Wow!

.... My word just now when a huge black crow or raven landed on the railing outside our living room window. I'm used to the Lorikeets and Starlings - but this was a bird of a different color. I still think that the cry of the Australian Raven proves that God (whatever that term means to you) has a sense of humor. The sound is a lot like someone yelling loudly - OH NOOOOOOO! ... in a whiny voice. How would you describe it?

Yesterday, in order to escape our still disorganized house, Tim and I drove up to Berowra Waters and took the Ferry. This ferry has to be the world's fastest. How fast is it you ask? It was so fast that I didn't even know we had crossed when we started unloading on the other side. It's a winch pulled ferry and obviously the crossing is not very wide. We stopped for fish n' chips on the other side and picnicked by the water. It was a beautiful day boasting the bluest of skies.

Last evening, we dined out with visiting friends, Juan and Rosa, at the Royal Oak Hotel in Balmain. The company was excellent, but the restaurant was definitely forgettable. Tim and I are "fishing-eating vegetarians" and the menu had a limited selection of entrees/mains we could eat. Tim selected the Salmon and my choice was the Barramundi - neither outstanding in any way. The antipasto appetizer and BBQ'd baby octopus (yes, I said "baby" :( ) were both delicious, and we should have made our meal of those items. The service was marginal at best and the staff lacked "personality." Furthermore, noone explained to us that a salad bar was included with our meal. For dessert, Tim and Juan had the Creme Brulee, which was tasteless and forgettable. My sticky fig pudding with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce, however, was hhhhmmmmmmmmmm good - definitely memorable! All in all, I wouldn't recommend the Royal Oak Hotel Restaurant and give it a C+.

Cheers, Judi