. Touched a myriad of topics, and went in depth on a few. Was just a perfect evening, the highlight of the trip - apart from V actually being in the same city as me of course. If ever we have a dinner party, SOW and NQU are first on the 'will have intelligent conversation with' list - of course, if we haven't burned them out this time around LOL.
Had the combo meal, with a chicken enchilada, beef burrito, beans, rice, and other bits and pieces - V had the chicken tortilla, which was nice apart from the guacamole apparently. I think SOW, who had the same combo as me, was the only one that managed to completely finish his food, and that was only because he kept eating another twenty minutes longer than the rest of us. And then, instead of feeling we had to rush out the door, because seriously, there was no more room in my stomach that night and dessert was just a pipe dream, we finished off the water and kept talking for another twenty five or thirty minutes. A very good meal, and very glad that we found the place and didn't bail after getting lost at the train station.
SOW even drove us home - we were on the way to the train station before he insisted we be driven home - NQU apparently lives only a few suburbs away, so it was just slightly out of their way. And then during the half hour drive home, even more funny stories came out, including the 'me and my passport' ones - reminds me, I have to get a new one, my one has expired grr. And how V's family likes me lots, and all sorts of other stories, was a very very good time out and I would really want to do it again, maybe next time V is up or something. Sorry, I know I'm gushing a bit here, but very enjoyable.
Got home, Mum helped V watch Dirty Dancing, I played a bit of pool and watched some of the Ashes, but went to bed early, even before V - which hardly ever happens. We had an early start in the morning, early start for a Saturday at least, because we were headed up to the Eumundi markets on the Sunshine Coast in the morning. First Saturday in ages that Dad had gotten off, apart from the NZ trip of course, and first time in ages that my parents had had a drive in the countryside, apart from going to do groceries or retail therapy, and that is only in the nearby suburbs.
Nice, brilliantly sunny day, the only cloud in the metaphorical sky being petrol prices the way they are, and luckily we didn't have to fill up. Nothing like a road trip on a sunny day, where you get to just seems less important than getting out - and yes, was reminded a few times during V's holiday that I should get my driving license (one of my quirks, I just never have been interested in driving, and with petrol prices today LOL). Was nice to get out of the city and drive past the Glasshouse Mountains, and felt like asking the parents to drive all the way to Cairns or Melbourne or something.
Got to Eumundi just before ten, and almost drove the extra ten kays to Noosa to find a parking spot LOL, all the way down the end of the furthrest parking field I am sure - the markets started at 6.30, and we were NOT going to get up and head off in time for arriving then, 4 ayem starts on a Saturday are only for international flights LOL. It was more packed than I can remember last time around, of course my last time at Eumundi was 2000 or 2001 I think, that pre-9/11 time of myths and legend. The world did seem to change that day, at least for the West. But enough of geo-politics, this is a market day report.
It seems that the place has been taken over by more permanent stalls than true whoever has stuff to sell that weekend only vendors - Mum said that it may be because they changed the frequency of the market from once a month to weekly. But sure a lot of interesting things to buy and all, although the better stuff wasn't particularly cheap, and hmm it seemed a bit of the time like we were in the usual shopping mall than a market. Both V and myself commented later that we would have liked to get a palm reading or iridology or tarot card thing, but didn't want to delay the parents any longer.
Dad was just walking around, not really looking at anything. Mum and V get on really really well, personally it seems sometimes they are ganging up on me, in a good natured way, but it's just good to see Mum talkative with someone. V and I both think it's the girly conversation factor that she doesn't seem to get with either my sister or my brother's girlfriend.
V bought more family birthday presents - trains with names spelt out for two of the babies she knows, but apart from that it was pretty lean pickings. Lots of stuff we could have bought if we had money LOL, Mum bought a first Xmas shirt for the granddaughter, with the specific name put on to order, and I had food (bratwurst, Mongolian mo-mos - mini spring rolls basically - and real ginger ale), but, despite a late swing by the garden stall, that was that. Oh, and chocolate licorice LOL. We had a McDonald's lunch at the Morayfield service stop, and headed home.
Quiet afternoon, and then it was out for dinner - to Gilhooley's at Chermside, apparently the best steakhouse in north Brisbane. What with my father loving steak, it was the best place to try out, especially replacing steak and chips night as it did. Was worried that the Broncos game starting at 6.30 would mean the place would be packed, and wouldn't be able to get an outside table, but it was all good - especially with the game being a home one last weekend, I guess all the die hard fans were actually at Suncorp Stadium rather than in the suburbs LOL.
Had a lovely meal, grilled barramundi. Eating fish out can be a bit of a gamble, but last Saturday it was melt in the mouth material yum. Mum had the same thing, and she liked it, apart from the was it sweet potato or pumpkin mash LOL. V had some chicken thing, which seemed nice as well, but I was happier with the fish from the taste I got of the chicken. My sister, as per usual, picked at a salad, which I should have remembered to keep as an entree serve, and Dad was very happy with his rib eye steak. But Guinness, it's just so wrong LOL, and it's not a REAL Irish bar.
The kite was flown to go to the movies to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mum, my sister and V were keen to go, I was happy to go along with the idea, but Dad was saying a guy at work didn't like it - although his own daughter recommended it, and Mum and my sis are big Jonny Depp fans. We finished dinner and we had like two minutes to get to the next session, or an extra hour's wait to the session after that - Dad was OK having another beer and then maybe seeing what would happen, but we decided to see the session in a couple of minutes and rushed up to the cinemas.
And I can't remember the last time I was actually at the cinema's on a Saturday night, rush hour in the trade I am sure. The lines were long, and we got the tickets for the later session, and then found ourselves with about fifty minutes to kill. No one was in the mood for dessert, coffee, or going back to the bar, apart from me it seemed, and V later told me it was funny how we had tried for the earlier session that late in the piece - my only bad decision of the day I took it as, but V thought Mum was just as keen to get to the cinemas before Dad could change his mind. The last movie my parents went to at the cinema was Pirates of the Caribbean, and that was in 2002 wasn't it? And then there is me, going to the cinema almost every week LOL.
And the only other time the parents have gone out for a meal this year was when I took them out for lunch for Mother's Day. So to have markets, a meal and a movie all in the same day, Mum was joking that it would take them a year or so to recover from the shock of having a sociable day. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was good, and Jonny Depp is a great actor, although apart from him probably only a shade or so better than the original - although Jonny's weird Wonka was a heck of a lot better than Gene Wilder's hippy LOL. I can see myself doing a repeat viewing of it, the new one, probably on DVD.
A long enough entry for now, more later :)
Pauly
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