Manningham

Sometimes we come across great things in the most unexpected places. That was the case with lunch today. We’d said our goodbyes to Chris & Wendy and set off to meet M&R for lunch at the Heide Museum Of Modern Art. M&R were meeting Elizabeth, a friend who used to live in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne. By the time we arrived, they had already been around the museum and had finished their lunch - we were late! We ordered and were presented with the most delicious lunch, presented very beautifully. It takes a lot to make Avocado toast look special, but the added soft-boiled eggs, pickled chilli & fennel made it just that. The same with the Brown rice breakfast bowl with grilled zucchini, spiced carrots, kimchi and sweet corn. Hopefully, we will be back.

After lunch, we wandered around the outside sculpture park and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine while walking and chatting. When we arrived back at the car park it was time to say our goodbyes and go on our way. M&R flew back to Brisbane, we sought out the cheap fuel at COSTCO and then drove to the Macedon Caravan Park for the night as we are seeing John & Kerri nearby tomorrow.

The reviews of the showground were pretty damning. The place was hit hard by COVID and hasn’t managed to get back on its feet. When we couldn’t find the caretaker and, when we did, he was cooking his dinner and told us to find our “happy place” in the lower paddock and he would see us at 9:00 tomorrow to collect the $15 fee. Unfortunately, what he didn’t tell us was that the lower paddock was very wet after the rain. Consequently, we ended with spinning wheels as we tried to find a place to park. Bill would not be beaten, slipped him into 4WD and off we went, no harm except a big hole in their field! The showers were warm, with plenty of water, but the buildings were very dilapidated. Goodness knows what was lurking in the cobwebs and crevices.

At 9:00 a.m., Smokie turned up in his golf buggy. He was late 70yrs and spent 20 minutes telling me his life story. The caravan park is owned by developers and, he believes, it will become a housing estate quite soon. He hopes it will not be before he retires in a few years time.Read more