Still shivering.....

Yep, winter has taken hold this year and has really made up for the milder winters of the last few years. We started July much as we finished June, staying out of the cold in another theatre. This time we saw a play at the MTC's new home, pictured here. It was called Dead Man's Cellphone and was a very interesting take on modern obsession with our phones.

The following Saturday night we rugged up and caught a train to have dinner with Susie & Bryce at their place. Susie's lamb curry was delicious and the yummy chocolate cake for desert was just divine. We'll come again if that's how you spoil us! Thanks so much for a great night.

And then to the greatest winter sport of all. Lorraine & Hans arrived on Saturday morning for their annual pilgrimage to see the big game, Essendon vs West Coast Eagles. With the current form of both teams it was anyone's guess as to who would win. On the night it was the Eagles who were the better team and made our visitors very happy. What perfect hosts we are. That's 2 games each now so I'm sure it's our turn again next year. Other than the football we had a great weekend catching up with Lorraine & Hans. See you again same time next year guys!

This winter has a touch of de ja vue about it. Last year it was Bill's neck that kept us home and this year it is a hip problem that has decided to keep us tucked up nice and warm during the coldest weeks. It appears that Bill's attempt at getting fit earlier in the year (jogging) has had a negative impact on his hip and he has been ordered to rest for a few weeks and see if it improves. Of course he can only achieve this on the weekends so any extended wanderings have been put on hold for the time being.

I'm still getting my exercise walking to and from work each day and it was one morning a few weeks ago when I came face to face with a new feature outside the ACCA, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. I still haven't decided whether this is a permanent feature or just a temporary instalation but I have discovered that it is a piece by Peter Cripps. He has created the first large-scale Public Project work realised. Over seven metres in height, Turning a quizzical eye — in the form of five convex mirrors — on the exterior of ACCA and its immediate neighbourhood, Cripps’ pair of big brotheresque mirror towers reflect the centre, a building which self-consciously declares itself ‘a sculpture in which to show art’. A little bit of interest on the walk each day.

So with another weeks work to get ready for we'll leave you for now.

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

A real cold snap

followed our return to the city. It seems that the whole of the country is experiencing a colder than usual winter. Walking to work in the fog the other day was very eerie. Crossing the Yarra footbridge and not being able to see beyond Princess Bridge was a strange sight. I took this photo on the way to work one morning. The other photo is taken at the same time but looking the other way from the bridge. Who could imagine such contrasts from the same place. The colder weather together with Bill's sore leg has kept our activities to a more sedate pace. We have been riding the trams and sticking to indoor pursuits for the last couple of weeks.

Bill got his camera fix when we spent a couple of hours wandering around the Photography & Camera Fair at Jeffs Shed. Some great pictures on display some being judged while we watched. Lots of accessories and post photo gadgets as well. We escaped with the wallet still in the pocket though I think the Christmas wish list has just grown.

Another way to beat the cold is too take in some of the live theatre that Melbourne has to offer and that is what we have done for the last 2 weeks. The first being The Candy Man at the Arts Centre. It was a great show with Song & Dance Man Wayne Scott Kermond ( ex Singing in the Rain), celebrating the music of Sammy Davis Jr. The Candy Man Band and the 5 dancers were fabulous and if you want a great trip down memory lane this is just the ticket.


With another cold and wet Saturday night last week we decided that the Comedy Theatre was the place to be and we went along and saw the new production of Calender Girls. This was the funniest thing we have seen for a long time. We all know the story of the Womens Institute in Yorkshire who posed nude for a Christmas Calender to raise money for the local hospital, in memory of one of the husbands who had died with Cancer. This production staring 'old' Aussie actresses Lorraine Bayly, Rachel Berger, Rhonda Burchmore, Cornelia Frances, Jean Kittson, Anna Lee & Amanda Muggleton had the whole theatre in stitches for the entire evening.

The next night we did brave the cold, parking at the Zoo and walking around to the State Netball & Hockey Centre to watch the Australian Boomers take on the Argentinia Basketball team for game two of the World Challenge. Australia won the night but the visitors gave us a bit of a fright towards the end.

So with another chilly weekend looming it's back to the drawing board to see what warm & dry adventures we can pursue. I hope that wherever you are reading this you too are staying warm and surviving the icy conditions.

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