Barista, Barista, Bring Me My Coffee

Before Easter this year, I enrolled in a Barista course on the spur of the moment, a decision I'm glad I made.

Reading through the enrolment terms and conditions, it said there may be knowledge assessments.  Carefully the fine print because the 'may' should have read 'will be', but I wasn't there to edit the T&Cs.

The assessment quizzes also included a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Test (LLN), which required a 100% pass mark, either 100% or 'see you on the next prac course'.

So I carefully read (twice) a mountain of pages about hygiene practices for food and preparing and serving espresso until my eyes and brain hurt. 

The quizzes seemed easy enough until it wasn't.

Hello there coffee machine, we have work to do.

It was all fun and games until one question baffled me.

There were countless alternatives to the answer to the question, at least to someone as detail-oriented as me, and after an excruciating period passed, I gave up and called the college.

The college contact wasn't a facilitator but was worthy of one. 

Their clear line of questioning to the question I agonised over helped me finally reach the correct answer - go me!  It was embarrassingly simple.

Note to Self: next time I take an exam or quiz, try not to keep things simple.

The following morning I arrived at the appointed time, eager to begin my barista learning experience in the finer art of making espresso.

I learned to pour two at a time x three milk coffee of caps, lattes, piccolos, mochaccinos (looked delish) and flat whites. 

Milk coffees done, we started on the short/long blacks, ristretto, short/long macchiatos, and a long black ... phew! 

I prefer soy milk with coffee, so I decided to froth soy. 

My steam wand whooshed, squealed and occasionally screamed as I moved the milk jug up, down and around. 

It was disappointing to see my best effort of frothing had produced a jug of hot milk instead.

Maybe it was because the milk wasn't cold, or it wasn't barista-class soy, or could this have been a student error? 

Last we cleaned everything until everything sparkled and the angels sang.

Now that I am competent in making the above coffees, I have a newfound respect for baristas -  pulling shots of delicious coffee is an art form. 

The irony of my barista course was we didn't get to sample a single drop of delicious dark brew. 

Nope, not a single drop of coffee passed our lips - we were too busy pulling shots and being assessed!  

I solemnly give thanks to the Hairy Goddess for the flat white with soy I thought to buy from the cafe next door before class commenced.

As a sexagenarian, I know one thing for sure, age is no barrier to learning a new skill - you can train an old dog new tricks - who decided you couldn't?

Now to secure an apprenticeship ...

To Art Class With Love

Inspiration can arrive like a whisper in the wind, a feeling of excitement followed by goosebumps, or as a vision in the dream state, a relaxing  moment, or when still and calm. When it does knock on your door be on the look out for synchronicity at play. 

Whatever method inspiration uses, take notice because from a lifetime of personal experiences it will move on to the next person who will bring it to life by taking action.

Synchronicity happens in magical ways though often recognised in hindsight.

During the latter half of 2020 I would hear the word painting somewhere outside of myself and would see works of art displayed on easels in my mind's eye. Back then art class was an idea floating in my head not yet my heart.

Returning from Darwin in early 2021 friends met me at the airport to very kindly drive me home. As we chatted enthusiastically (mostly me), free art classes in Bulimba were mentioned and I knew this was a sign leading me there. I thanked my friends for passing this information on though it took several weeks before I finally sat down and began my search for these classes.

 I tracked them down through the Art with Love Foundation website and found they're held in the lovely riverside suburb of Bulimba, 4kms from Brisbane's CBD.

Bulimba isn't close to where I live but I decided to go and attended my first Saturday morning class in February.

My decision to paint a 'simple' landscape on my small canvas (see left image) was anything but and  took 3 hours to paint one layer.

 Over the course of 3 classess Art With Love founder Steve Ninnes said for me to let go of control, 'easy for some' I thought as he stopped to help me with technique. Watching him use deft, flowing strokes on my canvas made it look so incredibly easy, which apparently it is if I could just let go of control and be in the flow.

Looking for non-existent perfection, my artwork remains incomplete and I've promised myself that I will continue to work on letting go of control and be in the flow.

Tomorrow I return for another art class, first stop the Fiddle Leaf cafe (image below) which is conveniently located next door, for a delicious flat white with soy. 

After my coffee? Well, it's possible my inner genius will rise up to the challenge and finally complete my artwork so I can chat more with the many talented artisans you can find here.

I might even see you there next week 😉

Vibrant, Colourful, Eclectic - Eumundi Markets Rock

Eumundi, a little township on the Sunshine Coast, is home to the well-known Eumundi Market and is an easy 118 km car trip from Brisbane's CBD. 

According to the 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Eumundi has a population of 2200.  With approximately 1.6 million visitors per year, Eumundi's population bursts at the seams during peak times, especially during Wednesday and Saturday market days.

Eumundi has a vibrant, colourful and vibe as do the 600 stallholders - it's peace, sustainability and experience to be had.

Colourful piano along Memorial Drive Eumundi

 The Eumundi Market is eclectic, colourful, bohemian and huge. If you're into markets, it's a place to visit - I try to, at least once a year.

 Fresh produce and food stalls are stocked and ready for the influx of visitors, gorgeous bunches of fresh-cut flowers can be bought if you're early enough, there's a huge selection of arts and craft, jewellery and fashion, health and wellbeing products, psychic readings, and more. 

 Once I arrive at the markets you'll find me chowing down on knackwurst with sauerkraut and a generous squirt of mustard, sampling various flat whites with soy and trying to look cool.

Living a Sparse Life Has Advantages

Living a sparse life has advantages.

It’s been one week since I temporarily moved up to the peninsula.

Here there is no television set, no washing machine, no dining table and no microwave. Because my current nomadic lifestyle requires me to travel light, I arrived with two suitcases, an inflatable double bed (thank you Aldi), a laptop, cameras and equipment, and a few bits and pieces.

But there is air conditioning – halleluiah.  Summer in Queensland is humid, it’s so humid makeup slides off my face if I leave the applying after 7.30 a.m., and everything sweats – and I mean everything. So I cannot thank the Hairy Goddess enough for blessing me with an apartment with air conditioning.

Cafe with ocean views = relaxation time

At first, the lack of TV was frustrating, but having a laptop, smartphone and Wi-Fi means I can live-stream my favourite TV show of the moment – NCIS, or watch short bursts of the news to keep me in the loop now that I’ve given Facebook away (oh the relief). Now I have more time to devote to Instagram.

After my first week, I found other things to keep me occupied such as exploring the area. Redcliffe Peninsula has cafes, restaurants, the ocean, boats, a relaxed holiday vibe, and an ocean breeze.

For me, daily walks along the foreshore keep me fit and happy especially as it involves having coffee afterwards - my kinda heaven.

This morning after walking 5.5 km along the foreshore, I enjoyed a flat white with soy and avocado on toast before the crowds arrived at the popular Sea, Salt and Vine cafe. The view, while overcast and gloomy, compliments of an approaching summer storm, was lovely from the open verandah, and with 85% humidity, the sea breeze is truly a gift from the gods.

Living a sparse life isn't for everyone but it's given me the freedom to move around unencumbered with 'stuff' while my 'house' remains in storage, and I find my path.

Living a sparse life definitely has advantages.

Till next post, it's time for a flat white with soy 😁

Flat White with Soy

Flat white with soy came about from loss - loss of estrogen as I start to move, heaven forbid, into the latter part of my life. 

In my younger years I drank copious mugs of frothy cappuccinos with full, fat dairy milk. Several years later I decided against full fat milk and moved onto skim.

More recently and after a doctor's appointment and test results, she advised me to start adding soy to my diet and coffee, so here I am, drinking at least 2 cups of flat white with soy each day. 

As yet I haven't noticed by adding soy to my diet hair growth improvement and other things but my tummy loves me, and I do love that nutty taste - just please don't ask me to eat tofu 😉

This blog is also about my thoughts and experiences on random topics, and to have a conversation with other like-minded individuals.

Life is short so enjoy every moment from the time you open your eyes and decide what kind of day you will have xo