DREAM WEAVER GET ME THROUGH THE NIGHT UNTIL DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT...

Gympie's Memorial Park

Bullnose Awning

Gympie's Central Primary School...the school I went to...up around the corner from where I grew up

The other day I spoke with a good friend of longstanding. We lived across the street from each other throughout our childhood and teenage years.  I’m sure I’ve mentioned my friend Darry previously in past posts. Although she and I may talk via the phone only two or three times a year, time lapsed between communications makes no difference whatsoever.  Darry and I pick up from where we left off; not a beat missed. We’re never out of tune.  Darry doesn’t own a computer; so emails aren’t in the equation, unfortunately.  Our banter remains the same – the same as it has done through the years; our shared insanity will never alter. We’ve always been close; we always will be.

Darry was six years older than me when we first met; she still is; that hasn’t changed either!   

When we first entered each other’s life, I was four and Darry was 10.  The difference in our ages didn’t matter then; it doesn’t matter now. 

Actually, we first met in April, a few months before I turned four.  Darry came to my fourth birthday party.  She didn’t have to travel far…just across the street. It wasn’t only the thought of my ice cream birthday cake that lured her to cross the street, either.  Until Mum, Nana, my older brother Graham and I moved into Fern Street, Gympie there had been no other children Darry’s age or thereabouts living nearby.  Even though Graham was closer to Darry's age then than I was, somehow, Darry and I just clicked…ice cream cake or no ice cream cake!

The evening before Darry phoned I had a dream; one I have periodically, but with minor variations each nocturnal visit. I can never remember the name of the shop in my nightly visits. When I’m awake I can’t remember its name.  To this day the building, now renovated, remains at the top of the hill at the junction of Mellor Street and the street where we lived in Gympie – Fern Street. 

I asked Darry if she could remember the shop’s name. As far as she can remember she believes it never had a name, as such, but people called “Wilmott” lived on the premises and ran the business. If one insists on being pedantic, perhaps it was called “Willmott’s”.

My lingering memory is the building’s physicality. It’s a two-storey timber construction.  These days the building houses a carpet store, called "Dodt's Floor Coverings".  (I went to school with a Ken Dodt).

Living quarters in the building as I knew it were on the top level when we were kids. A bullnose awning covered the length of the front verandah on the upper area with its protective railings supported by decorative posts at measured distances. The floor of the verandah doubled as an awning over the footpath below. 

The ground floor housed a shop. Actually, it was more a café than a shop; a clearer description would be to define it as a tea shop, I guess. The store was a mystery to me then; and obviously the enigma remains if I keep dreaming about it. 

I can count on one finger, maybe three, how many times I entered the dismal, uninviting establishment. With a young child’s active imagination I probably believed it housed an ogre or witch, or both! Or maybe it just didn't have enough interesting goodies on display to rouse my attention and desire to partake in same.

Two full length bay windows on either side of the main doorway shed little light into the shop’s dreary interior.  The protruding windows were canted with flat fronts and angled sides. There was nothing ornamental about them.  I doubt any practical use was made of the protuberances.

Drab curtains draped limply at either side of the fixed-glass panes.  I can’t recall ever seeing the windows open.  A dark-stained timber counter ran along the right side of the shop. A rear door led to I know not where, and I wasn’t eager to find out.

Four or five tables, maybe one or two more, were sporadically placed about the room without rhyme or reason. Again, I don’t remember ever seeing anyone seated at the tables. No doubt customers did frequent the tea shop; but just not when I passed by.  Perhaps they did when I was as school or, later, at work.

Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and enter the shop, as it was in those days of yore, if only to satisfy my curiosity; then I may never dream about that cheerless place again!

And if that did occur, it wouldn’t be a loss because I have an endless supply of dreams as back-ups, all in CinemaScope, surround-sound and technicolour - and a re-wind button!

Rhubarb Dream Bars: Process 2c plain flour, 3/4c icing sugar and 1c butter. Press into 15x10-inch pan; bake at 176C, 15mins; crust will be very light coloured. Beat together 4 large eggs, 2c sugar, 1/2c plain flour and 1/2tsp salt; fold in 4c thinly-sliced rhubarb; spread onto hot crust; bake 40-45mins. Cool; cut into bars.

White Christmas Dream Drops: Preheat oven 120C. Using whisk attachment beat 2 large room temp egg whites and 1/8^th tsp cream of tartar in deep bowl until soft peaks form; add 1/2tsp vanilla and 1/8^th tsp salt. Grab 3/4c sugar; with mixer on high speed, add 1tbs sugar; beat 10-15secs; repeat until all sugar is added. Scrape inside of bowl; beat another 15secs. Straight peaks should form when beaters are lifted. Using flexible spatula, fold in 1c white choc chips and 1/3c coarsely crushed peppermint candy sticks. Line 2 baking sheets. Drop meringue in rounded 1tbs portions slightly apart onto sheets. Sprinkle with 1-1/2tbs crushed peppermint candies. Bake until meringues feel dry and set when touched, but still pale, 30-35mins; switch pan positions halfway through. Turn off oven; open door; let the drops stand 10mins; cool on pans. Make up to 2 days ahead; store airtight.

Irish Cream Dream: Line 4x237ml ramekins with wrap; leave long flaps to cover ingredients later. In processor pulse 20 ginger-nut biscuits with 3tbs melted butter until small crumbs form; press half crumb mix, divided evenly, firmly into ramekins. Reserve other half for the topping. Whisk 1c heavy cream with 1tbs sugar until soft peaks form. In separate bowl blend 2tbs instant espresso and 1x14oz can condensed milk; blend until coffee dissolves; whisk in 1/2c Baileys; fold in whipped cream. Pour into ramekins; top with remaining crumbs; cover with wrap; press to compact; freeze until set. Release from ramekins to serve. 

Tropical Dream: Fill large glass with 2oz Malibu, 1oz Blue Curacao, 5oz pineapple juice; garnish with Maraschino cherries

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-26.1874654,152.6671723,3a,75y,271.23h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s6IF2Zm52j3cBPTUylauJvg!2e0!5s20140601T000000!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 (Fern Street, Circa 2015)

The two-storey building I refer to (now renovated and a floor covering business) is pictured here - situated on the right of the picture on the corner of Mellor and Fern Streets...at the top of the hill.....https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Dodts+Floorcoverings/@-26.1873357,152.6681245,3a,75y,271.23h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szpNzRjEcpOjWkxkoSz4qsg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xba1444ae72baa934!6m1!1e1