Cookery and random people

It's brilliant to have a kitchen, after weeks, no... months, of living in the van and cooking on stoves which cut out half way through or don't heat up properly, and having only one pot to cook out of, it's a joy to be able to cook proper meals, from cookery books.

I'm creating culinary delights such as Sousaka (shepherds pie and mousaka combined) or Italian fusion delight (left over veg, with mozerella and some sort of mince type accompaniment). Dishes that take ages to prepare and I would never cook at home... so why now. We have narrowed it down to a few reasons:

1) we have use of a stunning kitchen here with great cookery utensils

2) we have use of a dishwasher, makes cooking all the more enjoyable

3) there is a pantry full of cookbooks

4) we have the time to spend preparing meals (rather than rushing home and throwing something together at the last minute)

It's all very lovely and homely. Scott is also enjoying the meals and I certainly don't mind cooking for him as he has taken over the lessons (woohoo) Sam finally has a proper teacher and the good news is that we haven't been doing a terrible job (in fact, I believe we have been doing quite well - and that's information from a proper deputy head!).

So today we had a random moment. Tired of watching surfing I found out that there is a riding school nearby. So we all jumped into the car and headed off up the road looking for the turn off. We turned off the highway and down a bumpy track, lined with tall silver trees, the track was red (the red mud that the aborigionies used to paint their faces). As we bumped along the track we passed various businesses, a nursery, a camp site but no trekking centre and eventually we reached the end of the road. As we started to turn around we noticed a 4 wheel drive which had been following us and the guy was motioning to us. We asked him if there was a trekking centre around and he told us that it had closed down but asked if we would like to see 'The most amazing part of Australia?' He opened some electric gates and so we followed him through. For about 5 minutes we wound our way up into a valley and eventually pulled up at the guys house. As he swayed out of his van we realised that he was perhaps a little drunk (the bottle of beer in his hand was a giveaway) anyway he invited us for a drink on his terrace.

Michael is about 60 and an old surfer. He has an amazing wooden house built at the top of a valley in about 120 acres of forest land. He has lived in the house for about 30 years... throwing open the doors he invited us to look around and take pictures. The house he proudly told us, was designed by himself having watched a Western on telly, he wanted a saloon type feel (and the massive wooden bar in the corner certainly created the right ambiance!) We sat on the terrace and drank our beer, overlooking the forest as Michael told us his surfing stories and hand fed his magpie named 'Baby!' As a true Aussie farmer his language was probably a bit bluer than Sam was used to and he quickly excused himself and went to play on his ipod. We stayed for about an hour and had a full tour of the house and a brief insight into his sexlife (or lack of it) seriously, don't ask!

Eventually we made our excuses and left, but as we drove away we all agreed that this is what travelling is all about, the random people that you meet. The wonderful, warm (if slightly inebriated) people who invite complete strangers into their homes and make them feel welcome. These are the people and the experiences that we will never forget and that make travelling worth while and as I have said many times before - for me this is the best part of travelling.

Delayed picture attached of us with Tom and Claire in NZ