It's Showtime

As most of us know the AFL Grand Final is probably the biggest show in town during September, but there is another show that appeals to the masses as well.

Yes the Royal Melbourne Show is in town for 2 weeks. On Sunday we joined the thousands of people who head off to the show to see what it was all about. Of course these shows are on in every State and all draw huge crowds but I must say that our couple of visits to the Royal Perth Show over the years did nothing to prepare me for the people trying to get around Show Bag Hall in Melbourne. Like a giant, many headed, centipede we shuffled forward, very slowly as we made our way to the counter that sold the 'Bertie Beetle' showbags. Well, we couldn't leave without one, could we. Another interesting feature of the show was the Giant Pie, no idea why, though it is a favoured meeting place apparently. Who says all the 'big' things are boring?

The exhibits were not so crowded and we saw Cats & Dogs, Sheep & Pigs, Baby animals. The most amazing decorated cakes, paintings & Photographs. And of course, hundreds of mad people riding the most death defying rides imaginable. How they do it, I'm still asking, or why for that matter. Anyway we had a fun day and an extra surprise because as we were getting ready to leave I answered the phone to hear a voice from the past asking what we were doing. It was our good friend Pat, previously from Perth but now from Gunnedah. She was here for a few days and staying just around the corner. It was great to see her and she joined us for all the fun at the show and dinner in Lygon St that night.

The night before 8 of us had hit another 'Show' in town. We went to see Wicked which really was 'wicked'. It is the story of Oz before Dorothy dropped in or the untold story of the witches of Oz. We loved it. Funny, sad, stunning scenery & costumes, all worth the price of the ticket to see it. We all met for a pre show dinner at Cafe LA in Collins St and finished off with drinks at the Yak Bar.

Also in 'show' mode the previous weekend we visited the NGV to see the Art Deco exhibition. It was just like visiting Nana's place with lot's of the items on display looking remarkably like some we all remember from our childhood - well some of us older people anyway. Not that we're old of course!

And the night before that we had re-visited the 60's joining Verity, Astrid & Hans at the Ferntree Gully Hotel for a show starring Russell Morris, Darryl Cotton and Jim Oates. Yes, the old Rock Stars can still belt out a tune, though we would walk past them in the street now and not have a clue who they were. Still a great time was had by all.

So now, no matter how hard we have tried to turn our heads to other pursuits and play down the footy fever, we have found that it doesn't work so we are off to watch the Grand Final with friends at their place on Saturday. May the best team win!

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

Miss Polly had a dolly who was sick, sick, sick

is the first line of a cute kids song. The last month it has been Miss Rhossie who was sick, sick, sick. Hence the long break between adventures. I can only assume that my flitting around the country to meet Bill for the weekend had finally caught up with me. They say that planes are notorious for spreading viruses and right now I think I agree.

After a couple of great weekends away I woke one morning to that 'I'm too sick to go to work feeling', I'm sure you all know that one. Anyway a visit to the Dr determined that I had a chest infection which took two weeks to leave it's cozy little home - me. No, I wasn't home for two weeks. Needless to say we had a couple of very quiet weekends tucked up in the warmth of the lounge room. I must admit I never thought I'd be glad that Bill brought a full boxed set of James Bond movies home from China last year.

So finally, fully recovered, we ventured out last weekend for the final hoorah for the season to watch Essendon go down to St Kilda at Telstra Dome. Having heard on the radio that Melbourne had just had it's coldest winter for 20 years we were not surprised to feel that the last day of winter stayed true to form. Still hats, coats & scarfs kept us warm while we watched & finally said farewell to live footy for another year. The boys did a great job and we look forward to lots more excitement next year.

So with spring in the air from Monday morning and a renewed thirst for adventure we looked forward to the weekend to get out & about only to have me, yes me, wake up again on Friday with that same song happening again. Another weekend spent on the couch and another James Bond movie to cheer us up. Hopefully this will be the last time Miss Rhossie will be sick, sick, sick, for the rest of the year. Bill has been a great nurse though I'm sure he is as over it as I am now.

One of the other places we went to last weekend was to QV which got me thinking about how it was once the home of The Queen Victoria Hospital, where I was born. It was demolished in the 80's and has since been reincarnated as a unique shopping, entertainment and apartment complex now. The main entrance of the hospital was left standing and is now used as a Women's Centre, wedged between the glass corporate boxes of the Sensis and BHP Billiton headquarters. Just the right picture for today's 'sick' story.

So with the sad, sick story out of the way, it's bye for now, until next time................