Much to my mother’s ‘sense of style’ mortification, I drive an old Hilux Ute (a pickup for my non-Aussie readers). One thing I have found to be a truth in this life – when you have a ute you have friends. Friends who need to move things.
I have also found that having a ute quite often leads to unexpected adventures.
Last night proved to be no exception. A friend is moving offices, and wanted help to move some bookcases and shelving. We drove through the evening peak hour traffic to get to his current workplace, loaded the ute, and then followed him back to his home, down on Brisbane’s bayside.
Once we were all unloaded he suggested we join he and his partner for dinner, at a favourite bistro on the waterfront.
It was a beautiful night. Cool, not a breath of wind, and just a few light showers every now and again. We ate at the Marina, looking out over the water and the twinkling lights.
I’d like to report that my Baked Atlantic Salmon and King Prawn Risotto was excellent, as was my glass of Mojo Sauvignon Blanc. I wish I’d taken a picture of it, but alas, after all that furniture moving I devoured it entirely before I thought to share it with you. Here’s the happy evidence of its demise:
After dinner, we said our goodbyes, and then my husband and I took a last walk around the Marina, enjoying the scenery and all of those magnificent boats. We talked of travel, of sailing, and all the places left in the world still waiting for us to explore.
And then the completely unexpected.
A chance encounter with old friends from another place and time… An invitation aboard their boat… The opening of another bottle of wine…
Laughter, music, conversation and catch ups. The opportunity to step out of the everyday…
One of the things that thrills me most about this life is all of the turns and twists, the synchronicity of events, the joyful bumping into people you would never expect to see on a rainy night in Brisbane.
There is something so magical about life. I’m hooked on it. Aren’t you?
