WHO WOULDA THUNK IT? WE’RE OFF AND RUNNING!

Gunabul Homestead Restaurant/Functions House, Gympie

And we’re well underway, having already crossed the starting post.  We’ve kicked off the blocks to a flying start faster than Usain Bolt!

As is my custom I remained wide awake - and upright - to welcome in the New Year. 

The worrying news is the year won’t be “New” for long.  Maybe it’s just me, but time doesn’t seem to stick around as long as it did in the past.  Who switched the clocks on to “Fast”!  Whoever it was, I wish they’d take their finger off the button!

By choice, New Year’s Eve 2018 at my place Party Central it wasn’t.

However, I, myself and me, along with my two furry mates... naturally...greeted 2019 as we would any newcomer.  Our best manners were on display...at least mine were.   

Although not being in celebratory mode, grudgingly, my two mates joined in as I belted out “Auld Lang Syne”.  Once we’d finished our melodic performance they were over it, and weren’t backward in making their feelings known about me staying up all night long.

I wasn’t up all night long – only an hour or two after midnight. There was no dancing on the ceiling, no dancing in the street, nor was I partying like it was 1999. My roomies reprimanded me for disrupting their efforts to return to slumber.  I’m a wild one!   

When I shut the “party” down, called it a “night” and went to bed each let out a loud sigh of relief before prompting nodding off into sound sleep.  

If my math is correct  - if my brain isn't stewed, fried, barbecued, grilled or roasted -19 years have flown by since the clocks ticked over to 2000 – the turn of The Millennium. Much hype surrounded the arrival of 2000. 

Most of New Year’s Eve 1999, at my then place of employment, "Gunabul", the restaurant/functions’ venue in Gympie, I spent busily preparing hot and cold buffet fare to feed an expected mob of happy, excited, expectant diners keen to celebrate 2000’s arrival.  Added to the mayhem, I had a wedding party to cater for on New Year’s Day - no rest for the wicked! 

Personally, I’ve never been keen on New Year’s Eve parties.  They appear too forced for my liking.  People going around kissing people or being kissed by people they really have no interest in kissing or being kissed by just because it’s expected on that particular evening at the stroke of midnight doesn’t light my fire. 

I prefer spontaneous, sincere gestures rather than the forced, insincere and expected, surrounded by people I hardly know, and some I don’t know.  

Escaping the revellers shortly before midnight 1999, before heading home I made a brief stop-over at a friend’s home.  My friend Joy and her adult children were kicking up their heels at their family home situated on 360 acres on Gympie’s south-side.  The property embraces the banks of the Mary River, as does the land "Gunabul" sits on.  

Joy and I have known each other since primary school.  We surfed together as teenagers.  Her youngest brother and my older brother, Graham, had both been lifesavers in the Noosa Heads Lifesaving Club.  My brother Graham passed away 6^th June, 1998.  Joy’s husband passed away six months later, between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, 1998. We'd shared in our grief - our loss.

After spending a couple of pleasant hours in the company of folk I like, finally, back at my own home again after a very long day, and night, I found peace within my own space and privacy. 

Beneath a starry sky out on my front lawn, I sat, with my beloved snuggled beside me. Together, we contemplated the complexities of life as we watched the sun rise on The Noughties.  We weren’t being naughty, though.  My snuggling buddy was Pushkin, my ginger cat.  

He and I had similar tastes in many things, including music. Not fond of Tom Jones, Pushkin was fed up to his whiskers with being asked, “What’s New Pussycat?”   

The following day, exercising a will of stone, I remained strong, and managed not to nod off while preparing for, and serving the wedding party of around 150 guests who were due to arrive around 4.30 pm on the afternoon of 1^st January, 2000.   The marriage ceremony was conducted in the gardens of the restaurant.

Come the second day of The Millennium, I slept well.  Fortunately, it was my day off.

So here we are once more.  A new year has begun...new dreams, old dreams, continued dreams; new hopes, old hopes, continued hopes.

Being a creature of habit, my eyes have been glued to the tennis throughout January.

The wretched, soul-destroying heat and humidity, like blood-thirsty vampires, have sucked from me every ounce of energy I may have had left.  

I never make New Year resolutions.  Foolishly, I thought I’d try to stop being cranky in 2019. Already I’ve failed – that’s why I never make resolutions.

Australia Day, 26^th January is up next...Happy Straya Day! Yes...Australia Day is still 26^th January.  I hope the status quo remains.  Why stir the pot when the pot doesn’t need stirring?   

Don your boardies; grab your surf board; slip, slop, slap; fire up the barbie; better still, sit in a tub filled with ice! 

Similar to Australia Day, 2018, a small lane-way soiree has been planned for the afternoon, commencing at 4.30 pm.  And similar to last year, only folk from this little enclave and the one that runs parallel, along with the neighbours - a married couple - on the other side of this property will be in attendance.  

It won’t be a rowdy or lengthy affair.  The small gathering of around 14 or 16, most of whom I’ve not seen since last year’s lane-way shindig  once darkness falls,will begin to dissipate.  Everyone will begin to wend their way homeward.  At least, I know I will be a “wender” as dusk descends!   

I intend supplying an antipasto platter and a cheese platter, as well as a salmon-sweet chilli dip to graze upon...and I’ve a bottle of Rosé chilling in my fridge.

Time marches on...showing no mercy...

Lamb Skewers: Cut 500g lamb steaks into 3-1/2cm/1-1/2 inch pieces. Cut red capsicum into 2cm/1 inch pieces; same with singular onion pieces. Marinate overnight in dry white wine with a little white vinegar or lemon juice added, 1crushed garlic clove, Italian herbs or dried mint, salt and pepper. Remove from marinade; thread pieces alternately onto skewers.  Mix 1 crushed garlic clove and 1/2c Greek yoghurt; season; chill.  Cut 4 large spuds into 1cm slices; spray; cook on bbq plate. Grill lamb on oiled bbq grill.  Serve with salad and potatoes topped with garlic yoghurt.

Vegemite Burger: Fry 1 finely chopped onion and 2 finely chopped garlic cloves in 1tbs olive oil until softened; add 150g finely chopped mushrooms; cook until juices evaporate. Mash 400g rinsed, drained brown lentils and 3/4c cooked brown rice; mash in the onion and mushroom.  Stir in 2tbs Vegemite, 1tbs tahina, 1tsp tasty seasoning, 1/2c finely chopped walnuts and 2tbs besan flour.  Shape into flat patties. Fry in olive oil, 5mins or until deep brown.  Flip carefully.  Cook 4-5mins. Serve on toasted buttered buns; spread one half with tom sauce; melt cheese on burger, if desired; pile with lettuce, tomato, beetroot and fried onions.

Green and Gold Salad: Separate leaves of 2 baby Cos lettuces; chill.  Whisk 2tbs x-virgin olive oil, 1tsp sesame oil, 1tbs sweet chilli sauce, 1tbs rice vinegar and 1tbs lime or lemon juice.  Dice 1 firm ripe mango, 1 firm ripe avocado and 1 small cucumber; lightly toss in dressing with 3 finely chopped shallots, 2tbs baby mint leaves; season; transfer to bowl; scatter with sesame seeds or crushed peanuts (or both).  Place lettuce on plates – let guests top with salad.