Well I’ve been back in Brisbane for more than 6 weeks and I promised to show you around, so here we go. Saturday morning’s in Brisbane, down by the river, crowded around a rugby field, under the old fig trees and umbrellas gathers a little utopia – West End Market. For the last couple of weeks the Jacarandas have added a uniquely Brisbane purple hue to the multicultural, sensory riot.
Soundtrack: West End Girls, The Pet Shop Boys
Sorry can’t help it, whenever I think of West End that pops into my head
We all know I love a market with plenty of berries and food, and coffee! And loads of live music to drown out thoughts of those New Romantics. Although if you want Romantic, Gypsy Vardo’s Love Potion coffee’s can’t be beaten.
It’s all good and organic, fresh from farmer to you, and plenty of pharts in those lentils if you get the wrong end of the pineapple.
Yeah mate, we eat Roo. Well mostly we sell it to tourists to be honest with ya mate. Loving the bromeliads on the stand to Skippy’s right. Oh God despite my best efforts I’m speaking ‘strayan, Skippy is slang for kangaroo so the bromeliads are the spikey red flowers right of picture.
We’re all here looking to scrub up and frock up so we look and smell like princesses, but you wouldn’t want to lash out on the full priced soap.
Maybe light a few candles if we’re looking to get lucky, well luckier than the poor bees who are doing it tough in a chemical filled world
And when a friend showers you with rose petals while you’re singing a working woman’s protest on your sacred land – well who wouldn’t feel like a queen?
Back down by the river the Bluegrass is in full swing and the tucker’s goin’ down a treat
Oh, looks like Ned Kelly’s dropped in
Just along the way is this wonderful tower, yes once again I’m posting photos of old structures and engineering. Can’t help m’self. Not that you’d know it from the totally absent signage, but apparently it was a gas stripping tower, part of the West End Gasworks. It removed ammonia and tar from coal gas. Well, there you go, heritage listed engineering excellence
Now these two musos were amazingly good – brilliant local talent, original material, great harmonies AND they were in tune! Chesterfield Music, in the words of the man in the hat (Molly Meldrum not Dr Seuss you drongos), do yourself a favour, look them up.
What else can I tell you? West End Market, all the alternative, organic hippie, yuppie excitement out in the humidity saving the world – you can’t miss it. Too much fun. Too much to eat.
Oh I nearly forgot the Paella lady – amazing huge pans of brilliant paella. The vegetarian is to die for. And you get enough for a doggy bag. What with all that food, coffee, music, sunshine and veg off the back of the ute, mate you’ve gotta be happy with that.
Wendy's Out of Station 