Markets

Q: What’s better than a cup of coffee to wake you up in the morning?

A: Opening the front door to find that there is a temperature difference of approximately 15 degrees between the inside and outside of your apartment. In a singlet.

This is Brisbane: June is supposed to be singlet-able! Anyway, I was up bright and early this morning to go to the markets at the Powerhouse. A brisk walk down Brunswick Street revealed that there are people in the world who still haven’t figured out that V8 engines aren’t very sensible in the current economic and ecological climate. I saw a Maserati Coupé, an Aston Martin V8 Vantage and what I am fairly sure was a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (which is a V12). This cold snap must be their fault entirely*.

The markets were wonderful. The assortment of fresh food is astounding. The fruit and veg were crisp and aromatic, the bakers were showcasing the most perfectly plaited loaves I have ever seen, and the cherry tomatoes were selling at 80 cents a punnet. Sadly, the German sausage queue was at least 10 people long, so that had to be missed. The markets are always good for the spirits, especially if you don’t go with a shopping list. Call it retail therapy without the retail bit.

I took my camera along for no other reason than for the fact that it was already in my pocket. And thus, I am able to provide evidence that the Baby Bonus scheme is working. Babies everywhere! I got “heeled” by prams twice. The attached photograph shows one small stretch of the markets, and where one would normally expect to see roller bags, one sees prams. And toy dogs, but that’s another story. End rant.

I am now going to warm up with a nice bowl of fresh pasta. Mmmm…

* Before you say anything, no I am not an alarmist greenie. Ice caps come and go, with or without our help. It’s just easier to hold nature responsible for our inability to live without fossil fuels.