Some Reflection
20th May 2014
The Murray in her northerly curves
- motionless twilights and able and early galahs are memories of child
hood and teenage years. The stillness of the Riverland and raging red rays of
sun, the backdrop to silhouetted gums and fence line. Such impressions remained
in memory and photograph for the next several years, where
concrete, traffic light and too much sound prevailed. As the huge appeal
of such memorable city things did lose its appeal, I found
myself in the quaint and quiet seaside town of Robe - roasting coffee and
working on my South Australian accent.
Robe ticked every box for four
years, where my 22 years of age saw the turn of 26. I found some amateur
writing and surfing feet and the owners of feet whom I have made life long ties
with in the particularly small community of young people by the sea. I
found a companion with pawed feet who appreciates the ocean, beaches and
harmonic sound as I.
One more human male kind of companion became an
intimate part of my existence somewhere there too. He has cemented some of my
suspicions of living ingredients. I think we are doing a fine job at the recipe
of just that together now.
Curiosity killed that of the contentment I had with my night shift
working with the beans by the sea in Robe. Particularly at the time of
departure from my work at Mahalia Coffee, I was in search of neighbouring
coffee roasting techniques and new inspiration in philosophy and routine with
the crafting the bean. That which I could not find for quite some time.
The work and leisure in between, in a
turn of times was one of such memory and experience, I often wish to rewind the
tape to perform the six months perhaps once more. Working behind the coffee
machine at the Robe Providore with Anthony and Evelyn proved to be reminiscent
of my commencing working days in Robe. Pumping out pounds of ‘Willy’ lattes and
devouring Anthonys Cinnamon Scrolls helped the jean girth in never feeling
flaccid.
Evenings in the musty, creaky floored booths
of the Caledonian Inn – Robe, kept the night owl in me happy – bringing to the
mouths of many the plethora of Limestone Coast, Coonawarra and Mt Benson,
working alongside Simon Burr as the wonderful Chef he is, as his ‘floor’
partner in far from crime. Making cheese there, to cellar in the furry feeling,
damp cellar beneath the hotel. Precision and patience
that would be tasted months later.
The call I had anticipated but could never have predicted found its way. The voice of a curly brunette, Bernadette
Stack greeted me with a request to meet! Delighted, excited and relieved at once. The
pleasure of meeting the De Groot Coffee Co team on Magill Rd Adelaide upon return was the
start of what I had imagined would come my way. I started the following week
in a small and ethically considerate Coffee Roastery and haven’t glanced back.
For a
number of months Simon and I made the drive along the addictively pungent
Coorong from Robe to Stepney, weekly. I continued tamping out the ‘Willy’s’ at
the Robe Providore each weekend as Simon managed the Calledonian Inn over the road.
Sundays, the leisurely drive back to the land of city noise was
an enjoyable one, as we both eased into our city work week of pleasant
difference. So different our lifestyles became as we gravitated to that, where
I happily roasted the coffee bean once again and Simon worked for ‘South
Australian Research & Development Institute’ from 9 til 5. (“Fantastic chef
hours” he says). I felt closer to the café and restaurant culture I adore,
markets and galleries and music I appreciated greatly for the time we were so
near to such things. To sip a latte in a buzzing corner café and sketch or write
and be anonymous was freedom from being known by most in a small town like
Robe. As much as I miss the proximity and care I felt in Robe, the space of
being anonymous for an independent sort like I has been a wonderful thing.
‘De Groot
Coffee Co’, Magill road days were over as the De Groot family desired the lifestlye of
the coast. Port Elliot became the new residence for the Roastery in a
factory space on Hill st.
With the change of location for work and the approaching need
to move from Simons fathers house in Stepney, the maps were out and rentals the
agenda. Simon had always desired to live in the Fleurieu Peninsula with her
rolling hills, green growth, vines of wines and produce. The proximity to town
and the coast to roast gave the area bright green lights of approval for both
of us. East terrace, Strathalbyn we found.
That is where I am and how I come to
be in a fortunate time and place, such as now.
