There’s a place called Larrimah (population 20), about 60 km south of Mataranka. It’s the usual Road House (and I use the term loosely), museum (same) and then Fran’s Devonshire Tea House which gave us one of those unforgettable, purely outback experiences you could never repeat. Fran’s is run by, well, Fran. She has an extensive list of yummy pastries and scones, tea and coffee (advertised as espresso). Fran is one of those classic Australians (spade is a shovel, a few teeth missing, swearing considered acceptable at all times including in front of children) that we love. She asked us what we’d like from the blackboard menu, then said “I’ve only got pies, they’re $11, but they’re good. How many do you want?” Then the man arrived with her delivery of supplies. So all the people (that’s us and the ubiquitous Grey Nomads) unloaded her trolley of stock and filled the store room shelves!
Indeed the pies were good, huge, and devoured with gusto. The coffee was, well, just okay. I think she had a plunger thing in the kitchen – we weren’t allowed in there! As her off-sider was away for the day – that was the reason for only having pies available – we all had to put our dishes in the sink tub for her. As thanks for helping her with the grocery delivery, Fran gave the boys a stuffed toy each, and the coffee was free (which is only fair, as it was pretty ordinary).
Here are some of Fran’s classy signs. I don’t think she spends as much on graphic designers as some.