our flights to and from the uk later this year have been booked! we leave melb on october 12th, and london on november 7th. in our time there we will catch up with dan's fam and friends (there is overlap!), and do a wonderful walk - probably this walk along the thames path. we will probably do 5 days for walking, from the source to oxford. we will hopefully go all out, and stay in b&bs at kemble (night before), cricklade, lechlade, ummm, tadpole bridge (i think), and northmoor... maybe in oxford, but maybe hostels, as we could be broke by then.
we were also planning on visiting erin and julia in scotland, but sadly erin-and-julia (or julia-and-erin) is no more. we aren't sure if michelle and/or charlie will be there...? at any rate, this gives us more time for exploring other things, maybe even doing a second walk?
still haven't booked birthday things, but please get in contact with me - we'll probably go to crooners on lygon st (where we had our going away drinks last year), because it's easy. and yum yum yum eggplant chips.
24 May 2006
14 May 2006
YOU KNOW IT
Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti
is this because i answered: "What annoys you the most?"
with: "Stupid people"???
(what? if you worked in customer service, you would answer the same...)
13 May 2006
KEEP IT FREE
call out to all youse wot will be in melbs on 3rd june (saturday)
keep the evening free for my birthday party! no plans more solid than that - there'll probably be some sort of consumption of food followed by consumption of liquid.
keep the evening free for my birthday party! no plans more solid than that - there'll probably be some sort of consumption of food followed by consumption of liquid.
1 May 2006
30 April 2006
SIX WEEKS
six weeks until settlement!
we are beginning to start to contemplate the task of moving. also the possibility of having house warming parties. also whether we want to give the place a "lick of paint" before we move in. also, giving notice to our landlord. also, sending out change of address notes (though that won't happen for a while... as i said: "beginning to start to...")
melbourne is getting colder. we got the heater out and are using it almost every day, because we are wimps!
we are beginning to start to contemplate the task of moving. also the possibility of having house warming parties. also whether we want to give the place a "lick of paint" before we move in. also, giving notice to our landlord. also, sending out change of address notes (though that won't happen for a while... as i said: "beginning to start to...")
melbourne is getting colder. we got the heater out and are using it almost every day, because we are wimps!
16 April 2006
THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW...
While that last post covers some of what we were up to 7 months ago, this post will detail some of our exploits from this month. To be more precise, from Sunday the 9th of April, between the hours of 8am and 5pm (approximately), when we headed out to the Dandenong Ranges and went for a little stroll through the forest.
We left home in the morning, but ran into trouble almost immediately - our tram (and most trams into the city) weren't running to their destinations because there was some sort of charity run (Run For The Kids) sweating its way through the city. We started walking earlier than intended.
After facing the reality of the Melbourne trains' Sunday timetable, we were well and truly ready for a nice bit of fresh countryside. From Belgrave station, we followed a roadside path to what surely must be a contender for the world's least useful tourist information offices ("They don't let us have any maps here...") - although, to be fair, they do sell roasted chestnuts. Anyway, despite the best efforts of the tourist information man, we found the start of our path. After a couple of kms of walking through dense forest of immensely tall trees, we came across a picnic area, where we stopped for a bit and ate an apple each, whilst being watched and circled by a large squawk of cockatoos (well then, YOU tell me what the collective noun is for cockatoos).
After this, we headed up a path that lead away from the road, and climbed and weaved, steadily higher and higher, through very green and peaceful bush land for another few kms. We came out of the trees, onto a quiet country lane, past country houses and a guesthouse, and a cute cast iron bench to which Rachel took a particular fancy. We followed this road for a while, then came across another picnic area, and decided that it was time for lunch. It was drizzling by now, and the only space in the area that was covered was the information board, so we sat on the ground underneath it, munching away happily as passers by gave us odd looks.
We then continued on our way, beginning our descent back towards the starting point, down an increasingly muddy path. We took a brief detour down some perilously slippery steps to take a peek at Sherbrooke Falls, then continued along the path, which brought us out to a point almost directly opposite where we had started our walk. Back in Belgrave, we stopped of at the surprisingly good Queen of Tarts cafe, before shivering our way home for a nice hot cup of lemon and honey drink.
Pics may or may not be forthcoming.
Today (Easter Sunday, and our 3 years 9 months anniversary), we went for another walk, this time shorter and more local. We trammed up Sydney Road to Pentridge Prison, then walked from Coburg Lakes down along the Merri Creek to our newly purchased home, then back over to Sydney Road, where we had a nice lunch of bread and dips at Alasya, and Rachel went bargain hunting at VMart (no, that's not a typo).
Days off are great.
We left home in the morning, but ran into trouble almost immediately - our tram (and most trams into the city) weren't running to their destinations because there was some sort of charity run (Run For The Kids) sweating its way through the city. We started walking earlier than intended.
After facing the reality of the Melbourne trains' Sunday timetable, we were well and truly ready for a nice bit of fresh countryside. From Belgrave station, we followed a roadside path to what surely must be a contender for the world's least useful tourist information offices ("They don't let us have any maps here...") - although, to be fair, they do sell roasted chestnuts. Anyway, despite the best efforts of the tourist information man, we found the start of our path. After a couple of kms of walking through dense forest of immensely tall trees, we came across a picnic area, where we stopped for a bit and ate an apple each, whilst being watched and circled by a large squawk of cockatoos (well then, YOU tell me what the collective noun is for cockatoos).
After this, we headed up a path that lead away from the road, and climbed and weaved, steadily higher and higher, through very green and peaceful bush land for another few kms. We came out of the trees, onto a quiet country lane, past country houses and a guesthouse, and a cute cast iron bench to which Rachel took a particular fancy. We followed this road for a while, then came across another picnic area, and decided that it was time for lunch. It was drizzling by now, and the only space in the area that was covered was the information board, so we sat on the ground underneath it, munching away happily as passers by gave us odd looks.
We then continued on our way, beginning our descent back towards the starting point, down an increasingly muddy path. We took a brief detour down some perilously slippery steps to take a peek at Sherbrooke Falls, then continued along the path, which brought us out to a point almost directly opposite where we had started our walk. Back in Belgrave, we stopped of at the surprisingly good Queen of Tarts cafe, before shivering our way home for a nice hot cup of lemon and honey drink.
Pics may or may not be forthcoming.
Today (Easter Sunday, and our 3 years 9 months anniversary), we went for another walk, this time shorter and more local. We trammed up Sydney Road to Pentridge Prison, then walked from Coburg Lakes down along the Merri Creek to our newly purchased home, then back over to Sydney Road, where we had a nice lunch of bread and dips at Alasya, and Rachel went bargain hunting at VMart (no, that's not a typo).
Days off are great.
12 April 2006
DANRACHEL APOLOGISES FOR THE DELAY...
6 months late, but nonetheless, we present more PICTURES FROM SCOTLAND! Go on, have a butcher's - you know you want to...
In this update, there are pictures from Orkney, Skye, and Lismore, as well as a few randoms here and there, and some pictures of a bridge that was in the Harry Potter films. Click on Photo Album Number 2 to experience the joy of pix.
4 April 2006
POLITICALLY CORRECT NURSERY RHYMES
someone has to pull this out, every now and then. just so we can say WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO? personally, i like the good re-writings of these ditties, because they really can point out the awful truth of the matter. yes, they're sexist. yes, they're racist. yes, they pick on people with disabilities.
georgie porgie, puddin' an' pie
kissed the girls and made them cry
when the boys came out to play
georgie porgie kissed them too, in the name of fairness
was georgie a girl or a boy? trans? gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual?
georgie porgie, puddin' an' pie
kissed the girls and made them cry
when the boys came out to play
georgie porgie kissed them too, in the name of fairness
was georgie a girl or a boy? trans? gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual?
3 April 2006
DAYLIGHT, SAVED.
this morning we slept in. this is always a nice thing to do on a monday morning! even nicer was the fact that the sleep in was til 8am new time, so 9am old time. and i went to bed early last night. i am feeling well rested.
dan's wallet got stolen last week, which was annoying. by "stolen" i guess it's more "left behind and picked up by someone who didn't return it"... so he's been calling banks and medicare and vicroads and all that stuff to arrange new cards. we are yet to find out if metlink will give him a replacement metcard (monthly)... knowing how stingy they are, though, i doubt it.
autumn/winter has made itself known in melbourne, with temperatures NEAR FREEZING (by which i mean a top temperature of less than 15 degrees). our next door neighbour, from sri lanka, asked me if she would need to buy 2 heaters for her flat... which made me think of getting our heaters out, which made me realise that for the coldest bit of winter (july), we will be in our NEW HOUSE! grand.
dan's wallet got stolen last week, which was annoying. by "stolen" i guess it's more "left behind and picked up by someone who didn't return it"... so he's been calling banks and medicare and vicroads and all that stuff to arrange new cards. we are yet to find out if metlink will give him a replacement metcard (monthly)... knowing how stingy they are, though, i doubt it.
autumn/winter has made itself known in melbourne, with temperatures NEAR FREEZING (by which i mean a top temperature of less than 15 degrees). our next door neighbour, from sri lanka, asked me if she would need to buy 2 heaters for her flat... which made me think of getting our heaters out, which made me realise that for the coldest bit of winter (july), we will be in our NEW HOUSE! grand.
28 March 2006
ACT: "GAY MARRIAGE"
hey, cool. a step further than the tasmanian deal... not a 'registration' but a scheme which "will essentially create domestic relationships." (how it creates a "domestic relationship" is, as yet, unclear).
i like this article from the age ( http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/03/28/1143441116253.html ) because it also points out that: "This is an acceptance of other relationships for same-sex couples and indeed for those opposite sex couples who don't wish or don't choose to pursue a marriage under the Marriage Act."
and yet... and yet... if it's gonna be there in all but name, what the fuck is the point of dividing it up? i mean, REALLY! ... unless we make "marraige" a thing that people can only get through a religious institution. it's religious morons (and not all religious people fall into this category) who have a problem with it; it's them who think that allowing two people who love each other and are committed to each other get married is wrong, just because the two people happen to have the same BITS; it's them who think allowing such a union is an 'attack on marriage'... so maybe we should have civil unions for EVERYONE, and marriage only for religious people who choose it - or even have RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE and CIVIL MARRIAGE - then we'd solve the 'problem' (and the problem here is not same-sex couples or intersex people or trans people)...
anyway, enough ranting for today.
i like this article from the age ( http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/03/28/1143441116253.html ) because it also points out that: "This is an acceptance of other relationships for same-sex couples and indeed for those opposite sex couples who don't wish or don't choose to pursue a marriage under the Marriage Act."
and yet... and yet... if it's gonna be there in all but name, what the fuck is the point of dividing it up? i mean, REALLY! ... unless we make "marraige" a thing that people can only get through a religious institution. it's religious morons (and not all religious people fall into this category) who have a problem with it; it's them who think that allowing two people who love each other and are committed to each other get married is wrong, just because the two people happen to have the same BITS; it's them who think allowing such a union is an 'attack on marriage'... so maybe we should have civil unions for EVERYONE, and marriage only for religious people who choose it - or even have RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE and CIVIL MARRIAGE - then we'd solve the 'problem' (and the problem here is not same-sex couples or intersex people or trans people)...
anyway, enough ranting for today.
25 March 2006
WHEEEEE!!!
DAN'S HOME! i went to collect him from the airport, and there he was! yay! i wish i always got a dan at the airport! he has some very cool pix of south africa, so eventually we'll have to put some up on photobucket (when we get around to doing the scotland ones, which will probably be when i get a new computer).
in other news, i waited for 40 minutes for a bus last night. FORTY MINUTES!!! well, to be exact, it was forty two minutes. and this was around 7-8pm on a friday night. this is why melbourne's public transport must die. i'm going to get esther j's kitten, toby, onto it!
last sunday i went for a hike with my aunt caroline (did i already write about this?) at wilson's prom. it was 23kms all up - 3 hrs from mt oberon carpark to waterloo bay (where the sand was white and round, and the sea was brilliant blue-turquoise), 1 hr for luncheon, and 3 hours back. wow. i can do it!!!
sorry i haven't updated for a while, but we'll try to get back on track! we did get some important letters from various house-related people (bank, bank's lawyers, our solicitor...) and the day drifts inevitably nearer!
in other news, i waited for 40 minutes for a bus last night. FORTY MINUTES!!! well, to be exact, it was forty two minutes. and this was around 7-8pm on a friday night. this is why melbourne's public transport must die. i'm going to get esther j's kitten, toby, onto it!
last sunday i went for a hike with my aunt caroline (did i already write about this?) at wilson's prom. it was 23kms all up - 3 hrs from mt oberon carpark to waterloo bay (where the sand was white and round, and the sea was brilliant blue-turquoise), 1 hr for luncheon, and 3 hours back. wow. i can do it!!!
sorry i haven't updated for a while, but we'll try to get back on track! we did get some important letters from various house-related people (bank, bank's lawyers, our solicitor...) and the day drifts inevitably nearer!
14 March 2006
NO NOOSE IS GOOD NOOSE
dan is away in sth africa. STILL!!! i miss him very much. he says he has been having a good time, though. they started with a 4 day walk along the coast (i think), which included such horrible things as boat rides, champagne breakfasts and wine tastings. the other day they went to a cave... it had stalactites and stalagmites. yesterday they went for a walk in a forest. so they have been very outdoorsy and energetic. dan was also impressed by the tailless cat (not a manx) and its ability to catch voles. VOLES! heheh!... dan will be home in EIGHT DAYS. looking forward to seeing him again.
esther j got a kitten!!!!! it is very cute and small. he is a tabby with white paws, and she called him toby. i think this is short for tobias, and i believe he will grow up to be a librarian. he may also smoke a pipe. who knows?
i got IDed on sunday when i was in footscray buying some juicy alcohol with esther-my-sister!!! hilarious! i haven't been IDed for ages. i'll put this time down on record in case it never happens again.
the research is going ok, but not a whole heap to report. i've collated a large number of articles, and now i feel confident in starting to say some things about them. i am not yet foucault, though i thught reading the book "using foucault's methods" would transform me. never mind. he's dead anyway.
esther j got a kitten!!!!! it is very cute and small. he is a tabby with white paws, and she called him toby. i think this is short for tobias, and i believe he will grow up to be a librarian. he may also smoke a pipe. who knows?
i got IDed on sunday when i was in footscray buying some juicy alcohol with esther-my-sister!!! hilarious! i haven't been IDed for ages. i'll put this time down on record in case it never happens again.
the research is going ok, but not a whole heap to report. i've collated a large number of articles, and now i feel confident in starting to say some things about them. i am not yet foucault, though i thught reading the book "using foucault's methods" would transform me. never mind. he's dead anyway.
28 February 2006
AUTUMN
this morning i woke up beside my beautiful, snuggly dan. it was great! when we opened the curtains, we were greeted by gorgeous clear skies and steamed-up windows (not for the reason you're thinking, either)... upon opening the windows we discovered the crystal chill of autumn air. autumn has come a day early.
this weather is quite a change from sydney - hot and humid one day, warm and humid the next, humid and raining the day after. and why was i in sydney? you may well ask! i went up for work: we had a stall at the gift and homewares trade show in olympic park (i.e. where people go to sell to businesses). it was our first fair, and the stall looked amazing - so amazing that we won the best new exhibitor award (all credit going to people other than me - i had nothing to do with it, i only stood around looking pretty and selling tea!). i also had a little bit of spare time on sunday night, so i visited sarah and philip (dad's sister and her husband), where i was fed delicious foods and enjoyed the company of non-selling-obsessed people for a few hours... the fair was a fantastic experience, but REALLY INTENSE.
also, i stayed at the ibis hotel in olympic park (O.P. IS SCARY), where the air-conditioner only goes down to 18 degrees, and turns off if you open the window. there was a photo of two half naked men above my bed. they were grappling on the floor. "wrestling" i believe it's called. much bulging of muscles and closing of eyes in... "concentration."
i love flying. leaving sydney last night, the plane climbed into some low cloud, and the low-lying sun lit up the fluff with oranges and pinks. i wouldn't have been surprised if a couple of little cupids had appeared beside my window. it was like falling through a painting. when we banked around and sunk towards tullamarine, the sun was huge and orange on the horizon. it disappeared in our final descent, and by the time i left the airport in the taxi, there was little more than a smidgin of yellow-green to the west...
and now i'm home for a few days, before gallivanting off to east gippsland with esther j for a concert we're playing...
i'll have to get as much snuggling with dan as i can before he leaves for sth africa on sunday.
this weather is quite a change from sydney - hot and humid one day, warm and humid the next, humid and raining the day after. and why was i in sydney? you may well ask! i went up for work: we had a stall at the gift and homewares trade show in olympic park (i.e. where people go to sell to businesses). it was our first fair, and the stall looked amazing - so amazing that we won the best new exhibitor award (all credit going to people other than me - i had nothing to do with it, i only stood around looking pretty and selling tea!). i also had a little bit of spare time on sunday night, so i visited sarah and philip (dad's sister and her husband), where i was fed delicious foods and enjoyed the company of non-selling-obsessed people for a few hours... the fair was a fantastic experience, but REALLY INTENSE.
also, i stayed at the ibis hotel in olympic park (O.P. IS SCARY), where the air-conditioner only goes down to 18 degrees, and turns off if you open the window. there was a photo of two half naked men above my bed. they were grappling on the floor. "wrestling" i believe it's called. much bulging of muscles and closing of eyes in... "concentration."
i love flying. leaving sydney last night, the plane climbed into some low cloud, and the low-lying sun lit up the fluff with oranges and pinks. i wouldn't have been surprised if a couple of little cupids had appeared beside my window. it was like falling through a painting. when we banked around and sunk towards tullamarine, the sun was huge and orange on the horizon. it disappeared in our final descent, and by the time i left the airport in the taxi, there was little more than a smidgin of yellow-green to the west...
and now i'm home for a few days, before gallivanting off to east gippsland with esther j for a concert we're playing...
i'll have to get as much snuggling with dan as i can before he leaves for sth africa on sunday.
24 February 2006
GARAGE GARAGE GARAGE SALE SALE SALE
THERE IS A GARAGE SALE:
Corner of PLENTY RD and WOOD ST in PRESTON
(entry behind chemist via wood st)
this SATURDAY 25th february.
our friends are MOVING OUT (going overseas indefinitely) and MUST SELL all this stuff!
FURNITURE
A WEB CAM (STILL NEW!)
CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, CUTLERY, KITCHENWARE
NEW CLOTHES (KIDS/WOMEN/MEN/SPORTS)
SECOND HAND CLOTHES
BOOKS AND CDS
JEWELLERY
CANDLES AND PARAPHERNALIA
SHOES
CD RACK
KIDS TOYS AND GAMES
so make your way over there during the day on saturday and check it out. there is SO MUCH STUFF... so much GOOD stuff, most importantly!
Corner of PLENTY RD and WOOD ST in PRESTON
(entry behind chemist via wood st)
this SATURDAY 25th february.
our friends are MOVING OUT (going overseas indefinitely) and MUST SELL all this stuff!
FURNITURE
A WEB CAM (STILL NEW!)
CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, CUTLERY, KITCHENWARE
NEW CLOTHES (KIDS/WOMEN/MEN/SPORTS)
SECOND HAND CLOTHES
BOOKS AND CDS
JEWELLERY
CANDLES AND PARAPHERNALIA
SHOES
CD RACK
KIDS TOYS AND GAMES
so make your way over there during the day on saturday and check it out. there is SO MUCH STUFF... so much GOOD stuff, most importantly!
22 February 2006
OUR FRIENDS
so many things are happening.
erin and julia leave for the world in a couple of weeks.
esther j is moving for ascot vale (or is it travancore?) on the weekend.
theresa and nathan have recently welcomed their baby to this life.
sara-jane and i are both back at uni doing masters degrees.
esther o'r-dg (!!!) is settling into her teaching job.
may is soon going to spain with her dad to walk a pilgrimage trail.
rachel b is planning her trip to the USA, or is she planning fame and glory? or both?
i am going to sydney for work on the weekend.
esther j and i are going to east gippsland to play music for people the weekend after.
on that weekend, dan is also leaving for south africa - his cousin is getting married, and he will be away for about 2 1/2 weeks (*pouts*)
there will come a day when i will have space to think. BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!
erin and julia leave for the world in a couple of weeks.
esther j is moving for ascot vale (or is it travancore?) on the weekend.
theresa and nathan have recently welcomed their baby to this life.
sara-jane and i are both back at uni doing masters degrees.
esther o'r-dg (!!!) is settling into her teaching job.
may is soon going to spain with her dad to walk a pilgrimage trail.
rachel b is planning her trip to the USA, or is she planning fame and glory? or both?
i am going to sydney for work on the weekend.
esther j and i are going to east gippsland to play music for people the weekend after.
on that weekend, dan is also leaving for south africa - his cousin is getting married, and he will be away for about 2 1/2 weeks (*pouts*)
there will come a day when i will have space to think. BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!
13 February 2006
THIS IS US
NEWS!
dan and rachel are in the process of buying an apartment in thornbury, right near the merri creek and the lygon st tram!
DETAILS: 2 bedrooms, gas heating and cooking, a bath with shower, laundry facilities in bathroom, decent sized lounge with balcony, off street parking, security entrance... it is tenanted until june. our settlement is on 11th june, and we will move in shortly after!
we have a building inspection at 5pm today (my uncle leigh is doing us a great favour), and will then go to the real estate agent's office and give him ALL OUR MONEY as a deposit!!! and also, quite probably, our souls.
for pics, check out dan's site (link on right) and click on the link called "HOME"...
HOW EXCITING!
dan and rachel are in the process of buying an apartment in thornbury, right near the merri creek and the lygon st tram!
DETAILS: 2 bedrooms, gas heating and cooking, a bath with shower, laundry facilities in bathroom, decent sized lounge with balcony, off street parking, security entrance... it is tenanted until june. our settlement is on 11th june, and we will move in shortly after!
we have a building inspection at 5pm today (my uncle leigh is doing us a great favour), and will then go to the real estate agent's office and give him ALL OUR MONEY as a deposit!!! and also, quite probably, our souls.
for pics, check out dan's site (link on right) and click on the link called "HOME"...
HOW EXCITING!
5 February 2006
FOOD. WALKING. WHAT MORE COULD YOU NEED?
Here I am, blogging it up again. You can probably tell that I’m typing offline in a word document, because capital letters are making appearances at the starts of sentences. And ‘sentences’ is spelled correctly. Not spelt. No, no, no.
Yesterday (Saturday) I went to work, which was OK apart from a couple of FERAL children. I worked with Julie (the owner) and Anita. Anita has only just started working at the Tea Party, and also works at Kathmandu. I hope that means good advice on packs and walking gear… and maybe a discount?! We got 4 new teas in on Friday – Turkish Honey Rooibos (3.5 stars in my out-of-5 subjective judgement), Blood Orange (flavoured black tea, 3 stars), Strawberry Sencha (decaf green tea, 4 stars), and Springtime (herbal with liquorice, mint, lemongrass, ginger and lemon peel, 4.5 stars). I have discovered the BEST eggplant dip in the market, at the shop diagonally opposite the place where we get our wraps and boreks. So I have eaten a lot of eggplant dip, which, teamed with their WONDERFUL felafel balls, makes a very, very, VERY yummy lunch.
While I was feasting on dip, Dan was out and about, paying rent and looking at apartments. Well, one apartment. It was in Flemington, and was quite nice, if a little "nice" in tones of beige. Fully renovated, with some rather bizarre nooks and spaces. It is a block of 6, and 3 are for sale – makes me wonder. It is right near the racecourse, so plenty of fun in spring…
After work, we met Esther J and Rachel B at Ripe, on St Georges Rd, and had a drink before heading to the Moroccan Soup Bar. YES! After years of trying, Dan and I finally made it. The food was absolutely delicious: favourites being the chickpea bake (it had yoghurt and paprika and parsley and pita bread (yep!) and some sort of delicious-making-stuff in it to make it delicious) and the tomatoey rice with eggplant. Also didn’t mind the sweets. Or the dips. In fact, it was all great! We had a banquet for $16.50 each, and left very satisfied. YUM. YUM. YUM!
Today Dan worked, and I met Paulina (who works with me at the Tea Party) to go for a walk. We met at the corner of Glenlyon Rd and Lygon St, walked over to the Merri Creek, and along the bike trail to Lake Reserve in Coburg (I figure it’s about 9 or 10 km from my door). The walk was very lovely, though a bit over-populated with Sunday strollers/cyclists/joggers/dog-walkers in some places. We saw a bike race at the Brunswick Velodrome – a first for us both! – and landed at Lake Reserve in the middle of a Greek festival, with dancing, music and food. We ate our picnic lunch while watching the dancers, then wandered up the hill to lay in the sun/shade and read (Paulina: Voltaire, Rachel: textbook on semiotics). Took the tram back down Sydney Rd, where we parted ways, and I had a fossick in Savers. (Let’s just say that I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS. But it was only $1.99, and I got a 20% discount, so it was very worthwhile. If I ever find a use for it, I’ll be sure to inform you!)
Next week, Dan has Tuesday and Wednesday off, so we’re going to visit a couple of apartments in Coburg for a squiz. Hope everyone is well and enjoying whatever weather you’re having (ours is lovely). Cheerio.
Yesterday (Saturday) I went to work, which was OK apart from a couple of FERAL children. I worked with Julie (the owner) and Anita. Anita has only just started working at the Tea Party, and also works at Kathmandu. I hope that means good advice on packs and walking gear… and maybe a discount?! We got 4 new teas in on Friday – Turkish Honey Rooibos (3.5 stars in my out-of-5 subjective judgement), Blood Orange (flavoured black tea, 3 stars), Strawberry Sencha (decaf green tea, 4 stars), and Springtime (herbal with liquorice, mint, lemongrass, ginger and lemon peel, 4.5 stars). I have discovered the BEST eggplant dip in the market, at the shop diagonally opposite the place where we get our wraps and boreks. So I have eaten a lot of eggplant dip, which, teamed with their WONDERFUL felafel balls, makes a very, very, VERY yummy lunch.
While I was feasting on dip, Dan was out and about, paying rent and looking at apartments. Well, one apartment. It was in Flemington, and was quite nice, if a little "nice" in tones of beige. Fully renovated, with some rather bizarre nooks and spaces. It is a block of 6, and 3 are for sale – makes me wonder. It is right near the racecourse, so plenty of fun in spring…
After work, we met Esther J and Rachel B at Ripe, on St Georges Rd, and had a drink before heading to the Moroccan Soup Bar. YES! After years of trying, Dan and I finally made it. The food was absolutely delicious: favourites being the chickpea bake (it had yoghurt and paprika and parsley and pita bread (yep!) and some sort of delicious-making-stuff in it to make it delicious) and the tomatoey rice with eggplant. Also didn’t mind the sweets. Or the dips. In fact, it was all great! We had a banquet for $16.50 each, and left very satisfied. YUM. YUM. YUM!
Today Dan worked, and I met Paulina (who works with me at the Tea Party) to go for a walk. We met at the corner of Glenlyon Rd and Lygon St, walked over to the Merri Creek, and along the bike trail to Lake Reserve in Coburg (I figure it’s about 9 or 10 km from my door). The walk was very lovely, though a bit over-populated with Sunday strollers/cyclists/joggers/dog-walkers in some places. We saw a bike race at the Brunswick Velodrome – a first for us both! – and landed at Lake Reserve in the middle of a Greek festival, with dancing, music and food. We ate our picnic lunch while watching the dancers, then wandered up the hill to lay in the sun/shade and read (Paulina: Voltaire, Rachel: textbook on semiotics). Took the tram back down Sydney Rd, where we parted ways, and I had a fossick in Savers. (Let’s just say that I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS. But it was only $1.99, and I got a 20% discount, so it was very worthwhile. If I ever find a use for it, I’ll be sure to inform you!)
Next week, Dan has Tuesday and Wednesday off, so we’re going to visit a couple of apartments in Coburg for a squiz. Hope everyone is well and enjoying whatever weather you’re having (ours is lovely). Cheerio.
2 February 2006
CHEAPER THAN AN APARTMENT
we didn't get that apartment... i've taken the link down, so it won't taunt me!
what i DID buy today is a marvellous t-shirt: "ladies sewing circle and terrorist society." it is very cool! and, as the heading tells me, cheaper than an apartment.
now, onto more househunting and dissertation research...
what i DID buy today is a marvellous t-shirt: "ladies sewing circle and terrorist society." it is very cool! and, as the heading tells me, cheaper than an apartment.
now, onto more househunting and dissertation research...
1 February 2006
APARTMENTS. TOGETHERMENTS?
Soooo... we are putting in an offer for an apartment in Northcote. Tomorrow. Eek.
You can have a look at it: on the right hand side of this page, there is a link called "Will We Own This Soon?"... Click on it, and be transported into the future home of us. Maybe.
Wish us luck.
You can have a look at it: on the right hand side of this page, there is a link called "Will We Own This Soon?"... Click on it, and be transported into the future home of us. Maybe.
Wish us luck.
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