A very social week

It began last Saturday with a birthday party in  park for my niece's step daughters' birthday, which I wrote about.

Tuesday was Ex Sis in Law's hospital visit with brunch and dinner out with her.

Thursday was a brunch catch up with a friend from the country, a former workmate of Ray's. 

Friday I took Phyllis to my local shops and he was rather impressed by South Melbourne Market. In the afternoon I decided I needed a new wallet and with a $10 Myer credit, off to town I went. There was drama. Later. 

Friday evening was the building's annual Melbourne Cup barbeque and cup sweep. Yes, some days before the event. Can you believe there were uneaten prawns left over and I came home with a very large and lovely baguette. 

Sunday is a catch up with with Our Friend from Japan, who is no longer in Japan but will soon return to Japan for a while before her final return home. She will be in company of three friends who I have met but not seen for years.

I don't know if I want to turn back the clock to when Ray was here with me and we understood all of our usual quiet nuances, or if I  like my current somewhat chaotic life. I exaggerate. The same happened with Ray. Sometimes we would be very busy socially, and other times not. 

The Thursday brunch with interesting in a couple of ways. Of course it was good to see Gazza. We ordered our brunch with coffee. Gazza had finishing eating his ham, cheese and tomato croissant and I had nearly finished my sourdough toast. When our meals were brought, the waiter apologised for our coffee not arriving, but still no coffee. Gazza went to remind staff about the coffee, and still it did not come. Quelle horreur, it eventually arrived in PAPER CUPS. As we paid, staff was apologetic about the coffee delay. Let me give you some vouchers, and she gave each of us a voucher card. Terrific, but not really as it was crap coffee whether it was in a china cup or a paper cup, and we didn't want another, meaning we would not return. 

Once outside, I examined the coffee voucher and it was not a free cup, but only 10% off our next cup of coffee. Fuck off Federal Coffee. My toast came came with cold unspreadable butter in a dish. A sachet of cold butter can be quickly warmed under your arm but you can't warm butter in a dish like that. It is not a cheap place and I won't return. I fact it was so bad, I think I will write a Trip Advisor Review. 

There was also an amazing conversation at the cafe with a fellow diner, but I'll leave that for later. 

Best to have photos in posts. For EC, 

and for Cloudia.