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, it’s 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 “Excuse me what European extract are you from? As I could have sworn I’ve seen you both before.” 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 lounge’s menu whilst on their phones. To be mistaken for Hungarian royalty is something that wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card, and now my grandmother and I jokingly refer to each other as “Your Grace” 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

So I’ve shared my weight loss journey with everyone and today it goes full circle to when I was a kid. I am taking my father clothes shopping as he’s been on his own journey and, God Bless him, he’s in, he thinks a 34 waist and medium shirt, but still wearing 38/40 shorts and XL shirts. I remember him and my mother would take my brother and I to the Outlet Mall, when they were in their heyday, twice a year and said “you have x amount to spend today” and let us loose. Granted, he’d offer little advice as he knew our styles were different, but he’d throw out the occasional “you sure about that” look at me. So Happy belated Father’s Day to my dad once again. The picture is from my cousin’s wedding two years ago, got to get a current picture of us.