Cafe

Cronuts, cycling and friendship 

Posted on by fantomwriter

After not having been on a bike for over 9 months,it was time to test the waters and hit a track to see how my mind and body would cope.

So when it came to going off road and getting down and dirty on the Warby trail, there was only one person who I wanted to be by my side as I took the first few turns of the pedals of my trusty Giant mountain bike.



On the day of the ride and waking up much earlier than really required, I checked and then rechecked my gear and then my bike. A few butterflies fluttered in my stomach, but not as bad as I expected.

So once at the start of the track, I slipped on my gloves and put on my helmet and took off with my bro right by my side.


I guess it’s true what they say that you never forget how to ride a bike. It was easy as I  turned the pedals over and the track quickly became a familiar friend.

We chatted and laughed and whatever nerves I had were left at the start of the track. Still some apprehension, but nothing that was going to stop me from enjoying my return to the bike and the scenery it revealed.



With the sun on our backs and a light breeze cutting across us, the distance wasn’t an issue, and neither was my fitness, at least for the first part of the ride.

The return trip was a little tougher on the body, but as we decided to stop off for a coffee and cronut with 10kms from the starting point, I had enough sugar in my body to get me over the line.



Could have I completed the my return ride without my bro by my side? I honestly don’t know. But what I do know is that he would have been by my side whenever I decided to take the plunge back onto the world of cycling.



As miserable as 2017 has been, there were a few happy moments. This was one moment that will stay with me for my remaining days. Not because I got back on the bike, or that i managed to clock up 30 plus kms, but the friendship that helped me get through a dark time for me.


The ride cost nothing, just time spent together. Money can’t buy happiness, but a friendship is worth millions.



Eat, drink and be merry 

Posted on by fantomwriter


After watching a program on the BBC about the benefits of eating less meat to stay healthier and extend our lives, it got me thinking about how we live and what we really want from life. 

The results from the various studies showed that eating less processed meats and eating a diet of fresh fruit and veggies with lean meat is good for us. Something all of us already know, but don’t always live by.


But in no way does that mean we need to cut out all those so called ‘bad foods’ from our daily lives. We only live once, and food is not only something we need to keep us going, it’s also a huge part of our social lives.

The joys of preparing a home cooked meal to share with the family brings happiness to those enjoying the meal, and the people who have prepared the dishes.


The same applies when heading out and dining in a classy restaurant or a top notch cafe. It’s the food, the ambiance, the experience and the company that make the mouth watering food even more appealing.


In the long run, we can eat as healthy as we like and hoping to live longer. But what happens if you are hit by a bus or a car and your life ends there and then? All that healthy eating didn’t extend your life at all.


So we should eat, drink and be merry. As none of us know if there is a car or bus around the corner that will put an end to our already short time on earth.

On the road again

Posted on by fantomwriter


After more than five months of having to rely on family, friends and taxi drivers, I’m finally able to get behind the wheel of a car and take myself wherever I want or need. 

The first place I drove was to Maccas and grabbed myself a latte. The trip was easy enough, and it’s like riding a bike. Something you don’t forget easily. 


My visits to physio and the pool will be much easier from now on. And I also feel it’s one more step in the right direction for my rehabilitation. 

As for getting back on my bike, that’s still a few months away. Slowly but surely. 

Coffee break. Time to think 

Posted on by fantomwriter

Sitting in a local coffee shop sipping on a hot vanilla latte and watching the cold winter wind push a few stray leaves along the footpath.  

Not a bad way to spend a some time. Drinking coffee and contemplating life and what it has left to offer. 

With everything that has happened over the past few months, time is the one thing I’ve had plenty of. Time and not much to do except think and assess the situation. 

It could have been worse, much worse. But it seems that time is healing most of the hurt I’ve been feeling. And only more time will heal all wounds. So I’m hoping. 

Coffee, muffin and more hills 

Posted on by fantomwriter

Cycling through the Dandenongs is tough at the best of times, and heading up The  Devils Elbow with a stiff headwind makes the ride harder than it really should be. But it was on my radar for the day and  I wasn’t going to let the winds make me change my route. 

The warm morning sun was a blessing as the temperature up in the hills make the ride feel much longer as I can’t produce enough speed to keep all my body parts warm. 

But as I ground my way up the hill, and kept telling my legs to shut up, I realized I hadn’t ridden this track all that often this year. Not because of the climb itself, but because it’s a bit out of the way to ride to and the round trip can take over three hours. That normally includes a coffee stop of course. 

And after two hours of climbing hills and various slopes, I pulled up to a The Fat Badger cafe and ordered a coffee and a very sweet muffin. My treat after a bit of suffering. 

So as I sipped in my coffee and happily munched on my warm muffin, it dawned on me that every now and again in our lives, we should take the road less traveled. 

 Who know where it will lead, and what new adventures await.

This track sums it up nicely. Well worth a listen. 

Donuts beat Depression 

Posted on by fantomwriter

There are times that just the steady rotation of a set of bike pedals is enough to soothe the soul and make the heart beat a little quicker, from exertion and excitement. This feeling is doubled when a ride is shared with a friend who manages to chat through the entire 3.5 hour ride. Not that I minded one iota.

The destination is not important when out on the bike, it’s all about the journey, as is life in general. We all know where we will end up, but it’s what we do up to the point that makes the difference.

So during the journey on a ride, it’s who you meet along the way that makes a difference. As was the case today. As Kevin and I stopped off for a break at the end of the eastlink trail, we started chatting with an older chap who was out exercising that morning. 

He told us he exercises up to 2 hours every day, and at the ripe young age of 70, he was going great. The top tip he gave up both, eat less to lose weight. And then went on to apologise if he had offended either one of us.

With no offence taken, we headed home to find a coffee shop which served good coffee and sugary delights to help get us all the way home.

Cycling is more than just exercise, it is a form of stress management for many people. So when you see a group of cyclists on the road, they are saving a few bucks by riding, and not visiting a shrink.

Depression (or known as the Black Dog) is something that is well hidden by the person who has it. They will swear black and blue they are fine and nothing is wrong. But deep down they are hurting and either can’t or don’t want to adit they have a problem.

Ask them if they are really OK, as sometimes a friend’s shoulder is just as good, and if not better than a paid professional. 

Happiness is a coffee and a jam donut

Posted on by fantomwriter

With darkness surrounding me, the air is chilly as the few rays of sunshine are well and truly gone. Not a star in the sky as clouds cover every inch of the sky. 

There is a lot to be said about darkness and solitude. It can bring out the best in some, and in others a feeling of gloom. It all depends on the way one looks at it. 

Tonight is one of those nights with mixed emotions, not sadness, but not a feeling of being over the moon. Kinda average. But that’s better than scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for something to smile about. 

We just need to look at what we have in our lives, and make the most of it. Even if that one thing that makes you smile is coffee and a nice jam donut. 

So, I’m smiling as I was lucky enough to have a great coffee and fantastic jam donut.   And as a bonus, my son was at the cafe and made me a mushroom and fig jam sandwich with goats cheese. Something he wants to add to the menu. Am looking forward to the he final product. 

All in all, lots of reasons to keep smiling. 

Keep looking around, and you will find something to make you smile.