Oddly, per capita, the island is probably more 'cultured' than Melbourne or Sydney, even if it lacks the gracious finesse of Pretoria (South Africa's world renowned 'snor'* city - and what could be more cultured than that?) and the sheer Zing Za-Za Boom of the metropolis of Kwambonambi. I suppose the island lifestyle requirements make for a rather... shall we say 'eccentric' mix, with the literary hub of Bowman's store, and the little art gallery across the road, and a very lively Sing Australia group, and at least three pick-up bands. The festival in the vines and various functions at the Sports Club and the tavern at Lady Barron are great places for enthusiasm (except for the gothy-emo ones who have a wonderful mix of enthusiasm and carefully cultivated ennui) and wondrous Australian-American accents. You haven't lived until you've the Flinders Island verson of Credence Clearwater Revival, or Dire Straits. Last night we had piano duets and the Sing Australia crew doing a charity event for anti-cancer. I am now so cultured that I know that 'Bait hoven' isn't tossing rotten pilchards overboard. At this rate I shall soon be ready to wear a cummerbund and grace elegant soirées! They let the audience sing at one stage, but after hearing Greg and I they realised what an evil they had let loose, and went back to playing the piano. I liked the Mikado bit though (which I know rather well on account of Rats, Bats and Vats).
And today we went to Birthdays(of several friends) lunch at Vistas - a little restaurant above Trousers Point. They do try to do local food, and their vegetables
and salad come from the property. I had grilled lamb cutlets (exotic food for us) with a tomato relish. B had a scallop and prawn vol-au-vent with a wine and cream sauce. I'd have said some tarragon to the scallop sauce would have added a dimension, but it was still, for a little two person restaurant, in the middle of nowhere, a very credible effort. Producing 10 different meals, pretty fast, almost all together, is no mean feat. I know, and I had more staff! A lovely meal with entertaining company -- less intimidating than taking my publisher out to a restaurant in Melbourne was.*snor is a moustache, a requirement for the social elite of the Jacaranda city (without any sexual discrimination, I am sure), aka Tchwane - pronounced chew-on-'e, which therefore may possibly also mean 'moustache'.
