We enjoyed a lovely lunch today at the Kawana Waters Hotel which is about 5 minutes away — if you walk. The bistro is at the end of the canal system, just off the Mooloolah River where the river pours into the Pacific Ocean.
John’s sister, his niece and great nephew are visiting to celebrate his mother’s 91st birthday. The cake will be served tomorrow.
It’s been a very long month. I didn’t know how to write about the unspeakable pain at losing my 23-year old granddaughter in a horrific motorcycle accident in Houston.
She was a computer techo and was in her second year of transitioning from male to female. Our entire family supported her in what she was doing.
She was born as Jeremy and he lived with me until he was 5 years old. He was beautiful inside and out and later as Nicole, was really cute. Our family will grieve for a lifetime.
I did see the neurosurgeon and my back IS a mess and it’s been a mess for years and went undetected by several doctors. Please, if like me you KNOW there is something wrong, don’t do as I did and assume the doctors know it all. They don’t.
If you’re over 50 and not thin, it’s just assumed you need to exercise and/or lose weight and that will fix the problem. It won’t.
I’m scheduled for medial branch blocks of some of the nerves on April 6th which could relieve some of the pain and if that doesn’t work, then back surgery is the only choice. My fingers are crossed.
Now to lunch. The Kawana Waters Hotel is right on the water at the end of the canal and there are tables all along the water overlooking a large holiday apartment complex and the marina. It’s all very nautical and it’s a good place to take someone like Joan who has a habit of wandering off and for little Sam who is as curious as any 2-year old.
It was a bit cloudy and a bit windy due to ex-cyclone Winston but we didn’t get wet. There was a new menu at the pub which added to the beer on tap using Co2 Gas with the American favourites and one of them is a pulled beef brisket with caramelised onions and it was called a Po Boy. Now every American I know would have called this a BBQ beef sandwich. Amirite??
It did bring me back home — to one of those places that uses way too much bbq sauce and the meat only comes through by texture. I still liked it.
John had a rump steak and he said that it was good but a bit more medium than rare. He ate it all telling us it was full of flavour.
Rob wanted a steak. He has trouble swallowing and the nursing home has him on a soft diet so steak is out. Every time one of us looked up we said, “Make sure you chew it good.” I think he got tired of us treating him like a child but nothing got stuck and he was happy.
The top photo is of a caesar salad with chicken. It had enough anchovies for it to be called an anchovy salad but it was fresh and the chicken was well cooked and tasty.
Kawana Waters Hotel
Nicklin Way
Kawana Waters, QLD 4575
Oh Maureen, I am so sorry for your loss and grief that you and your family are going through. How sad and painful it must be. I hope that your medical procedure is successful and you don’t have to do the surgery.
A big virtual hug and my sympathy
Gerlinde
Thank you so much. I’m prepared for whatever happens and I’ll have a smile on my face.
Keep that smile going
Dear Maureen, once again, please accept sincerest sympathies from Peter and me on the tragic death of your beloved Nicole. May she live long in your memories.
Take care of you all… it’s been a rough time… sending gentle hugs and love. Let me know if we can do anything, from afar, I know xxx
Thanks, Liz. I’m on the road to recovery. At least I have a plan healthwise which is something I didn’t have before. I lived for years believing that if I just did what the doctor said I’d be fine. No matter how much I tried, I felt like a failure. No more!
I am so sorry about Nicole, Maureen. Your family has been going through a lot lately . You are in my prayers. Hope your procedure goes on well. Hugs. And lots of love.
Thank you. Nicole’s death hit me really hard. xxoo
Dear, dear Maureen, I was so very sorry to read of your devastating loss on FB and again here. Your granddaughter looks like a beautiful person and you have some wonderful memories to cherish.
I’m so glad that you’re having some resolution regarding your back, I cannot imagine living with chronic pain for so long, I sincerely hope it all goes well.
You’re very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place, and to have a relatively good little restaurant within walking distance. Pub food is not something I like to have too often, I just find it too rich but it sure seems like they know what they’re doing by the looks of the onion rings! Wow! I’m certain your MIL really appreciated it. Good luck with your back. And welcome back, we missed you.
I hope Joan appreciated it but I fear she’s a bit too far gone to join in on much of anything. She tries and we pretend that she makes sense and then everyone laughs.
So sorry Nicole has left this world far too early. I’m guessing that she packed a lot into her 23 years – most especially being her true self. xox
Thank you, R for your kind words. She was a lovely human being. Not perfect but perfect for us.
SO good to see you back, my friend. You’ve had to cope with a lot of sadness….I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine depth of grief this must bring. And I hope you’re getting some good advice and care for your back—that stinks, too 🙁 xoxo
I opened this post not knowing exactly what to expect, but of course, you are the type of person who always amazes everyone you touch. Virtually or in reality, I am sure about that.
a very warm hug….
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss Maureen! My prayers are with you all!
And sorry your back is still so bad – A friend of mine dealt with debilitating back pain for the longest time – then one day, she couldn’t stand up to get out of the tub and had to be taken to the ER – she had to have back surgery as a result and after a long recuperation – she is back to 100 percent now – no pain or anything – I hope the branch blocks provide much needed relief! xx
I have been thinking about you a lot since I heard the news about Nicole. I hope blogging will be a good distraction from your grief and somewhat therapeutic. And do take care of your back. Three pregnancies messed up my back and my gyno was so kind when she told me that the back pains would return 20+ years later. Sending you hugs.
Oh no.. maybe that’s my problem. My son weighed nearly 13 pounds and I’m barely 5′ tall. 🙂 Now I have someone to blame. Thanks heaps for the comment.
So, so sorry to read about the loss of your granddaughter.
Hope the April 6th procedure works as intended and you will not need back surgery. Good Luck.
So sorry to hear about the loss of your granddaughter. Any death is hard, but it always seems harder when people who are so young die. And your poor back! Hope you get that straightened out. Anyway, sounds like a great restaurant. We love walking to dinner! We’re lucky — we’re about 25 minutes (going different directions) from two areas with loads of good restaurants.
Maureen, I am so sorry for your very tragic loss. Loss of life is always so sad but especially in one so young. I shall keep you and your family in my prayers. I feel your pain about your back the doctors misdiagnosed my partner about his back and it wasn’t until it got to the point that he was unable to get out of bed in the morning that the doctors really took it seriously. The amount of very strong pills he was on was frightening, in the end he had to go under the knife, but on the plus side since his operation he has been 90% better with only the occasional twinge, but still a lot better. Chin up Maureen I’ll be thinking of you 🙂
My condolences on the loss of your beautiful grand daughter, Nicole. A young life full of promise and hope cut down in its prime is always a tragedy.
I’m glad you’re finally having someone treat your back issues. I hope you recover quickly and can enjoy, what I’m sure is, an active and certainly productive life again.
Dear Maureen, I’m so sorry for your dear Nicole, she was so young ! Live is very hard sometimes. I hope you are getting better. I send you “beaucoup de courage” ! xoxo
Hi Maureen, so sorry about your granddaughter…….glad you are having your back issues taken care of, hope the procedure takes care of everything. Sending good thoughts your way.
I’m sorry for the loss of your grand daughter. I hope there is easier times ahead for you Maureen. The hotel setting looks really lovely
You have just been through it. Can’t imagine coping with this all at one time but you do it with such grace. I am so sorry for your loss and your pain and only hope that the near future is as bright and sunny as this restaurant was for lunch. Take care, Maureen. You are in my thoughts.
Oh my gosh Maureen, my thoughts are with you. Sounds like Nicole had an amazing supportive family and was surrounded by love. All my best wishes to you.
A big warm hug with a multitude of healing wishes attached is travelling north. I hope and pray that the ‘annus horribilis’ that you have experienced has reached an end and that day by day life will become more tolerable. Thank you for writing. Your back and mine should ‘do’ lunch together: they have so much in common. Unfortunately my heart does not allow an operation and the local quack is quite negative as to outcomes – but you so aptly say – doctors very, vey definitely do not know it all ! Best for the branch blocks – do so hope they ameliorate the pain!
I am so, so sorry to hear about Nicole – that’s just not the right order of things at all and I’m sorry for your loss. Sending you hugs xx
Oh dear, Maureen. *sigh* You have had so many burdens this year. You are in my prayers. You handle all these setbacks and problems with such strength. God bless.
Love the steak and the Caesar salad. I especially like anchovies and those in the salad look divine.
Take care. You are in my prayers.
P.S. This time I made a copy of my comment before hitting the “Post comment” button so I do not lose like last time. lol Live and learn.
Are you having trouble with comments? What happens?
xxoo
I’m so sorry for the tragic loss of you grand daughter. The memories live on in our hearts. Hopefully the upcoming procedure will be successful. Sounds like you had a nice time with family. Looks like a lovely place!
I would like to join the long line of people that would just like to give you a hug. I wish I had a magic wand and could make your grief bearable and your medical issues vanish. Thinking of you and so admire your fortitude and attitude. Your Grand-daughter was very lucky to be in the family that loved her for her truest self.
xxoo
Lell
Oh my gorgeous Maureen,
I can’t find the words to say how sorry I am for your loss. I knew something must be terribly wrong when I was visiting and didn’t see updates.
My thoughts are with you. I know what it’s like to lose a precious young life, and it should be something that no parent of grandparent ever has to face.
Love to you and your family
Julie
Maureen, here’s my contribution for March. Thanks for managing IMK when you have so much on your plate.
http://pleasepasstherecipe.com/2016/03/01/in-my-kitchen-march-2016/
Maureen, my heart is broken for you and I will continue to keep you all in my prayers during this difficult time. I wish you a speedy recovery and hope your back starts to feel better soon.
xoxoxoxo,
Tammy<3
You have had such a tough time with the loss of your granddaughter and your health issues. I really hope life will turn around for you. My heart aches for your loss. To take a 5 min. stroll to this lovely restaurant is a nice break for you on what looked liked a gorgeous day. Thanks for sharing!
Life has not been easy for anyone in your family lately, especially with the tragic death of your granddaughter. I’m so sorry, she was far to young to leave this world, may she rest in peace. My father suffered from chronic back pain so I can imagine what you are going through. I hope the medial branch block will help alleviate some of the pain. Take care my friend.
Maureen, positive thoughts and prayers are coming you and your families way as you are dealing with this unexpected less. Positive thinking that this block will take the edge off. Lower back pain sucks. Keep moving, you can do it!!!!
Maureen, I can only repeat what others have said. My deepest sympathies to you and your family. How utterly terrible to loose a grandchild. It is especially tragic as Nicole was on the cusp of becoming the person she always wanted to be.
So sorry Maureen for your health challenges. Bravo for speaking the truth that doctors don’t know all the answers. As to your grandchild, there are no words. I can only pray that comfort and Grace are yours <3 Looks like the waterfront meal even with the extra bbq sauce was a gratifying one…You are in my prayers <3
What a beautiful angle she is, so sorry to hear that she was gone so early, I cannot imagine the grief you went through and still are going through. I hope your back and your heart will feel better soon :(.
Hi Maureen! It’s been a while but you seemed to have so many comments. I am so sorry for your loss, it is tragic when a life is lost at such a young age. I can sympathize with you back pain – my kids we 9 and 10 pounds and I did more lifting, moving and such when I was younger than I should have. I have osteoarthritis in my spine and most of my other joints, but it’s tolerable for now. And doctors do not always know best! I hope your scheduled procedures bring you relief! My thoughts are with you and your family.
Hi Dorothy, thanks so much for coming by. I’m so glad to hear your back is better. I’m hoping I can say that one day soon. xx
Sending you big squishy (gentle) hugs loaded with love, Maureen. I am so sorry for your loss, losing a loved one is incredibly difficult, especially someone so young. My fingers are crossed that the medical procedure works and that you don’t have to do the surgery. I know I am far away, but if I can do anything, please do let me know. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. xo
I’ve thought about you so often Maureen – I cannot imagine the loss. Please know that I continue to pray for you and your family. I also hope the procedure is a quick and easy cure for your back problems. This looks like a wonderful restaurant and a great lunch. Take care!
Oh Maureen~ ((Big Hugs)) I’ve been reading your blog for a year or more more now, so I know you’ve had some trials to get through. You still always put on a cheery blog face, even when sharing your pain. I applaud you for even just getting a post up once in a while with all you’ve got going on. That is hard to do, I know.
But on to something completely different, to get away from sadness and pain….I want to ask a silly question. (Not to be disrespectful in your time of grief, but in hopes of lightening your mood a bit with a different topic.)
I noticed in one of your pics, the food was served on a wooden cutting board. And I’ve seen that “wooden plank” style of serving on nearly every Australian food blog that I read. Is that a new trend…or is this an Aussie thing? I’m from California, but also travel around other parts of the US…and rarely see food served on a plank. (With the exception of cedar plank salmon in the Pacific NW.)
I keep thinking this is an odd way to plate. Doesn’t it get messy? Juices dripping, sauces/dips sliding around, etc.? It drives me nuts when I see food served this way, yet it seems common because I see it on sooo many Aussie blogs.
So, I’m wondering your take on this, since you are also from the US and sometimes note how things are done different between countries. (I know you have a ton going on, so please don’t feel an urge to answer. It’s a silly question more than anything. And hey, maybe one of your readers will chime in with their thoughts.).
Take care of yourself….I’m sending good vibes your way. ((hugs))
I suspect the serving on cutting boards comes from Jamie Oliver. He uses a board to serve nearly half of his food. Yes, it can get messy and that’s part of the fun, people don’t mind reaching in to get some.
You’ve been in my thoughts and prayers. Wish I could be closer to cook with you…the kitchen is good for the soul. Xoxo