It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve had to see the osteopath due to a seized-up back. He has diagnosed me with lap-top syndrome where I have been spending too much time lying down on my couch glued to my lap top gazing into the blogosphere. The cure is to shut my lap top, get up and walk around. More easily said than done. An alternative is to type while at a desk. I don’t have one. I am allowed to lie on the carpet flat on my back with my legs up on a chair and an ice pack under my spine. But the dogs find me and come up and lick my face.
The restaurant sign is set in the sand
So it was a welcome relief when the rugby mums emailed to invite me to a get-to-know-you morning tea at the Boat House in Balmoral where I couldn’t lie down on the couch with my lap top or have my dogs lunge towards my face.
The fresh produce has just been delivered
The Boat House in Balmoral has only recently opened but isn’t the first of its kind. The owner started his first Boat House in Palm Beach and due to its thriving success has opened a similar restaurant in Balmoral. The setting couldn’t be any more perfect although he is yet to buy vacuum adaptor and other accessories, and on this day the weather couldn’t have been more like a scene from paradise. There is no way that from looking at the images anyone could suspect that this was an Autumn day, just a few days short of the start of winter.
The display of flowers inside the boat house
After gazing upon the beautiful fresh flowers and fruit and vegetables that are delivered straight from the market every day, I sat at a table over the water with the warm sun on my back. The breakfast menu had a great variety of options however despite being having been nil by mouth that entire day (okay, so it was only 10am), due to a blood test for my dodgy thyroid, I somehow only ended up ordering a hot chocolate.
An anchor on my hot chocolate!
I really should have made more of an effort given there is great variety on the breakfast menu including fruit salad, quinoa bircher, toasted sandwiches, baked beans, green eggs and ham and caramelised French toast – so much to come back for.
I need to warn you that despite having been opened for just a few weeks, this is an incredibly popular destination and tables fill quickly. I was there for a couple of hours and there were people trying to sit at tables where the diners were only just beginning to look like they were leaving. Once seated, you realise there isn’t any table service. You have to join a queue to order and pay and then your order is fairly promptly delivered to your table.
The restaurant extends over the water into this incredible setting
Now despite having skipped breakfast due to that blood test and despite being hungry, I actually didn’t order anything else. I just became too distracted by the setting and the view an the wonderful company – great pluses for a restaurant if only they brought in a profit!
Just so you can see…this is definitely a boat house. And also a good place to park your pram.
The Boat House is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week and it’s fully licensed with a wine list that includes French champagne. A good reason to head back down there again.
Walking towards the Boat House
Balmoral Boat House
2 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach
The cafe is out on the water to the right of this image
Charlie, I read out your diagnosis to hubby as I am sure that he has it! His solution was to go kite surfing! I like the sound of yours better. I hope you feel better soon! 😀
Love the look and feel and especially that anchor on the hot chocolate.
Oh, yes, too much time at the computer. I can relate, although mine is working on a desktop at my desk in my office, which is the former nursery (quite small). Already my back hurts and I’ve only begun my day. But I have osteoarthritis. Lovely. Only five years ago I got an artificial right hip to replace the arthritic one.
Enough about me. I hope your back stops ailing soon.
Lovely restaurant, BTW. And if that is your winter, I will take it over ours in Minnesota.
ooooh I adore the Boat House in Palm Beach, I didn’t know they opened one in Balmoral. While I’m on the Northern Beaches, Balmoral would still be closer to me, thanks for the heads up!!
Charlie, I am sure a few more of us have the same lap-top syndrome. Hope you get better soon 🙂
Lovely boathouse.
What lovely pictures and it just sounds like such a fun and relaxing place to eat. Hope your back is feeling a bit better after getting up and moving around. I get “laptop” neck. lol
~ April
What a great place Charlie, and the weather looks incredible. It’s finally started to warm up so wearing open toe shoes doesn’t seem all that out of place (or freezing) any more. So sorry to hear of your back, I do hope you feel better soon. I find soaking a facecloth in 70% isopropyl alcohol and placed on the aching spot really helps. Apparently the alcohol promotes blood circulation to the specific area which speeds healing.
We’re just redecorating our office at home so I’ve been doing most of my commenting from my iPhone, I can hardly wait until it’s finished (hopefully tonight).
It’s our first ‘summer’ holiday weekend with Victoria Day on Monday (and our 27th wedding anniversary on Sunday — yes, I was a child bride !) and the weatherman has been predicting lovely weather all weekend. We’re heading up north for Cottage opening and it’s always nice when the weather cooperates! Hope you have a great weekend — feel better soon.
What a lovely spot to recuperate! Sorry about your back–I sympathize. I’ve been travelling for the last month and fear I will never catch up with emails or my blog! Maybe I can join you…
Sorry to hear about the problems with your back. Warm sun shining on your back while enjoying the company of good friends sounds like a lovely break from your laptop. My hand is slowly getting better…we just have to limit our time on our computers until we are back to normal. I think everyone understands when things like this happen. Take care.
I too am sorry to learn about your back and hope you recover quickly. Love the anchor on your hot chocolate.
What a beautiful setting Charlie! I hope your back gets better. I’ve had laptop back too. I have a desk but it’s more like a shelf in the corner and it’s too low and our kitchen table is too high. I feel like goldilocks.
The Boat House looks delightful in every way – and quite summery, as you say. Do look after that back. Posture is so important when working at the computer. I’ve given up my laptop and have got an iMac on a desk now – much kinder to the body. Take good care!
I do hope you get to feeling better soon, Charlie. You have too much energy and too much to do to be sidelined with back problems! The Boat House looks to be a wonderful place to enjoy a meal and relax. Maybe next time you can take full advantage!
They are such an innovative bunch. I avoid the boat house at PB like the plague on the weekends as it is always up to pussy’s bow. It’s great for an early breakfast though. They sure do the whole experience well.
Carolyn
Feel better soon! Hot chocolate looks yummy!
Nazneen
Sorry about your back! This does look like an incredible spot though – paradise indeed. I love the anchor on your drink too. You’ll have to go back to try the rest of the menu 🙂
I want photos if you go kitesurfing like Mr. NQN, okay??
i’m so sorry about your back! I wonder if I have some form of lap-top syndrome also as my back has been iffy lately and I spend a lot of time on the computer. Not laying down, but still.
Love that anchor in your coffee!
Hope you are getting better. I guess the laptop syndrome has to do with how we sit and position our arms and fingers. I had an aching shoulder due to handling the mouse too stiffly and the effect traveled all the way to the shoulder. It has to do with being too engrossed over blogging as well. Have your back recover quickly so that we get to enjoy your seamless great blog posts 🙂
What a beautiful position for a cafe. The hot chocolate looked good even if you did have nothing else. I am sorry to hear about your back. Because I spend all day and evening in front of a computer, I need to be seated perfectly at a desk. If I try to use one in any other position, I end up with neck and back pain after only a short while. Laptops are notorious for causing problems because you have to bend your back and neck towards the low screen.
I’ve had a similar thing, a saw hip from always lying on one side. Need to mix it up a little! Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Awww poor you! I hope your back feels better soon. I have a lap board, and I place my lap top on it and that works just fine as a table. You could try something like that too. The place looks incredibly beautiful and relaxing.
Oh back pain is the pits. I really hope yours gets better soon…no fun at all. (Maybe the dogs think there are healing properties in licking your face, and just want their beloved mum to be more comfortable??)
As for the boat shed, aren’t we lucky to live in such a beautiful spot 🙂
It’s hard to believe that you will be entering winter, just as the rest of us are finally putting away out snow shovels! Sitting at a desk will not help, my legs keep going numb because I sit here too long…..there’s just no winning when your life is a computer! I hope you feel better soon 🙂
The idea of having lunch at a boat house near the end of Fall is totally alien to me. This does look like great place to meet and get acquainted with new friends. Not too fancy or pretentious, it’s a place where everyone could relax and chat. Back pain is not at all fun. I hope yours is gone by now.
What a lovely place! We’re still waiting for spring, let alone summer, and there you are with such a lovely day at the beginning of winter.
I stiffen up all over if I even sit too long and run a timer for 20 minutes. When it goes off, I get up and walk round or do an odd chore. It may seem daft but it’s better than being unable to move!
Ouchie – sorry to hear about your back – hope you feeling better now.
Fab place for a breakfast.
🙂 Mandy xo
You poor old thing Charlie, I hope you feel better soon 🙁 I’m sure a continued treatment of fancy cafe fare, sitting in the sun, and walks on the beach will help- at least it certainly won’t hurt! xox
Looks like a lovely way to cure a backache and avoid dog slobber! Great beach view, too. 🙂
Oh the view!!!
Hope your poor back is feeling better soon. Balmoral is such a gorgeous beach – what a lovely view!
This reminds me (in setting only) of a boat house we used to eat on the river. Great place in the summer time. I dare say the food looks far better at your Boat House though. 🙂
Hehe, the old “lying on the couch with the laptop”… I’m so familiar with that. I used to have a nice set up – big computer with two nicely sized monitors on a desk, but I got rid of that before William was born and the computer now serves as a media centre and backup device. Oh well – one day, hopefully, I can put it back to its rightful use!
Oh my gosh…. I think my physio said the same thing to me LOL that I am sitting around too much, in a bad position and I really ought to change it lol but like you said it’s so much easier said than done! That requires effort hahaha
What a great beach and I love the blue blue skies! The more I read your blog the more I realise…I really don’t know very much about Sydney and the suburbs hehe xx
I so need to get my backside there quick smart. Everyone that goes just raves! Maybe we should do lunch? hmm? xx