In the previous post;
http://www.ploughcreek.com.au/pch-blog/fine-food-and-remembering-adventures

I shared with you how much we enjoyed visiting a restaurant in Cartmel UK, during our O/S trip last Christmas.  In planning our itinerary we had discussed a couple of places we planned to visit in France also and I will tell you more about  them another time.

After a day of shopping (of course we were in Paris ….. and I was looking for shoes – as you would expect!) Tezza asked “what about dinner tonight”.  “Anywhere will be fine with me” I responded. We had some exquisite plans for the next few evenings, I had purchased 2 stunning pairs of footwear that day,  so a local ‘cheap and cheery’ was fine by me.  A while later I was advised to get my coat and scarf, we were off to dinner.

A few blocks from our hotel we arrived at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon.  Oh La La.  What to say?​

I had very few preconceived ideas of this restaurant and as we were a late, on-line booking the only seat was ‘at the bar’.  Now, ‘at the bar’ is not quite the same as ‘at the bar’ in most other places.  This was like …. Well,  let’s just say you are immersed in the dining experience. One of the reviews I have read somewhere commented “it is like being at a kitchen bench amongst the food being cooked” .. and yes it is,  but not your average kitchen bench (unless you are at the bench at PCH … *wink wink*). It does not take away from a very luxurious sense of dining. 

We opted for a tasting menu and it was SOOO delicious.  When food is spectacular in presentation (I remember someone once telling me that so much of eating is the visual & cerebral impact), the theater of the food is not over the top crazy, the food is explained and spoken about with respect and then tastes just bloody good …. Well, that makes for satisfied fine dining.

A spontaneous dinner date, in Paris, at an unplanned destination, with a last minute booking = one of our finest food/travel memories.

#lovefood #allyouneedislove

Nearly 20 years ago, I had “work done”.  Not the usual type of work that this statement conjures up, (plastic surgery !!) but work on my feet.  It involved several surgical procedures and had me in a wheel chair for 6 weeks, on crutches for 6 weeks and a walking stick for another 3 months.

There were extraordinary lessons learned from that experience.  Not least of all is how “unfriendly” our society is to people who have disability or mobility aids.  For example, people allow doors close on a wheel chair or lift doors not being held open or taxis zooming off when they see a wheel chair will be put into their boot.

Fast forward 20 or so years and I still have an obsession observing how we, as a society, still do not consider how to make sure environments are disabled or mobility aid friendly.  Have you ever got into a hospital lift and observed the height of the buttons?  Have you ever thought about what happens when a person in a wheel chair goes into the lift, they are on their own and they cannot reach the buttons? …. Worth pondering, let me assure you.

Nevertheless, this has all been bought back to me, acutely and super sensitively recently.  2 weeks ago I had surgery on my cranky ankle again. I will be 6 weeks non weight bearing (in a plaster) and then 6 weeks on a moon boot and crutches.  Yes, I know my immobility is short lived and I will be fully able again, so I have no right to complain ... I do know that. However, it does raise awareness and I just want to push a thought or two for others, as this experience does make one stop and reflect. 

I work in the health sector and my entire professional career has been connected to healthcare, so I understand the system.  It must be a tough navigation for those who don’t have that sort of intel or benefits a I do. I have been able to access a scooter and all other mod cons to make recovery as straight forward as possible.  BUT, no mod con has been invented to influence the mindset of a nurse to allow others to nurse them and to be OK with being dependent on others.  That is possibly my biggest recovery challenge!

Telling a DC to relax, take a deep breath and be patient is a BIG ASK !!​

On a brighter note though, I have lit up my scooter basket with some bright lights.

Take time and think about others around you ….  Maybe a small gesture will  be a great kindness to another??

DC 

It certainly has been a while since I updated the blog. If you saw the last post, you will know that I was having a busy "brain time" and it is fair to say, that has continued for quite a while. Not that I think it is the time or place to go into the details, however, suffice to say the last 2 years have been very interesting times.  There are days when I seriously wish I could rewind those couple of years and other days I just accept with grace,  that it is what it is.

Some things are for sure, Mother Nature continues season after season to bless our patch of dirt at PCH with magnificent garden cycles. This spring is sensational.  The roses have never been this amazing before. We also have a new garden bed of roses that will be back dropped by a wall of new rose creepers. Over the next few years we expect it to excel.

The cooking school has been on hold for a while since I have been working in Apollo Bay, but we are beginning to think about 2017. Who knows what is ahead for the schedule?

We have had some wonderful functions over the last 12 months and as always, PCH loves doing 'the art of conviviality".

Anyway,  I just wanted to call in and say a quick hello, reconnect and just let you know that even though I have been quiet on the blog, I have not been still or idle. 

#allyouneedislove

​DC