Holidays

I am away today to The Bellarine to look after Sister's, Bone Doctor's and Jo's cats. I will pick them up from a cattery (yes I know they aren't called that now. I can't think of the right name) along the way where they have been for two days. 

Bone Doctor's grandmother will turn 101. Her daughter, BD's mother, has MS and doesn't have too long to live. The last time BD was in northern Queensland was for her grandma's 100th. Her grandmother is a little doolally but still recognises family. It is sad about BD's mother. She was a nurse and travelled the world in weird places, like Mongolia, Russia but none of the big cities, deepest and darkest Africa, staying in favelas in South America, and Antarctica. 

Somehow, I sent my dead in bed neighbour an sms this morning that went to Bone Doctor. I quickly deleted it but it was later revealed, I was too slow to delete and she saw it and replied to me who said, I didn't know where Sister was visiting. 

I've finally worked out the difference between Sunshine and Sunbury, not yet Whittlesea and Winchelsea, and not quite Toowoomba and Townsville. The latter is where BD's grandmother lives and the former has pretty gardens with lots of flowers and sits upon an escarpment. From gay media, I remember Townsville as being very homophobic in the 1990s.

Two nights before I leave Sister's place after cat sitting, Phyllis and Kosov will come down by train and I'll pick them up from the station and they'll stay two nights. I don't normally take the car out at night at home, as I like to have a drink or two, but with dark arriving at 5pm, I will give Phyllis some night time driving experience. My headlights dim automatically, but I wonder if he needs to know how to dim lights by his left foot pushing a floor button, or operating a steering wheel stalk. 

In theory, I will have plenty of time to blog and comment, which I don't normally do when I am away from my desktop. My excuse was that it was unfair to Ray when away to be too focused on the matters of the internet. But maybe I will try a little bit during this break. 

I try to make the best of my life and I adore having the very loving Phyllis and Kosov in my life, but I feel so lost and purposeless without Ray. Nevertheless, I remind myself that I am a very privileged person in this world, mostly by luck of birth and the country I live in. See ya whenever. 

Beach and the overview of Port Phillip

It was an impromptu visit to Elwood Beach when Phyllis (correctly spelt, unlike in a previous post) was driving. The waters of Port Phillip are normally quite calm, but not this day with a high tide and large waves. So exciting in our humble not so little bay. The lads have been there before in calm times, and so were also impressed. 

And a few photos from our visit to The Eagle at Arthurs Seat. This is looking up to Arthurs Seat from the pier at Dromana. 

Views to north west

The gondolas travel about up and down for about one kilometre in each direction. It was a devil to pay because while we ate at the cafe, I looked online and if I had booked The Eagle in advance, it would have cost about $17 less for the three of us. I went to the counter and asked, and sure enough, if I stepped back and booked online now, I could save that money. I suppose it was worth it. I needed a QR code and apparently I downloaded the required app using one email address, and the tickets with the QR arrived to the different requested address. Old man became confused with matters tech, but I did get there in the end. Kosov tried to help, but couldn't understand what happened either. 

In the lower centre of this photo, you can see a grazing kangaroo. The skies were quite cloudy but we could just see the tall Melbourne buildings. My usual joke, "Guys, you left your bedroom window open", fell rather flat. 

Looking south towards Rosebud. We stopped off for food in Mornington, and then headed home. 

I visited the doctor today, Monday, and he took off the clear plastic bandage and proclaimed I had healed. I was impressed by how good the wound looked. There will be a scar I suppose, but what is one more. 

Monday Mural

It was time for Phyliss to learn reverse parallel parking. His first attempt was a fail, and that was my fault as I failed to initially see the trailer behind the SUV. Pull out and try again. I gave no advice and he parked perfectly. Yeah, well, anyone can fluke a perfect parallel park. We moved on and jesus, he made a second perfect parallel park. I could not believe it. I think I was happier than he was for his achievement.

I rarely parallel park, and you do become rusty. The ladies who shop and lunch in High Street Armadale are experts at parallel parking their large black Beemers and Mercs.

Anyway, this is supposed to be about murals and as usual, I join with Sami and others. What can I find today. I took this photo in July 2024 and this is a street we/I often walked along and I had not noticed the mural painted in 2023. It's rather marvellous, even if it doesn't correctly represent the heavily built up area. Route 78 was the last tram route to see the old W class trams running in regular service, not so long ago really. It is now served by the more modern A class trams, which are quite old too now, dating back to the 20th century. 

This is a bit interesting, not so much for the artists name, but in the top right are the words 'Poof Doo..'. Poof Doof is a gay venue in Chapel Street with an overall name of Chasers. If you don't know, poof is slang for gay, and doof is the loud heavy backbeat normally heard in young people's dance clubs, and sometimes coming out of car windows. 

About three weeks, the international artist Katy Perry performed at sold out concerts in Melbourne. I know nothing about her, not even her nationality, but no matter. One evening after performing, she turned up at Poof Doof and opened the bar for an hour to all the queens at the venue. Phyllis was very jealous. 

The most successful female stars have always created a strong gay base, going back to Audrey Hepburn, Piaf and of course, July Garland, or even earlier. Later think Cher, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Madonna, the stars of my era, and a whole lot more since. 

Sunday Selections

I'm joining with Elephant's Child and River for Sunday Selections. These photos are fairly recent.

Another photo of the good old days, with few cars on the roads and free flowing traffic before all those foreigners arrived and clogged up our cities.

This is a terrific sign, recognising that in spite of it being illegal to feed native creatures, people will do what they do, and feed ducks. Well done Melbourne Water.

I don't have a clue what these flowers are called.

Jacaranda flowering season is well past. When we first moved here in the early 2000s, I think the Jacaranda count in South Yarra, viewed from our balcony, was around 12. This year, I could only see 4. 

I want nothing to do with Temu, no matter how hard FB and other sites try to force me to it. I do think it might be a serious threat to Amazon though. It's not that I give a whatever for Amazon. I have to use it for Kindle books, but that's it. 

Further investigation is required. 

A nice welcome home.

A gift from Oldest Niece, a toasted sandwich maker and a food processor are in the cupboard which was open shelved for wine bottles. It shows the original kitchen colour before we had it made white. It is above the new and larger fridge, and I can no longer reach the cupboard without steps. 

There were a number of these 'art items' spread around the City of Port Phillip. 

 

A heron I think, waiting to spy food at St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

Yeah, nah. It doesn't work for me. 

Everything in this area was removed for the construction of the Metro Tunnel, and put back and it is a great space. I remember checking to see if the water flowed from the bubble tap, but I can't remember if it did. 

Near the State Trustees' huge building in Footscray, although I recently heard its location is Seddon. State Trustees is a government organisation who drew up my will. It can handle your affairs, and looks after the funds of those who are unable to look after themselves. 

Maybe the same Footscray area.

Chapel Street, Windsor. So sad. I am sure it was there in the 1970s. 

And another sad closure. The rents can be absurdly high, and it seems property owners would rather see buildings empty than negotiate on building rentals. It is much the same for newest high rise apartment buildings.