First things first, and that is that before we went off to the farmer's market, we took a family picture (probably the first with all of us since Zara was born) and then we bid a fond farewell to Bri, who was returning to Hawaii. The kiddos are very fond of Uncle Brian, and not just because he can pick them both up at the same time, though I think that helps.
The farmer's market was fun. It was a smaller, more suburban one that Maryann had not yet been to, so it was an adventure for all. They had multiple places to get coffee (by this time we had figured out our favorite of the coffee drinks is the flat white - skinny optional) so Wes and I immediately loved it! They also had more diary than we usually see at our markets here, including someone selling greek yogurt with fruity toppings. Kids loved that, and Wes found a crepe guy who made him a very delicious breakfast crepe. We procured some fruit (including figs and strawberries, summer how we missed you) and then set off on our greatest adventure yet.... Wes driving on the right aka wrong side of the road!
Wes drove for the rest of our errands, which included a stop to drink coffee and eat ice cream (guess who did what) at Mt. Coot-tha, which is certainly the tallest thing going in the area. After some sightseeting fun it was home for lunch and naps, and then off on the train to the Stadium Bar to check out what an Irish Session in Australia is like.
While nobody took any pictures,session this afternoon was a blast. It was a 4 hour chunk that was loosely divided into something like a song circle for the first 2 hours (though not the teaching/sharing kind, more like someone starts a song and people who know it sing and play along, and almost everyone played an instrument along with the singing, and turns were loosely taken) and then more tunes oriented for the latter half. Which Zara danced along to for several jigs and a bit of a reel. She was, as you probably could guess, dear reader, a real crowd pleaser.
In the songs half there was a bunch of Aussie folkish songs we didn't know though we may learn and bring "back to the States" as well as songs like "Draft Dodger Rag", "Sloop John B", "Shook Me All Night Long" (I believe AC/DC are at least part Aussie) as well as Carrickfergus, Ordinary Man (Christy Moore), Dirty Old Town, Whiskey in the Jar and more typically Irish faire. Instruments also varied greatly, many guitars in the song part as well as double mandolin, banjo, harmonica, fiddle, accordion, recorder, metal flute, and my fave, trombone!
The ride back on the train was largely uneventful. We spent the evening having dinner (BBQ, and SO much more) with M and P's friends S and P, who served up a most decadent spread (Australians love to entertain and they do seem to go all out) and provided us weary traveling parents with a nice mental break by putting on a post-dinner DVD for our over-tired and cranky children. Everyone we've met so far have been such wonderful and delightful hosts. We're getting spoiled.
First things first, and that is that before we went off to the farmer's market, we took a family picture (probably the first with all of us since Zara was born) and then we bid a fond farewell to Bri, who was returning to Hawaii. The kiddos are very fond of Uncle Brian, and not just because he can pick them both up at the same time, though I think that helps.
The farmer's market was fun. It was a smaller, more suburban one that Maryann had not yet been to, so it was an adventure for all. They had multiple places to get coffee (by this time we had figured out our favorite of the coffee drinks is the flat white - skinny optional) so Wes and I immediately loved it! They also had more diary than we usually see at our markets here, including someone selling greek yogurt with fruity toppings. Kids loved that, and Wes found a crepe guy who made him a very delicious breakfast crepe. We procured some fruit (including figs and strawberries, summer how we missed you) and then set off on our greatest adventure yet.... Wes driving on the right aka wrong side of the road!
Wes drove for the rest of our errands, which included a stop to drink coffee and eat ice cream (guess who did what) at Mt. Coot-tha, which is certainly the tallest thing going in the area. After some sightseeting fun it was home for lunch and naps, and then off on the train to the Stadium Bar to check out what an Irish Session in Australia is like.
While nobody took any pictures,session this afternoon was a blast. It was a 4 hour chunk that was loosely divided into something like a song circle for the first 2 hours (though not the teaching/sharing kind, more like someone starts a song and people who know it sing and play along, and almost everyone played an instrument along with the singing, and turns were loosely taken) and then more tunes oriented for the latter half. Which Zara danced along to for several jigs and a bit of a reel. She was, as you probably could guess, dear reader, a real crowd pleaser.
In the songs half there was a bunch of Aussie folkish songs we didn't know though we may learn and bring "back to the States" as well as songs like "Draft Dodger Rag", "Sloop John B", "Shook Me All Night Long" (I believe AC/DC are at least part Aussie) as well as Carrickfergus, Ordinary Man (Christy Moore), Dirty Old Town, Whiskey in the Jar and more typically Irish faire. Instruments also varied greatly, many guitars in the song part as well as double mandolin, banjo, harmonica, fiddle, accordion, recorder, metal flute, and my fave, trombone!
The ride back on the train was largely uneventful. We spent the evening having dinner (BBQ, and SO much more) with M and P's friends S and P, who served up a most decadent spread (Australians love to entertain and they do seem to go all out) and provided us weary traveling parents with a nice mental break by putting on a post-dinner DVD for our over-tired and cranky children. Everyone we've met so far have been such wonderful and delightful hosts. We're getting spoiled.
No comments:
Post a Comment