BOOKS AND BUSH TUCKER

Or

CAN YOU GET A DECENT COFFEE AT POSSUM PARK?

Caffeine and Chapters, it must be said, is not just about the books, although we read, love, and discuss a great range of writing genres from classics through historical fiction to fantasy, murder, Australian literature, movie adaptations and biography. We use libraries, bookshops both new and second-hand, and Kindle readers.

So, a suggestion for a ‘reading retreat’ soon developed into fabulous plans for a long weekend at a bush retreat some 450 kms from the Coast –Possum Park, nearest town Miles, where 'Red Robin' negotiated a deal for 10 of us to stay in a converted WWII military storage depot. The available ‘digs’ include camping, railway carriage cottages, and the one we chose, a self-contained barn, which resembled, or may have been an original, curved roofed wartime Saar hut. All facilities provided, byo food and drink.

The reading theme was quickly decided; Thomas Hardy’s ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’ to be read and discussed over the weekend. Then the emails started flying: Menus! Who’s bringing what, choose your dinner dish to cook and take with us, and DON’T bring too much! Transport – car pool of 3 cars, to travel in convoy, who’s going with whom, exchange mobile phone numbers. So it was all collated and planned and the menus sounded mouth-watering and comprehensive. Some decided to take some wine though it wasn’t mentioned as a requirement! Came the night before, having been up to my eyes in work, family house moves etc. I was up late making chicken pie and dessert, then managed to leave my dessert at home because I fretted about leaving it in the fridge till the last possible moment.

The convoy assembled punctually at 8am at Oxenford – I was only punctual because I had Bianca with me to navigate to the right spot – and away we went. First stop Dalby, where Robyyn S. had to deliver some goods to the Red Cross centre and we were happy to take a cuppa and cookies break. Fully revived and in the mood for fun, we went on a productive shopping spree around Dalby’s excellent antique shop and op shops, egging each other on to spend on treasures. Who knew I would add to my miniature shoe collection by finding a French Limoges shoe in Dalby? What a coup!

After Dalby we drove into the dry, flat country, and had to stop suddenly when Jen lost the cover off her spare wheel – it apparently lost a clip, bounced onto the road and thankfully bounced and rolled across the road without hitting another vehicle. Sadly it was badly scraped and she was unable to refix it, but it could have been a lot worse. Then we were slowed down by post-flood roadworks and crawled for ages behind some huge trucks loaded with heavy machinery.

So everyone was relieved to arrive at Possum Park, where our hosts were friendly and had us installed in our ‘igloo’ in quick time. Having experienced some fairly low –standard camping parks in the inland, I think we were all delighted by the space, interior finish of timber panelling and spotlessly clean presentation of our retreat; there was an ensuite double bedroom and a huge 5-bed dormitory as well as 3 beds in the living area, and a modern, well-stocked kitchen. No roughing it for the Caff’n’Chaps on this trip.

Claiming beds and bringing in the baggage, it soon became obvious that we had all packed lightly with clothing – and quite excessively with food and beverages! The fridge was groaning after 10 minutes, and the first night’s menu was decided very simply by the necessity of eating what we couldn’t fit in the fridge. Meanwhile we got giggly over bubbles and endless snacks, some of us parading in the clothing bargains found in Dalby.

We went walking to explore the park, finding concrete bunkers dug into hills – they were used for ammunition storage originally, and currently some are used to store straw, while some are being converted into cave style accommodation – which will be great in the hot summer, I imagine. The gardens are beautifully maintained with colourful native and exotic plants, and imaginative plantings in tubs and an old wheelie bin. There are delightful little courtyards with rustic seats made of local timber, and even a small bush chapel.

Back to the igloo and all in high spirits, time to get dinner organised: it is important to take constant precautions against anorexia. Dinner was heated in the oven – eventually; yours truly turned the oven on but didn’t notice that there was also a master switch to adjust! We dined royally, a 3-course feast with beverages of choice, and agreed we must compose a Possum Park cookbook to share our recipes. One helpful soul offered to detail where she’d purchased her vegetable crisps.

Eventually we came to discussing our chosen book du jour, and out came the e-books and tree-books – at which time I suffered a severe attack of Kindle envy when I discovered that Jen has the LATEST kindle, a truly beautiful and even lighter-weight gem in a purple case; it is great. Grrr.  Discussion of ‘The Mayor’ was foreshortened when we found that someone had brought the DVD along, so we promptly settled in to watch it instead. However, most of us yielded to the weariness of the long drive, the big meal, and the wine, heading for showers and bed. Great beds, another big plus for the venue.

The early risers in the morning, despite being as quiet as possible, no doubt annoyed the sleep-in members, but we all sorted ourselves out for breakfast, walking, reading, while some drove back to Miles to see the Art Gallery and explore the shops. Most of us settled for lazing in the sun with books and crochet lessons and just hanging out feeling relaxed. Another group walk took us exploring the area, and we found the disused Kowguran railway siding: no doubt in years past it was a train stop where the locals would have received their supplies and farm equipment and despatched their produce. Disused railways always invoke nostalgia in me, as I remember a childhood in the bush where the railway brought our mail, school lessons, and groceries, and we watched wool bales loaded for distant markets.

Saturday night’s dinner was just as huge, voted even tastier than the previous night’s efforts, and devoured enthusiastically as Red Robin worried about excessive leftovers and urged us to eat more! Yep, we definitely over-catered, but who cares?

Robyn S. had brought along some of her beloved collection of old movies, so we had a great evening drooling over handsome young Troy Donoghue, exclaiming over Sandra Dee’s impossible cuteness (even with orange lipstick) and poking fun at some of the corny dialogue – and reired for another sound sleep.

Packing up and leaving on Sunday, everyone was still in good spirits and unanimously voted it a fantastic weekend retreat; we were already planning another, and delegated Jen to explore the possibilities of her suggested venue at the Sunshine Coast.

This is a terrific book club, and it was great to be with a group of women of all ages, all having a marvellous time and not a complaint or a sour note in the whole occasion. What’s more, I totally recommend Possum Park to anyone who is ready to leave the coastal resorts and get a taste of the inland. Just choose the right company.

Helen