10/7: My grandmother (maternal) and I were having lunch at this incredible 99-year old dining lounge in the heart of my great city located at a place called the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, a place where time stands still, itโs sandstone exterior and art deco interior married together in aesthetic harmony. As we were waiting for our food, an older gentleman (late 50s) dressed in a sports coat and scarf approached our table and asked as point blank โExcuse me what European extract are you from? As I could have sworn Iโve seen you both before.โ Now bear in mind my family is Australian based with British, New Zealand and French ancestry. After saying this to him, the gentlemen went onto gush about our outfits and how we looked and dressed like European aristocracy (Hungarian aristocracy to be precise), as well as (rightfully) take aim at the ill-dressed patronage of the dining lounge and how the place went from being the place for high society and common folk to mingle and converse with each other to a place where ill-dressed old people and guests indulge in the loungeโs menu whilst on their phones.
To be mistaken for Hungarian royalty is something that wasnโt on my 2026 bingo card, and now my grandmother and I jokingly refer to each other as โYour Graceโ and plan to return to the dining lounge in the future especially as I signed up to become one the establishments many members, due to my love for the place.
Banjo