Why?

Probably the last thing you’d expect on a sunny Saturday morning in leafy Toowoomba…….

I was driving along by Lake Annand in the MX5, when suddenly – Bang!

Half a brick landed on the bonnet about 40cms ahead of the bottom of the windscreen. By the time I’d stopped and figured out what happened, the perpetrators had scarpered.

There were perpetrators -  the bloke sitting on his front veranda heard the bang, came out to discover its origin, and told me about the kids who lob things at cars and hide under a pedestrian bridge across the lake.

We (he and I) went looking, but they were long gone – probably just as well. The result of that same half brick being jammed somewhere obvious would not have been pretty.

I reported it to the police (this will help with the insurance claim). They didn’t seem to be at all surprised. Apparently it’s pretty common.

It could have been worse. I could have been driving with the top down – could have worn the brick in my face. It could have landed 50cms further back and gone through the windscreen, or 60cms further back and landed on the soft top. MX5 convertable tops are pretty sturdy, but I don’t think they’re brick proof.

As to why? Possibly someone’s been watching coverage of the British riots and was inspired. The cost of a new bonnet (aluminium on the MX5) is about the same as a one-way fare to Blighty. Aluminium is beyond most local panel-beaters.

I’d cheerfully deport them to the UK, reversing what happened two hundred years ago.

Boulders in Cunnamulla

Boulders

I don’t usually review restaurants, but here goes –

I was working in Cunnamulla this week and found myself and co-worker looking for somewhere to have breakfast.

We drove around the town centre (doesn’t take long) and saw a large building on a corner, with the sign “Boulders”.

The building has been carefully renovated, and looks as if it could have been a cinema – I may be wrong. It certainly has an imposing front leaving plenty of space for sign writing. The work is thoughtful and thorough, not your usual slapdash effort. It must have taken a lot of time and plenty of ladders.

Inside was a very large airy space, decorated with some interesting and historic photos of life in that part of the world. The décor was a little less in your face than the usual out this way, and obviously chosen by somebody with a talent for this kind of thing.

Good Tucker ("Big Breakfast")

A youngish couple run the show, and their friendly and cheerful demeanour adds to the experience. The coffee was great and there was a good range of eats, including cakes, for a different time of the day.

There is a sign at the counter advises you that you may have to wait a while (for food) but we didn’t. Even if there was a wait, it would have been enjoyable, as the large picture windows give a wide view of downtown Cunnamulla. There was plenty of activity to observe on this (Tuesday) morning – that of Cunnamulla waking up. It happens slowly

Cunnamulla waking up

There are a couple of restored church pews at the front, and that was were we sat, as the sun came in through the window and warmed us up nicely (5 degrees in Cunnamulla that morning). The food was well prepared and presented, and prices were very reasonable.

Apparently Chai is available - I didn't ask for it. My eldest daughter's measure of a good cafe is one that serves Chai, so she'd give it the seal of approval.

Hopefully there will be enough Grey Nomad traffic to help it prosper. It deserves to.