Fabulous Feburary

Is over and the Grand old dame that is Melbourne is changing her costume again. The tennis players have gone and so has Centre Court from Rod Laver Arena and there is now an olympic sized swimming pool right in the middle for the upcoming FINA World Championships. The tennis match we saw there in January was great so I can't wait to see the swimming now.

Cricket has moved on from the MCG and Football, yes already, is back both there and at Telstra Dome. We went and watched our first game at The Dome last Saturday night with some friends. It was so hot that Bill had to buy a hat so he didn't get a burnt head. Well that was his excuse anyway. I think he just wanted a new Essendon hat.

Basketball has also finished for the year with 'our' South Dragons getting into the final 8 but unfortunately no further. The Tigers have Melbournes hopes riding on their shoulders now.

The Yarra and Birrarung Marr are in the process of being transformed for the Moomba Waterfest which is on next weekend, the platform for 'The Birdman Rally' standing out in the Yarra this week. The city will be teeming with people watching the Moomba parade on Monday. Last year all the water activities were put on hold as preparations for the Commonwealth Games went ahead so we are looking forward to seeing it all this year.

March is heaven for the Petrol Heads with the Grand Prix and the Airshow. The Grand Prix activites start today with a Ferrari Festival in Lygon St, celebrating Ferrari's 60th Aniversary. A display of more than 60 Ferrari road cars and the sight and sound of the Ferrari F1 car driven down Lygon St should add a bit of excitment to the day.

Chinese New Year is an ongoing celebration during Feb/March with the Golden Dragon at the Casino and many businesses decorated with Chinese Lanterns. The Year of the Pig was ushered in for the first time without crackers as the weekend was over 38 both days and with no water to spare a total fire ban was issued for the Dancing Dragons.

At the NGV Tezuka's Astroboy has gone home and Bollywood has come to town with Cinema India - The Art of Bollywood showing. Not sure I'll get there but we do want to see 'Sneakers' - stay tuned.

Weatherwise Melburnians are getting to wear their summer clothes for a bit longer than usual with a very hot Feburary and a hot start to March. The fashion centres are all parading their winter collections but so far there is not much sign of needing them, though I know that wont be forever.

Our adventures in Feburary were maily of a culinary nature. Auntie Muriel was visiting from England for 6 weeks and with her we found some wonderful venues. Dinner at Cafe LA in the Sofitel in Collins St is a must do if you are in town. It is on the 31st floor and the view is spectacular and I'm pleased to say the food is excellent too. Chloe's, upstairs in Young & Jacksons was another highlight with it's beautifully restored dining room being the total opposite of the modern Cafe LA. Again the food was wonderful. Miss Marple's in Sassafras was a wonderful place for Sunday lunch and the little village of Sassafras a treat to spend some time wandering around. Of course many other little local cafes got a workout when we weren't eating at home which we did do sometimes.

Bill had some adventures of his own with a trip to Darwin, staying to watch Essendon play the Aboriganal Allstars and catching up with Peter Miller for Breakfast before flying home on Saturday. The following week he had a couple of days on Hamilton Island - hard work eh!

So to this weeks sculpture 'The Business Men who bought their own lunch' which can be found on the corner of Bourke St mall and Swanston St. I pass these 3 guys every morning as I get off the tram on my way to work and got to thinking 'what would they think of all the goings on around them every day'. The world rushes by, tourists by the droves have their photo's taken with them, many varied parades pass down Swanston St during the year and still they clasp their 'lunches' and walk on. Pretty much like us all. I guess we all need to stop, look around us and see what is really happening in the places we live, it can be an amazing adventure sometime. Oops, enough of the deep & meaningful, I'm off to find some more adventures.

until next time.......