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.

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.

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.

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

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!

You heard it here, someone thought it necessary to jemmy the soap and moisturisor out of their holders and take off with them. Students, huh.

Anyway, the team are now recovering after what was a rather epic weekend. Second birthday in the city, fare welling Kiki and attempting to do some karaoke.

The best bit was walking into Seven Seeds on Sunday morning and seeing a grim faced Gavin, pouring flat whites, covered from head to toe in glitter.

I got to see Luke and Kylies new diggs for the first time today and have a little pourover session with Jason and Fleur from Melbourne Coffee Merchants. Its such a wonderful space, can’t wait for Monday. It’s nice to see friends dreams turn into a reality, makes your own far fetched plans seem a little more attainable.

I got the last miscellaneous shopping done around the old South Melbourne stomping ground and am now spending the evening with steak and mushroom sauce. Also folding a whole truckload of origami napkin cranes. All the skills of primary school Japanese class are coming back into play.