Pho First House Vietnamese Genuine Cuisine

MB happened upon a new Vietnamese restaurant today in Cairns' city. She was visiting the excellent Green House next door for a spot of gift shopping and it transpires that Pho First House Vietnamese Genuine Cuisine (PFHVGC) has been open for about a week and a half.  MB asked Green House lady if she'd been, but alas she's a vegan so unable.

Cairns has been crying out for decent Vietnamese food for years so hopefully this new spot will fill that need.  

There is a Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant in Aplin St that MDR & MB visited once, the so-called Vietnamese dishes were dreadful so haven't been back.

MB did drop in to the PFHVGC and picked up a menu, not off to a great start with such a mouthful of name and the menu is pretty basic.  However if they can deliver on super fresh, genuine Vietnamese cuisine MB will forgive them anything.

Pyramid Race

Mr & Mrs MB took young grandson to Gordonvale today for the annual pyramid race.  The town puts on a great country fair in Norman Park, nicely located right in the heart of town.  LJ got to ride a pony for one dollar, went on a carousel for two bucks and also patronised two jumping castles.  

The actual pyramid race starts in town, after limbering up in the official tent, the runners scale the nearby monolith of Walsh's pyramid, over 900m high, then return to town.  The winner, Neil Labinsky, did the run 1hr 20min, more than 5 minutes ahead of the second place getter.

Most of the activities on the program are community based with the majority of the rides and catering done by non-profit groups so the event is especially genuine and charming.  MB particularly enjoyed the wood chopping competition as well as an art exhibition in the nearby RSL Hall.

Spotted at the fair was Bob Katter, MP for Kennedy, in election mode.  First time MB has seen him without a hat.

Perfect August weather today, sunny, cool and not too humid, it really was a lovely day out.

Shaylee Strawberries

MB and assorted family did a run to the Tablelands today hoping to hand pick some fresh strawberries at Shaylee Strawberry Farm, and what a day for it, a clear and sunny 24c, just perfect.  

Only after arriving there did the team discover from the most unwelcoming pair behind the counter that picking starts in September.  Not to worry MB asks if it would be OK to take little 4 year old LJ over to the strawberry plants so he could see how strawberries grow.  

Not a problem as long as you don't go past the multiple "No Entry" signs says Mrs Crabby.
Upon inspection it's more or less impossible to see any fruit, however LJ skips past the signs and checks out the crop, under the eagle eye of Mr Crabby who had surreptitiously appeared from the back of the shop to monitor the trespassers.

Grandma MB anxiously calls LJ back just in case a rabid pack of alsation guard dogs are unleashed from somewhere or other.

Strawberries were on sale, one kg of "Resort" strawberries was $12.00 and they are very nice.  Won't be rushing back though anytime soon.

Dairy Discovery

Whilst shopping at Coles in Earlville yesterday, with the charming young LJ in tow, MB spied a new milk in the dairy case. Upon closer inspection she noticed it was Jersey milk (reputed to be the creamiest milk) and not homogenized.  This was enough for MB who purchased a bottle and wasn't disappointed, it is lovey and creamy and even has that real creamy colour, unlike most milks on sale nowadays, which are as white as chalk.

The milk is marketed as Misty Mountain Farms which MB suspects may be tied up with Mungalli Milk, MB's favourite dairy, she is of the opinion that Mungalli bio-dynamic yoghurt is absolutely the best in Australia.
This wonderful new local product really leaves mass produced and over processed milks for dead.

Last Meal - What would you choose?

MB had an epiphany at the dinner table tonight, if she was ever on death row she would unreservedly request her last meal as follows; medium rare roast rack of lamb, infused with fresh rosemary & garlic, with oven roasted pumpkin, oven roasted potatoes or mashed dutch creams with a liberal helping of freshly picked and lightly sauteed baby broccoli.  

Dessert would be a little difficult to choose, perhaps a duet of petite serves of crème brûlée and tiramisù plus some fresh plump cherries.  

Of course, a nicely chilled crisp dry champagne would be a lovely accompaniment, especially with the hangover issue solved.

Retail Dissatisfaction

Picked up 4 x engraved plaques from Trophy shop for MDR today.  Trophy Guy said they'd be ready at midday. MB arrives 12:30 and only gains entry to the shop after some major unavoidable passive smoking compliments of the smokers huddled just outside the entrance.  TG hands over one plaque.

MB asks about the other 3, TG looks startled then exclaims no worries will do them now.  MB asks how long? TG asks why.
At this point MB wants to:

a. Point out that if it took 3 days to do one plaque then one may
    reasonably expect an even longer time to complete the other
    three plaques.
b. Remind him of the collection time he promised

c. Ask him if he has a quality assurance system in place

d. Tell him that the last thing she wants to do is stand around in his dusty, pokey shop surrounded by cheap, tacky trophies

However she politely responds that she's on her lunch hour. 

ABC Far North Outside Broadcast

MB helped out at Freshwater QCWA Hall this morning to set up for an ABC local radio outside broadcast from the Hall.  MB was amazed that one person, Fiona Sewell, host of the ABC Far North mornings program, was able to set up the entire broadcast.

A fund raising morning tea for the Cancer Society was also on offer, so MB did get to help out with that.

This special event was convened to award a prize for the best bush poetry composition, a competition that has been running for the most of the year.  Not sure who won but MB really enjoyed Jeff Mann's "Cropsitter" poem.

Credit Cards & Overseas Transactions

Using one's credit card overseas used to be a fairly straight-forward process, nowadays however the banks are forever dreaming up all sorts of ways to charge extra transaction fees to supplement the cut they already receive from currency conversions.

Frequentflyer.com.au has some good forums on this subject and one post in particular provides an excellent link to the US based Mastercard Currency Conversion Tool.

This tool was created to assist Mastercard customers in Europe to comply with regulations that ensure transparency of exchange rate information.   MasterCard has extended the range of currencies to assist customers and their cardholders globally, so it's also useful for us downunder.

Get ready to Celebrate!

The Australian Taxation Office turns 100 in November 2010.
Australia Post are releasing a commemorative stamp on 27 July 2010 with a stimulating depiction of what appears to be a Doctor reading a file.  It's probably some tax minimisation investment proposal from her accountant which will turn out to be a ponzi scheme.  And what's with the chap pushing a wheelbarrow?  Must be needed to move the loot into the vaults.  There's also a person writing on a blackboard, brainstorming new and creative ways to collect more tax perhaps?

Latest Project

MDR's latest project, hand crafted trophies for the CUA.  He's designed a silhouette style trophy using Cairns Pencil Cedar. 

You've got to be Yolking

This 4 yolk egg weighing at just under 100grams was revealed today when MB was whipping up a plum cake.
An excited MB was sure it had to be a record breaker.  MDR took this pic then MB googled and found a similar egg was reported in the UK in 2009, the article goes on to say that the record yolks in one egg is 9!  
MB's hopes for a record have been completely scambled.
The egg is from a "super jumbo" pack purchased from Yamagishi Happy Eggs in Innisfail.  The super jumbos often produce double yolkers but MB has never seen a triple or quad yolker before.

Lake Tinaroo

Queen's Birthday weekend saw Mr & Mrs MB camping at Lake Tinaroo at the Tinaroo Sailing Club, the venue for the Wooden Boat Assoc. of Cairns' annual Tinaroo Raid.

Viking theme this year complete with Viking longboat and Viking raiders, check out the littlelest Viking raider here.

It's been about a hundred years since MDR & MB went camping.  Luckily their generous neighbours loaned them a state of the art tent.  First night was surprisingly very cold and the old sleeping bags were woefully inadequate.  MB's airbed also deflated so it was a long night.  Definitely investing in some state of the art campbeds before the next camping trip.

Tinaroo is a fantastic camping spot, the stars at night are spectacular and it's tremendously satisfying just sitting around the campfire.  An added bonus is no mobile phone reception.

Got the camping bug now so looking forward to some more trips around the area.

Dragon Fruit

MB was intrigued to see a dragon fruit plant for the very first time at the Liverpool River Banana farm during a recent Feast of the Senses food trail tour. The plant is a weird looking succulent grown on wooden poles. The folks at LRB grow about 5 different varieties, including a very unusual yellow variety, this is a sideline to their main crop which are bananas.
The Food Tour group got to see all aspects of banana farming from planting to harvesting and were then treated to an amazing spread for afternoon tea, which of course included banana cake and banana cream pie.

Happy Eggs

Mr MB heard on the local ABC radio about a Food Trail tour, part of Innisfail's excellent annual Feast of the Senses, that included a visit to the Yamagishi Happy Egg Farm. These are the only eggs eaten in the MB household, a dozen or so super jumbo eggs are purchased each week from Rusty's Markets.
The duo booked in for the tour which included visits to Yamagishi, Liverpool River Banana plantation, Off the Rails Cafe in South Johnstone and the Mungalli Dairy (another of MB's food heroes).
The Yamagishi farm is located near Innisfail, established and run by a Japanese family and has around 18,000 hens which are fed daily with fresh cut grass and fresh tablelands corn, the hen houses are extremely clean with plenty of room to move for the hens. MDR is allergic to chook poo, but he didn't suffer any ill affects at all. MB was very excited to help collect 110 fresh eggs, some of them still warm.

Sandy Bay

The last 3 nights in Hobart have been spent at the delightful Grosvenor Court in Sandy Bay, booked via Wotif.com. Grosvenor Court is set back a couple of blocks from the busy Sandy Bay Road in lovely leafy surrounds.
The apartment is well fitted out, very comfortable and even comes with free wi-fi, outstanding value compared to some of the holiday apartments the pair have stayed at. Nothing is too much trouble for the management team, they've gone out of their way to make the duo welcome.
Location is also excellent, shopping, pubs, restaurants, even Salamanca Place are within walking distance.

Cornelian Bay Boathouse

A very nice dinner was had with Peter & Jan at their favourite restaurant, the Boathouse in Cornelian Bay, Hobart. This was the nicest restaurant MB & MDR have visited for quite a long time, great food, service and location combined with Peter & Jan's company made it a wonderful night out. Shall definitely be returning when the opportunity presents itself.

Antiques & Lunch in Hobart CBD

MDR & MB are back in Hobart after some serious pampering at Aunty Monica's 7 star resort in Melbourne.  Back to "work" today, organising insurance, property inspection, title searches and general research for the proposed purchase at Lachlan. 
Found a wonderful lunch spot in Elizabeth St Hobart today, The Antiques Market & Cafe, a gorgeous shop packed to the gunnels with lovely old stuff.  The cafe was advertising home made lamb, mushroom and rosemary pies which MB couldn't resist. The pies are very generously sized and made with real meat, very chunky and nicely spiced.  The side salad was super fresh with locally grown and very ripe tomatoes. 
While waiting for lunch one can browse through the store, MB can't think of a better way to have lunch!

Runnymede

Another history immersion today for MB & MDR with a visit to Runnymede in suburban New Town, built circa 1840 on one of the first parcels of land allotted after the colonial settlement of Hobart.
The house is in nearly original condition and boasts some amazing features such as original wallpaper in one room which MB thought was 1970's Florence Broadhurst! There is a lovely complement of colonial furniture and a significant collection of scrimshaw and ivory ware. The last family who occupied the house for over 100 years were whalers who moved into shipping when whaling declined. MB & MDR, the only visitors at that time on Sunday afternoon, were given a very comprehensive lecture by the National Trust attendant and are both now very well versed in early Hobart history.
That's MDR emerging from Runnymede's cellar after an unsuccessful search for some vintage wine.

North Hobart

Movie time today, the pair went to the excellent State Cinema in North Hobart to see North Face, a new German movie about a German team's attempt to climb the north face of the Eiger in Switzerland prior to WWII. The State Cinema oozes ambience, it's a very small independent cinema complete with it's own eclectic cafe in the foyer.
North Face was screening in Cinema 5 located in the basement, seating was 10 x 2 seater leather sofas with loads of leg room and one is able to take wine or coffee in. How civilised is that!
The movie was first rate, very chilly, lots of ice, snow and blizzards and when the pair emerged into the North Hobart afternoon it was appropriately cold, windy and raining. The record run of 89 days over 18c in Hobart has come to an abrupt end.
Pictured above is MB posting yet another postcard to her cherished grandchildren back in Cairns at the very conspicuous North Hobart Post Office across the road from the State Cinema.

Rosedown Open Garden

Hidden behind a 5 metre cypress hedge on the outskirts of New Norfolk is another gem, Rosedown. The owners opened up their stunning and extensive garden to the public this weekend. Amongst the many lovely ornamentals MB discovered mulberries, 12 types of apples, plums and quince all laden with fruit. The owners have built the garden up from scratch over the past 20 years, the hedges though are believed to have been planted around the time of the second world war.