Barbeques and the elusive concept of brunch

Being Easter weekend we decided to go to a wet market for some fresh fish and vegetables and have ourselves a well earned barbeque. There is nothing wrong with fish from the supermarket but it usually comes filleted, tightly wrapped in film and with a price tag that makes you decide that starving is not such a bad option after all. On the other side the wet market offers a large selection of fresh fish, just off the boat and at 5 euros a Kg for red snapper you just cannot say no. So armed with bags and sturdy shoes (it is called wet for a reason) we head off to Little India and arrive bright and early at 8am. The place is brimming with customers, mostly petite Indian ladies in colourful saris shouting and pushing to get to the best vendors. Being tall and unscrupulous Max and I brush away the competition and reach the front of the queue without too much trouble and bag ourselves a catch. The same applies to the veggie counter and it is at this moment that I pine for Claudine's presence and imagine her to be here with me to try and understand what all these strange looking veggies are and what sublime concoctions we could make together. Tired from all our shopping we head to the food vendors and have a prata, the equivalent of a very thin flat bread, with egg and cheese and a sugar cane juice.

The BBQ is a success even if, just as in the UK, the rain gets to us and we end up cooking under an umbrella and getting drenched in the process. So, a little piece of home in the tropics if not the most exciting one.

A couple of cold beers make sure we hit the bed and fall into a deep slumber until the following morning. It's Brunch day today with a group of Italian people we met through a friend of a friend of a friend etc. Knowing we will fill up on goodies later on we skip brekkie and head straight to the gym for a good hour workout. After a refreshing shower we head off to Graze, an Aussie grill specialised in brunches.

In hindsight we should have known better and the fact brunch was booked at 1pm should have raised questions but we are not used to spending time with a large bunch of Italians any more and those we do spend time with have been " patiently educated" over the years to be on time when going out with us.

So, clearly, Max and I arrive primly at 1pm, we are the first ones there and by 5 minutes past we have scanned the whole menu and are ready with our orders, plus being breakfastless we are positively starving. At 1.15pm we are still alone and the full horror of what this means starts dawning on us. It will take another 20 minutes for 15 people to trickle in lazily, having spent most of the morning in bed and getting up for breakfast at 11am hence eluding the whole concept of brunch. Once the whole crowd has gathered I start sending hints about choosing from the menu but no, it's time now to catch up on how so and so has been, what the kids are up to and what the plans are for Xmas. Max gives me a murderous look and heads off to steal chocolate eggs meant for the children while I put on a brave face and dig my elbow in my stomach to stop it from growling. Finally at 2.15pm food is ordered and service starts but it is slow and I end up being the last one to be served at 3.15pm. However I am not that badly off as one of the group is completely forgotten and never gets his order at all. After my serving of waffles and strawberries I am still hungry but avoid asking for more food as I could be stuck there until midnight.

Overall a nice afternoon out with very nice people but absolutely the last brunch with Italians unless I get to organise it.