Anzac Day in Melbourne

Yes, it's me again. Well Easter has passed once more, the excuse to over indulge in Chocolate gone for now, well until next year.
Anzac Day, the following week gave us all a nice run of 4 day weeks, before we had to face the reality of no more Public Holidays until June.

Of course Anzac Day is far more than just a Public Holiday. We did think about going to the Dawn Service at the Shrine but when I woke at 5am it was just too warm to venture out into the cold morning. It is something we must do, especially now as we are so close. From our balcony we were able to see the march going along St Kilda Rd and we had the perfect position to watch the planes as they passed overhead to perform their flyby over the Shrine, Bill was able to get some good photo's of some of them. They are certainly a challenge though as they come from behind us and go past so quickly.

We did however make it to that other Anzac Day institution, the Essendon vs Collinwood game at the MCG. The grounds had been transformed from the centrepiece of the Commonwealth Games back to the now magnificent stadium that is the MCG. The transformation had taken every day since the games ended and was finished only a few nights before the big event. The Ceremony before the game was very moving and the Last Post played in the middle of the ground with 92,000 people in the stands was just amazing, that and the National Anthem with the Australian Flag was spinetingling. We were at the game with friends, 3 of whom were mad Collingwood supporters and another who was with Bill & I cheering Essendon on. Sadly we were not the victors on the day. Well, there's always next time.

The weekend before we had taken a drive up to Bright, staying overnight, to see Autumn in all it's spectacular colour. It certainly was worth the trip. Bright is a lovely town about 3 hours drive from Melbourne near Mt Hotham, Mt Buffalo & Falls Creek so as you can imagine it is quite chilly, which in turn is perfect for the wonderful trees to showcase autumn to perfection. On the way home, in Milawa, we came across a familiar name, Brown Bros, so of course we had to stop, sample, have lunch and of course buy some of the lovely wine to bring home.

So on that note I must leave you all

until next time...........

Easter Bunny

First let me say Happy Easter to everyone. I hope you have all had a wonderful time, whatever your plans have been. For us it has been an Easter of firsts. First Easter in Melbourne for many years. First Easter, for a number of years, we have not spent down South with good friends & First Easter we have not spent Sunday & Monday watching majestic Karri trees from a wonderful front porch in Pemberton. We did miss you all. First time visiting a Football hall of Fame. First football game of the season. I know, by now you are asking what on earth is she talking about. Well let me share our Easter adventures with you all.

Our Easter started on Thursday night having dinner with BB. He was in town and stayed till Friday. Hot Cross Buns for breakky and he was off on his way once more. It was really good to see BB again and hear all his news, both local & holiday.

As it was a nice day we decided that we would wander over to Docklands in search of more sculptures for, yes you guessed it, rhossietalk. There have been a few new pieces added to the streetscapes in the last few weeks so a nice autumn day seemed the ideal opportunity to go and find them. Along the way we passed many others who were out walking, jogging, cycling & just enjoying the lovely morning along the network of boardwalks & paths beside the Yarra. Look what we found. Seemed just the right choice for Easter. The Rabbit is a Signature work by Emily Floyd 2004. The artist statement says:

'Drawing on images of childhood literature, Emily Floyds anthropomhic 'Toy' rabbit is both playful & sardonic. This sculpture looks at one of the conventions of art - the Signature Work - where a particular motif is repeated over & over, achieving recognition for the artist. Floyd examines the ways artists & audiences behave when they construct, view & purchase works of art, in it's monolithic form. Emily Floyd's rabbit is encouraged to ask itself the question, "Am I a work of art, or am I just an adverstisement for my mother?" Mmm Interesting!

After a nice lunch at Liquid, the cafe, not a liquid lunch, we thought we would come home via Telstra Dome so as to have a look at the (still not quite finished) Southern Cross Station (formerly known as Spencer Street). What a surprise we got. The Good Friday Appeal was in full swing all the way around the concourse at the Dome. We wandered through the festivities, people, old & young everywhere, they raised just over $10 million for the Childrens Hospital.

Saturday's plans were to visit the Essendon Football Club at Windy Hill, do the tour and have lunch with a friend. The tour was fun and the Hall of Fame very good. Lunch at the club was off, being Easter so we all went over to a local Pub instead. The weather had decided to change and it was a cold & windy day (now I understand why it is called Windy Hill). Essendon was playing the next day at Teslstra Dome so we decided that would be our big event for Sunday. As it was a fine day the roof was open (first time we have been in with it open). Unfortunately it was not a good day for Essendon going down by 11 points. Oh well, there's always next time. We are off to see them play Collingwood at the MCG on Anzac Day so let's hope we get the right result then.

Another lovely morning on Monday saw us wandering along the river to Federation Square to see the Ferris Wheel & Big Top that has sprung up there for the 20th annual Comedy Festival. The city was very busy with many people in there for the festival & the usual sales that started today. A visit to the movies completed our day out and it is home again to do the usual pre work chores to get ready for the working week to come. So I guess thats all from me this week & there is only thing left to say

until next time........

Back on track

In more ways than one. Post Games the crowds are down, though the tour buses are still full every morning as I walk to work. The Grand Prix came to town last week with all the noise (we could hear it from home) and colour everyone has come to expect each March. Red is the predominant colour, though this year Ferrari seemed to go from disaster to disaster and totalled more than a couple of their cars. We had intended to go but a very cold & wet Saturday and a rolled ankle (I was cold stone sober) made us rethink our plans and it is now on the agenda for next year. We still felt we were part of the action as on Saturday morning we watched the Roulettes doing their routines & flybys over the track which as the crow flies is just 5 mins from home.

On Saturday night we went to the Regent Theatre to see the Lion King. It was wonderful, everything we expected and more. We can certainly recommend that you put it on your list of things to see if it comes to a theatre near you.

Sunday we headed off to Harmony Row Winery in Kyneton with some friends to see Harry Manx play there. He is a Blues/Jazz singer and plays an interesting array of stringed instruments (one made from a cigar box). He is coming to a venue near you in the not too distant future so if you come across him, he is well worth a listen too. He will be in country WA and the Blues Club in Perth. So after lunch in Gisborn, on the way, a nice bottle of Red and some good music, it wasn't a bad way to spend a Sunday.

Now that the crowds have dispersed, I can once again find some of the interesting items of Public Art Melbourne has to offer. This week, in keeping with the animal theme of the Lion King, I have included Larry Latrobe. Larry can be found in the City Square on the corner of Collins & Swanston St. I have discovered that Larry has a rather interesting past as noted below.

Background information on Larry’s lively life:

1992 Melbourne City Council commissioned Pamela Irving to make a sculpture for the Melbourne City Square. She produced a bronze dog called Larry Latrobe. Larry quickly won the hearts of the locals as well as tourists and visitors alike.

1995 In the dead of a winter night in 1995, Larry was stolen from the City Square causing a public uproar and a plea for his return in Melbourne’s media. He was dognapped, and remains unrecovered to this day!

In an effort to flush Larry of out of hiding, the Melbourne City Council built a 3 metre high float of Larry for the Moomba Parade.

1997 A kind benefactor, Peter Kolliner, paid for Larry to be recast for the City of Melbourne. Larry was reinstated, this time with very secure footings. The City Square has been refurbished with Larry relocated on the corner of Swanston and Collins Street Melbourne where he remains an icon.

So after another adventure filled week in the life & times of Rhos & Bill there is only one more thing to say

Until next time............