I SHALL WALK HOME RAIN OR SHINE

Jordie had been rather insistent on walking home from school all by himself. He's very proud of his new independence (and freedom) so we try to let go as well, with quite a long list of 'DON'Ts" i.e. don't talk to strangers, don't stop at the bridge and loiter, don't climb on anything on the way back, don't look at the ground in case cyclists crash into you, etc... The weather has been really nice lately.. except whenever the boy announces he wants to walk back, it tends to rain.. and yesterday was supposed to be his 1st attempt to do so all the way, but we didn't know if he would be waiting at school when it started to rain. My agreement with him was rain or shine, you walk back, unless it pours... but I forgot to define what 'pours' means... so when the clouds gathered, daddy got kinda worried that he would get wet, so I drove out but on the way there, saw that the sun was still shining his side of the school, so I turned back, because I knew that fellow would be upset if I didn't keep my promise to let him walk home. Well, as Gold Coast weather would have it, the next thing you know... the clouds gathered again and the rain started, this time, on HIS side of the lake and I had to drive out again...

I knew I would meet him halfway. Sure enough, there was dear old Jordie along the way walking back from school, a little wet but happy. All this guesswork and fussing around!!! - just so a boy can find his own joy of independence to walk back home on his own....

HAPPY DINING....

Of late, it has come to my attention that there is such a thing as “Cakeage” being charged in restaurants in Gold Coast these days. Used to be just for “Corkage” in BYO restaurants and that was fine. But nowadays cakeage may be charged in certain restaurants when you bring your own cake and eat it there. They basically charge you for storing it in chiller, taking it out to serve and giving you clean spoons and dessert plates to go with it. A$2.50 per person average charge. Some people are crying foul over it. This is one good example of how you can't have your cake and eat it too..

Now, what then if the restaurants wanted to make some more money off you and insisted you use more stuff of theirs instead of bringing your own? You would then have to shelve out fees for:-

Drinkage : any other types of liquids apart from wines or champagnes or beer...

Mintage : We got a range of nice branded mints available at our snack counter, sir."

Chewing gumage: " Please feel free to pick up any brand from our cashier's display shelf of goodies//"

Bandage: if you're bringing your own Ipod and they don't get to charge you for renting theirs.

Broadbandage: if you're using your own mobile modem versus theirs and it ain't Starbucks or Zaraffa's...

Milkage: "Ahem, Ma'am we have boxed milk for your kids, you know... It's only $2 per carton..."

OK, finally this is a more straightforward one and nothing to do with bringing your own- I believe some places already charge for these:

Breakage of seats, tables, plates bowls or glasses

Wastage : for stuffing your face silly at a buffet and leaving too much leftovers on your plate when you are finally about to puke...(some restaurants in Malaysia can and will charge you for this based on weight!!- say $5 per 100g leftover!!)

SALUTE TO MOMS

Haha, I love this one! I know there was an earlier version, but this one has more character... The Mom's Song: the universal language spoken by moms..and recognised by husbands and children... they played this at church this morning.

Enjoy....and happy Mom's Day to all the special women I know, whether you have given birth or not.... at some point in your life, you have somehow demonstrated the 'mothering' instinct to people who had come your way. Enjoy the privilege of being female!

TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN AGAIN

Went up with Tamborine Mountain on Monday, which was the Labour Day public holiday here. This time, with 2 other families, my visiting bro-in-law with his family and his in-laws' family from Brisbane. We were blessed with a nice day, with breeze and not too sunny. We took them to Heritage Wines, Witches Falls and Cedar Creek Estate, 3 different wineries. Witches Falls had by far the most equipment on site... as well as its own vineyards to boot. They had some nice flower plants in the garden outside the wineries...Here's some at Witches Falls Witches Falls had some really big tanks processing their wines at the back...I sneaked a few shots of their 'brew' cauldrons in the backyard.

More state-of-the art tanks these days... what to do, the price of commercialisation -need to ensure mass production to keep up with growing demands, ... Witches Falls Winery is small but pretty well-known for their unique wines. They have their own special charming concoction of dessert wine named Granite Belt Botrytis made with a special fungi & gives a pleasant uniquely sweet flavour.

traditional wine ageing barrels like these become curio artifacts on display instead..

Was surprised to see maple trees can grow at the Cedar Creek estate:They gave the place a nice autumny feel......with leaves turning yellow & golden. And that's as close to the 'fall effect' as it gets in Queensland. Cedar Creek is more "tourist-y" and quite a popular stop since it has a glow worm cave adjacent to the winery. We both agreed that this time of the year is a nicer time to come here..cooler and more scenic too.

MEET ISABEL

Introducing Isabel.. She's the cutest thing there is... at least on this side of our planet. Quite a drool pool too, but loves nature and cold weather. Oh didn't you know?? We just recently had this girl in our lives..

Aww.. don't you see those LIM features and resemblance,.. quite a daddy's girl.

..But too bad, we had to return her back to her real parents.... Samuel's brother, Jason & wife, Hui See.. boo hoo..

PICK YOUR PROTEIN

So, what's typical meat fare for you? Chicken? FISH? Boring... Well over here, at one butcher's, we got quite an adventurous range....take your pick..