Open Writing

A Travelling Restaurant

Peter Clarkson and his wife Moira enjoy Christmas in Australia with relatives from England.

Well Christmas has come and gone and I have been very lax with my columns.

Having said that I have been extremely busy looking after visitors. I had the in-laws coming into town for the holiday period, There was a lot of impressing to be done.

The relatives arrived on the 23rd, having taken a break on the way down in Bangkok, so they were not going to be a jet lagged. Moira spent last year carefully planning, filling a spreadsheet with vital plans for the time they would be spending over here. We had booked cricket for boxing day, trips down the coast and were finishing in the new year with a three day trip to the Grampians.

Christmas eve was fairly low key, good food and wine and talks about the trip down. An opportunity to share the three million photos we had taken since landing. Presents were placed under our tree, a real one this year decorated with a variety of gaudy silver stars and baubles and a selection of Koala bears. The look spoke of tradition with a hint of Australia.

The first hurdle was the fact that we were four people living in a single room studio flat, one benefit is that it is large enough to pull a partition wall across that splits the room in half thus giving the parents an idea of privacy. The second biggest hurdle was going to be lunch.

For Christmas lunch we prepared a seafood starter, Melbourne having some of the best seafood in Australia. We perhaps made a slightly large amount but there would be no hungry people at our Christmas dinner table. The main course was a traditional turkey with all the trimmings, plus an additional selection of Emu meatballs. Everyone agreed that they were extremely dry but the experience was what counted. Presents had been opened and we got down to the somewhat serious task of entertaining, this consisted of playing board games, cards and drinking an enormous amount of alcohol. Just like Christmas back home, except no TV. It’s very easy to go without TV when you have good company.

Boxing day, and we all set out to the cricket. The MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) is one of the jewels of the city and we had so far not been to this stadium, missing out on St Kilda’s trip during the AFL season. Australia against Pakistan was an exciting match, well it would be if you were a follower of the sport. I am not really but enjpyed the experience of watching the two teams in one of the best grounds in the world. We managed to find ourselves sitting near two people from England who the in-laws knew and the day ended in a restaurant on the south bank. All in all a very nice experience.

The following day we tried to take a trip down the coast to Sorento, a coastal town renowned for good views and quaint restaraunts. We drove down the coast quite a way before Tom instructed us to take the main highway down the peninsular. This was a big mistake as we found ourselves in heavy traffic. With the temperature in the 30’s it seemed everbody thought going to the seaside a great idea.

We were a little panicked as we had booked the colonial tramcar that evening and we had to be at the stop for half eight or they would leave without us. Needless to say once we finally arrived we had enough time to call into a chippy to buy and eat some chips. We had plenty of time to keep our appointment with the tram.

The colonial tramcar restaurant is a 1930’s tramcar that has been converted into a travelling restaurant. Food is simple and most of it is prepared in another restaurant and picked up on route. Steaks are cooked to your liking pnthe tramcar. You go on a tour of Melbourne while eating your meal. The booze is free.

Moira went for chicken which was a mistake but everyone had a great time. We were surprisingly drunk by the time the three hour trip was over. Staff continue to fill your glass.

Next we took the parents on their Christmas present wine tour of the Yarra Valley region. This covers some fantastic wine and is a really must do experience when visiting Melbourne, a single day tour to four or five vineyards including Chandon (Moet & Chandon subsidiary). The parents loved it, Needless to say we enjoyed some of the best wine of the holiday.