Wednesday (Mollymook not Budapest)

 And Jayne's special day began perfectly. By the time we had managed to crawl out from the under the cosy warmth of the blankets and fend off family and friends wishing her a happy birthday, a pod of dolphins did a swim past. Another picture perfect start to the day. Blue skies, minimal cloud, the sound of the waves, people meandering up and down the beach, a couple blokes feeding fish - well attempting to catch fish.

You may gather from the opening paragraph, my understanding reader, that I did not go riding again this morning. I was awake in time, but the morning temperature, at least indoors, keeps me snug under the blanket. Maybe tomorrow ...

Similarity #3: Budapest has The Castle District, the Mollymook District has The Castle. Both areas are ancient, although Budapest's is far more populated, is a major tourist attraction and has historic buildings everywhere. Despite this, there is no substitute for The Castle. I have climbed it more times than I remember. It is a very special area. Last year, after many attempts, I managed to co-ordinate times with David and a few friends and we brought Glenn's ashes to the summit so that he could watch over Mollymook and Narrawallee forever. I'd like to acknowledge Nick's excellent drone work and photography for the accompanying photo.

Similarity #4: Given the river theme, both Budapest and Mollymook have a bridge - well, more than one in the case of Budapest. However, it is another similarity.

Look closely, there's a bridge

After breakfast we went for a leisurely walk to the end of the beach around the point from the Golf Club. The weather had closed in a little on the way south, but it was meant to be a passing shower and I was confident we would avoid it. And avoid it we did, dear reader. By the time we reached the club house area the sun was shining so we "totally paused" and rested on a rock, watching the waves. 

We could see the cloud building up again on the escarpment, but the next rain event wasn't due until 2pm. It's only a 30 minute walk back to the house, so we'll make it in plenty of time. Ah, no. The further we walked the darker it became and then there was a slight shift in wind direction to the south. Not a good sign, but we were almost there. Not so another a group on the beach that was walking toward us. Jayne asked if we were walking to the ramp at the end of the beach or the closer stairs. Stairs was the response, as the rain came down a little more strongly.

Back in the comfort of the living room, after rinsing the sand from our feet, I turned my attention to the group heading south. They weren't even half-way. It was a school group who had become some sort of dark amorphous mass, moving along the sand, under a darkening sky, in the now heavier rain. Very reminiscent of Lord of the Flies (a must read if you haven't so done). The rain didn't last - by the time we were warming ourselves with a cup of tea, it had blown out to sea. 

Who'd be a teacher?

After a few minutes to recover our strength we set out for Bannisters to check walking time and route. The pedestrian stair access from Beach Road to Mitchell Parade was recommended, tried and rejected. It was steep, wet and slippery and undoubtedly at night, not lit. It would have been easier to scale the Matterhorn, but we're not allowed into Europe. We shall take the longer walk, all of 5 minutes, via the road.

Then, it was, as one would expect dear reader, time for a lunch of sorts. Not quite how it was imagined in the 1997 Leonardo's Bride song Wednesday, it was comté, truffle brie and champagne. Close. We sat on the verandah and watched Pam Burridge's Surf School teach people how to surf. The sun had returned, the rain had gone, although the breeze was now tending southerly and making things a little chilly. The arrival of afternoon rain clouds eventually sent us inside for warmth to while away the afternoon reading, and watching the ocean.

And then to Rick Stein's. The wind had picked as forecast, but it wasn't so cold as to be unpleasant. We dawdled the 15 minute uphill walk, arrived, sanitised (now there's an expression born in the '20s) and were shown to our table. A patron of this fine establishment tested positive to Covid a couple of weeks back but there was no evidence of it tonight, save for the black masks worn by all wait staff. The restaurant itself is in beach inspired colours, as one would assume, blues and whites and the occasional splash of yellow. There were a couple of John Olsen paintings, I assume prints, on the walls. The menu was not expansive, which I think is a good thing, with an interesting wine list, predominantly Australian.

Hervey Bay scallops

Now since stepping back from the pressure of the workplace, my mind has relaxed to the new life style and I don't always remember things. Like taking photos of the food. Sorry Michael. I did remember to do one dish, after I had begun eating. For entrée  I had Scallops with Hazelnut Crumb and Coriander Butter and Jayne had Fish and Shellfish Soup with Rouille, Parmesan and Croûtons. For the main I had Grenadier in a northern  Indian curry and Jayne the Bannister's Fish Pie. All of that was washed down with a lovely Grüner from Nick Spencer's Wines of Tumbarumba. Curiously, as I was sending the ice bucket away - Australians drink their wine far too cold - the people at a nearby table were requesting a bucket of ice and proceeded to spoon the ice into their already over-chilled wine. Philistines.

The fish was perfectly cooked and very tasty, but I am somewhat of purist in this regard and I can hear my grandfather asking why I destroyed the taste of the fish with all that sauce. The curry was mild, so it didn't kill the taste, but it's not something I would cook at home. Speaking of which, Jayne prefers my fish pie. No, that's not a budgie dear reader, that's me puffing out my chest. Dinner? Oh, you want me to cook for you? You'll have to make a reservation for when we return.

Eschewing dessert with full stomachs, we traipsed our way back down the headland, to our house by the beach.

Until next time ...