Michael McMahon: The Brisbane Weekend Edition

Michael McMahon, Owner and tea drinker, Tlicious

Smile and don’t be afraid to be you ...

Michael McMahon used to spend his days painting houses. Among his brushes and tins of paint he’d packed a little kettle and generous supply of tea to make his favourite cuppa every hour. Tea had always been something Michael loved – the aroma, the ritual, how it brings people together. So when contemplating a career change, opening Tlicious at South Bank was the obvious next step. With over 150 types of tea imported from around the world, Tlicious has been bringing people together for Devonshire tea and take-home packets for almost 10 years. Over this time, Michael has built up a wealth of knowledge surrounding the perfect brew, and turned his passion for drinking tea into a professional necessity. The Weekend Edition spoke to Michael about his essentials for a perfect weekend.

By Linsey Rendell

How do you like to start your weekend?
With a nice cup of tea and a hearty breakfast.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Take my dog Ozzie for an early morning walk when no one else is up and about. It’s so quiet it feels like you are in another world.

How do you like to unwind?
Kite surfing and doing tai chi.

What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
I work most weekends, so it would have to be drinking lots of oolong tea – I can’t get enough of the stuff – and good food with family and friends.

What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Renovating … I always find something to do instead.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Relaxing with my lovely wife and watching a movie.

What are you looking forward to next weekend?
A family get-together.

What are you reading at the moment?
Jaguar magazines – I am planning to restore an old 1974 model.

What inspires you?
People who have made it, lost it and made it again.

What was your childhood dream?
To be like my dad and travel the world.

What has been your greatest achievement?
Well ,if you put a ‘s’ after achievement – it’s more than one thing for me – it is doing two apprenticeships and being married for 38 years.

What is success to you?
I can some that up in two words: being happy.

What are your words of wisdom?
Smile and don’t be afraid to be you.

Only a local would know … that the barber on Vulture Street in West End does the best cuts.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:

Perk up … Brighton Beach watching kite surfers
Relax … My verandah watching wallabies and birds after giving them food
Dine … Sing’s Asian Kitchen in Rosalie
Indulge … Montville Village
Shop … Any hardware or car parts store
Catch-up … At Tlicious – I live and breathe it
Be inspired … I would have to say Tlicious again, because you meet some wonderful people from all around the world there