Ramen, Quartz, Friends and Comedy

On the plus side of returning to the office rather than working at home, it seems a few extra places have opened where I can eat lunch. I sampled the signature dish from Ramen O. And it was good.

Ramen Oh!

I went for a walk with Him Outdoors, which was ostensibly to Quartz trig. He of course, decided to add in an extra five kilometres or so to see if the Callum Brae loop would connect to the track. It didn't. Apparently it does in cooler months where there is a clear-cut narrow connecting corridor to Jerrabomberra West Nature Reserve. At present, this 'corridor' is obliterated by head-high grass and thistles, so we decided against ploughing through and continued around the loop. The walk was pleasant, though, and the trees are rather lovely. 

A handily placed information sign told us the following: 'The reserve takes its name from the property Callum Brae, which is an outstanding example of a Federal Capital Territory soldier settler lease in the ACT. This still-working farm is entered in the ACT Heritage Register.' 

'In 1915 the federal government funded the states and territories to encourage men to volunteer for the First World War, and to help them become farmers on their return. Most farmers failed during the 1920s because their blocks were too small, the land was unsuitable for farming and the former soldiers lacked sufficient capital and farming experience. 

Returned soldier Hector Gordon McIntosh, who leased this land in 1919, was an exception. Before moving his family to the farm in 1925, he and his post-mistress wife Hilda (neé Hayter) saved money by living at the Ainslie Post Office. By 1923 he could afford to buy two adjoining unsuccessful soldier settler leases, making his holding economically viable. However, unlike his more affluent neighbour at Woden, life was tough for Hector and his family.' 

'Hector towed a portable hut to the site in 1920 and gradually added to it. The six-room weatherboard family home was again extended in 1931 and a former Uriarra forestry hut added. His home, and the simple sheds he built from local and often recycled materials, still stand as monuments to his skill and hard labour. Hector sold Callum Brae in 1933.'

'In 2003 part of this still-working farm was acquired by the ACT and declared a nature reserve to protect its Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland. The reserve is a critical habitat for threatened woodland birds including the Brown Treecreeper, White-Winged Triller and Varied Sitella.' There are also several water tanks with street art depicting local fauna. 

We drove around to another access point (the Model Aircraft car-park) from whence we headed towards Quartz Trig. It is barely a bump in the grass - the hardest part is sweating through the snake-infested fields and trying to avoid the electric fence. 

The marker itself was unimpressive, and we practically stumbled over it. Oh well, that's Trig 14 done - I suppose they can't all be winners. 

Very disappointing trig

We got home just in time for friends to come round and make us lunch. Yes, that's right - Calamity Sue and General Philosopher came and assembled a Greek lamb salad in our kitchen while Him Outdoors and I sat at the table providing helpful hints ('it's in the second drawer down' sort of thing) and drinking champagne. You know you've got good friends when they take over your kitchen and it just seems perfectly natural. It was a baking hot day, so we took our repast outdoors and ate it dappled in the whatsit.

Cheers!

Calamity Sue with a look of her father

At the weekend we went out to Contentious Character Winery at Wamboin for The Grapes of Mirth Festival. The idea is that one sits in the sun (33 degrees - hence the hats, sleeves and sunscreen), drinking wine from the winery and craft beer, eating offerings from local food providers and enjoying live comedy acts and a DJ. This festival format tours the nation's vineyards with a different line-up of Australian stand-up comedians at each venue.

Host/ M.C. Merrick Watts took a little while to warm up (not literally; did I mention it was 33 degrees with not a cloud in the sky?) but after a few dogs vs. cats routines he managed to engage with the crowd by chatting about drunk mums, bored dads and terrible tattoos - know your audience, right? First up was Frankie McNair, who gets funnier every time I see them. They own their diagnosis (ADHD) and tread just the right side of the line of laughing with rather than at mental illness. 

MC Merrick Watts

Frankie McNair

A little cloud cover came over later, which was a great relief, although we were being as sensible as we could be under the circumstances, and remaining hydrated. 

Peter Helliar was next, apparently because he likes to get his set over so he can enjoy the hospitality. He seems like a great bloke and tells stories with a twinkle, so even if he isn't side-splittingly hilarious, he can help a crowd to relax and smile along with wry recognition. This is the first time I'd seen Nath Valvo live, and I think he was my favourite of the day with a real engaging energy and some fresh material. 

Peter Helliar

Nath Valvo

Dilruk Jayasinha told some personal anecdotes about eye-watering experiences with body-waxing, and then Geraldine Hickey finished off with her signature laconic style. Unfortunately there were some women who had drunk too much in the sunshine who sat at the very front of the stage and heckled in a extremely off-putting manner, with one of them actually getting up on stage and jostling the comedian.

Later on the bus on the way home, I heard someone comment that they didn't really like the last performer and wanted them to just tell some jokes. Well, for a start that isn't Geraldine Hickey's style, and secondly, even if to others the heckler might have appeared harmless, it's no joke when someone clambers drunkenly on stage and tries to put their arm around your damaged shoulder. They held it together relatively well under that pressure, and although you could tell they couldn't wait to get out of there, I don't blame them. 

Dilruk Jayasinha

Geraldine Hickey 

And then the festival was over and we caught the bus back to Canberra through the sunset and the rolling hills of south-east NSW and north-east ACT.

Stanley, Sheaffe and Champagne

The first trig point walk this week was to Stanley in Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve. It began with a tough grunt straight up the hill, alongside a fence line. I wasn't aware that this was a mountain bike park as well, but I soon found out due to the nifty steep and rocky tracks, and signs warning people to walk before they ride.

There was no actual trig point at the top, although I walked back and forth looking for one. I was definitely at the top though, and all the communication masts seem to be proof of that.

And so I began the descent. At this point I was listening to the Infinite Monkey Cage podcast: Why Does Wine Taste Good?, followed by the Kermode & Mayo's Take podcast, which featured an interview with Cate Blanchett about Tár. I learned a lot as I jogged through the sun-dappled pines.

Meanwhile, Him Outdoors is working on building a bike. Every day bits and pieces arrive at the house and he adds them onto the frame. Spot which bits are still missing.

At the weekend we walked to Sheaffe, which is another trig point on Isaacs Ridge. This one has a more clear and obvious marker, although the real top is more likely to be a concrete post with some poles in it, modelled here by Him Outdoors. 

I love the fact that we are in the middle of the capital city and there is so much beautiful space. I don't love the fact that we bashed our way through a couple of kilometres uphill through thistles, burrs, hook grass, spiders' webs and potential snake hang outs.

This is YA90, allegedly named after a droid from Star Wars whose scenes were cut in the final editing. 

I may be looking slightly pained because I am. Those thistles and burrs really get stuck into the clothing. Neither decorative nor comfortable, but certainly itchy and scratchy, it took hours with a pair of tweezers to remove them from the tights and shoes - I have yet to start work on the shoes. 

As we were taking sh*te selfies at the trig point, we saw a woman saunter past casually on what turned out to be a perfectly good track on the other side. The perfectly good track that Him Outdoors had chosen to eschew in favour of an adventure. Hmmm. 

A perfectly good path

We did reward ourselves with breakfast at Fox & Bow

Huevos with chorizo and anchovies

Spanish eggs

The next day we went to our friends' place to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Toasts were toasted, corks was popped and champagne was consumed - Huzzah! Happy Anniversary Calamity Sue and General Philosopher; thanks for sharing your celebrations and stories with us. 

Cheers!

Proof of the party

And home for snuggles with the cats. 

Him Outdoors with Melantho

A much more sedate walk on Sunday - the usual round the lake with the Walking Crew, followed by breakfast (of course) at Bookplate at the National Library. Sadly, The Luminosity is not pictured, but here is Purple Lady with her avocado and eggs on toast, with obligatory side of bacon.