The Shingle Inn

I had this romanticised notion that it would be lovely for us to have cake this afternoon at 'The Shingle Inn.'  A new store has just opened at a shopping centre near us and my grandmother has spoken to me fondly of time she used to spend at the flagship store which opened in Brisbane City in the 1930's.  She fondly recounts how very good their patty cakes were.    I've been thinking it might be nice to take her there sometime soon...  I'm now thinking perhaps without the children!  Or heck, maybe with them.   It's not quite as relaxing going with them but it certainly is always an adventure.   I thought patty cakes would keep them occupied while I had a leisurely coffee but Freya wanted a giant lamington and Eli pointed furiously at a slightly evil looking clown biscuit.  Freya ate her lamington but Eli's interest in the biscuit ended after a little bit of wild jabbing at it.  He instead occupied himself with making his best high pitched squealing noise and peering over the top of our booth at the people next to us.  I thought a Tuesday afternoon at 2:30pm would be a quiet time... how wrong was I!   It was packed.  But the milkshakes were a hit.  A huge resounding hit.