Life is short... be sure to enjoy family & friends!
fieldy's coffee
41 Fairfield Road, Fairfield Brisbane, QLD 4103
Ph: N/A
Web: Fieldy's Coffee
'Out at Coffee' on
16th August 2025
Are you finding it colder than usual this winter?
I am! In fact, I think it’s been the coldest since I migrated to Australia in 2004. My sensitivity to the weather could be my age, but the sight of Stephen’s legs at last week’s coffee outing could support my theory.
His long, lean, light pinkish, ‘pins’, had widespread, early morning, goosebumps all over them. And they actually looked like tender, raw, chicken drumsticks.
I had visions of ‘Coco the greyhound’ chasing him around the table wanting to take a bite. But thankfully, Lee and Pete had fed her before leaving home, so Coco was more interested in a nap, as we enjoyed our meetup at Fieldy’s Coffee.
The café was located in a modern complex, toward the top end of Fairfield Road, and while cosy, the inside seating area felt open and airy, with light pouring in on three sides.
In true seagull fashion we all ordered flat whites with share treats.
Stephen and I couldn’t resist a white chocolate and biscoff muffin, while Lee and Pete opted for an apple danish.
As we tucked in, conversation flowed between work, future holidays, and family.At one point, Pete went to pop the final piece of their share pastry into his mouth. But Lee swiftly pulled his arm down and squawked; “Hey, that’s mine!”
Pete, who hadn’t yet dropped it into his mouth, quickly removed it, and we all giggled, as he sheepishly returned it to the plate for Lee to devour.
While cold, the day was nice and sunny, so we decided to extend this week’s catchup with a walk through the South Brisbane Cemetery, over the Eleanor Schonell bridge, to the University Queensland (UQ) campus. But first, we enjoyed a second cup of ‘St Ali’ blend coffee, before heading off!
Our walk through the cemetery was calm, respectful and poignant. Many of the gravestones were in disarray, but we were still able to make out the names and ages of those who lay beneath them.
Some had lived to a ripe old age, some had passed way too early, and some had been laid to rest with loved ones. We could only imagine the life stories behind those names etched on the headstones, and we held out hope that their lives held meaning and purpose.
As we reached the other side of the cemetery, and walked across the Eleanor Schonell bridge, I had a flashback to a stressful incident that occurred to me 3 years ago, which I retold to the group.
One dark winter’s evening, I was driving home along Annerley Road, when Stephen called to request a pickup.
I was more than happy to do this, but I’d had a stressful day and I wasn’t thinking straight. Not a good combination for someone who can be navigationally challenged.
I approached what I thought was the place to pick him up, but as I made a left turn, I was confronted with an unfamiliar road. And before I knew it, I’d joined a slow-moving convoy of vehicles crossing the Eleanor Schonell Bridge. My heart sank and my cheeks flushed red, as I realised the line of vehicles, I’d joined were buses, and in a panic, I screamed: “OMG… I’ve driven onto the Eastern Busway!”
Thankfully, as I was about to reach the other side of the bridge, a gap appeared in the central reservation. So, I made a swift, illegal, right turn and sped back across the bridge.
I successfully left the busway, found my way to the pickup point, and as Stephen got in to the car, I said coyly: “You’ll never guess what just happened to me?”
My animated story got a chuckle from Lee and Pete! But thankfully today, there was no swift exit needed, and as we left the bridge on foot, we headed into the sprawling grounds of UQ.
It was an amazing campus with wide, open spaces and a beautiful lake, with many native birds frolicking in the winter’s sun. The sandstone architecture was magnificent and fitting for such a grand setting… it truly was an awe-inspiring place to be.
As we walked around the campus, Pete said confidently; “I went to UQ for 6 years!” He then paused briefly, laughed, and continued; “Well really, it should’ve been 4 years… but I came out of my shell and socialised a lot!”
As we headed back to our cars and approached Fieldy’s Coffee, we’re tempted to go inside for a third coffee. But it was a fleeting thought given time and budget constraints.
We said our goodbyes and as I reflected on our great coffee morning, I was reminded of the fragility of life. Today, we saw the resting place of a wide variety of people. My hope was that they experienced inclusion and mutual respect in their lifetime, and like us, they were able to enjoy; ‘fun, friendship and laughter’, with family and friends.
I love sharing our coffee escapades with you, so please help me share the joy of coffee and friendships. Like, follow and share the ‘Out at Coffee’ Facebook page. And if you have suggestions for a great coffee venue in or around Brisbane, please drop us a line via the Contact page, we’d love to add it to our caffeine calendar.
Allan