Family Breakfasts, Flannel shirts and one rock show to warm the bones

Thursday 26th May

After a restful nights sleep we check out of our hotel and the day starts with a pit stop in Surrey Hills to grab breakfast at one of our favourite cafes, The Lemon. I credit The Lemon for introducing me to Haloumi cheese. That most wonderful curdy, salty delight that doesn't melt when grilled. If cheeses were gods, and to me they sometimes are due to the rapture they cause, then I reckon Haloumi would be one of the most worshipped. Teamed with sauteed mushrooms and toasted turkish bread, the Lemon delivers once again. Band breakfasts are something of a ritual on tour and bring a sense of "family time" to the band. I never get tired of watching Brett arrange his Big Breakfast into concise and equal portions and Kev always reads the newspaper, kind of like Dad would do. Ness sometimes licks a napkin and tries to clean our faces. Sometimes we let her.

Today we are driving to Canberra for a show at ANU. We pile back into the van and hit the road - Kevin "Brocky" Mitchell at the wheel. Ness rides shotgun and the kids (Brett & I) sit in the back. After yesterdays asian supermarket challenge we still have a bag full of assorted mystery snacks and these get offered around. They are not very popular though. Maybe it was something I said? anyway, Its a beautiful day and we're soon on the highway headed for the nations capital. 

It's mid afternoon as we enter Canberra Airport to pick up sound engineer JB. I was going to say "knob twiddler" but thought that might give the wrong impression. He would probably disagree. We then rendezvous with our tour manager, Bob, at the hotel and he informs us that we have an hour or so to kill before heading to the venue. Probably due to the very chilly temperature in Canberra, Ness is on a mission to find a flanny shirt. Brett and I accompany her to the nearest mall, where after much searching, she is successful!! She looks hot in it too so I assume it's doing the trick. I eat the best sausage roll I've had in years (thanks Canberra!) and it's time to get moving.

We load in to the ANU bar and although its been many a year since our last visit, the place feels welcoming and familiar. Over the years we've had some really great shows here I get the feeling that, even though the last gig was a few weeks ago, tonight will be no exception ( how's that for confidence! haha). As we start setting up the other two bands arrive and we meet our new friends - Violent Soho and Young Revelry. Everyone seems genuinely excited that it's a show night and the first few coldies are cracked. 

Fast forward a few hours and everyone is enjoying post-show drinkies in the green room. To sum it up (coz i'm running out of time!) the crowd rocked. Young Revelry rocked. Violent Soho rocked. And yep, I think we did to. Thanks Canberra. Stay cold haha :)