One for the country

I had the most lovely weekend and I hope you did too.

Among the highlights were two fabulous lunches with friends.

On Saturday we swung by The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre for a Chinese feed with Newie friends before they went to the Wallabies vs the All Blacks rugby game.

What an awesome venue! I’ve been there a couple of times and I always love it.

Hawke’s Brewing, the beer company co-founded by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke opened the doors to the venue in 2022 in Sydney’s Marrickville.

We drove to the brewery, but it’s just a few minutes’ walk from the new Sydenham Metro, which is such a fast and convenient route if you fancy having a couple of drinks.

The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is as much a tribute to Bob Hawke as it is a love letter to Australiana and the cosiness of familiarity. It immediately delighted me on entry.

It aims to time warp customers to a quintessential 1980s-pub and community club experience and is filled with Bob memorabilia, alongside an Australian-Chinese bistro called The Lucky Prawn.

The vibe resonates particularly strongly with Gen X.

As co-founder Nathan Lennon told Bars & Clubs: “There’s a difference in the look on a guest’s face when they walk through the front doors of the Leisure Centre if they’re over 45 years old, than maybe someone who’s 25. It hits them in the heart. It snaps them back, that’s probably the most powerful part of what the experience is doing.”

Presiding over the kitchen of the Lucky Prawn is the biggest golden prawn in the Southern Hemisphere.

I was invited to the unveiling of the prawn in late 2022, which was bestowed with the name ‘Shane Prawn’. The 120kg crustacean-model towers over the bistro, with both its mechanical arms waving to the patrons below, as a blessing of luck and good fortune to both the business and its guests.

The menu at the Golden Prawn showcases nostalgic 1980s Chinese-Australian food experience, with dishes such as prawn toast and sweet and sour pork.

We ordered a serve of the delicious prawn toast, alongside prawn dumplings, special fried rice and whole snapper with ginger and shallots on our visit, followed by mango pudding for dessert.

I am such a Bob fan girl, I was delighted by all the old photos of him on the walls.

I also got a bit emotional – as I always do – while telling my friend Kim about his Tiananmen Square speech.

In 1989, Hawke broke down in tears on national television as he described the massacre of pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square a few days before.

During his speech, he did something unprecedented — he offered asylum to some 42,000 Chinese nationals in Australia to protect them.

This even surprised his cabinet, who weren’t consulted on the decision prior to his announcement on live television.

I find myself crying again as I write the words.

But onto happier things.

Our friends’ vegetarian daughter, who just turned 18, ordered the kids meal of noodles and springs rolls with a scoop of ice cream for dessert, then made me laugh by requesting a Crocodile Mile cocktail to accompany it!

It was a take on the classic Japanese Slipper with Midori, Cointreau and lemon. I stuck to a glass of cider as I had a busy day ahead.

The venue also pumps out classic ’80s songs on the turntable and even a visit to the bathroom is a trip down memory lane, with a soundtrack of Tony Greig commentating ’80s cricket playing.

I was obsessed with cricket in those days, when legends including Greg Chappell, Denis Lillee, Kim Hughes and Rod Marsh were striding the crease.

And I loved the Hawke quote (above) on the back of the loo door.

After lunch we headed to The Pool Room for a game and some selfies before hitting the road.

We had a bulk fun time, I am very keen to return soon. While the Wallabies lost – sad face – the pre-game gathering was a winner.

On Sunday I met my friend Kellie for lunch at the most divine restaurant called Burnt Orange in Sydney Harbour National Park.

It’s in a historic sandstone mansion in the most stunning location overlooking Sydney Harbour …

We had a great time chitter chattering while sharing a burger and a salad.

Among the topics of conversation were how much I loved Kellie’s green polka dot linen Frockk skirt and Donna Donna drawstring white linen top. She looked awesome.

I am obsessed with linen at the moment. If I win the lottery I will buy absolute piles of linen clothes … to add to the piles I have already bought … and linen bed sheets.

Apparently Mia Freedman recorded a podcast recently where she suggested women who wear linen have given up.

I disagree. Women who wear linen haven’t given up, they’ve traded up.

They have chosen classics over faddish, disposable fashion. They look cool and stylish and fabulous.

Mia is welcome to her one-season whims, Kellie’s outfit rocked and I am deeply disappointed I can’t find her Donna Donna top online anywhere. Dammit.

After lunch we went for a wander in the national park to enjoy the glorious views of the harbour.

It was the perfect spring day and such a nice way to spend it.

Then I headed home to cook up a Southern feast for the eldest – pork barbecue with corn on the cob, coleslaw, macaroni cheese and sweet potato fries.

The diet is going SO well.

Song of the day: Beach Boys “Good Vibrations”