The Waifs, the gardens and the flowers

The Waifs show on Thursday night was great. We had good seats with an uninterrupted view, and the sound quality at Hamer Hall was, of course, top notch. Vicki and Donna's voices were so clear. I was hoping to hear more of my favourites, but you can't please everyone. It was a good mix of songs from their new album and songs from over their past 25 years together. (And yes, we were home before midnight.) 

Yesterday Luke and I went to the International Flower and Garden Show. So much gorgeousness. Sigh. I wish I had a garden. I did buy a few plants to add to my indoor collection though - a couple of tiny succulents, a string of  pearls plants, and a chain of hearts. 

Of course I took a lot of photos. 

 No visit to the Carlton Gardens is complete without a 

photo of the Hochgurtel Foundatin 

 Clematis

The bees are gonna be confused when they come back 

to the gardens on Monday 

 Coneflower

 Upside down, Miss Jayne. The glass orb in the 

centre of one of the garden sculptures

 Another garden sculpture

 Freaky flower growing on a succulent in the

 hanging basket competition 

 Smiley water feature 

 Lovely tulips

 Ram skullpture

 Part of my fave of the garden displays. So shady

 More of the above garden

And another part of the above garden

   Wiry lady

 Floral display 

 Do you like my flower crown?

 Part of the gold medal winning floral display by

 Victoria Whitelaw 

 One of the entrants in the RMIT fashion student competition 

Nest of flowers 

I was so tired after all that walking around yesterday that I spent most of today in bed. 

Something's coming

One of my fave songs from the new Waifs album

I have some fun stuff coming up in the next few weeks, which I'm a little bit excited about. 

This Thursday Luke and I are going to an Evening with The Waifs, the band's 25th anniversary show at Hamer Hall. They've been one of my favourite bands for years and they are fantastic live. I'm also (now-not-so) secretly pleased it's a sit down show because I've passed the stage where I want to stand up in a crowd for hours jockeying for a view of the band and being jostled by annoying people going back and forth to the bar.  This show will be far more civilised and we should be home by midnight. (Yep, I'm an old lady.)

On Friday Luke and I are going to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. This will be my second time, but my first visit was many, many moons ago and I wasn't particularly interested in plants and stuff then. But now, I'm obsessed with flowers, I have a growing collection of indoor plants and I love visiting gardens.  I can't wait. I expect to be overcome by the beauty.

Then for Easter Mum is visiting for the first time in ages and we're heading off to the High Country for a night. We're staying in Merrijig, which is close to Mount Buller. Luke has been before, but I haven't and I'm looking to it. I love the High Country and autumn is a great time to go.  We're also going to Werribee Zoo while Mum's here and there will also be a Meeting of the Parents (I guess it had to happen one day). 

I am full of anticipation. 

Catching up: part II (the music stuff)

Remember I wanted to buy some new music recently, but was lacking inspiration? That's over now.  Here are my recent finds. 

The first is Lightning Bolt by English youngster Jack Bugg. I heard his song Seen it All on the radio and liked it, and I like the album too. I suspect I might be his oldest fan, given I'm old enough to be his mother.  I do chuckle when he sings that he's seen it all at just 19, but then even at my advanced age I haven't been to a gangster party where someone got stabbed, so what do I know, eh? 

The second is Motorhead Girl from the latest album by Swiss rockabilly band Hillbilly Moon Explosion.  I had never heard of them before and found them via the "Listeners also bought" function on iTunes when I was looking to see if Imelda May had a new album out. She doesn't, but, happily, Hillybilly Moon Explosion has a back catalogue for me to explore. 

Finally, an artist I 'discovered' via a Holden ad on the telly!  It's You Rascal You by Hanni el Khatib. I love the garage-y guitars.  

This is from his first album, which I bought today. His second album, produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, was released last month. It pretty much sounds like a Black Keys album, which you would expect would endear it to me - being the big BK fan that I am -  but it doesn't. I think it's a bit meh.

The Reverend

On the topic of rockabilly, Luke and I went to see legends The Reverend Horton Heat last Friday night. The Reverend looks a bit like someone's grandad, but boy, he can still play a guitar, probably in his sleep. They played for more than an hour and a half, so we certainly got our money's worth...although I admit I was really tired and my feet were sore and I wasn't sad when it finished. I'm old now. 

Melbourne act Mojo Juju was the support act and, while I enjoyed The Reverend, I loved Mojo. I wish she'd played for 90 minutes.  This is her new single, which they played last Friday. 

Spoiled for choice and off to see The Reverend

I can't believe I didn't already know you can design your own sneakers online. What rock have I been under? Nike offers the service and so does New Balance - no doubt there are plenty of other sites that do too. You pick an existing style and then choose materials and colours. You can even have a personalised logo and your choice of words on the heel. 

I mention this because I have a lot of trouble finding decent casual sneakers in colours I like. I'm quite particular. There's often too much yellow, orange and pink and pastel shades in women's ranges. Not my style. I bought a pair of men's Asics Onitsuka Tigers in purple, black and silver a few years ago because I couldn't find anything I liked in the women's range. Sadly they've just about had it and I need something more cushiony  underfoot this time. 

I think I want a pair of Nike Cortez, their original running shoe which came into the world the same year as I did. Trouble is...what colour? Maybe red or green. Or navy. Or royal blue. Too much choice now! 

I discovered on Facebook that psychobilly legend The Reverend Horton Heat is playing in Melbourne on 31 May. Mojo Juju (formerly of The Snake Oil Merchants) is one of the supporting acts. Since I started writing this post, I've bought tickets to go. Woooh!

Did I mention I'm seeing Wagons again in June? They're previewing songs from their upcoming album. Can't wait. I'm off to Sydney to see Mark Forsyth in two weeks too. Lots of exciting things to look forward too. That's the way life should be. 

Henry puts on a show, Mr Lizard and a gumnut baby

Luke and I saw Henry Wagons and The Unwelcome Company at Thornbury Theatre last night. I had actually contemplated not going when I found out they weren't coming on stage until at least 10.30. I've been so ridiculously tired lately that I thought I'd spend the night wishing I were home in bed. But yay! I actually managed to feel relatively awake during the whole show. (*sigh* I really am getting old.)

And it was a good show. Henry was his usual garrulous, energetic self. He left the stage and stood on the tables a couple of times - some of the audience who paid for dinner and a show were seated at tables, which Henry said was like being at the Logies. 

They played all of the songs from Henry's debut solo album, Expecting Company? as well as a few Wagons tunes and a couple of covers. They finished with a cover of Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton - no, really! - because it's a duet, and Expecting Company is almost all duets. And I guess it's so naff that it's almost cool. 

Here's Henry and Gossling performing their duet from the album with a bit of Islands in the Stream tacked on the end at The Toff in Town a few weeks ago.

Gossling has an unusual singing voice, but I think it goes well with Henry's baritone. Most of the female voices on Expecting Company were provided last night by three members of the vocal group The Nymphs. They have amazing voices.   

This afternoon I was listening to all of Wagons' albums with my iPod on shuffle and it played Marylou and Marylou Two one after the other, even though they are from different albums.  

I passed the State Library on my way home from the gym today. Look, it's Mr Lizard and a gumnut baby! 

(Not two separate sculptures as I wrote in my last post.)  

I'm back at work tomorrow. Boo. But at least it will be a short week. 

NaBloPoMo: day one

Welcome to my first NaBloPoMo post! I have lots of stuff to write about, admittedly much of it  saved up from the past couple of days, but I don't think that's cheating.

Yesterday was our Bill Bryson/Black Keys double-header. I had a very busy day at work, so was happy to leave the office behind for the stately surrounds of the Melbourne Town Hall, the venue for Bill Bryson's 16th Kenneth Myer Lecture.

In his lecture, An Even Shorter History of Nearly Everything, Bill shared with the large audience six astounding facts about the universe and humankind. My memory is bad (it's the brain trouble*) and I didn't want to miss anything by taking notes, so I can't tell you precisely what the six facts were...but in a nutshell, Bill's point was that the universe is infinite and amazing, our planet is pretty awesome and the fact that we exist as a species and as individuals is miraculous. Our brains, which are far more remarkable than the sum of their unremarkable parts (water, fat and proteins) are also miraculous, though not always reliable (more brain trouble).

I occasionally think about why we are here - Why are there people? - but not in great depth. It's just too big and abstract for my brain to comprehend. (But then I still marvel at the fax machine...)  Bill spoke about these big, abstract concepts in lay terms, with his trademark gentle humour and wonderment. When you really think about this stuff, it's mindblowing. I just kept thinking, "Wow. Yeah, that is pretty astounding." 

I've never seen Bill Bryson speak before.  He was exactly as I would have expected - gracious, self-deprecating, engaging and amusing. I find it quite inspiring that at the age of 60 he still retains such a sense of wonder about the world universe. Not that 60 is old, of course, but it is well beyond the age at which many people lose that sense of wonder. I hope that when I'm 60 - when I'm 80 - I can still contemplate the world around me - the big stuff and the small stuff - and think, "Wow. That's pretty astounding."

* Yes, quite amusing, given the lecture was presented by the Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health, a bunch of boffins trying to understand and cure brain troubles. It is one of the world's leading brain research bodies, in fact. 

For anyone who is interested, the Florey Institute will be producing a podcast of Bill's lecture.  I'll be keeping an eye (and ear) out for it, so will alert you when it's available. 

I should also commend the Florey Institute for its civic-mindedness in giving Melburnians the pleasure of listening to Bill Bryson speak for free. I suppose spreading the wonder about science and raising the organisation's profile in the community is in its own interests, but still. They could have charged a small fee, but chose not to.  

***

We had a quick bite to eat in the city before walking to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for The Black Keys concert. We arrived about an hour before the show started, and sat on the grass near the top of the hill to wait. I really like going to the Bowl. Sitting out in the open air with the city lights for a backdrop is a nice change from the usual sweaty music venues we go to.

As with Jack White, I felt overwhelmed for a moment the band came on. Oh my God! We're finally here! And they're here - right there in front of us!  They didn't play the song I really wanted to hear (an oldie - Stack Shot Billy), but it was still a great show. Two people with a guitar and drum kit really can make a helluva lot of noise. In fact, the two of them alone were louder than when the rest of their band was onstage with them. 

Their recent hit Lonely Boy, from their latest album, was obviously one of the most popular songs of the night. I like it, but it isn't one of my favourites (I like their old stuff better than their new stuff). I did really enjoy it last night though,, I guess because it was gruntier. That's a pretty ace guitar riff. 

We walked home after the show - even after eight years, I still love that I can just walk home after seeing a show in or near the city.  For most of the time I've been writing this post, I've been able to hear The Black Key playing their second show at the Bowl. The wind is obviously blowing our way.  

***

I got two deliveries at work yesterday. That's the second time in a row that I've had two separate online purchases arrive on the same day. One is a necklace, and the other is a book about octopuses. Have I mentioned my recent octopus obsession? (OK, obsession might be overstating it, but I enjoy alliteration). 

I can't remember what sparked my interest in cephalopods (squid and octopuses), but I recently spent an evening reading about them online - they are such amazing creatures. In the grip of this wonderment, I purchased a book about octopuses. It's called Octopus: The Ocean's Intelligent Invertebrate. It has a little spiel on the front from Jean-Michel Cousteau. 

The octopus - strange, mysterious, perfectly camouflaged, able to change texture, colour, and shape, bendable, sneaky and intelligent. I heartily recommend this book.

Mysterious! Bendy! Sneaky! How can you not be fascinated by octopuses? ('Octopuses', 'octopi' and 'octopodes' are all acceptable plurals of octopus, but I like 'octopuses' the best and will never tire of saying it. I also enjoy saying 'squid'.)

Anyway, I have a whole post about the marvel of octopuses yet to come. I know you will be on the edge of your seats for that one. Trust me, there is much glee to be had in the octopus's garden. 

Queen of the Secretaries

I had to staple 42 lots of four documents at work because the printer was out of staples. (Life is just so hard sometimes.)  I checked how many staples were in my stapler and there was about 1.5cms worth of them. I stapled and stapled and stapled...and stapled and stapled and stapled and did not run out of staples. "That's weird," I thought, "I should have run out well before now". I flipped open my stapler and it was empty. I had checked it exactly after using the last one. I must have some kind of ESP with my stapler. 

Earlier when I was printing off the 42 copies of each document, I clicked on the little up arrow for the number of copies and watched the number whiz up and up and BAM! I stopped exactly on 42. And then BAM! I did it again!  I'm rocking this legal secretary  business. 

I went to the gym tonight, but only because I had an appointment to make sure I'm doing the exercises in my new program correctly. If it weren't for that, I would have gone straight home because I was exhausted. I dragged myself up the steps of the gym as if I were towing a small car behind me. Gah. I decided I'd just do my weights and go home. But then I thought, "Ah well, while I'm here..." and smashed out 30 minutes of pretty intense, super sweaty cardio. And then on my way out I skipped down the steps like this:

(Only I didn't bounce off anyone or stop to pee. Yes, I know I posted this video before, but it's so cute and funny you should watch it again.)

I realised (because Luke told me), that we're going to see The Black Keys on 31 October, not the 25th, which means we'll have to rush straight from the Bill Bryson lecture at the Town Hall to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Fortunately the lecture starts at 6.00pm, so we should be fine. Gonna be a big night. 

Something to look forward to

I'm a giant!

I'm not sure of the original source, but a smart cookie once said happiness is having someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to.  

I have many somethings to look forward to at the moment. Luke and I are going to see The Black Keys at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on 25 October.  We had tickets to see them a couple of years ago, but the show was cancelled, so I feel like I have a double dose of anticipation building. It better not be a rainy night (it's an outdoor venue). 

Then I have an extra long weekend at the start of November. Luke and I are going to a wedding on the Friday and it's a public holiday in Melbourne on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup, so I'm having Friday to Tuesday off work. On the Monday night, we're going to see Henry Wagons and the Unwelcome Company at the lovely Thornbury Theatre. Other than that, I will potter about at home. 

Then as I mentioned in a previous blog, I'm off to Sydney for Christmas and New Year's Eve with Mum. I've got a full two weeks off work, and will spend the rest of my break in Melbourne. I love a staycation. 

And then! My friend Bertie is getting married in February and just before that I'm off to the seaside at Sorrento for her hen's weekend. 

Oh, and The Horologicon by Mark Forsyth (the author of my beloved Etymologicon) comes out on 1 November. The start of November is going to be gleeful indeed.

Right now,  I'm looking forward to going to bed. 

RECOGNISED!

Something happened to me tonight that could just be the most gleeful thing that's ever happened in the history of glee. OK, maybe that's overstating it somewhat, but it was thrilling. 

Henry Wagons launched his debut solo album this evening at Polyester Records in the city. I went straight from work to make sure I had a good spot. When I arrived, Henry was at the microphone doing a soundcheck. My heart skipped a beat. But then I got all shy and didn't go in. I loitered outside and finished eating my cupcake. 

When I did go in a few minutes later, Henry had gone. I bought a copy of the album, Expecting Company?, then moodled about looking at books and CDs until Luke arrived.

Henry and his new band The Unwelcome Company (a few Wagons guys and two women from the vocal group The Nymphs) played about four songs from the new album, with Henry's usual banter in between. I liked  all the songs. 

Afterwards I headed straight to up the back to have Henry sign my copy of the CD. I waited impatiently as he chatted to the guy ahead of me, then it was my turn. 

We exchanged greetings, I handed over my copy of the CD and he scrawled his name on it. And then he said, "I recognise you." Me (full of charm and wit): "Really?" And then I kinda forget the rest of the conversation because HENRY WAGONS RECOGNISED ME!!!! I kid you not. I actually went a little bit trembly with excitement. My (relatively) long-term musical crush recognised me! 

I have spoken to him on a couple of other occasions (not recently), but he probably saw me at that event a few weeks back at Hamer Hall. There was no harsh stage lighting, I was sitting right in front of him and I do have blue boy hair. 

Would it be too tweenage if I had the signed CD cover framed? 

I've purchased tickets to see Henry and The Unwelcome Company at the lovely Thornbury Theatre in November. 

 Before

After the launch, Luke and I headed to the National Mutual building for the fireworks to celebrate the reinstatement of the lights on the building's tower. 

We waited in the cold with a smallish crowd on the corner diagonally opposite for ages and then eventually there was a ka-boom. There was a collective "Oooooh" from the crowd and probably a collective "HOLY SHIT!" from unsuspecting passers-by. 

It was a fairly modest fireworks display, but the guy spent a squillion on buying and renovating the building; you couldn't really expect a pyrotechnics show to rival New Year's Eve celebrations. 

As the last sparks of the fireworks faded, the lights in the tower were turned on.

After

There was a busker dressed in a rabbit suit playing bass guitar over the road while we waited for the fireworks to start. I can't be sure, but I think he might be the same guy who busks in the city while wearing a dog costume. Funky Bunny (as he calls himself - he has a Facebook page) was pretty good too. His big ears waved up and down as he played. While we were taking photos of him, two guys dressed as pirates stopped to watch. The things you see in a big city... 

We went to a cheap Japanese restaurant on Swanston Street for dinner. Luke had a stubby of Sapporo beer with his meal. We were amused by the blurb on the label. 

The photo's a little blurry. It says, "Discover the perfectly balanced taste that's irresistible to all, as you share rich moments with this masterpiece of the brewer's art." I don't think Luke shared any rich moments, but he did enjoy it. 

Sunshine, Henry again, roasting

Twas a glorious spring day in Melburnia today

Luke and I enjoyed the Henry Wagons show at Hamer Hall yesterday. Henry's an engaging personality and loves a chat when he's on stage with the band, so it wasn't surprising that he was entertaining when doing more talking than rocking.  The Performance Enhancers series features musicians talking about their inspirations and influences, musical and otherwise. 

I had a good spot right in the centre of the third row, with no-one in the seats in front of me. I managed not to swoon.

Henry performed several songs, including one of my Wagons' favourites, Never Been to Spain, a cover of a song written by Hoyt Axton and performed by Elvis. "Fat Elvis" is one of Henry's musical inspirations - he even had fat Elvis as his special topic when he appeared on the music quiz show Rockwiz. 

Here's a stripped back live version with just Henry and his guitar, which is what we saw yesterday.

I've been listening to Wagons all afternoon while pottering around at home, with all the  windows open to let in the fresh spring air. There's couple of large windows in my living area, so I don't feel like I'm missing out by spending a sunny day inside. 

I have a lamb shoulder in the oven, with loads of vegies, garlic and rosemary. My flat smells like roasting garlic. Yummmmm. 

I love these symmetrical photos of underground railway stations. 

Henry, dedication, growing up

Luke and I are off to the refurbished Hamer Hall for the first time tomorrow to see Henry Wagons in the first installment of a series called Performance Enhancers. He'll be chatting about his influences and performing. 

Henry also has a new "mini-album" coming out in a few weeks, which is sort of his first solo album (it mostly features duets). And look at the cover! It's Kanes Bridge, the footbridge over the river at Yarra Bend Park, seen here on my other blog. 

I went to the gym tonight. On a Friday. I've only done that once or twice in all the years I've been a gym-goer. It just seems wrong...even if I have nothing planned besides staying home on the couch. I didn't manage to fit in my second workout on Wednesday or Thursday, and I don't want to go on the weekend, or go a full week between gym visits. I did that last week, and was sore for three days afterwards. 

I saw the duck family this morning on the river's edge. The ducklings have doubled in size in the space of a week! *sigh* They grown up so fast. 

There's a story in The Age today on the Little Library at Melbourne Central, which I discovered last weekend. 

Jack White live, Open House, Embiggen

I went to see Jack White last Wednesday. I would have mentioned it leading up to the show, but I kept forgetting about it! At one stage I had a mild panic thinking I'd actually missed it. Phew!

Aussie retro songstress Lanie Lane was Jack's support act, which was a nice bonus. It took me a while to warm to her music, but I eventually bought her album and now count myself as a fan. I like her even more after seeing her perform live. 

One of her band members was playing the double bass. Is it just my imagination or has the double bass made a comeback? Quite a few bands I've been to see in the last couple of years have had one in their line up. I like it. 

But anyway, back to Jack. I hadn't been too psyched about the show on the day because I felt physically and mentally exhausted and couldn't wait to crawl back into bed that night. But when he came on stage and started playing one of my favourite White Stripes songs, I got a little choked up! OMG! It's him! I'm here! And he's got the lady band with him! 

Being his usual kooky self, Jack's touring with a man band and a lady band, and he doesn't decide until that day which one he's going to take on stage. I'd hoped for the lady band, just because it's unusual to see a man backed by an all-female band. The women all had powder blue dresses, and Jack was dressed in black, with light blue suspenders. 

Jack played a few of my favourite White Stripes songs (Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Ball & Biscuit and Doorbell), but my favourite of the night was the White Stripes' song Hotel Yorba.  I loved the fiddle solo, which isn't in the recorded version. Yeeehaw! 

He played quite a long set and encore. It was great...but I was very glad to get home and into bed. 

Oh, I forgot to mention I got asked for ID at the door to the venue (it was an over 18 event). So did Luke. They were probably checking IDs for everyone who looked under 30, just to be on the safe side, but even so, I JUST TURNED 40! 

Open House    

This weekend was the annual Melbourne Open House event, when dozens of culturally, historically and architecturally significant buildings throw open their doors for the public to come and have a stickybeak. 

We were late to get started, but we managed three buildings - the Harry Brooks Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology at Melbourne University, the State Library and the Myer Mural Hall. 

The anatomy museum is used for training medical students and is rarely open to the public (unlike quite a few of the other buildings taking part). It contains anatomical models, and four plaster death masks (including those of infamous bushrangers Ned Kelly and Mad Dog Morgan), but the majority of the collection is human material - most of it diseased or otherwise unhealthy. Some of the models and specimens date back to the 1800s. It was fascinating, but also confronting. It's not every day you see dissected human body parts. What a amazingly selfless act it is to donate your entire body to science. 

Next up was the State Library. This year the tour included the Elephant Lift, the Pendulum Staircase and the catacombs. Catacombs! How intriguing! These areas are normally off limits to the public.

While we waited for our turn, we visited the La Trobe Reading Room, which is one of my favourite places in all of Melbourne. There were quite a a few people studying and this guy having a study break. Heehee.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I had hoped the Elephant Lift (the oldest operating lift in the vast building) was so named because they used it to move around stuffed elephants and other big exhibits back in the days when the building also housed the Museum of Victoria. But no; they think the name comes from the name for very large books - elephant folio. 

The pendulum rose in the floor of the stairwell

The white marble Pendulum Staircase is named because it once housed a Foucault pendulum, which demonstrates the rotation of the earth. It was removed partly because pesky children were too fond of swinging on it, and now no one knows where it is. 

The catacombs are a series of underground corridors and rooms, which are used for storage, quarantine and conservation. The name sounds intriguing, but we saw a lot of broken chairs and dusty old office equipment! 

We did see the library's old card catalogue (above) which is now digitised, but library staff do still refer to it sometimes to check something in the digital records. This was my favourite thing about the catacomb tour: 

Sadly I didn't have time to look up any of the books about odd fish. 

They also still have an old catalogue from the 1880s, some of which was handwritten. 

The catacombs were used for storage, among other things, by the museum when it was housed there. During the move to its new premises in the Carlton Gardens in the 1990s, museum workers found two bird specimens with tags handwritten by Charles Darwin. Perhaps one day the pendulum will be discovered in much the same way...

Our final stop was at the Myer Mural Hall on level 6 of the Myer Department store. It's named after the 10 large murals by Napier Waller that adorn the walls, some of which depict prominent women through the ages. I've seen photos of the murals before, but have never been in the room. It was built in the early 1930s for use as a ballroom, but it's now a posh function room. 

Sections of some of the murals

We then visited Embiggen Books, a newish bookshop near the State Library. I think it's a silly name ('embiggen' is a word made up by a writer of The Simpsons), but it's a very nice bookshop - not large, but with lots of dark timber. It feels like you're in a library. One of the first books I saw was The Etymologicon, basking in the sun on a table in the window. My heart leapt a little. 

Tickets, chance meetings, tiny fish

I got my tickets to see Jack White. Yay! Only three months until the show...


I bumped into two people from my old job today. One on the way to work and one at lunch time.

Tonight walking home I saw a white-faced heron stalking along the banks of the Yarra hunting for its dinner. It caught a tiny little fish. 

I read the other day that Judy Blume's book Tiger Eyes is being made into a movie. Like a lot of girls in the 70s and 80s, I loved her books and Tiger Eyes was my favourite. 

Two weeks in, autumn light, flamboyant shoes

Taken on my walk home tonight

Two weeks into my new job and I'm still enjoying it. So far I'm finding the learning curve much less steep than when I started my previous job. I often had moments of self-doubt for the first six months inthat job and seriously worried I wasn't cut out for it. I might not have enjoyed it at the time, but it was good for me. I guess a lot of things in life are like that (you might recall one of my 39 Secrets of Adulthood is 'Sometimes things that suck can still be kind of awesome'. Yup.) 

I had drinks last night with two friends from my old firm last night. That job was good for me in more ways than one.  

Indian summer

We've been having a very mild autumn in Melbourne with sunny days and mid-20s temperatures. It was raining this morning, but it turned into a sunshiney day which then gave way to  quite a balmy evening. There's something special about the light in autumn. In the late afternoons at work I've been enjoying the view from my window of the city bathed in soft, yellow light. As well as the State Library, from my 21st floo windows I can see the tops of St Pauls Cathedral, the Manchester Unity Building, the Century Building, and the MCG and AAMI Park in the distance. I also have a pretty good view of the construction site between Myer and Melbourne Central - they've demolished almost everything that was on the site, except for a  section of façade that's several storeys tall. 

Pressies

I arrived home a couple of nights ago to a parcel I'd ordered online last week. Nothing scholarly  like books - just a pair of rather flamboyant shoes. And they fit. Yay!  The shoes are further evidence that my obsession with black and white stripes is getting out of control...

I've had a few other online purchases arrive lately too. It's good being absent-minded because I order stuff and then forget about it. 

Tonight I arrived home to a parcel from my mum containing a bunch of those crocheted, padded coathangers that she made for me. They're daggy and nanna-ish, but they're so good for hanging knits and other garments prone to getting out of shape on wire hangers.

I haven't spent all my time online shopping though - I found  this great photography blog via Digital Photography School last week. If you're into photos of urban decay like me, you'll love it. He takes some fantastic black and white photos too. 

I've also become addicted to Pinterest. The girl who sent me the invite to join did warn me...

Other gleeful highlights since my last blog: 

* Luke and I are going to see the Black Keys in October. We've been waiting for them to announce another tour after the last one was cancelled. It's such a long time to wait!  Wah! 

* I have been eagerly anticipating the release of Jack White's new solo album, Blunderbuss. I bought it today and I'm listening to it now. I like it. Jack is doing a show in Melbourne in July too.   Must. Get. Tickets. 

I bought Blunderbuss at Basement Discs in a basement below Block Place, one of Melbourne's bustling laneways. It cost more than buying it online or at JB Hi-Fi, but I felt good about supporting an independent record store. (Coincidentally, tomorrow is Independent Record Store Day. I won't be visiting an indie music store though - I'm going to a market at the Royal Exhibition Building, one of my favourite Melbourne buildings.)