June 17, 2016. Learmonth 321 Cafe

LOCATION: House-sitting near Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

WEATHER:  Another rainy day. High around 50

It rained most of the day.  We won't complain, as Australia badly needs water.  There is/was a huge lake here in our town that has dried up.  

So, we did indoor activities.  We made more of our England travel arrangements.  We leave here on a Thursday morning.....5 minutes after midnight.  Our flight, with two layovers, is 29 hours.  With the time zone differences, we land in London, still on Thursday, at 8:00 PM.  (Retrieving some of that day we lost on our flight here, from California 4 months ago).  We made hotel reservations in London, and a train reservation for the next morning to Sheffield, where we will do another housesitting assignment.  We will be sleepy zombies, I'm sure.

Our big event today is dinner tonight at the restaurant (only one) here in our cute town.  Our homeowners told us that the locals gather there on Friday nights for pizza.  So, we were quite excited. The cafe also makes cider, and is located in one of the town's historic buildings.  We walked there in the afternoon (half a block) to say hello and to confirm that it is open tonight.  It is very cozy.  In the afternoon, a few customers were drinking coffee next to the fireplace.  The manager said reservations would be necessary....they could seat us at 7:30.  

So, after a relaxing afternoon, and an early evening of MASH re-runs, we strolled  back at 7:30.  

We tasted their 2 kinds of hard cider, one with strong apple notes, and one made in the  champagne style.  

There were two other tables of customers.  We were the last to order for the evening.  After we finished our delicious pizza, the owner/chef joined us at our table.  We had a nice long  chat and promised we would return, probably for both a lunch meal as well as next Friday's pizza night.  She said she would seat us at the "locals' table" next Friday.  She said she opens the restaurant on Friday nights so the locals have a place to get together.  

I left as George launched into his lecture about the USA's electoral college.  I will go mad if I hear it one more time......

The cafe is tiny, but has extra seating on the back patio for warm days.  It was quite lovely. The chef's children were playing quietly in the back room.  There is something special about little towns like this.