Our friends, Viv and Glen, from Newcastle, had stayed with us since last Tuesday and during their little break with us at Larnook they had spent a day at Sea World, visited Nimbin and Kyogle, hung around home and generally enjoyed themselves. So on Sunday we decided to take them to Bangalow Market, as Viv had loved the Channon Market when she had visited previously. They are both fabulous but quite different in character and feel. The day was promising to turn out hot, so we left home just after 8 and got to Bangalow about an hour later. At the moment we are going into the Northern Rivers' red phase with these spectacular Flame Trees in flower all over the place. The bangalow palms (and I've not been able to find out whether the palms were named after Bangalow or Bangalow was named after the palms) contrast beautifully with the scarlet of the flame tree's flowers, don't they. That other red-flowering, oh-so flamboyant tree that is bursting into redness now is the poinciana, which along with the jacaranda and flame tree, has been planted along many of the streets in Lismore.
The markets were busy, colourful, creative, interesting...all those things that good markets should be. I really love the feel of these markets up here and yesterday I was in the mood to shop, so we bought some lovely things, ate some lovely food, and had a great time. We stopped off at our friends, Stuart and Matt, who live in a beautiful Queenslander in Bangalow and enjoyed some banana and walnut loaf, freshly baked and bought from the markets. We also bought some absolutely delicious chutneys and pickles form a lady from Goolmangar, which is in the next valley over from ours.
And to top off a near-perfect day, was left-over pickled pork, cabbage and bacon, carrots and mashed potato, that Vivien had cooked the day before. Viv and Glen left for Coffs Harbour this morning, before arriving back in Newcastle tomorrow.
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