Agnes and Ecstasy – vol VI    

Miriam Vale Shire Council web-site Shire map has no 'Agnes Water'. The site of half the entire the Shire's population and 80% of its ratepayer revenue doesn't even rate a fly dot...

I say, move the Council Chambers to Agnes, that would put us on their map! Better hurry though, all this talk of Shires amalgamating might overtake us.

In California, the streets were paved with gold but here in 1770, the streets are paved with muddies!

Under 'Would You Believe' comes this true tale: During the week, we were driving back from the 1770 lookout, when ole eagle eyes (Tom) braked and reversed. He had spotted a large mud crab doing a slow skeeter across the road. 'Oh Yes, into the pot with you', thinks I - Tom however picked it up and examined it. Bad handling out of the crab pot or attack by fellow crab had left a one inch hole underneath and it wasn't at all well. But had been heading for the water so we gave it a lift in the esky down to the boat ramp and Tom let it have at least a good try at a second life. Could swear I saw the farewell wave of a claw before the little fish started to circle it...

However, it put mud crab high on my menu desires. So when we read in the Coastal Rag that the Seafood Van would start coming to 1770 as of 1pm Saturday 4th March with fresh not imported seafood, we were almost his first customers on the dot of 1pm. We bought prawns (frozen as apparently due to the gales there are no fresh ones), we bought 12 oysters fresh and then looked at the crabs. Cooked by himself and guaranteed good eating. 'Always store a crab with its shell down so the water will sit in the shell not the flesh', he told us. What a nice man. I took a photo and looked forward to seeing him next week. Home we go and I camp by the fridge until the earliest respectable dinner hour. We prepare for a feast of crab. I crack the first claw and cover myself, my table setting, my napkin (always cloth but not necessarily hand-rolled edges) and Coco's head (she was lying at my feet) with the dirty water that had almost filled the cavity. In varying degrees, this was repeated with my crab and Tom's and the flesh spoke of more than one freezing (but it may have been lying). I shall not labour the point but suffice to say that was the most expensive seafood stock we have ever bought. The oysters were fine. We are planning to try the prawns tonight... wish us luck!

Update: Yes, we had the prawns and lived, thank you for the emails and offers to inherit Coco - frozen prawns are frozen prawns are frozen prawns but with a little chilli, a crunch of garlic, a few splashed extra virgins, a fine wine, a crunchy bread and a really good man, even frozen prawns can become delicious.

Some mighty big surf along the Edges following the Cyclone up North this month.

Best things about Bundaberg this week:

BT 1: I met and shook the hand of an angel - Toni Hoffman - at the deli counter in the Woolworths Sugarland supermarket.

BT 2: The road sign into Bundaberg declared 'Never give up - Moses was once a basket case'.