I’m not really sure where August went – in a blur, I suspect. I’d tell you that August was like May, which had been like March and April with more travel, but that analogy is getting old.
So, I’ll just say that for most of the month I’ve still been juggling two roles in the day job, but this week have finally handed one of them across to someone new. Yes, I’m very happy about that. It’s come at the right time as a project I’ve been dreading since the beginning of the year is heating up and due for implementation in September. This means I’m swapping the nights where I lie awake worrying about what I haven’t managed to get done with nights where I lie awake worrying about specific project-related risks and issues. Heigh ho.
Anyways, without further ado, here’s the wrap-up…
Travel
I spent last week in Sydney training a new employee. While I don’t enjoy travelling for work – the days are long and I’m unused to being in an office for that amount of time – I do enjoy staying and working in Chatswood.
It’s a vibrant mostly Asian community with amazing food choices and plenty happening. On Thursdays and Fridays, market stalls were set up selling almost every cuisine imaginable, and on this visit there was also an open-air candlelight concert on Thursday and Friday night.
I took the opportunity of being in Sydney to spend a weekend with Mum and Dad – something which after the border closures of covid I promised myself I’d never take for granted again.
Out and about on the Sunshine Coast
Working entirely from home I’m cooped up indoors from Monday – Friday, so this month we made an effort to get out and about on weekends.
Geordie Lane Antiques and Teahouse
Antiques and tea and scones in the hinterland – what more could you want?
Perhaps a beer and a bowl of soup at Brouhaha Brewery in Maleny.
Pomona Distillery
A great place for Sunday lunch. We shared a burrata and a plate of curry spring rolls. It gets super busy so bookings are essential.
Your Mates Brew Pub, Warana
Tucked away in a warehouse in Warana this hidden gem is the perfect pub for an afternoon sesh…although we were there Friday lunch.
Australian Wearable Arts Festival
I told you about this here.
Giddy Geisha
This fabulous little modern Asian street-food eatery in Maroochydore takes no bookings and is usually busy, but if you’re there right at the beginning of lunch you should be able to get a table. The prices are reasonable and the food designed to share.
The eggplant chips (with Szechuan caramel, roasted sesame, fried garlic) are amazing here, but this time we shared a few new things – the pho, coconut beef spring rolls with coconut galangal mayo, and the fried chicken sando with cabbage, kewpie mayo and Japanese curry dipping sauce (an absolute game changer).
In the Kitchen…
I’ve been away a bit, and we’ve also had friends visiting so other than one culinary excursion to the Middle East, the destination bowl has been untouched.
It hasn’t been all quiet in the kitchen though and I finally got around to baking something (these custard creams). Anyways, you’ll find the Kitchen Diaries here.
My words of the year…
Change…
I was hoping I’d be able to talk about the massive change that’s on its way, but unfortunately I can’t … yet. Next month absolutely.
Creativity…
The day job continues to dominate, but I’ve now written a good chunk of something completely new and aim to have the draft done and off to my structural editor by the end of the first week in October.
Hang on, I hear you ask, I thought you were doing a sequel to Curlew Cottage? Yes, about that … It’s just that these characters and this place sprang into my brain fully formed – as did the mystery. So instead of being back to Brookford, we’re hanging about in Australia and a beach town named Whale Bay.
Over to you…
What’s been on your calendar this month? Perhaps you’d like to update us on your word of the year or intentions? We’d love to hear about what you’ve been up to…
The linky is below and it’s open for a week…
My co-hosts are:
Deb at Deb’s World
Sue at Women Living Well Over 50
Donna at Retirement Reflections
And Anyways... 
Hi Jo
I’m not sure the link to your August wrap up post is working?
X janine
Sent from my iPhone
I was sure I saw this 7 days ago and then it disappeared or WP is being silly. Anyway so glad you’ve got part of the job off your shoulders. Local travel is something a lot of us forget to do so good on you for making that work. Bernie
You weren’t imagining it – I accidentally scheduled the (unfinished) post for last week and took it down as soon as I realised…
So I’m not losing it, and WP (which is indeed doing weird things)isn’t screwing that up.
Oh and I am all in for all those beers!! Craft beer is so awesome and it seems you guys have lots.
Jo, I’m glad to hear your workload lessened and you made time to be out and about on weekends. The foods and those blue skies look amazing. I hope you and Grant have a wonderful September. I’ll link up my August post to your post tomorrow.
Thanks Natalie … your month looked amazing too with all that travel!
Hi, Jo – Gorgeous photographs. The one of the office buildings is absolutely stunning! I am glad that you have been able to hand over some work and reduce your multiple roles somewhat. And I am super excited about that new book. Of course, I want to hear more!
I love looking up and seeing the shapes like these office buildings…
Oh gosh, trying to fit it all in is SO hard when you (I know) long for the changes of pace to ease and now they have…so pleased for you. How interesting that you are now thinking Australia for a new book. I’ve just finished listening to a book by Sophie Green (the one about the choir) set in places like Tamworth NSW I know well from being there way back and set in late 1990s so it was very real for me. So good you got to see your parents for a weekend, I bet they loved that too. Enjoy Spring! Thanks for the link up. Denyse
Hi Jo – I still don’t know how you do it all without having a nervous breakdown! So glad you’ve handballed one job – and I’ll be interested to hear about that big change you keep teasing us with. Also nice that you could see your folks while you were in Sydney – my mum’s been down here for the last couple of weeks and we’ve caught up several times – I want to make the most of time together too. 🙂
Who says I’m not breaking down lol… seriously though it’s been a tad like a duck – serene on the surface and paddling like mad below.
Hi Jo, as always, despite the heavy workload you’ve still been able to sneak joy into your life. I adore your photography this month – the bee, the buildings in Chatswood. I grew up in Naremburn not far from there and Chatswood has certainly come a long way since the 50s 60s and 70s. Always good that you can catch up with your Mum and Dad whilst you are there. Back home I always enjoy your foodie photos and experiences. Thanks for being such a great friend and co-host of WBOYC? I appreciate you xx
Yay for getting to finally pass one of the day jobs off onto someone else. I think Whale Bay sounds rather cute and when inspiration strikes you’ve got to go with it. All these food photos are making me hungry. What a yummy month.
Thanks Joanne… on the whole it was a good month.
I missed the wearable art post – off to check out. Also if you’re inSydney, I can come and meet you for a coffee or drinkl or something (possibly) so let me know. #WBOYC
That sounds like a great idea. I’m next in town at the end of September so will reach out.
You are amazing Jo! You work a day job and still manage to get out and about and cook and write books as well – Amazing!! I love all the photos in this post and am so glad you have handed over one of the jobs you were doing, it must be a weight off your shoulders. Thanks for being a fun co-host, I always love reading these monthly posts 🙂
It certainly is a relief. For the first couple of days I was a tad disorientated not to be wall to wall busy.
Your photographs really showcase all of the delicious food you eat and places you visit. I bet you could make a peanut butter sandwich look amazing with your lens. Glad you took advantage of an opportunity to see your parents. Photo memories keep popping up on my FB page about summer 08.2020 when I visited my mom mid-Covid and had sit with plexiglass between us when we visited. We ate breakfast with her standing outside her apartment window and talking to her on the phone. Sucked. I feel like we were all cheated of at least a year with our loved ones.
I agree re the cheated feeling… let’s hope we never go back there.
ooh can’t wait to hear what’s in store for you! But I can wait!
To someone in Northern Europe, it’s always kind of funny to see people in Australia talk about their “winter”. I definitely wouldn’t mind that kind of winter!
It looks like you’ve had some really nice weekends! All the food and cookies and whatnot look fabulous. What do they distil at the Pomona distillery? I only saw something about beer and wine! Being a whisk(e)y geek, I’m always curious about distilleries and I know some really good whisky is being made in Australia.
I’m glad to hear someone is being employed to take one of your roles! Hope that project goes well. It’s awful when work keeps you awake.
I’m swooning over the idea of curry spring rolls. Must try to find them here.
Congrats on writing something new! It’s such a great feeling when a new idea takes form.
Glad you’re able to hand off some work to another employee. I’ve had to cover multiple people’s jobs before, and it’s exhausting.
Hope you have a great September!