What a day!

My day started out just like any other. Cuddle with Fè before getting up, feed Michael (cavy) and Bella (lepus), have a coffee and banana while sitting and looking out across the pond and manicured hedge.

Before seeing clients from 1.30 I had two things to do. Attend a doctors appointment at 10.40am to get a new referral and blood test for the nephrologist I’m seeing the next day. Leaving plenty of time got follow up calls and maybe some paperwork.

Easy.

I’ve recently moved; I’ve also shifted GPs. So while all I needed was a simple referral the doctor doing her due diligence decided she also needed my entire medical history before she’d provide said piece of gold. 15 minutes later (my medical history is long and mildly sordid) it was about to print when the power went out. The printer powered down. The computer shut off. I was asked to write my email address on a post-it and told it would be emailed if and when the electricity started flowing again.

I left to get my blood test.

A few steps away from the doctor’s surgery was a pathology place. A different brand to that on my request but I thought I’d see if it’s possible to mix and match. I waited outside to respect the ‘max 3’ as stated on the door. When I saw the collector I popped my head in the door to ask.

The ‘Yes!’ was accompanied with an eye roll.

Then, ‘Take a seat!’

I sat down then realised I hadn’t checked in, stood up to scan in, ‘Will you sit down!’

I sat back down for a moment and realised shortly after she’d disappeared with another ‘customer’ that there was no way in hell I was letting her near me with a sharp object. I left.

The next office I tried had the correct branding but was only doing COVID tests. I briefly considered having my brain tickled but decided against it.

The third attempt was more successful until my veins decided to collapse and the collector had to jab both my arms before they gave up the red stuff.

I’d spent two hours faffing and I was verging on hangry. A cafe appeared like an oasis.

All the seats outside were occupied, heading inside I took one of the few ‘billy no mates’ seats. I was rapidly presented with a menu and bottle of tap water. The server was pleasant and even commented to ensure my stick was secure.

The menu said I could pick from bacon, ham, wilted spinach, or salmon. After my morning I thought I’d splurge so I ordered EB with smoked salmon AND wilted spinach.

The extra $4 was totally worth it!

I need to mention here that it arrived on a plain blue Plate. Not a wide, half bowl, hand crafted by dwarfs in a clay mine. Just a lovely, smooth, plate.

The presentation was OK. There was a little bit of escaped egg snot out of place, but I’m not afraid of that. It indicated the eggs where going to be cooked perfectly.

Golden yellow hollandaise suggested I might be in for a treat, and it didn’t lie.

HOMEMADE!

Praise be Demeter*!

The sauce was rich, zesty, and just enough.

It perfectly balanced the toasted focaccia, smoky salmon, added spinach.

I’m pretty sure if anyone was called to provide a witness statement would have said, ‘she inhaled it with the appetite of a starving woman!’

It was that good.

After I had eaten and was more leisurely enjoying my sparking water. I noticed the board next to the baristas station.

I hadn’t ordered a hot beverage with this meal, only the water. The board reminded me of my first love. Tea.

I’m not sure if every variation of coffee/milk/water combination is represented on this board, I’m a far more educated tea drinker than coffee, but what the sh*t is this abomination.

TEAS

There’s literally more variety of the base ingredient of tea than coffee. There’s only one coffee bean from a variety of countries and roasted/treated in different ways.

Tea is black, green, white, and chai (which isn’t even a true tea)

I’m not going to deduct any points for this heinous transgression in respect for the leaf, the eggs benedict was stella, but I sure hope the barista knows how much responsibility is on their shoulders.

Location: RockSalt
Address: 4/78 Hawker Place, Hawker ACT 2614
Website: www.rocksaltcanberra.com.au

EBPrice: $18

*Demeter: Ancient Greek goddess of grain and agriculture