There's just nothing like seeing family, especially after being away from home so long! We were lucky enough to enjoy a much-needed visit from Brian's parents, Alice and Eric, a few weeks ago. Because timing isn't our strong point, we made sure to wait until their arrival to become insanely busy with work (after a 3 1/2 month stint of near-unemployment for Brian). Regardless, we were still able to pack in tons of quality time with them, and they provided a good source of stress-relief during our adjustment period to our new (working) lives here.
I cannot express my gratitude enough for all of their terrible spoiling of us during their trip! I don't even know how to explain the difference between our previous lifestyle and the one we lived for that two weeks… it was truly a rags-to-riches story. Besides taking us out for meals and doting on us for 2 weeks, they even treated us to spa-treatments of our choice at their hotel because they saw how stressed out we were from work! They were just too good to us :) When they arrived, they wanted to take us out for meals and wondered where all of our favorite spots were… good question, as we'd barely treated ourselves to anything more extravagant than the (ill-fated) Shanghai Dumpling House ($6.00 plate of food, hello!). And as we'd banned that place months ago due to a bout of food sickness on Brian's part (if a restaurant can produce food that sickens that iron-gut, I want nothing to do with it), we were mostly lost, experience-wise on restaurants in this city. Luckily I've been scouting out places I wish I could afford to eat at for months, so I had a little list for us to go to. And let me tell you, we did some good eating. Highlights included a five-course chef's selection at South Yarra's Sardinian restaurant Da Noi… along with specially-made dishes for this little vegan (even without prior notice!), fancy Japanese bentos and tea in my ever-loved tree-filled Abbotsford Convent, and a banquet of Moroccan treats at Fitzroy's Moroccan Soup Bar. Oh, the list could go on and on… and sometimes we even got taken out for lunch AND dinner in the same day. It was the most special dining-out time we will ever have in this city and we were so lucky to get to experience that with the Quists.
We did some things other than eating too (although my waistline begs to differ), including a lovely bike ride to CERES environmental park for lunch and a trip to the Melbourne Zoo (a mere 10 min walk from our house but we had yet to visit). We also took a trip down the Great Ocean Road, stopping all along the way to see birds, koalas in the wild, and dip our toes in the water. It was such a perfect day, full of gorgeous scenery, beaches, and good conversation. We showed Alice and Eric Sydney Road and Princes park, walked around the convent and CERES, and wandered around South Yarra a bit (where their hotel was and is still a bit of uncharted territory for us). There were also a lot more delicious meals thrown in there as well, but those previously mentioned were the favorites. I only wish we would have had more free time to spend with them and that we could have gone out of town a bit more, but Brian and I were too busy finally making some real money to take many trips!
That being said, work at Top Paddock has been a bit of a roller coaster (as most things are, I find). There was the initial excitement of working in such a highly anticipated cafe, then the reality of the workload being put upon us in such an insanely busy place, and then some drama with a diva head chef, which has now all since dissolved somewhat into normalcy. It took a month, but I finally feel used to the way things work there, and the manic pace has slowed a bit, allowing us to have a little bit of fun with our co-workers and a few minutes to breathe during our shifts, which is a very pleasant change. We've lost a few staff in the opening process but it's beginning to feel so much more normal and we're getting to know each other. I had some issues recently with maintaining a sunny disposition while working with a toxic chef, but surprisingly after voicing my concerns and having them heard, a change took place almost immediately. Although I don't want to get my hopes up that he has completely changed and all is forgotten, I will say that last Saturday was 100% better than the previous week and that gives me a lot of hope.
The rest of life here is business as usual at the moment… the weather mellowed out there for awhile but has now been on a hot stint for about 3 weeks, with only 2 days under 30 degrees, much to my dismay. But I've accepted it and am trying to enjoy what may be the last bits (please!) of summer. Yes, it is weird how much I seem to dislike warm weather now. I guess Seattle really is where my heart is. Anyway, I'm not going to talk about the weather anymore (at least, not to complain about the heat) because I'm really tired of hearing myself talk about so I know you must be too. :)
I suppose that's really it for now (pretty sure my life peaked when I met David Byrne, so don't be expecting anymore exciting news from me), but I'll have more to report in a little while after our trip to Tasmania!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited to get traveling again? We are leaving in 6 days and after adjusting to a busy work schedule I feel like I finally deserve to say "Wow, this is a much needed vacation," like the rest of all you hard-working folks. In closing I want to thank Alice and Eric again, from the bottom of our hearts, for making the long, long journey out here to see us and look after us for 2 weeks. It was so comforting having you guys here and your trip is a really special memory for us. Now the rest of you, time to jump on the bandwagon and book your tix! Who amongst you hasn't dreamt of visiting Australia? Now's your chance! :) Ok, pressuring time is over; miss you all and lots of love from down under! <3 and="" now="" p="" pics:="">
Abbey scored free tix for us to go to Big Day Out; I saw Animal Collective :)
Top Paddock
Brian and I got caught in a super intense rain storm on the way home from work one day... You can't really tell from the pic but that is a soaking wet paper bag full of sandwiches which Brian ate on the walk
People were looking at us like we were nuts on our train ride... soaked to the bone
first stop-off on our Great Ocean Road trip
Alice, Brian and Eric
On Great Ocean Road. Didn't make it to the 12 Apostles (this time!) but it was still beautiful!!
birds flying around in an electrical box...
koala butt
awesome animal pics usually courtesy of Brian B Quist
Melb zoo
:)
on our bike ride!
at CERES
Brian and I went to the Sydney Road street party the other day; it was so funny and reminded me of the West Seattle Street Fair... check out that fat chef on stilts... no explanation on that one
I LOVE COCO! Look at my box of goodies that came in the mail!
walking around the convent
so cute :) at the zoo
Brian and his mum on the waterfront
