Rainy day

It is pouring rain out and has been off and on for the last three days or so. I am thankful we have a dry place to stay. We have actually had to start a fire in the fire place because it has cooled off so much. Today we said good bye to a new friend who is off on his next life adventure. Tim, who is the son of Claudia and Keith (who we are staying and working with) is moving to Melbourne. I am sad to see him go because I have enjoyed our wonderful conversations and listening to him and Ben (the German) making music together. Mike is sad to because they have also become good friends. I wish him all the best and I am thankful to have had to opportunity to meet him.

Two days ago was Claudia's birthday. Mike, Tim and myself arranged a semi surprise birthday party. Semi surprise because Claudia knew we were having a BBQ/party but nothing else. We decorated the restaurant with fresh roses, balloons and candles. I put paper on the tables and crayons so people could colour and draw during dinner. I set up one table with this paper and had everyone write a birthday message to Claudia and then put the bouquets of flowers, gifts and cake on it. Tim and Ben (their other son, not the German) barbecued everything. We had veggie burgers and veggie skewers (for the three vegetarians) and steak, ribs and meat skewers for everyone else. We also did baked potatoes and raw veggies. I made Sangria for everyone as well, which was an absolute hit. I also made a lemon and basil birthday cake which was served with homemade blackberry ice cram. It was a beautiful night and a great celebration. Claudia very much enjoyed herself.

We have enjoyed our stay at Claudia's restaurant/ Thunderbolt Farms. Mike and I have both learned a lot. We will be leaving here on March 6th. We are stopping to seem Sue and Graham in Brisbane first, then up to the Sunshine Coast to learn how to stand up paddle board, then to Noosa for a canoe trip and then to Mothar Mountain to do another help exchange job.

Restaurant Adventures

We have been pretty busy in the restaurant and the farm. I have learned how to dead head roses and mike has learned to drive the tractor. He has been in the fields slashing the tall grass. We have also been picking fresh tomatoes from the garden.

I have been able spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and baking, which I have enjoyed. The other day I made strawberry jam, sticky date muffins, scones, strawberry ice cream, and I roasts butternut squash (which they call pumpkin here) to put into a lasagna with the fresh picked tomatoes made into sauce. The lasagna was a hit.

I have been getting into the flow of the restaurant when we have the dinner rush. I actually quite enjoy the prep work and then putting it all together for the guest's meals. Claudia is really big on food presentation, which I am as well, and it is always great to see the reactions of the guests when the food comes out. They always remark on how good it looks or the beautiful presentation. Claudia enjoys sharing that I am a Canadian and that I left -35 and three feet of snow. No one believes here. I had a pretty fun incident with a guest last night:

Guest: "My son is in Toronto right now!"
Me: Cool! I live on the other side of the country.
Guest: Oh really? Like Vancouver?
Me: Not quite, more inland.
Guest: (quite puzzled), what city lies between Vancouver and Toronto?
Me: Have you heard of Calgary?
Guest: Oh yes! I have been to the Calgary stampede!! Very interesting! I also think Lake Louise and Banff have to be the most beautiful places

I didn't explain to her that I live farther north than Calgary. It made me laugh pretty good. Nobody seems to know much about Canada over here. We often tease people that Mike is a polar bear wrangler.