It's a sign

I went for a wander around North and West Melbourne today. Lots of old signs. I probably should have started another blog for my old sign pics, but I feel like I've gone too far to go back now...

Near the corner of La Trobe and Swanston Streets in the city. 

This is a two in one - there's another old sign underneath, 

which you can see at the right end (click to enlarge)

Near Victoria Market. Can't make out what it says - Firbanks something?

Noel Miller making his presence known, just off

 Leveson Street, North Melbourne

North Melbourne somewhere

This is my fave for today - Nestles (something) Milk Chocolate. 

I think this was on Victoria Street

Wanna buy a vowel? Somewhere in West Melbourne

Another good find in West Melbourne. I can make out 

 C Sands & McDougall Pty Ltd but not much on the second row. 

I also ventured into the Botanic Gardens on my way home - see my photos here.

South Melbourne sights

A couple of sign finds wandering to and from South Melbourne Market today...

Guests Biscuits, on Coventry Street (click to enlarge)

Mitchell McCabe on Clarendon Street. I can also see (or guess)

 the words mercery, hatters and tailor.  I googled Mitchell McCabe -

 they've been operating a menswear store since 1901.

 Now that's longevity!   

Busy, dry, baking

It's day three of my between-jobs break (not counting the weekend) and I've crossed quite a few things off my to-do list already. It's mostly stuff that falls into the 'boring-but-useful' category, like defrosting the freezer and cleaning the fridge, cleaning out and re-organising the pantry and decluttering my wardrobe. Nothing exciting, but it feels good to have it done. I have a little moment of glee every time I open the fridge or pantry door. I'll enjoy it while it lasts! 

I bought new walking shoes on the weekend. Sadly, I have reached an age where my body won't let me get away with walking for hours in any old shoes without foot, ankle, hip and lower back pain and stiffness. Dagnammit. You know you're not a young 'un any more when you've googled 'comfort shoes'.  Anyway, I bought a pair of proper walking/hiking shoes and wore them for the first time today. Not only are they comfy, they're waterproof. Today was very wet, but my feet remained dry.

I have a cake in the oven. Just a plain butter cake (allergy-diet friendly - yes, I'm still doing that confounded thing). I don't bake often...maybe the cake-baking urge has something to do with the dream I had last night about eating delicious cake. It's just out of the oven now. Must resist hacking off a piece. 

Old sign omnibus

I keep taking photos of old signs and forgetting to post them, so here's a whole bunch. 

At Prahran Station

 The station-facing side of the above building

Australian Knitting Mills in Richmond. I'd seen 

the AKM sign before but never noticed the 

painted over sign for Maddocks Sports below. 

 XXXX Classic Aussie Beer...Smith Street, Collingwood

 Also Smith Street - I think this is two old signs in one. 

I can't make out what it says

Old chemist on Smith Street 

 From what I can make out, this used to be a tobacconist

 and laundromat well before it was a fetish/BDSM shop

 A closer view. Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

 I might have posted a photo of this once 

before. Brunswick Street again

Not usually the type of old sign that I go for, but the word disco 

 caught my eye. Hoddle Street, Richmond

And finally...I saw this when looking up

 for old signs on Brunswick Street

Happysad

I feel both happy and sad after finishing up at work today. There were plenty of hugs and long goodbyes, little gifts and this gorgeous bunch of flowers. I had a nice lunch with the secretarial team and a couple of drinks after work. It's all over....I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! To be honest, it hasn't sunk in yet,  but I'm sure it will on Monday morning when my alarm doesn't go off. 

I left my phone behind in the toilets at Fed Square before heading home tonight but luckily it was picked up by a good samaritan. The finder was at a bar nearby so I nipped over and picked it up from her. What a good egg. (I really must stop putting my phone down in random places). 

Check out the unusual layered clouds that were over the city when I headed to work this morning.

(Click to enlarge)

Glowing

Tonight when I got off the tram the sun was setting in a stormy sky. Very purdy. I wish I'd been walking past the Bubble Dome five minutes earlier - as I walked towards it along Swan Street, I could see the whole sky behind it lit with an orange glow.  

It started to rain before I got home. I left my umbrella at work, but I wasn't worried because it was refreshing walking in the rain on a warm evening. The storm hit after I was home on the couch. There was one awesome thunder clap that made me jump. It's passed now and there's a nice fresh breeze blowing in the window.

Tomorrow is my last day in my job. It's been a hard week, so I'm really looking forward to my three week break. Lots of people have said they're sad to see me go (one solicitor even claimed to be devastated!), which has given me a warm inner glow. One co-worker gave me a lovely bunch of flowers. I just might have a tear in my eye tomorrow when I say my goodbyes. I won't miss the job, but I will miss the people.  Of course I'll stay in touch with the ones I'm closest to. 

Although this job hasn't worked out as I'd hoped, I've learnt a lot and made many new friends so I call that a win. 

Major glee

Mr & Mrs Plover always run away when I try to take their picture

Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned I'd taken steps to fix a situation that was making me unhappy? Well, I can now reveal that I have a new job! Yay! Still legal secretarying, but in a mid-size firm, instead of a huge one. 

I have one week to go in my current job, which I've been enjoying less and less since September last year.  I won't go into the reasons here, but I got fed up with going home grumpy most days and I felt as if all I did was moan about work. I had no confidence that anything would change, so I changed jobs. 

The second best bit is that I get THREE WEEKS OFF before starting the new job. I'm not going away  - I'll be having a staycation, three weeks of pottering around at home, working on neglected crafty projects and getting out and about to take photos, maybe even a few day trips to places I haven't been before. Yes, I have started compiling a to-do list. I'm rather looking forward to it. 

Duck siesta and Elmo

Napping beside the Yarra this afternoon

The things you see in a big city....