Eat . Travel . Dive: "Put Another "Shrimp" On the Barbie...."

So ETD Readers, today I want to talk about something very special to me:

Friendship. Friendship and what it means to me. In my world, friendship is more than just hangin' out with the lads or going shopping with the girls. To me it is a mutual equilibrium that knows no distance or time. There is no expiry date on friends.

Over the past few years I have moved around somewhat (to put it mildly), and during this time I have maintained as many friendships as I can, and I have made some very special friends - which has been the saving grace for me! My time overseas wouldn't have been anywhere near as fun, interesting or memorable without each and every one of you and what we have shared together. It truely makes me sad to say goodbye, but rest assured the GAFFAtron will return.

"..Cos, I've had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you..."

And just like the song says, my time has been exactly what I needed and you've all made it special....even all of you annoying, smelly friends! ;-)

There is something I need to tell all of my new friends, and something I'd like to remind all of my old friends. I Love You ALL. I just needed to share that with you.

I am especially grateful to the friends I have made along the way. You guys took me in, helped me out and supported me when I needed it the most. (Can't believe I'm actually crying as I write this - and thats just how special you all make me feel)... To do this takes a lot of acceptance and you've needed to adapt to suit my crazy, quirky ways. Thanks =) You all overwhelm me and I appreciate you all.

So, friendship. It's vitally important to me. It provides companionship and a support network, but more so it creates an access to things you never dreamed you'd do, achieve or create. That's the thing about friends, somehow we take each other places. We lubricate the machine of life and sew the rich tapestry of our memories together. Forever forged, never forgotten. Special, huh?

Well taking a side step, I have to say without friends we'd never find ourselves, or be able to share the amazing transformations we each make as we grow. My life would actually suck without you guys!

To me, friends is about sharing. It's about give and take. I'd like to think that if you ever needed me - I'd do my absolute best to be there for any of you. Skype and the internet make that possible to be there, no matter where I am physically located - PLEASE Remember that!

Friends have taken me diving, caving, climbing, abseiling, hiking and on many adventures which are carved into my heart. You've shown me how, where and when. I trusted you all and it's totally paid off. Trips overseas, overland, underwater are all special when we take them with the people we care about the most. I've learnt new things from all of you, and I take them on into my life...with your permissions I'll share them.

We've drunk together (sometimes way too much, sometimes not enough!), we sampled some of the most fascinating, wonderful foods and we've cooked for each other - I wanna share a recent experience....thanks to Mr Shrimp, but before I do....

How is it friendship humbles us, it fully grounds us and enables us to see the important things? How come a lengthy chat over a few cold beers makes us see the directions we're meant to travel next? How many coffees and cakes have we eaten to find the best tasting treats are the homemade, heartfelt things we prepare for each other.

When people talk of passion and love going into food for family and friends, I never really understood...until now. I've seen mummas and pappas cook with love, and I've seen families do this...but friends? Well food preparation and delivery for friends is just the same. There's something totally amazing about a friend who will go to all the trouble of cooking and sharing their passion for food. Easily missed by some, but by the keen eyes (and belly) of the GAFFAtron it doesn't go unmissed. Yum Yum in my Tum!

So, just last night I took an impromptu trip to drop some stuff and visit my friend, Mr Shrimp. It was a quick, unplanned visit with a day or so's notice. Mr Shrimp informed me that he would make dinner, and this unbeknown to me was something Mr Shrimp has a certain style and flair for... to the benefit of my grumbling belly when I arrived!

So without any notice he informed me he would introduce me to my first Aussie Cooking experience using the Weber Kettle BBQ. OMG! A barbecue that I'd never seen or heard of before...and what was I going to get? Well, guess on my friends. The usual steaks, prawns and snags (bangers to my pommie friends) were nowhere to be seen.... Instead, what I arrived to was all that be described as a "Dancin' Chicken", and veggies...

So here's how it works:

I hope I get this right, we were a few beers down at the point of explaination!!

First the Weber is more a science-art form that isn't just a coal barbie. So, depending on the type of cooking you're going to do (with reference to low, medium and high cooking temperatures) you add a specific number of coals. So, the medium heat equates to around 180-200 Degrees Celcius, and to obtain this heat you add 50 coal bricks. Then after lighting the coals you let them ash over and reach the temperature (you open and close the appropriate vents to achieve this). This takes about 40 minutes, or 2-3 Beers!!

On reaching temperature you add your meat and veggies to roast. In our case, Mr Shrimp had prepared a fascinating way to cook and infuse his "bird". Veggies in a tin tray, with special recipe potatoes. Then in a metal device resembling a book end he placed a coke can (washed out and the top cut off) filled with Chardonnay, in the middle of it. Next, he slid the bird over the vertical prong poking up (so the can and device was inside the chicken). Mr Shrimp had clearly gone to a lot of effort in preparing and marinading the bird and veggies.

Before...

Next for 60-90 mins with the bird inside the Weber Kettle, and after some vent setting on the unit, we sat chatted and drank some more beers....oh and I got a chance to spend some QT with the excitable Mr Diesel and Regal Miss Ruby - Mr Shrimp's loving doggies! All the while we sat outside (yes outside) around Mr Shrimp's fire pit. Wow, we burned some logs and the heat was incredible (not to mention the flames!)...

So, like I said, a "few" beers and lots of conversation took us through the cooking time. This is how I realised that friends don't just do all of the things I mentioned before, but they sit and listen, and share and talk... We could've gone to Maccas or ordered Pizza and the same outcomes would have been drawn for me.

Friends can do nothing at all, but it's in those moments of sharing, laughing and talking seriously about serious things, that connect us. Its the give and the take. The exchange and trade of memories, thoughts, opinions and dreams that help us to arrive at friendship...otherwise its just acquaintances - which is cool too, but those of us who strive for friendships and appreciation of our friends need to learn to share....

It was good. Thank you, Mr Shrimp.

So, after a beer or two (did I say that earlier?) the dinner was ready, and removed with ease and obvious experience! Next, prior to eating the Dessert - Apple Strudel was placed into the kettle. Yes I said strudel and yes I said on the BBQ!

Whilst I was watching and taking photographic evidence of this feat of "man-cooking" in a "man-way", I watched as Mr Shrimp carved the extremely tender and moist chicken...mouth watering. I witnessed the charred and yummy looking carrots, sweet potatoes, onion (which was roasted in its skin), and special recipe roasted potatoes being carefully plated up.

After..

Carving a tender bird...

This was the BEST BBQ I've ever eaten, and what still makes me chuckle is that it was a ROAST dinner and not a generic barbecue! All credit, this meal was awesome. The chicken skin tasted so good. There was a hint of smoke from the barbie, a touch of herbs and the final hint of white wine... The meat was perfectly cooked. The flesh was plump, moist and tasted of the wine but ever so subtly. It must be due to convection of the wine vapour that keeps the meat moist and infuses the flavour. YUM! All of the veggies were tasty, well cooked and no over or under cooking in sight!

Between the two of we polished of 2kg of Chicken and the veggies....

I also finished off the carcass! No meat or skin left!! LOL! Then after another beer, and more logs on the fire we tucked into the Dessert. The Apple Strudel was claimed to be Mr Shrimp's signature dish, I've already pre-ordered this for my next visit with Winnie!! So, Apple Strudel and Vanilla Ice Cream...I knew we were onto a winner. So, so so good. If only I was an even more Fatty than I am...I would have had another piece... but I was done (and some)...

As you can see, friends are meant to surprise us and test us occasionally. They're meant to keep us on our toes and makes us feel welcome, no matter what. The icy cold beers in the fridge are always a MAJOR bonus!

Friendship means more than I can substantially say with words...So, here's some of the many pictures that can help:

Chillin' Out...

Making time for a beer...

Catching Up...

Adventures...

Nights Out & Celebrations...

Scuba Diving Buddies...

We share those moments of laughter, fun, adventure, plus those times of vulnerability, sadness and worry. Together we're strong, we're tough...we can achieve anything. Friends means this to me...

The other element of friendship is devoted to my family. We must remember that family apportion a huge chunk of our lives and we should also honour family....our most loyal friends.

My Family... I Love You xx