Place of Stones

Today, I finally visited my closest coffee place.  It's really a cafe/bistro type thing, but I just had coffee - this time.  It used to be that when explaining where I lived, I'd say just up the hill from this particular pizza place.  But then it became not that pizza place.  Place of Stones has been there a little while now, and my brother and his cohort often visit (so much so that the staff know them), but this was my first time.

The first thing I noticed was the well-stocked wall of shelves.  All sorts of books, plus some of those little boxes of cards.  Once we'd ordered, I asked Pat if he'd played the Ultimate Sports Trivia Quiz.  He hadn't, so my brother pulled down the box and we tried the quiz.  These boys are really into their sports so I was amazed (we all were really) when I got the first few answers, and more throughout the quiz.  Possibly due to my age...

Coffees here are good, and when the hot chocolate arrived I almost wished I'd ordered that instead.  Thankfully my cappuccino had a healthy dose of chocolate on top.

Future visits will have to include breakfast and dessert (maybe not in the one go) - the specials board lists Chocolate Crumble as one of the desserts and I'm so tempted.

The Polling Place

Saturday was Queensland's state election.  I'm not going to get political on here, but I'm really glad my Facebook newsfeed demonstrates the like-mindedness of my friends.  Normally, I would vote at a Uniting Church about 10 minutes' walk from home, but yesterday being a very busy day, that was just a little awkward.  What with teaching, buying presents for special little people, and a gig, it was easier to pick a polling place closer to one of those activities. 

After teaching, my brother and I went to the larger of the nearby shopping centres and, before anything else, I voted at the Uniting Church across the street.  There was no queue, which is great for speed.  When there is no queue, however, signs with arrows are handy so that voters don't end up in a tiny tots ballet class.  Just saying.  There were 2 sausage sizzles set up, as well as a craft stall, and cheery people manning the doors and the imaginary queue.  Thankfully, as I was walking in a local was engaged in conversation with one of the party people handing out flyers and they only just saw me - but by then I was far enough past them that I could just shake my head.  I find them just as irritating as the perfume spruikers in department stores - less smelly in a literal sense, but just as on the nose.  (I felt a little silly taking a photo, so you can't see all the placards lining the street to the right of the church).

Lovely people with the electoral rolls - possibly also glad to have another to cross off the list - and my little old lady complimented me on my names (as most doctors do as well - thanks mum and dad!).  As this polling place is so convenient to the shopping centre/gym, it might just become my new regular place.

Tuesday January 24 - Plan B

I'd earmarked today as the last real day of holidays.  I didn't expect any students yesterday as it was the first day back (wrong! - the girl who comes straight after school showed up, very keen) and I don't have students at home on Tuesdays.  My plan was to go to New Farm and Teneriffe to take some photos, as it's been ages since I've taken photos artistically.  This was, incidentally, to be a Change...

The weather forecast heavy rain - but I didn't want to let the weather dictate what I do with my life, or I'd be a hermit.  Determined to carry through with my Plan A, I went to the gym first thing, despite the rain.  On the way home, I snapped these photos of local flooding.  It's a little hard to tell, but the water is over the footpath.  Turns out there was a lot of local flooding, and police were urging people to delay non-essential travel.

Plan B - pajama day.  I love wearing pajamas and do so as often as I can.  So after breakfast (back in pjs) I had a mini-nap, coffee at my brother's (not in pjs) then came home for a more substantial nap/sleep.  I usually reserve such decadence for when I'm sick, but with the rain this was the best way to spend a day.  After lunch I watched Amelie while making a dent in the substantial ironing pile, then started a button-sewing frenzy. 

It's been a really long time since I saw Amelie.  Checking Imdb afterwards to find other places I'd seen all those actors, I caught the movie bug and even braved the rain to go to the video store...but that's for a different blog post.