77. A Lulu of Active Wear

My day didn’t get off to a great start. Lately that has been the theme. Actually it’s been a while since my mojo has woken with me in the morning.

First I made the mistake of moving to regional NSW in April 2024 in the misguided attempt for a better lifestyle. The possibility of buying a house before I was too old to get a mortgage and maybe, just maybe, find myself an Eggs Benedict companion. Sh*t pretty much went down hill from there.

Poor job opportunities, cliches that rivaled the poetry circuit, poor health care options, and the romance prospects of closed gold mine to the north of the Shire. Once I was diagnosed with a couple of significant ailments that required access to a multitude of specialists, I tucked my tail between my legs and returned to Canberra.

Which bring me roundly back to the start of my day being less than stella.

I had a critical medical appointment at 9.15 and after fiddling and finagling of finding a park, walking the length of the hospital campus, and navigating to the place I needed to be I was informed I was a day late. After much discussion I walked away with a new appointment in five weeks time and the receptionist copped the result of the anxiety I hadn’t realised I’d been hanging on too. I wasn’t rude, just a little shorter than I would normally be with someone just trying to help out.

I walked away, and sat in the padded seats in the main lobby, staring into an abyss for 45 minutes before I roused myself back into action.

As I drove round in circles to get out of the carpark I decided I would take myself for EB. It’s been a while since I had one (June 2025) and even longer since I reviewed one. My first attempt was aborted as it is now an Italian restaurant only offering lunch and dinner, so I drove I a little further down the road to a place I’ve been before.

Parking was simple as I drove straight into a space. Always a good start.

With ample outside seating for the dry heat of Canberra warmer days, I opted, on this 8 degree day to sit inside with the lulu of yoga bunnies in their active wear and comfort water bottles made by Frank Green and Yeti.

I ordered an Earl Grey tea — having made sure it did not contain lavender- an orange juice and a EB with Tasmanian Smoked Salmon. I had to find a seat, look at the menu — only available via QR Code- and then get back up to order. Grr. This annoyed me last time too, in August 2021.

Question: Do you think this means the salmon came from Tasmania AND was smoked there or perhaps smoked elsewhere, or that it came from somewhere else and was only smoked on the Apple Isle?

Due to the inanity of the conversations around me I opted to plug in my headphones and listen to my talking book.

The juice arrived first. Fresh, in a glass of ice with a paper straw. After taking the photo I immediately removed the straw before it disintegrated into a paper mache at the bottom of the glass.

Shortly afterwards the tea arrived in cast iron pot on a wooden board with a tea cup and spoon. I had asked for them to hold the milk and they had. I got three cups out of this pot.

By this point in my book the characters had started doing thing to each other that we wouldn’t generally talk about in polite company, but I was on my own in a cafe plugged in and honestly, it’s about the only excitement I’ve had recently, so I listened as Lachlan and Lark finally realised they like each other.

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I let my eye wander around the place. Behind the counter shelves held cartons of oat, soy and almond milk. Brown bags of roasted coffee beans and a variety of powders labeled vegan and whey. A glass cake display held brightly coloured and appetising sweet treats that included macaroons and carrot cake.

The tables and chairs a mix of standard wooden cafe furniture and cast iron and chipped marble occasionals such as the one I was sat at.

What truly baffled me though was the plants hanging upside down from the rope webbing around the ceiling. And I don’t think they were plastic. I surmised that when the one directly above me dripped a single drop of water onto the back of my hand.

My eggs arrived.

Apart from the single pea sprout atop, it was all very shades of blonde.

A sprinkling of paprika, the salmon, the barely toasted English muffin (not toasted sourdough) served on a grey stoneware plate. And…is that a thumb print in my sauce?

The sauce was house made. The consistency and colour gave away its place of origin; and there was a level of astringency that packet sauces just don’t usually have.

As the heroes in my ears relaxed back and took in a sigh of post-coital contentment, I rubbed my belly with a sense of serenity. I was feeling at ease after a rough start to the day.

Story time and a good meal had eased the anxiety rocketing through my body an hour before, I realised the adrenaline had dropped as the teapot emptied.

Would I return. Probably not. Not because the EB was particularly bad, but because I prefer a less pretentious vibe.

***

Location: Double Shot Cafe
Address: Shop/7 Hopetoun Circuit, Deakin ACT 2600
Website: https://doubleshotdeakin.com.au/
Menu (as at 28/8/2025): https://doubleshotdeakin.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Doubleshot-Menu-NOV24.pdf

EB Cost: $24