After the tense wait for the suit cases we make our way through customs without a hitch, then out to a very old, smoky, hot and un-air-conditioned arrivals hall. Everyone standing in front of the arrival hall is smoking so the fumes are coming back in big time, welcome to Roma ..... it's a bit different to Dubai that's for sure.
The cooking school has left a message on our phone saying that our driver won't be here to pick us up for another hour so it's a hot wait as far away for the smoke as we can get. Memories are coming back from last year as we wait close to where Marina picked us up from.
So finally we are in the air conditioned comforts with our driver heading north for the 1 hour drive to Fontain Del Papa. This time I'm paying that little bit more attention in readiness to when I get back behind the left hand drivers seat. But first I want to get off my tight flying stocking which is some feat when you are traveling at 145 km an hour !!! The fields that we pass are the same ones as last year but this time parched by the summer heat.
We arrive to warm greeting from our host Asusintina who with her daughter Emma will be doing the cooking classes. It was a bit of a double take on Anna's behalf once see puts a face to our emails, when we left last year life at Fontain del Papa was in turmoil with her and her son Luka for those who read my last blog on the hardships of a family run business at Fontain.
So up to our room in the 600 year old villa, it was nice to be back in the same space but in a very different season as it is very hot, humid and dry. Mind you I can still smell the smoke wafting up from the kitchen below but as it is summer it's not the fires that the smoke is coming from it is from the Italians smoking in the kitchen, o well it is Italy after all !!!!
This time being the last month of summer so it is as hot as it is in February back home, the very Italian and very hand made pool is open, it sits high on the hill over looking the 600 year old villa and the distant valleys so it not long before we are up having a cool off prior to our first class.
Friday, 15 August 2014
Touch Down In Roma
No luggage!! Not even one of our two well organised, several times reconsidered and repacked 23kg bags. They did started out as 2 x 28kg bags when we finally got to pack Saturday night, but she who has to be obeyed recommended that let's take some of the tinned food contents in our hand luggage, well we all know how that turned out!!! Good in theory having more lighter bags than 2 very big heavy ones, my Sands was just looking after my dickie tennis elbow that turned up 2 weeks prior to departure. Where did that come from, I don't even play tennis!
Why so much luggage at the start of our trip you may very well ask, this question we both did ask of each other. Well as we are being hosted in a few locations and revisiting people that made our last trip such a great cooking experience we didn't want to come away without gifts from our Aussie homeland. So with some packaged and correctly labeled food stuffs that managed to go undetected in the safely of the main bags, some of Sandy's culinary tools of trade, picnic set and umbrella for romantic roadside lunches under the Tuscan sun, several bags of north QLD Macadamia Nuts, jars of Vegemite so about 15kg. Some Aussie trinkets, key rings, fridge magnets, also beaded Indigenes bracelets and small paintings from a tribe in The Northern Territory plus enough furry Aussie animals to make a village of Italians kids happy for a year or two, so there's another 10 kg. As well we have our two pillows complete with their own hygienically sealed bags and enough toiletries to get us through the whole trip ... yes I know they have pillows and that one can buy toothpaste in Italy but ... I like mine from home!! Pampadour / backpacker travellers that us!! Perhaps a bit more on the pampadour side....
Also when we travel we won't take anything that we don't want to not come home with, we put some spare cloths in our carry on baggage, wear no jewels or flash cloths to attract the attention of the gypsy people that want your stuff more than you, so odd, comfortable and old cloths plus one good outfit. All of which we divide 1/2 into each other's case so that if one case gets lost in transit we have the other to get us through until it is found.
So by the end of the trip with all toiletries gone the worn out cloths and shoes replaced with some new bits for an Italian wardrobe when we get back and that leaves loads of space to bring some exotic goodies home.
OK this was the theory but at this point standing quietly side by side and occasionally looking at each other then back at the empty baggage carousel tensely watching and waiting as it goes around for yet another empty lap, you then know it's not good as the carousel comes to a stops.........than from a distance a Emirates baggage person come from the far carousel apologising that our bags had been temporally placed on the wrong carousel, so all was good again and we have been reunited with both of our cases.
Why so much luggage at the start of our trip you may very well ask, this question we both did ask of each other. Well as we are being hosted in a few locations and revisiting people that made our last trip such a great cooking experience we didn't want to come away without gifts from our Aussie homeland. So with some packaged and correctly labeled food stuffs that managed to go undetected in the safely of the main bags, some of Sandy's culinary tools of trade, picnic set and umbrella for romantic roadside lunches under the Tuscan sun, several bags of north QLD Macadamia Nuts, jars of Vegemite so about 15kg. Some Aussie trinkets, key rings, fridge magnets, also beaded Indigenes bracelets and small paintings from a tribe in The Northern Territory plus enough furry Aussie animals to make a village of Italians kids happy for a year or two, so there's another 10 kg. As well we have our two pillows complete with their own hygienically sealed bags and enough toiletries to get us through the whole trip ... yes I know they have pillows and that one can buy toothpaste in Italy but ... I like mine from home!! Pampadour / backpacker travellers that us!! Perhaps a bit more on the pampadour side....
Also when we travel we won't take anything that we don't want to not come home with, we put some spare cloths in our carry on baggage, wear no jewels or flash cloths to attract the attention of the gypsy people that want your stuff more than you, so odd, comfortable and old cloths plus one good outfit. All of which we divide 1/2 into each other's case so that if one case gets lost in transit we have the other to get us through until it is found.
So by the end of the trip with all toiletries gone the worn out cloths and shoes replaced with some new bits for an Italian wardrobe when we get back and that leaves loads of space to bring some exotic goodies home.
OK this was the theory but at this point standing quietly side by side and occasionally looking at each other then back at the empty baggage carousel tensely watching and waiting as it goes around for yet another empty lap, you then know it's not good as the carousel comes to a stops.........than from a distance a Emirates baggage person come from the far carousel apologising that our bags had been temporally placed on the wrong carousel, so all was good again and we have been reunited with both of our cases.
Wednesday, 13 August 2014
Oh la la
Ooolala
With 20 different nationality hosting us on board the emirates flight leaving at 9am from Dubai Monday for our 6 hour flight to Rome arriving 1pm local time WOW WOW WOW what Service .... what Style ... and what an eclectic mix of cultures.
The A380 Emirates is soooooo far better fitted out than the Qantas A380 sorry Aus but Emirates has the game sown up and sown up tight real tight. The internal of our section is fitted out with cream 2pac painted panels inlayed with Birds Eye Birch timber trims, even the toilet seat is in the birch with French perfumes and accessories these guys now how to look after their customers. My wide screen TV is about 600 mm x 4000 mm and we have our own I Pad to use, very high tech. Off to my left is my own private little mini bar, just ring when you want ice it's all just so stunning and all the hostess say this plane is the gem of the Emirates fleet. How lucky are we to have this great experience I keep pinching myself. Our 2 seat are in the middle and on the top deck and only have 1 seat either side that has the window so loads of space with a seat that lays down to a flat bed.
So far I have meet several of the hosting staff the first being "my" French hostess Florence ... Ooolala .... as we are in the centre of the plane this time Sandy has her own hostess on her side, one would never pass things over the other that would be so uncouth.
My French lady offered me wine to go with my lunch a drop from South Africa or a Chateauneuf-de-Pape from Rhone and every time she comes back with that little French accent.. and her little red hat and white scarf beautifully draped down her left shoulder offering a top up what can I do but smile and say merci beaucoup.
Going to have to stop saying yes to the French lady or I won't get off the plane!!!!
This trip I'm going to be more out there and going out of my way to socialise and meet the as many people as possible, yes I know that is hard to believe... me socialising!! A great place to get that started will be at the bar lounge on the A380 YES at a bar In The Sky... Sooooo cool. It is located just behind our section, I'm sure the 1st class have one also but as I can't get in there this one will do and do just fine, beautiful flower on the wall, canopies on the bar that go just perfect with a drink or two. So I have to start the flight with a quick trip to the little boys room and one has to go through the lounge bar, so on the way back it would be just be plain rude not to stop and have a drop of French champagne and start to work the room.
Ricardo from Brazil was serving and picked up on my Aus ascent and he just wanted to talk about Australia, then later needing to revisit the little boys room again I had to stop at the bar for a pre lunch Mojito and got to talking to Lombock from Lebanon a 31 year old who was to keen to talk about his homeland and the pending war. We talked about how the young have had enough and are trying to protests for peace, he has lived through 6 conflicts in his short life and it is just a matter of course but a sad one that is politically driven. Meet a older italian couple from Melbourne and they have given us tips on some places to visit in southerners Italy she has describe one place that we must see in Milazzo called capo di Milazzo it's easy to fine it's a restaurant that has great traditional atmosphere and dancing you can't miss, it it under a big olive tree !!!!!! OK we will look out for it...
So back to my seat and let's have some lunch.
Flying out of Dubai the food today for lunch is a mix of modern or some Lebanese/Middle Eastern so it a mezze plate to start with the most amazing bubba goodish, so smokie absolutely scrumo. Followed with a Lamb Biryani amazing eating local food in a local area it is so true to the traditional with great flavours and techniques so the Biryani is just a perfect mix of a saucy cooked rice with cardamon flavoured sauce and the stewed lamb with the loose grain saffron rice served with a 2007 Grange Neuve de Figeac yep you guessed it more French wine thanks Florence and this time a great big red.
Desert of Date Bread and Raspberry pudding yum yum with a 2000 Quinta do Portal Colheita Port from where else but Spain can it get any better !!!
Well we are nearing the end of the flight and the announcement that it a beautiful 31 deg in Rome and we will be touching down in Roma any minute. We have a car picking us up from the airport and taking us north about 1 hour to start our first cooking lesson this afternoon so I will touch base and tell you what have planed to do over the coming months. Cia for now
With 20 different nationality hosting us on board the emirates flight leaving at 9am from Dubai Monday for our 6 hour flight to Rome arriving 1pm local time WOW WOW WOW what Service .... what Style ... and what an eclectic mix of cultures.
The A380 Emirates is soooooo far better fitted out than the Qantas A380 sorry Aus but Emirates has the game sown up and sown up tight real tight. The internal of our section is fitted out with cream 2pac painted panels inlayed with Birds Eye Birch timber trims, even the toilet seat is in the birch with French perfumes and accessories these guys now how to look after their customers. My wide screen TV is about 600 mm x 4000 mm and we have our own I Pad to use, very high tech. Off to my left is my own private little mini bar, just ring when you want ice it's all just so stunning and all the hostess say this plane is the gem of the Emirates fleet. How lucky are we to have this great experience I keep pinching myself. Our 2 seat are in the middle and on the top deck and only have 1 seat either side that has the window so loads of space with a seat that lays down to a flat bed.
So far I have meet several of the hosting staff the first being "my" French hostess Florence ... Ooolala .... as we are in the centre of the plane this time Sandy has her own hostess on her side, one would never pass things over the other that would be so uncouth.
My French lady offered me wine to go with my lunch a drop from South Africa or a Chateauneuf-de-Pape from Rhone and every time she comes back with that little French accent.. and her little red hat and white scarf beautifully draped down her left shoulder offering a top up what can I do but smile and say merci beaucoup.
Going to have to stop saying yes to the French lady or I won't get off the plane!!!!
This trip I'm going to be more out there and going out of my way to socialise and meet the as many people as possible, yes I know that is hard to believe... me socialising!! A great place to get that started will be at the bar lounge on the A380 YES at a bar In The Sky... Sooooo cool. It is located just behind our section, I'm sure the 1st class have one also but as I can't get in there this one will do and do just fine, beautiful flower on the wall, canopies on the bar that go just perfect with a drink or two. So I have to start the flight with a quick trip to the little boys room and one has to go through the lounge bar, so on the way back it would be just be plain rude not to stop and have a drop of French champagne and start to work the room.
Ricardo from Brazil was serving and picked up on my Aus ascent and he just wanted to talk about Australia, then later needing to revisit the little boys room again I had to stop at the bar for a pre lunch Mojito and got to talking to Lombock from Lebanon a 31 year old who was to keen to talk about his homeland and the pending war. We talked about how the young have had enough and are trying to protests for peace, he has lived through 6 conflicts in his short life and it is just a matter of course but a sad one that is politically driven. Meet a older italian couple from Melbourne and they have given us tips on some places to visit in southerners Italy she has describe one place that we must see in Milazzo called capo di Milazzo it's easy to fine it's a restaurant that has great traditional atmosphere and dancing you can't miss, it it under a big olive tree !!!!!! OK we will look out for it...
So back to my seat and let's have some lunch.
Flying out of Dubai the food today for lunch is a mix of modern or some Lebanese/Middle Eastern so it a mezze plate to start with the most amazing bubba goodish, so smokie absolutely scrumo. Followed with a Lamb Biryani amazing eating local food in a local area it is so true to the traditional with great flavours and techniques so the Biryani is just a perfect mix of a saucy cooked rice with cardamon flavoured sauce and the stewed lamb with the loose grain saffron rice served with a 2007 Grange Neuve de Figeac yep you guessed it more French wine thanks Florence and this time a great big red.
Desert of Date Bread and Raspberry pudding yum yum with a 2000 Quinta do Portal Colheita Port from where else but Spain can it get any better !!!
Well we are nearing the end of the flight and the announcement that it a beautiful 31 deg in Rome and we will be touching down in Roma any minute. We have a car picking us up from the airport and taking us north about 1 hour to start our first cooking lesson this afternoon so I will touch base and tell you what have planed to do over the coming months. Cia for now
14 hrs Sydney to Dubai and our 9 hr stop over
This time we are traveling with several books to read and drop, last time 3 months without some sort of English to read and no TV even I the one that never reads was looking to read. So I have books on Kylie, Michael Jackson, couple of others that will be great mindless trash to amuse my little mind on the cruise with several glasses on our private deck while floating on the Med leaving Rome west of Italy around for 7 days to Pisa across into France, Spain. Then in a couple of weeks leaving from Venice for 12 days down the east coast in the Adriatic Sea through the Greek isles and around into Turkey. My first book is call Confessions Of a Qantas Flight Attendant.....and already that is creating flutter amongst the flight crew so many dropping by for a bit of a chat, needless to say not getting much reading but lots of socialising. Sandy has bought Tony Windsor and other more intelligent books hmmmmm that sounds like fun Sands!!!
Arrived into Dubai at 1am local time Monday morning or 7am Monday morning Aus time after a great flight but being totally brain dead from the last month so was keen to sleep and sleep and more sleep and the flat bed seat certainly help with that... So no real info on food or any anything really but I'm sure that I will find my blog mojo before the week is out.
Had a great long early morning walk in the Dubai airport and still 38 deg so with my Japanese fan in hand to keep as both cool and being sent for desk to desk to find our driver that was booked to take us to of hotel for the night to get to sleep in a real bed. There was a bit of confusion as we looked like Aussie backpackers and didn't look like the Dubai business class travellers all in their designer outfits and jewels. Once they realised there mistakes life seamed to change some what and we were whisked away in a private car with an upgrade as an apology ... Albeit still to the wrong motel but what ever at 2am all we both wanted is a BED and don't care what it looks like, but it was fantastic shame we were only sleeping there.
The bed was soft and within seconds we are both chucking ZZZZ's until an 6am early morning wake up call as we had to be back at the airport 2 hours prior to takeoff ... oh and a chance to get some duty free. I was already up and had already starting on my blog.
Fantastic shower and down to breakfast as the hotel breakfast was part of the stopover and included in our ticket and what a traditional breakfast it was. Why have cornies when you can sample some Middle Eastern/indian and Lebanese food. Shame we didn't have more time to soak up the atmosphere.
Started with the best birchler muesli, I have never had it quite like this it was a litter sweet, beautifully cold which was great as it was already high 30 degs outside and was served with dried fruits and nuts, stewed grapes and dates but with a hint of nuttiness from the rice so it was sort of like a rice desert / birchler muesli. Then it was to the India section for some soft white rice cakes about the size of a patty cake with darl and a potato curry hot and spicey. Lastly Hammom a style of smoke white fish, hommus, labnar firm yoghurt balls rolled in parsley. I just had to have a little bit of everything can't miss out on a cultural food experience. Meet a waitress name Pearl and got to talking about our food adventure and she is looking into some local cooking classes for us to do when we return.
As we were waiting for our driver in the lobby I was admiring the ornate silver coffee pot sitting proudly on a central table, Isaac appeared from thin air dressed in his traditional outfit and offered us a little cup of traditional coffee which was very mild with a hint of cardamon, and saffron a lovely way to finish our breakfast served with a date as the sweetness.
7 am our driver came to take us back to the airport in readiness for our flight from Dubai to Rome. The airport is just massive so modern in glass, chrome and so tall it was like a town in a bubbled dome with palm trees and huge walls stretching up several stories of modern waterfalls.
Arrived into Dubai at 1am local time Monday morning or 7am Monday morning Aus time after a great flight but being totally brain dead from the last month so was keen to sleep and sleep and more sleep and the flat bed seat certainly help with that... So no real info on food or any anything really but I'm sure that I will find my blog mojo before the week is out.
Had a great long early morning walk in the Dubai airport and still 38 deg so with my Japanese fan in hand to keep as both cool and being sent for desk to desk to find our driver that was booked to take us to of hotel for the night to get to sleep in a real bed. There was a bit of confusion as we looked like Aussie backpackers and didn't look like the Dubai business class travellers all in their designer outfits and jewels. Once they realised there mistakes life seamed to change some what and we were whisked away in a private car with an upgrade as an apology ... Albeit still to the wrong motel but what ever at 2am all we both wanted is a BED and don't care what it looks like, but it was fantastic shame we were only sleeping there.
The bed was soft and within seconds we are both chucking ZZZZ's until an 6am early morning wake up call as we had to be back at the airport 2 hours prior to takeoff ... oh and a chance to get some duty free. I was already up and had already starting on my blog.
Fantastic shower and down to breakfast as the hotel breakfast was part of the stopover and included in our ticket and what a traditional breakfast it was. Why have cornies when you can sample some Middle Eastern/indian and Lebanese food. Shame we didn't have more time to soak up the atmosphere.
Started with the best birchler muesli, I have never had it quite like this it was a litter sweet, beautifully cold which was great as it was already high 30 degs outside and was served with dried fruits and nuts, stewed grapes and dates but with a hint of nuttiness from the rice so it was sort of like a rice desert / birchler muesli. Then it was to the India section for some soft white rice cakes about the size of a patty cake with darl and a potato curry hot and spicey. Lastly Hammom a style of smoke white fish, hommus, labnar firm yoghurt balls rolled in parsley. I just had to have a little bit of everything can't miss out on a cultural food experience. Meet a waitress name Pearl and got to talking about our food adventure and she is looking into some local cooking classes for us to do when we return.
As we were waiting for our driver in the lobby I was admiring the ornate silver coffee pot sitting proudly on a central table, Isaac appeared from thin air dressed in his traditional outfit and offered us a little cup of traditional coffee which was very mild with a hint of cardamon, and saffron a lovely way to finish our breakfast served with a date as the sweetness.
7 am our driver came to take us back to the airport in readiness for our flight from Dubai to Rome. The airport is just massive so modern in glass, chrome and so tall it was like a town in a bubbled dome with palm trees and huge walls stretching up several stories of modern waterfalls.
Sandy The Terrorist
Coming through security this time we have the whole 100ml thingy down pat with all in little clear bottles in their own little clear plastic bags yes we were so proud of our packing and feeling like true seasoned travellers.
So I'm through and I look back Sandy the terrorist is trying to smuggle on board the caned contents for a Thai curry! What do you mean I can't take these on board.... I walk over and was quickly escorted away ... this was Sandy's bag and Please Sir Step Away From The Lady!! Great I'm heading away for 3 months and Sands will be in maximin security some where in the airport system.
So after some consultation Sandy is set free and also set free from those nasty cans of red curry paste, cocoanut milk, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. Apparently this is still classified as liquid and pasts and unidentifiable because even though they were in cans with labels they can not be sure this is what was in them. Mind you without a can opener which you can't take on a plane how could one even open the to use the contents on the plane! So no red curry dinners for some of the Italian that Sandy was hoping to cook for but at lease we are both on the plane...
So I'm through and I look back Sandy the terrorist is trying to smuggle on board the caned contents for a Thai curry! What do you mean I can't take these on board.... I walk over and was quickly escorted away ... this was Sandy's bag and Please Sir Step Away From The Lady!! Great I'm heading away for 3 months and Sands will be in maximin security some where in the airport system.
So after some consultation Sandy is set free and also set free from those nasty cans of red curry paste, cocoanut milk, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. Apparently this is still classified as liquid and pasts and unidentifiable because even though they were in cans with labels they can not be sure this is what was in them. Mind you without a can opener which you can't take on a plane how could one even open the to use the contents on the plane! So no red curry dinners for some of the Italian that Sandy was hoping to cook for but at lease we are both on the plane...
Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Cooking Gap Year In Italy Part 2
Can we believe it we are off again ... NO WAY... So part 2 of our "Cooking Gap Year" has just started and as we had such a great time in Italy for our 1st 1/4 where better to kick of our next 1/4.
Last year we did Northern Italy and the Lakes District in their spring into summer this year we are doing Southern Italy for the end of their summer into autumn. Two very different seasons and two very different food regions to explore. It will be the end of season so tomato and basil should make into some great pasta dishes and we will learn how to preserve the seasons great produce ready for the long snowy winters and of course the autumn fruit and figs yum I can't wait to eat.
But what week getting all the last minute bits done prior to leaving for Froog and what a month as we trained a new locum Felicity so The Retreat is in good hands. Along with Julie, Kath and Ren helping to make the perfect efficient house team.
Friday night went to bed at 11pm and with sooooo much on my mind I was up at 1.30am and back to the office to finalise 2 shop fit prior to flying out. So after a mammoth 18 hours day both were signed... Delegation is all I can say!! so thanks to the boys in the factory and our wonderful Leanne on the desk for both Froog and The Retreat so we know it will be prefect.
Mind you I would have been happy with just the 1st fit out that basically finished Saturday morning with just a few loose ends BUT no let's throw in a 2nd one to keep us all on our toes. This was a past client that needs his shop opened while I'm away so had to pull some big days and long nights to get all to the approval point before I left, and hooray ... all is now signed sealed and delivered as they say, well it still needs to be made then delivered and the contractors have their instructions so late Saturday afternoon with a last minute briefing with head contractor Jason I could finally relax ... ohh and then pack!
Arrived at Tamworth airport at 8am as instructed 2 hours before an international flight for our 10am flight to Sydney on Sunday and we had to wait in the cold -1 deg with only our summer travel cloths for the staff at Tamworth airport to open up at 8.30!! Thats when you know we are still in a country town but anyway we were 1st in the que when the door opened. Sharon and 7 year old Thomas came to farewell us so sweet and Thomas bought us some green lollie frogs to help us on our travels. Were meet in Sydney by Joe and Robbie (sister to Marina in Rome) and were whisk away for a quick Greek lunch of slow cooked lamb shoulder Yumoo.
Back to the airport by 2pm for a shower, change of clothes and of course a few bubbles to get us into the mood for a 14 hour flight at 4pm to Dubai.
I had some much fun writing down all my thoughts and recipe last trip so I'm going do it all again.
As I have had a bit of stick from some of my reader saying keep it simple and to the point, which I will have difficulty doing, that's what the off button is for ... So if I start to dribble too much and you can't handle the bad spelling and shocking pronunciation just turn me off, it simple. I'm sure you won't because you may miss out of some true facts and great cooking tips and of course some of my little embellished stories.
So sit back and I hope you enjoy the next 88 days, my waffle and our adventures. As I said last year read it and imaging I am telling you the stories, loud, happy and never never stoping to take a breath and with both hands waving........ Love to you all Pete & Sands xxoo
Can we believe it we are off again ... NO WAY... So part 2 of our "Cooking Gap Year" has just started and as we had such a great time in Italy for our 1st 1/4 where better to kick of our next 1/4.
Last year we did Northern Italy and the Lakes District in their spring into summer this year we are doing Southern Italy for the end of their summer into autumn. Two very different seasons and two very different food regions to explore. It will be the end of season so tomato and basil should make into some great pasta dishes and we will learn how to preserve the seasons great produce ready for the long snowy winters and of course the autumn fruit and figs yum I can't wait to eat.
But what week getting all the last minute bits done prior to leaving for Froog and what a month as we trained a new locum Felicity so The Retreat is in good hands. Along with Julie, Kath and Ren helping to make the perfect efficient house team.
Friday night went to bed at 11pm and with sooooo much on my mind I was up at 1.30am and back to the office to finalise 2 shop fit prior to flying out. So after a mammoth 18 hours day both were signed... Delegation is all I can say!! so thanks to the boys in the factory and our wonderful Leanne on the desk for both Froog and The Retreat so we know it will be prefect.
Mind you I would have been happy with just the 1st fit out that basically finished Saturday morning with just a few loose ends BUT no let's throw in a 2nd one to keep us all on our toes. This was a past client that needs his shop opened while I'm away so had to pull some big days and long nights to get all to the approval point before I left, and hooray ... all is now signed sealed and delivered as they say, well it still needs to be made then delivered and the contractors have their instructions so late Saturday afternoon with a last minute briefing with head contractor Jason I could finally relax ... ohh and then pack!
Arrived at Tamworth airport at 8am as instructed 2 hours before an international flight for our 10am flight to Sydney on Sunday and we had to wait in the cold -1 deg with only our summer travel cloths for the staff at Tamworth airport to open up at 8.30!! Thats when you know we are still in a country town but anyway we were 1st in the que when the door opened. Sharon and 7 year old Thomas came to farewell us so sweet and Thomas bought us some green lollie frogs to help us on our travels. Were meet in Sydney by Joe and Robbie (sister to Marina in Rome) and were whisk away for a quick Greek lunch of slow cooked lamb shoulder Yumoo.
Back to the airport by 2pm for a shower, change of clothes and of course a few bubbles to get us into the mood for a 14 hour flight at 4pm to Dubai.
I had some much fun writing down all my thoughts and recipe last trip so I'm going do it all again.
As I have had a bit of stick from some of my reader saying keep it simple and to the point, which I will have difficulty doing, that's what the off button is for ... So if I start to dribble too much and you can't handle the bad spelling and shocking pronunciation just turn me off, it simple. I'm sure you won't because you may miss out of some true facts and great cooking tips and of course some of my little embellished stories.
So sit back and I hope you enjoy the next 88 days, my waffle and our adventures. As I said last year read it and imaging I am telling you the stories, loud, happy and never never stoping to take a breath and with both hands waving........ Love to you all Pete & Sands xxoo
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