10 more days, 10 more deadly Brisbane things to be grateful for...

QUT CLASSIC: Let’s be honest from the outset; I’m no runner. I’m more a shuffler, a walker-cum-runner – a ralker! But in my new Brisbane-life for the next six months I’m setting and fulfilling some serious personal challenges. The first was going in the inaugural QUT Classic. Having joined up with these two lovelies above – Jasmyn and Louisa who are 15 years younger than me - we managed to put the FUN in ‘fun run’!

Contrary to the clock above which says we finished in 0 time, we actually finished the course in 85 minutes, which included a lot of ‘laughing time’, and stopping to smell the roses, and the bacon being cooked along the way. Our next effort is the Colour Run on the Gold Coast and then the City2South on June 16, at which time we’ll be raising funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. If you would like to support us running so others can read, we’d appreciate a donation here. 

 

Putting the FUN in fun run

LEFKAS TAVERNA: So impressed by Lefkas Greek Restaurant in West End, I’ve been twice since arriving only three weeks ago. It’s long been a favourite of mine, and lots of other people it seems, as most nights of the week it is jam-packed! The food is fresh and tasty (recommend the BBQ’d baby octopus and whatever the fish of the day is), the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is alive but not too loud. 

THE CLIFFS: I’ve written about this café at Kangaroo Point before, in fact it appears in my forthcoming novel TIDDAS (due for release in 2014). I love The Cliffs  essentially for the view (above), but returning there yesterday I also found a range of delicious cakes that blew my mind and would my waistline too if I indulge. Rather, I stuck to the helium and avocado on sour dough and a good cup of coffee. My recommendation is to go during the week if you can because on the weekends, cyclists and other fitness freaks fill the joint from early AM. 

STORY BRIDGE HOTEL BREAKFAST: The Story Bridge Hotel  is famous for fun times, music and a number of bars that pulse during the week. So it’s not a place many would think about heading to for breaky, but I’ve been a couple of times, once for ‘research’, once for… breakfast. Devoured the poached eggs / pesto on toast, the freshly made juice and coffee. There’s no view but it’s the better option on a weekend when The Cliffs is packed out!

 

PLAYING HOOKIE: or is it hookey? Whatever, I mean taking a few hours out of the normal day to explore. Did a little of that this week, anyone guess where the pic above was taken?

  

Nicole Watson and John Maynard

FIRST NATIONS AUSTRALIA WRITERS’ WORKSHOP:

Last week I was part of a significant literary event at the SLQLD. The inaugural First Nations Australia Writers’ Workshop brought together emerging and established writers across genres, but also industry professionals including publishers, experts in digital media and the like. For me, it was about sitting back and admiring the evolution of our writing and publishing industry and catching up with writers I have read and been inspired by over the past two decades.

  

With Dub Leffler outside GOMA!

I’d like to congratulation the organisers; Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Cathy Craigie and Tony Duke, and the committee that managed to bring together such a pool of talent and knowledge. And a huge shout out those in my pics here including JohnMaynard, crime novelist Nicole Watson, educational blogger Leesa Watego, author / illustrator Dub Leffler and my cuz Bev Grant-Lipscomb.

  

Leesa Watego in action above, and with cousin Bev below!

ST. MARGARET’S ANGLICAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL: It’s no secret I love talking about books and writing and sharing the creative process with students around Australia. I’m grateful therefore to St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School  for the invitation to talk to their girls about my writing and researching methodology, and to share some tips for their own creative writing projects. And best of all, check out the view in the background, which is the same view from their library. I could sit there all day and just read, writer… or maybe just stare!  

Check out that view over the city!

FERNY GROVE STATE HIGH SCHOOL: I’m a supporter of the National Curriculum, which kicks in in 2014, and so I was grateful for the opportunity to talk to the English Department at Ferny Grove State High School about ways of embedding Indigenous literature into their curriculum. I left completely inspired about the 1000s of Indigenous works in print today.

RAINY DAYS FOR READING: There’s only been a couple of rainy days since I’ve been here, and while I moved north for the warmth, I am grateful for those rare days that let me stay in bed guilt free (when it’s sunny, I feel compelled to be outside!). In the past two weeks I’ve finished Melissa Lucashenko’s latest offering Mullumbimby (which would make a sensational film!) and a re-read of Mark Twain’s  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which I hadn’t read since, school.

BDB: Best business idea EVER! The Blow Dry Bar is the place you pop into to have your hair washed, blow-dried and straightened (or tonged!). I'm told ladies pop in on Friday's when they're about to go out. $15 was all it cost to take my out of control mane and tame it for a photo-shoot on Monday this week. The BDB in Elizabeth Street is my biggest grateful find in Brisbane! They're all around the place though, check them out!

10 days and 10 things to be grateful for in Brisbane...

 

Friday evening, peak hour on the river!

FERRIES / RIVER CATS: I am obsessed with being on the river. I should be a deckhand. I can’t imagine having to go back to Sydney eventually and not be able to find peace of a day by riding the Brisbane River. I take great joy in sending pics to my family and friends when I am floating my worries away on the way to work... or on the way to nowhere in particular! A huge shout out of gratitude to all the staff who greet passengers with a smile and sometimes offer tips on where to dine at each stop. One being The Jetty and Bulimba. I’ll be checking it out shortly!

 Sunday ride to nowhere ...

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: The weather and the river make Brisbane the perfect setting for year round outdoor fitness. I have been running (read: shuffling) along the waterfront and making use of the public exercise equipment. I never do this anywhere else and I am grateful that in only ten days, even with all the eating you will read about here, I have seen my fitness level increase and my waistline decrease. Now, if only I can keep it up – the training not the eating!

 Perfecting setting for getting fit...

MURRIS MURRIS EVERYWHERE: I’m not kidding. On one day alone, I saw the following Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (not all Murris, some Kooris etc) around the cultural precinct: writer/director Wesley Enoch, musician / actor David Page, actor Luke Carroll, singer /actor Ursula Yovich, performance poet Steven Oliver, actor /director Wayne Blair, language experts Leonora Adidi and Des Crump. And I’ve probably left someone out. It’s fabulous to hangout at Southbank around the galleries, library and theatre because it’s where all the fab people are. No lie! 

 Angela Gardner is deadly poet in residence!

GOMA CAFE POET IN RESIDENCE: While I’m talking about the cultural precinct, it was great to see local poet and visual artist Angela Gardner doing her thing as Cafe Poet in Residence at the  Lounge Bar of the Gallery of Modern Art. Coordinated by Poetry Australia Angela’s there every Friday for the next few months, so pop by and say hello, and get some advice on writing poetry if that’s your thing. 

 

 The peaceful watermall 

QAG CAFE:  I’m grateful for a peaceful lunch with local author and my tidda Josie Montano. We have a ‘regular’ spot at the QAG Cafe where we can feel the peace of the watermall and enjoy the presence of water dragons! And as a bonus, I received a stunning Brooke and Ridge Bold and the Beautiful coffee mug (see below!).

 
These chicks (on my right) could make anything look good  - at the West End Markets!
 

WEST END MARKETS: Looking to meet up with some friends for a peaceful way to start the weekend? The head to the Saturday morning markets at Davies Park, West End. It was love at first sight for me. Stalls full of fabulous local /state produce: arts, crafts, fruit, veg, cheese, yoghurt, bread – oh the bread! I bought some seaweed bread if you don’t mind. I recommend the Gypsy Caravan for a great tasting caffeine injection with friendly service. For breakfast try head to the Greek stall and order the breakfast wrap with haloumi, and for lunch, step sideways to the Eat a Pita pocket stand and order the Falafel wrap with the lot including chilli! This will be enough fuel for you for the day. Eat it in the sun while sitting on the grass listening to a local band. If you’re like me and have a sweet tooth, then head to Ginevra’s Patisserie and indulge in the salted-caramel chocolate ganache tart. There are seriously too many delish things to taste there... I am going to let myself have one special treat from the markets every week end I go, and then I will waddle myself back home.

THE END: I started my Friday night out at THE END  – a groovy and friendly little cocktail bar at 73 Vulture Street, West End. The service was as fun and colourful as the cocktail list and fellow-patrons also a friendly crew. I went to celebrate my friend Kara’s birthday. That’s us above, and our yummy bevies below.

THE SPAGHETTI HOUSE:  A quick stroll from the The End around the corner to Boundary Street and I found possibly the best gnocchi I have ever tasted. Think I’m overrating it? Well let me tell you, the three women dining with me at The Spaghetti House each had a meal in front of them and yet couldn’t keep their forks out of mine! The service, by and large by young Italian staff, was enthusiastic if not a little chaotic – getting seated at the table we actually booked proved somewhat difficult, but after that we were treated like royalty. I’m grateful for memorable food and fun with good friends.

 Me, happily beavering away in the XYZ room!

QLD WRITERS CENTRE: I am thrilled to have the next three months in the XYZ room (named after poet Emily XYZ) at the QLD Writers Centre, housed in the State Library of QLD. I’m grateful to the staff, lead by Meg Vann for their enthusiastic hospitality in welcoming me, and for making my time here as fruitful as possible. My office is also only steps away from the Black+Write team of editors Ellen van Neerven-Currie and Linda McBride. I feel like I am the luckiest writer in Brissy right now.

STATE LIBRARY OF QLD: This centre of literature, knowledge, culture, fun and great view, is in my humbled opinion, the most dynamic library in the country. I don’t say that because my friends work there, or because they have hosted book launches for me, or because they have a stunning program of events all year round. I say it because it’s simply true. And I had always joked that I would be happy to stack shelves at the SLQLD because I just wanted to work there. And now, here I am, working, but as a writer. Even better! So I’m grateful to the library for everything they offer their local and national community, especially the Indigenous Knowledge Centre kuril dhagun.