Off to Market.

I had to pull my sorry ass out of bed this morning at the outrageous time of 9am. Oh golly. The world sure does look a little rosier when you are greeted by the sun, instead of plunging headlong on a bike into the darkness of pre-dawn to warm up the coffee machine.

The guys at Market Lane give me a little bit of hope for an industry embroiled in politics. They just hum away on their own dedicated patch of turf in Prahran, making excellent coffee and just being excellent people. Trent took Jesse, Shannon, Emily and I though a lovely cupping of some interesting offerings. It had been such a long time since I felt the cool grip of a cupping spoon, I almost had forgotten how.

I sat down, musing over a lovely flat white and thought about where I want to fit into this big puzzle. Shifting house has made me hungry for change and challenge. I have to bake fifteen cakes for my markets tomorrow, I will try to come up with some ideas once I have sifted the flour.

Over and out.

A good decision.

The decision not to take on the arduous task of training for the 2010 Australian Barista Competitions was a good one. After all of this has been and gone… It would have been nice to have been there to witness Scottie once again take the crown and Simon finally get his just desserts for his years of hard work; though I did not enjoy so much relying on the internet and text messages from friends to tell me that Will snared top spot.

I do lament for Caleb and Jesse, who are two very extraordinary gentlemen that I would have been chuffed to see in the number one seat. The only thing I could wish for was for a few more ladies to challenge this testosterone fueled tradition that is the Australian coffee industry.

Before all the results were in I gaped open mouthed as Aarron experienced the horror of watching his one-of-a-kind signature drink teacups sail out of the open hatch of a fast moving car and be run over down King street in the wee hours before the flights to the Gold Coast. It was like something out of a movie.

Pre New Years the boys at Bottle of Milk in Lorne offered me the best room in the house and a week of Christmas punter punishment at their fine establishment down by the beach. It gave me the joy of eating burgers and pizza for almost every meal for seven days. It also gave me the wisdom of Richard Moon, the sweetness of Baiba brownies and a rare chance to get my hands on free Falls Festival tickets and enjoy a rather muddy and noisy New Years Eve.

Sadly on the day that I was departing the incredible family that is the Lorne crew, my real family and I grieved through the loss of my exceptional Grandmother Lola Lavis. That was the hardest, mountain terrain, solo drive I will ever have to overcome. What followed was the most beautiful and mischievous funerals that I have been privy to. My mother woke up with scotch fillet in her bed and I with cheese in my hair. The less questions about that, the better.

I’ve also had to shift abode for the sixth time in four years, regretting the loss of my mother suburb Northcote. All hail the wonders of my own bathroom with a bathtub!

Lets just say that January was a big month. From here I am embracing change and hoping to be energized by it. Looking closely at all of the open doors and trying to weigh up some heavy decisions.
I can feel it, 2010 is going to be a good one…

Sunday Best.

An unhealthy obsession.

Put on your thinking caps.

By tomorrow morning I hope to have some sort of epiphany. I ate so much chocolate cake at dinner tonight that I am sure it will happen. Either that or a coronary.

You see, there is this life changing decision I have to make. If I say yes, I will be sacrificing hundreds of hours of my time and energy. I will submit myself to stress, personal and monetary. I will be on stage and bare my soul to the world for fifteen minutes.
To tell you the truth to some it may not seem like that large a choice, but if I choose to compete in the nationals this year, I will give it every last bit of energy my body has to give.

The thing is, if I don’t do it there will be many things I could achieve in those hours I would be practicing my routine. Writing, taking photographs, drinking beer in the sunshine. They are all terribly wonderful things. There is also my vintage market occurring at the Order of Melbourne called Sunday Best. Who will tend to the scone makers, barbers, gypsy’s and musicians if I am not around?

But if I do. Oooooh if I do. I could make living in the coffee industry that little bit easier for the female variety of barista. I could bring back a little spark and a whole lot of fun to a rather dry and technical experience.

On a lighter note, Caleb and Michael just happened to come to work in matching outfits the other day. Not that Ritual don’t make nice t-shirts but seeing two grown men horse around in that way, it just ain’t sexy.

Competition time travel.

The most amazing thing about the Victorian Barista competitions held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds this year was the fact that we managed to skip to the year 2010. No time machine needed. All that aside, the weather was horrific. Way too windy for the epic beehive my mother had created in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

It is all a bit of a blur now, a big mess of tim tams slurping long blacks, polished grinders and folded napkins. I was pretty pleased with my performance, it has led me to be pretty skeptical of the “user friendly” nature of doserless grinders. Oh well, perhaps I can put my knowledge to work for me in January in the open heats. Its on the Gold Coast again. Its a frightening thought, all I can remember is the week pain and third degree burns. This time I might stay clear of the beaches.

In the end Caleb Podhaczky from Five Senses took out the prize (deserving every bit of it too, he is such a sweetheart) and Kris Wood from St. Ali got second. I took out third and got a swell little bronze tamper for my troubles.

Whats happening now? Working four days a week, sleeping more than I ever have and organising a vintage market called Sunday Best at the Order of Melbourne. I am also giving my friends Thom and James a hand with opening their studio in Sommerset Place called The Captains of Industry. Thom makes suits and James makes shoes. They want me to open a cafe and make some coffee too. But I am just not sure its what I want to do.

This evening is also my first ride with Sugar Spokes, an all ladies bike crew. Its going to be rad but hot. A little apprehensive because there is no way in hell my bike is as cool as those gals.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

The Greatest Show of All!

I went to the show today, got a Bertie Beetle showbag and third place at the barista competitions. Look out open heats.

I didn’t take any photos so have a squiz at the dudes flickr.

Will won the latte art yesterday with Kirby on his heels, close behind. Aaron got the cupping and Remy jumped in second. What a weekend. Wild weather. Wild lattes. Giant lollipops. Whoa.

I’ll need it for tomorrow.

Going into the shop for a last minute run through, just to make sure everything is honky dory.

Introduction to jet service.

A suprise in the mail.

Having a car doubles efficiency. Its a fact. These are the things I managed to tackle today:

Pack and organise my competition things in the loungeroom.
See the fellows at Outpost and sample some of Kris’ competition blend on the siphon .
Try the Dead Man Espresso at Dead Man Espresso.
See the folks at Seven Seeds and watch on wistfully as the dudes cupped the most expensive coffee in the world(I couldn’t join in, having a foul cold and all).
Pick up the tray that Dave left at the shop for me.
Go to the pharmacy to tackle said cold.
Organise Kiki’s going away present.
Bank.
Have juice with Kiki, Sam and Reg.
Get my tax organised.
Come home to the most incredible package in the universe from South Africa.

Now, I shall make quiche!