Call of the night

I keep seeing kookaburras on my late evening walks with the dogs. And sometimes their laughter fills the night air.

Artificial intelligence is very funny – I asked it why kookaburras were out at night and it said: “Hearing a kookaburra at night, while unusual as they’re diurnal, often signifies a spiritual message: healing, overcoming fear, connecting with family, or announcing new beginnings, especially in Indigenous Australian lore where they’re messengers of good luck, divine connection, and even rain.

“Spiritually, it’s a powerful sign to find joy, reconnect, heal past hurts, and embrace change.”

Deep.

Then it concluded with: “But practically it could just mean they’re disturbed by light or owls, calling to warn others.”

Who knows what to believe anymore?

But that’s not what this blog post is about.

I had the best steak in forever last night.

It was very unexpected as I thought I was having dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant.

I made the assumption because the restaurant was called Toki.

It’s in North Sydney and it’s fabulous. According to its website, it weaves together the culinary traditions of France and Asia with the freshest Australian ingredients.

Aside from the mind-blowing steak, I also loved the Abrolohos Scallop with Tapioca Salsa, Green Apple and Celery Pickle; the Octopus with Njuda Vinagrette, Pomme Puree, Marinated Paprika and Olives was divine; and I am not a dessert person but I’m still dreaming about the Chocolate Lava Cake with Creme Anglaise.

I was invited to Toki for a Saint Juniper event. Saint Juniper is a new craft gin that has already scored 98 points at the London Spirits Competition for its Mediterranean Gin.

Its Mediterranean Gin was excellent in the gin and tonic I was served on arrival.

The bartender knew his stuff – I also really enjoyed my Saint Juniper Mediterranean Gin Martini and another concoction featuring Saint Juniper Raspberry Pink Gin.

I made lots of new friends at the event – we bonded over our outrage at Sydney property prices and I regaled them with tales of body corporate secretary woe.

As I wandered home afterwards, I got a little navel gazy about what really matters in life.

I thought about those memes that ask what food you would choose if you could only eat one while marooned on a desert island. Tim Tams or tacos? Burgers or banh mi?

If I could choose just one thing as a source of happiness in life, what would it be?

I would choose love, in some form or other. Love – for me – is so much more uplifting than being rich or eating the perfect steak or drinking a gin and tonic.

Although Trevor the Iggy is a close second, he makes me smile every day …

I wish people would see that love will bring them far more happiness than being a billionaire or marching against immigration or making their ex’s life as difficult as possible.

Choose love.

And have a great weekend.

Song of the day: The Beatles “All you need is love”