First up - a computer call with T in Sydney. She has just started three weeks holiday during which she and her partner will be spending 7 nights in Cairns in far north Queensland. Unfortunately they won't be changing planes at Brisbane so we won't have the opportunity to have a coffee with them at the airport but we will catch up with them one day. In the interim, the computer chats work just fine.
Then ... Markets! They really have become part of our weekend ritual and it was a happy bunch that congregated there this morning (except for M who seems to be missing "home" and seems to be wishing that she was back overseas). M and A were there - which was a little surprising as they had spent the night at a hotel in Surfers Paradise and it seemed they might opt for the buffet breakfast there rather than for coffee and croissant at the markets. Perhaps it's the company they prefer - or that they had checked out the food and they didn't think it was as good as it could be. F's brother and his family were there as well with their eldest son still in the recovery stages from the stomach bug that's doing the rounds of the Coast - we know because it had stopped with us here at Latimers already.
Next stop - Southport Cemetery to visit M's dad and for Mouse and M to tend the gravesite, water the plants, and place fresh flowers. Mouse asked which side she would be on (hopefully for not a very long time) and S borrowed a line from "Avanti" to indicate whichever was K's good ear - so they could "talk".
F and M went home after that and we continued on to The BrickWorks aka Ferry Road Markets for lunch where M, Mouse and I all had the calamari - and M counted the number of pieces on each plate - to confirm they were very generous serves. S had the fish.
Some small shopping - sausages and lamb chops followed - for the BBQ this evening - before S, M and I all piled into the yellow breadbox and headed out to HarbourTown to meet up with friend J who was camped there waiting for her daughter and friends to finish watching Harry Potter 7. Jo had her housemate there for company and we resisted the temptation, and slight pressure, to finish her homework assignment for her. I, for one, am happy to help but the days of actually doing someone else's homework - especially when they slip away to do some shopping - are over.
But it was good to catch up with J and find out that her older daughter will be graduating next month. It seems like only heartbeat since she was a baby! She's recently returned from a trip to Bali with her boyfriend - her 21st birthday present from J - during which she tracked down and met Ketut - as "featured" in "Eat Pray Love". He was apparently very easy to find which led to some cynical remarks about whether it was the real Ketut or one of many impersonators trying to cash in on Ketut's "fame". We weren't being totally serious.
Then it was off to F and M's which M was visiting in an official capacity. While she and F did what they had to do, we talked with M and watched as she prepared a very yummy Turkish/Albanian coffee. Who knew that M and M could "read" coffee. S's wouldn't settle although she thought she could see the Eiffel Tower; I'm sure I saw a buxom woman and a snake.
Finally home - after a drive through the parking lot of the new Zarraffas at Nerang - which is due to open tomorrow but which certainly seemed to be open and serving customers this afternoon - I settled in to BbQ mode - possible because M showed me how to determine how much is left in a gas canister by pouring boiling water down its side. The chops could have been cooked a little more for those who like "medium-well" but I didn't think I'd done too badly with my first ever BBQ where I was in sole control of the grill. It did make me realise that I certainly could have taken more notice all this times I've stood next to people who have been BBQing.
Phew ... It was good to finally stop and settle in for the evening - which included S falling asleep in front of a lifestyle program on the television. She must have been tired. I have plans for the television tomorrow - it's time to install the Blue-Ray player!
