Author: Crofton77

(cue TV voice over here) Previously on my blog…

HR and I are away for the weekend, staying in Albury, but the main event – dinner – is to be at Miss Amelie which is in Wodonga (go read the blogs). We've had the obligatory domestic, played tourist and now it is time for the finest dining experience one could wish for……….

However, before I move on I must admit to being a bit of an ignoramus…I have been saying Miss Amelie with a long e sound in the Amelie sort of Ameelie, turns out it is pronounced Amelie, like Emily but with an A (Thanks Christian)

Scrumdiferous is the best word to describe the food at  Miss Amelie. Grandificent is the word to describe the whole experience. I'm not sure how to get flippercanorious in but all three words meant 'wonderful' a century ago. Uniquely splendid words for a uniquely splendid establishment and experience!

HR and I took a taxi to the restaurant so we could both enjoy a drink and not have to worry bout the booze bus.
The last time we were here it was winter and quite dark at 6:30 pm. This time it is spring and the light fills the space.
The dining room was beautifully set up and we were shown to our table where Christian looked after us for the evening.
I started with the Miss Amelie cocktail, again, still have no idea what is in it, and frankly if you want to know go to the restaurant and order one!!! It is a delightfully refreshing drink and a perfect accompaniment to perusing the menu (updated since our last visit) HR had a beer.

I started with the- green asparagus, organic duck egg, beurre noisette crumb, salted ricotta- what a riot of beautiful flavours and textures. The gorgeous greens of the asparagus highlighted by the bright yellow of the duck egg a gorgeous feast for the eyes. The crisp vegetable, the creamy yolk, the buerre noisette crumb all combined into a delicious whole. I paired this dish with a glass of – cooper burns riesling ~ eden valley sa -a nice combination.
HR chose the – spanner crab, compressed green apple, daikon, shisho, cucumber jelly- and pronounced himself very happy with his choice. HR had beer with his entrée. No I didn't sample this dish 🙂 I was to engrossed with my own food.

HR and I ,having overcome the earlier contretemps, discussed the relative merits of retiring to the region so it would be easier to dine regularly at Miss Amelie…..

Main course and I have chosen the – confit lamb scotch, spring peas, beetroot, radish, pickled raspberries – what a crime to actually cut into this picturesque dish!!!! However I overcame my qualms and tucked in…..what a delight!!! The lamb was tender and cooked to perfection the vegetables divine the flavours blending perfectly. This Kapay boy knows how to construct a dish to appeal to all the senses!!!
Now I am not a red wine drinker and indeed am fairly ignorant on the subject so I asked Christian to serve my something a little fruity and not too dry – he excelled in fulfilling the brief!! I have no idea what he served but it was lovely and perfectly matched to the meal! (Thank you again Christian).
HR chose – baked potato + parmesan gnocchi, tuscan cabbage, taleggio + fontina – and again declared himself well pleased with his choice.Again he had beer and again I did not taste the dish – seriously it would have messed with my experience AND he would have expected to have a taste of mine and quite frankly that was NEVER going to happen!!!!
Not a lot of chat happening at this stage as we were fully immersed in enjoying our chosen repast. Heaven.
Now those of you who read my blogs (thank you, thank you, thank you) would know that while I know of David Kapay and his recent chef history,we share a passion for the same footy team (the Mighty Brisbane Lions), I have never had the pleasure of actually meeting him. That changed this evening. I asked Christian to mention to David that I was surprised he did not have a maroon, blue and gold (Brisbane Lion's colours) dish on the menu and David laughed and promptly came over to the table and we introduced ourselves. Mindful of the busy dining room we didn't hold David up for long but it was nice that we could have that moment – Thank you.

HR and I consulted the dessert menu…
I can never resist the – lemon soufflé, poppy seed sablé, french meringue, cheesecake ice cream – honestly it is the most awesome experience eating this soufflé like eating lemon flavoured clouds. I chose t have a lovely glass of – montevecchio moscato ~ heathcote vic – the lemon of the soufflé working with the sweetness of the wine. Hey, I'm no epicure, gastronome or whatever,it worked for me!!!
HR had – chocolate + hazelnut praline 'cannelloni', salted honeycomb, orange curd – and while I am not one for chocolate dessert thingies, this thing looked awesome and smelled like jaffas!!! HR was very well pleased. There's a really good write up about this particular dessert in the 'Essentials' magazine . Someone who is way more articulate than I am describes this dessert beautifully and you get some nice back story on our host – David Kapay.

 We've just spent the last two hours wining and dining, we've hardly noticed that the dining room is actually full.

Of the three words I used at the beginning of this blog 'Scrumdiferous' is the one that most suits how I feel about Miss Amelie and that is why I used it as the title.

 It's been a pleasure as always and we have made plans to return in February 2017.

HR and I are on a good wicket. We each earn a good wage. Sure we help the kids out but, we still have enough to do the stuff we want; new cars,weekend brunches, weekend trips away, cruises and the New Zealand trip next year, always a few dollars in the pocket.
Yep we earn good money. However, it seems we will have to sell a child or take a personal loan to pay the winter gas bill.
I have been 'down south' for 6 months now and all of it has been cold. I love the cold, as long as I have a heater and a blanket. The first heating bill (gas) we got was in the region of $650 dollars and after HR got over his heart attack I mentioned that the heating was gas. He argued of course, I mean seriously how could I know it was gas? Anyway he checked the books and the gas meter and confirmed what I had told him. The electric bill was minimal.
Now some of you are out there saying there are ways we can minimise the use of the heater and,  you may well be right but not in this place. It seems that the heater is on, in every room, or it is off. There is no way to close the heat off in any of the rooms. Seriously, the upstairs is always ten degrees warmer than downstairs and we only use two rooms up there so closing the unused rooms off would be a no brainer. But we can't. If we closed any of the vents the system would over heat and shut down and then we would be up for repairs which may cost more than the gas bill.
Anyway we decided that the cold was too severe and we could afford the bill so screw it we will use the heater. Right up until yesterday when the second bill in 6 months rocked up. $1020.60!!!!!!!!! for 90 days. $1020.60 you have got to be joking!!!! A total of over $1600 for winter gas. That is ten times what we were paying in Queensland.
I figured I would see if there is an alternate power provider for the area – wasn't that a hoot. Bloody hell they want to know how many pairs of pink knickers you have as well as you credit rating before they will tell you the smallest thing.
HR is the name on the bill so he rang the energy provider and was a tad terse, seems as he scrutinised the bill further he discovered the bill was an estimate. He spoke to a very nice young man who advised that the people contracted to read the meters had not provided the information in time so they had taken a best guess. Great if they were anywhere near accurate. The numbers on the bill were so far out from what the meter read it was ridiculous (the meter read hundreds of MJ's less than what the bill read). So the young man mentioned that since the bill had been issued the required info had rocked up and that a new bill would be issued in the next few weeks.
HR and I have decided we need to move to a more temperate region or at least one where the gas is a lot bloody cheaper.
Until then we will sit here huddled in blankets sipping hot drinks to ward off the cold and dream of warmer days.

Late last year HR, Hagalicious and CR (her hubby) and I went on four day cruise. It was fantastic fun a relaxing cruise from Brisbane to Hamilton Island and back. Each couple had a mini suite aboard the Pacific Dawn and nothing to do but relax and sip the odd cocktail or five.
Whilst on this short but sweet holiday we received an email extolling the virtues of the Pacific Aria and how for a paltry sum we could have a seven day cruise to Cairns in a balcony room with a premium drinks package and $300.00 room credit ( because of who we work for we each got another $100.00 each person making it $500.00 per cabin). Cairns is a favourite destination for the four of us so that was a good enough reason to book the cruise. That and the fact that day two of the cruise was HR's 50th Birthday!!
At the end of the short cruise we immediately booked the Aria for August 2016. That was a hell of a long wait for the next cruise and so much happened between the booking and the cruising (have a read of my Reflections blog). Due to me moving 'down south' we had to travel back to Brisbane to go on the cruise. We decided to take a few days extra at the end of the cruise and go visit Mother, the kids and my gorgeous grandsons.
HR and I had great cruise. What's not to like? Everything is done for you! Someone cooks, does the dishes, makes the bed, cleans the bathroom, mixes the drinks and never do you have to do a damned thing you don't want to. The Aria does not have a Buffet for casual dining. The Aria has 'The Pantry' a series of small eateries that serve anything from fish and chips to a chef's salad to any pastry you'd like – total yummy-ness.The speciality restaurants were awesome, although the Luke Mangan Salt Grill was a little disappointing. We had some lovely wait persons in our favourite bars especially Minelli!.
After the cruise we went to visit the Boy Child and my Grandsons, then off Toowoomba to catch up with the Mini Brat (we had seen the Normal Autistic Girl before the cruise in Brisbane). Of course we went to visit Mother as well, took her shopping and spent time helping her do a few things. We stayed in a perfectly serviceable motel in Toowoomba. I even visited the folk at the Mausoleum!
While travelling around Toowoomba we passed the Ford dealership many times and HR drooled over the new Mustang sitting in the pride of place in the yard. He had also complained incessantly about the shortcomings of the Beast (Mazda BT50)
The afternoon before we left to return 'down south' we had said our goodbyes to family and friends and had a few hours to kill. 'Go to the pictures or go looking at car yards?' I asked HR. 'Car yards' he answered. 'Ford or Kia' I asked again 'Kia' he answered. So off to Kia we went and saw Grant the dealer who sold me two Cerato's earlier this year and Lachie.
We just wanted to have a look at the Sportage. We wanted a vehicle that was comfortable for the travelling we do all over the place. Quite frankly the Beast gets very uncomfortable after four hours driving and we generally like to travel 4-6 hours a day when we're roaming the country. I also wanted to get a vehicle that was easy to get my Grandsons in and out of but still had plenty of room and comfort.
Lachie showed us a few different models and then let us test drive Grant's Sportage Platinum.
The Platinum is top of the range with a moon roof, sat nav, blind spot mirror doovey, heated/cooled seats, electronic seat adjustment and all manner of other really cool options and this one is a diesel as well so very economical. HR was bowled over and so was I!!! What a great vehicle! Alas the Beast is a lease vehicle and we have too many years till payout and owe too much etc etc etc.
Grant and Lachie commenced the wheeling dealing part of the equation. Try as they might they couldn't get enough for the Beast to satisfy the lease and it looked like we would wait for the Sportage like we first planned. Que Sera and off we went back 'down south' a great trip in itself. HR and I DO love to travel.
The day we got home there's an email from Grant -' if you want to buy the demo you drove we can get the extra you need to pay out the lease (on the Beast)what do you think?'

Three weeks later HR drove the Beast back to Brisbane. I flew in (business class what a blast) and after spending the night in Brisbane we picked up the Normal Autistic Girl and drove off to Toowoomba to pick up the Sportage. While we did the paperwork and swapped out the cars the Normal Autistic Girl met up with the Mini Brat and went off to spend my money.
An hour later we picked up the girls and went to lunch in an early birthday celebration for the Mini Brat. After lunch we drove back to Brisbane and went to see my grandsons for a few hours.
The next day we stared our drive home in the new car. What a great trip! the Sportage was amazing and so comfy and HR didn't hobble/limp after driving for four hours.
I do need to mention The Stockmans Hotel in Tamworth. A truly awesome room with a bathroom to die for. A huge spa bath you can lie down in, twin vanities a huge shower all beautifully presented! The room had a huge king size bed with a fifty inch flat screen, lounge and table. The mini bar was fabulous and extremely well priced. Breakfast was simple food well cooked and reasonably priced. I thoroughly recommend this hotel to everyone.
So, HR had a cruise AND got a new car for his 50th birthday. Me? I ended up with a bad case of the flu that kept me away fro the Crypt for ten days. Swings and roundabouts people…swings and roundabouts.

 They say you should be careful what you wish for…..you might just get it

 At the beginning of 2016 I decided that this was going to be a good year and I would get the things I wanted, nay that I deserved. The Universe was going to provide my every whim….

On reflection I have indeed received much largess from the Universe, but it has come at a cost.

Two weeks into the New Year and I am involved in a car crash (wasn't my fault but the Fleet Manager reckons no more work cars for me) and I still have internal bruising on my leg.

A few weeks later, in a flurry of interviews, I get the job that will move me to the same state as HR. This has been a double edged gift. I am glad to move after seven years in the one job. However where I work is way different to what I am used to and quite frankly I have no qualifications for the tasks I am set. There is precious little support and encouragement from my 'team' and often I flounder. I get tasked by my immediate and my second level supervisor  and get half assed instructions that make it tricky to prioritise work let alone complete it. Ah well I got what I wanted yeah?

We sold the house as we travelled from one end of the country to the other. We didn't get what we wanted for the house and the pennies we did have left over were used to; buy a  car for the Mini Brat, pay several lots of Bond money (the Boy Child and the Consort have gone their separate ways, as a consequence two households needed to be set up), and sundry other child expenses.
So again I got what  wanted – the house sold.

I am learning to live with HR again after 18 months apart. There are times I'd like to strangle him and I am sure he feels that he would like to strangle me too.

It's different not being in the same state as my children and Mother and that can add stress at times as we try and coordinate communications.

I wanted my Brisbane Lions to be competitive but it seems that was too big an ask of the Universe. 2017 is another year.

HR and I have been on a cruise, I think there's a blog in that.

I am looking for another job but while I have had a few interviews I have not yet been successful.

I have had a nasty dose of the flu complicated with cardiac issues – I had ten days off work….swings and roundabouts there yeah?

I am off to Wodonga again in October to have my birthday dinner at Miss Amelie!!!!!!!!!

Ah well there's still a few months left in this year lets see what good things it brings shall we?

Picture it…
A big square building (holds a zillion people) with only three windows
peering through one window we see…….

A Meglomaniacal Director (MD) and a deputy dawg (dd)
and then there's the idiot factor – me.
What IS she rambling on about you  ask, have I got a tale for you.

There's this document
it needs attention but…it doesn't match up with this corresponding document so we can't do what we need to do…let's send it to whatsherface the idiot newbie she'll fix it

but wait –  MD sends it to dd cc'ing me
dd sends it to me and says let's discuss
MD asks me about it but dd hasn't talked to me yet so I know naf all
dd says click the links in the document and talk to this chickie ( I have never met) in this section here
 I click links like the dutiful idiot I am and then approach this unsuspecting chickie and ask for help

the chickie provides details and a hazy picture emerges
MD and dd have a confab about the document dilemma, without me, and I get a half assed synopsis of the meeting and a few more supporting documents and get told to crack on

So the idiot newbie (me) makes the best guesstimate she can with the crap she is given and approaches MD (at the behest of dd as he is so BUSY and SO important)
but oh no, the idiot newbie (me) doesn't have a document that supposedly explains all
MD carries on like a raw prawn 'I have explained this once I shouldn't have to explain it again' (sic)
and various other complaints making me (the idiot newbie) feel like a total loser when I have never played in this particular space before

so MD and me approach the chickie and have a confab and do the investigation and lo and behold something wasn't calculated correctly in the original document

mea culpa screams MD and wonders how to fix the problem
phone calls are made and guess who gets to do the paperwork to fix the problem?

go on guess…..

give up?

it was ME yes ME the freaking stupid idiot newbie!!!!

this has taken four days to fix
four days of trying to complete tasking as well as other adhoc URGENT issues and dealing with snippy infighting in the 'team'

I need a holiday, a new job or a lotto win……….. I'll settle for a glass of wine

Well that was pretty bloody ordinary. To say I am miffed is an understatement. I am borderline furious actually.
4 weeks ago I made an appointment to see a 'professional' service provider in the cosmetic solutions industry. Yes I was looking at a non invasive facelift type procedure – all the rage and no down time.

Sunday I got a text asking me to confirm my appointment and I duly responded with the required 'Y'.

I forgot to tell HR about the text and so today he rang them to confirm. Whilst on the phone they asked if I could go in earlier as they had had cancellations. HR indicated this was highly unlikely as I was at work and I was already finishing early to make the 4 o'clock appointment. HR advised me of this conversation but said the appointment was still on.

3 o'clock I get to my car to discover 7 missed calls and two texts. Remember where I work I cannot have my mobile phone with me for security reasons.

I call the number in the text. I ask them what is going on. The person was all. 'oh I don't see your name here who are you again?' I repeat that I have an appointment at 4 and that someone, obviously not her, has been calling me. 'Oh she is in with someone I'll get her to call when she gets out. What is your number?' Fecking heck I think you HAVE my number if the texts and missed calls are anything to go by. I repeat my number five times before they finally get it right. 'She'll call right back' Yep no worries there might be a black spot on my way in to you but keep trying. 'Oh yes we will call for sure'

I drive from work straight there and am 15 minutes early for the appointment. No phone call. No text.
I park the car and walk into the building. The door is locked and the lights are off.

How totally bloody rude!!! How bloody unprofessional!!!
They couldn't be bothered hanging around for my appointment cos they wanted to go home early.
I already knew what I wanted from these people and this appointment was a confirmation and then book for the 'procedure' worth $2,500. I took time off work and was so excited.
Guess I will just have to find somewhere else to spend my money eh?

As you all know I moved interstate earlier this year.
A good move mostly, the usual hiccups – settling into the new location and job, learning to live with HR again after 18 months of blissful peace…..
I think the worst thing about moving is trying to find the right 'support' team; you know – hair stylist, colourist, beautician and nail tech.
Three months in and the search continues, though I MAY have the hair stylist, colourist and beautician sorted. The nail tech not so much.
I had intended to continue getting my hair done in Queensland – once a month when I go up to visit Mother. Sadly every fricken Saturday I go up my stylist is not working!!!!
So I tried the local hairdresser in the local mall and while they did a reasonable job and didn't cost the earth the atmosphere wasn't quite what I wanted. I mean when I go to the salon it's all about ME!!! The interaction with my stylists etc must be positive, fun and at my whim. So I asked around at work and they recommended a place in Canberra, but on reflection it looked very young, not for the more mature person such as myself so I kept looking.
Then one day I was stuck at the lights and just idly surveying the scene when what should I see to my left but a hair salon. When I got home I googled the shop and lo and behold they had a website. Right then…I made the call. an appointment for Thursday afternoon.
I duly turned up for said appointment. We spent time discussing what colour and style I wanted. My hair will no longer hold red colours they fade quickly and look nasty. I decided to get the red out. An hour later the foils and colour were in. 45 minutes later the colour was set and time for the wash. The best part of going to the salon is the head massage!!!! Then it was time for the cut. The manager of the salon cut my hair and I am really happy with the style. Then came the drying and styling. The colour is gorgeous! Hardly any red left.The foils are subtle and natural looking. I actually look younger with this cut and colour!!
Three hours have passed and I am quite hungry as I thought this would take 90 minutes tops and then I would go and have dinner with HR. Now it is time for the 'beauty' Eyebrows waxed and tinted and of course the top lip rip!!
Because my hair is so fair whenever I get an eyebrow tint it can be quire scary lol. All of a sudden I have eyebrows.
It was after 9 pm when I got out of there and I went in at 5:30, almost 4 hours. I think it was worth it.
I am going back again. When I am sure I am on a winner I will name names!
Now if I could just find a decent nail tech…….