Shelly & Jonathon are wonderful hosts at the Holroyd House.
Set in the very pretty northern suburbs of Toowoomba but still walking distance to town (albeit a long walk) is their cottage and loft.
The cottage is anything but a cottage and is a large family home with wonderful living spaces, but on this occasion we stay in the self contained loft.
It is a beautiful loft with self contained kitchen, separate bathroom and walk in waldrobe.
The furnishings are delightful with little gestures such as fresh water and chocolates.
The bed is firm and comfy with electric blankets so the room is cosy and the bed toasty.
A big surprise is the breakfast which is included. We are gluten and dairy free so didn’t want to inconvenience Shelly but she made the most amazing hamper with coconut yogurt, granola, fresh berries, dairy free cheese, GF bread, GF banana cake, ham and home made relief.
I am happy to recommend this place and we will be making this our stay-place when we come to Toowoomba. Thank you Shelly and Jonathon.
When you receive an invite to have dinner at a pub in the middle of nowhere (well for city folks), you have to say yes, but later go “why?”
It’s a long drive, someone has to drive, what is the food going to be like etc etc.
Let me reassure you that Rudd’s Pub is iconic and very much worth the effort from where ever you are coming from.
It has a typical Aussie bar at the front and the staff are awesome as well as swift. People say g’day and want to meet you, which isn’t always the case in cities.
The pub has massive history and was originally built in 1893.
Its big claim to fame was the writing of many of the series of the radio series called Dad & Dave which was broadcast on Australian radio from 1937 – 1953. You can read a little more about the series here.
The food is great and what Aussies would call good “pub grub.” The meals are cooked out the back by the owners so whilst yummy may take a while if you have a large group. I suggest putting your food order in early if you are hungry and having a couple of “bevvies” with the locals while it is cooked up.
Aussie Pub grub from Rudd’s pub
The menu is quite extensive and includes gluten free options and all the great pub favourites of steaks, chicken parmies and bangers + mash. I am told the rissoles are great as they are home made and home made Aussie rissoles are awesome.
There is accommodation out the back so you can stay on your travels through, a nice venue room for parties and events and lots of memorabilia on the walls to check out.
This good old fashion Australia regional town is a large enough to get lost but small enough to walk around.
Situated only 90 minutes from Brisbane it is the last of the larger towns going west and is renown for it’s pretty gardens and flowers.
I have been coming here for years and have always had a pleasant stay. The town folk are friendly and it is a much different vibe to the closest Aussie cities of Brisbane and Gold Coast.
I am usually here for a work engagement, children’s sporting event or visiting family.
This visit we decide to pop up for 2 nights as Covid restrictions means no international travel, so it’s time to revisit our famous Aussie towns.
We stay in a beautiful airbnb and do a lot but also nothing.
Toowoomba, being the city of gardens, does have many beautiful outdoor spaces. Gardens, flower shows, a Japanese garden and just walking through the beautiful wide streets will leave you inspired.
In September is the famous flower show but every time of year there are delightful gardens to have picnics in or wander through.
The other places of interest are Cobb & Co museum, the beautiful architecture of the CBD and Picnic Point.
The town is perched up quite high on what is called the scenic rim. There are many walks to do along the rim but this weekend we are blessed with rain so don’t venture too far from our airbnb and friends.
For a great coffee head to Nick’s place called Wendlands Fine Foods. Although there are many awesome coffee houses around town.
Preston Peak Wineries is a ten minute drive south of town but is closed for a private function on the day we go but has beautiful commanding views over the Lockyer Valley.
The main shopping precinct is called Grand Central and is like every other big shopping centre in the world but great if you do want to catch up on some shopping or having retail withdrawals.
All in all Toowoomba is a great rural country town and very different to the sea towns in Australia. You will need wheels to get around and if you are willing to explore can pick up some mustering, polo games, dirt bike events and more.
A new addition to Mona art gallery is the contemporary Australian restaurant called Faro.
Entry is via the museum but it is open out of hours and the entry is
from the car park.
I really like the space and openness of the restaurant.
In the middle of the room is an art exhibit which is in keeping with the randomness of Mona. You can sit and have a funky cocktail or dine by the water.
On the first day I dine with my sister and we score the table
overlooking the water. It is a gift.
The food is very good, a little pricey but it is 5 star dining. I have the seafood extravaganza which is perfect for a snack for two.
The service is OK. It could be better with just a smile or two. For
those of us mere mortals traveling through Mona this is a radical experience
for us, help us enjoy it.
The second time I visit here is for an afternoon cocktail. They are
delicious – very pricey ($20 and up) but extremely delicious. I would suggest
ordering some nibbles, such as the olives, as the cocktails can go down too
easily.
My over all rating is 4/5 and it only loses out because of the staff
and pricing. Otherwise a world class venue.
Once again we wake to the dawn of a magnificent day…. but brewing in the back ground is the coronavirus tentacles.
Lots is happening and my mind isn’t resting.
I do a face book live. We go for a stand up paddle then get down to nitty gritty.
We see the writing on the wall and in down town Coolangatta I hear people venting fear. All the chit chat is about cover-19, what is the future of our economy of our country. And for us, what is the future of social spaces.
Then at 7.30pm the news comes from our prime minister Scott Morrison, that pubs, social clubs and restaurants are all closing from midday tomorrow.
Times are a changing.
I made a decision early today that I will lead people. I sound out my face book page about having a support group and resoundingly it’s a YES!
It will be called Covid-19 Community Support Group. It starts tomorrow .
The sunrise is spectacular yet there is uncertainty in the air. I look to the horizon and notice a fire. I ring the 000 to let the fire department know. Is this possibly the last day of sanity? Of human existence?
It’s hard to know but I decide as a leader, as a person who has clients – that I need to step up!
I do a face book live. I talk about foods, being positive and staying calm. I sense a massive need for the masses to have leadership.
The day is then filled doing work for both our businesses and late at night we work. We work ahead of the worrying news that the restaurants will be shut down (nationally)!
I think I am escaping reality. Well actually that’s not true.
I am absorbing information at the rate of knots. I want to give people a positive spin, a sense of control whilst they also can adhere to government authority recommendations.
Face book lives – from the heart.
I decided to do a children’s head cut-out mural for my partner’s fish and chip place. I really enjoy the distraction but that is all it is.
It’s my partner’s business. Its a fish and chip place. It’s awesome but it is under threat as every food establishment in Australia is of shut down.
The government has introduced a new rule that any gathering over 500 people is banned and it has closed its borders to international flights leaving the country. Only ex-pat Aussies can enter into the country.
It’s a day in the trenches trying to gain traction.
The best thing about the day is the start. With Paul, a walk and day dream watching the best surf in the world at Snapper Rocks. Uplifting and only surpassed by a passing rainbow which almost immediately lifts any doubt I have that we, the human species, won’t survive this.
Then I work… trying new things, knowing there is a solution of sorts. Not sure what…
For the first time I use the words “ I am out of work”. It’s almost an oxymoron when you work for yourself because you leave “work” to work/generate income for yourself with added meaning, control and passion/fun. All of which I had experienced in the 19 years I have been in business. With a massive pinch of stress, personal growth and turmoil.
So to say “I’m roasted” was acknowledging a failure of sorts
I’ve been waking each day remarkable robust and happy. Happy to wake each day beside Paul, checking on the kids and knowing, somehow in my heart of hearts life will be ok.
HOWEVER something in me said look forward. Be that shining light. Do something positive. So I decided to write an eBook about everything I knew about Covid-19.
I thought it would take a day. It took 2 days but was up running on Amazon, my website and I did a face book live around it. I might not have the solution for COVID-19 but I felt at least I was contributing to the fight against it.
I woke to the news like a domino series, that the World Surf Pro at Coolangatta was cancelling. Shock to start with but as the day went on and more festivals and events peeled back I realised this was serious.
