Welcome Back Cancer-Curious-Colleagues,
Its been a while since my last post - more than five weeks I think. But I have good reason. Its been a shit time. I have been so sick, that for a time there, I simply wanted to curl up and die. That is such an enormous statement that I cannot believe that it can come out of my head. But its true. I will regale you of the plight of this new chemo in subsequent close- together blogs, as I have some catching up to do, to provide an accurate picture, so keep a close eye out over the next few days for new updates.
The Saturday before my fourth chemo cycle, (late July) we headed for our now routine rural retreat with the hairy nurses in tow for their country ramble. This time we headed mid west towards Macedon to visit a specific winery called Curly Flat and to have lunch at Kyneton at Annie Smithers Bistrot (which she has recently sold). The new owners have kept the name. Let me also say from the outset, that they kept the quality of the food as well!! Always up for a languid lunch and wine tasting, was one Denise Patterson who we collected over the Westgate Bridge, popped onto the Western Ringroad and headed up the Calder. As we had a later than expected start and all three human passengers were starving, we headed first for lunch. Scallops all round for entree - amazingly indescribably perfect!! Though for some (not moi) the mushroom and cheese souffle was a hard entree to pass up. DP settled on the boeuf bourguignon pie which was a beautifully presented golden puff pastry total casing with a creamy mash - a perfect choice given that it was colder in Kyneton than any reception that Kevin Rudd would receive at any Australian Feminists' conference these days. Siobhan and I opted for this local aged angus beef cooked to perfection with an exquisite jus and roasted veg ensemble....heaven. Sadly we couldnt fit in dessert but with coffee we enjoyed the most extraordinary selection of petit fours that were complimentary. A wild raspberry jelly square covered in a fine dusting of icing sugar, a piece of homemade honeycomb, that tasted of pure honey and a chocolate salted caramel fudge ....................I would go back there just for them alone. Highly recommend this lovely place with great food, wine selection, service and decor.
Following that we headed to Curly Flat winery to try their range. We let the dogs out for a wander and headed inside the restored farm house. As you can tell from our expressions, it's a tad cool up that way too.
The cellar door is a wonderfully restored old double brick house that has been opened up centrally and is begging to be hired out for an intimate party of 50 or 60 guests as its just charming. Equally the bbq's and seating outside suggest its purpose was intended to cater for an eating and tasting crowd. The co-owner tells us though the insurance for such is prohibitively expensive making it a non-option.
The photos left me speechless and Siobhan became really really focused on the characteristics of the 2009 chardonnay!!!!!! DP wandered off purportedly to look at the art around the room and our host then banged on about the new girlfriend's phone being registered for use in the company car. The ex lives in one house with the new squeeze (presumably what is the former marital home just up the back of the property) and our host it seems lives in part of the Cellar Door Farmhouse, leading us to assume that perhaps this is why the plans for a wine and eating establishment at Curly Flat have gone awry for the moment.
As sheer utter good luck and fortune would have it, two unsuspecting visitors stopped by for a tasting so we were rescued from any further bitter tales of woe. We were never so happy nor relieved to be rescued from such awkward and inappropriate conversation. She left us with the selection of reds telling us to help ourselves and went to see to her other customers. DP magically reappeared from her art appreciation viewing and Siobhan poured pinots all round. We went through lighter and then the heavier. DP wasn't a fan of any of the whites but then her palate was probably flattened by the Heathcote shiraz she has enjoyed at lunch. Siobhan and I love their chardonnays and as we enjoy a lighter red these days, their older pinot is just perfect. But we collectively decided that perhaps we will source out Curly Flat at Dan's and wait until the tension mellows at the winery by benefitting from some long time cellaring !!!!!!
So the next day, we had a long awaited catch up lunch with two wonderful colleagues of Siobhan, Ron and Peter and their respective partners Andrew and Matt. Siobhan and I had just a marvellous afternoon of wonderful conversation, easy easy enjoyment in their company and more than a few laughs. Matt and Pete arrived first and it was great to finally get together as they had moved north of the river some time ago, we had been slack in not having them over as they are virtually neighbours in nearby North Brunswick in the Greater Republic of Moreland!!! Not long after, Ron and Andrew arrived. I hate to confess folks but in the rush of lunch prep and serving I forgot to get their lovely faces in front of the camera. So you will all just have to imagine how good looking and handsome they all are!!
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| Our voluptuous Christmas Mermaid!! |
For those that have enjoyed Grand Final Day at Chez Gooch, you will appreciate Ron's considerably talents with the odd bit of cake decorating thematically coordinating the participating team colours. Well good people, the man surpassed himself this time.
He arrived with a Dolly Varden cake (a cake using a doll as the centrepiece) with her long voluminous skirt made entirely out of cake and decorated completely with icing. But is does not end there. In keeping with the recent present Ron and Andrew brought us back from a recent soujourn to Hawaii, a chubby cheribic mermaid all glittery and glamourous holding a cocktail glass in one hand, the doll had a mermaid tail and she was resting on a ocean of waves and seashells, starfish and other ocean themed flotsum and jetsum.
But again it does not end there. In a gesture of both beautiful thoughtfulness and utter utter hilarity, Ron had sheared of the doll's hair!!!!!! - Chemo Barbie had arrived in Thornbury via the Indian Ocean.
And she was simply beautiful.
She took pride of place at the dinner table post lunch then was stripped of her skirting finery so that we all enjoyed a totally delicious and moist carrot and walnut cake under the cream cheese icing. Andrew had said that they thought about slicing a bit of her pert plastic left breast off and popping on a band aid....but though it might be taking it a tad too far. We loved the idea!!!
I forgot to get a pic of all around the dining room table...but that will just ensure that Siobhan and I will invite them all back to again enjoy a wonderful time with such wonderful men. To them we say, good luck with the house hunting, the ghastly City of Yarra Planning department and the trams........
May the "spirits" be with you all.
Kelly xxxx
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