Dark and stormy

There was some wild weather in and around Melbourne today. We didn't get much, if any, the city, despite some ominous clouds. I love being able to see the changing weather out the window at work, especially when it looks stormy. 

 Looking east - despite appearances, these clouds 

only produced light rain 

Looking south - the bay is so dark!

We've had a very warm autumn so far, which I've enjoyed even though it feels a bit wrong to enjoy the effects of climate change, but I'm happy it's getting cooler now because it means I can finally wear my new winter boots. Yay!

Fake Friday, sunshine and pavlova

Today was the last day of the working week for me. I now have four days off. Yay! I don't have any special plans; I'm just worn out and need a rest. I've had a pretty full-on year and haven't had a week off since Christmas. (I'm not taking a week now because I went into negative leave at Christmas and it's taken months for me to catch up.  I don't want to use too much of what leave I on resting at home.)

I probably will leave my bed/couch/house though. I have an appointment with a neurologist about my migraines, and dinner with the girls on Friday night. I might get a massage, maybe an eyebrow wax and tint. Thrilling stuff, I know.

Happily, the weather is on the improve from tomorrow, with sunshine and milder temperatures than we've had for the last month or two. Good timing, me! 

I've had delicious mini-pavlovas for dessert the last two nights. Makeshift pavlovas, anyway - pre-prepared meringue nests with whipped cream and berries, no cooking skills required. I did whip the cream though.  I have enough for the several more serves too. It's pavlovapalooza. 

I've worn different pairs of new shoes to work the past two days and have no blisters or tender spots.  

Bouncy, bouncy, yum yum

I took my new gym shoes for their first run tonight. They were pleasingly bouncy. I don't know if it was because of my springy new shoes or because I now know that I'm quite fit, but I ran way more than I walked tonight, and for longer intervals. I'm going to the gym again tomorrow night for a run through of my new program. 

Did I tell  you about the energy-boosting snack I've been having before my gym sessions? (I'm too lazy to check.) Today's batch was made with vanilla yogurt and walnuts and it was SO scrumptious. I can't wait to eat it again tomorrow (but I will). If anyone's interested, here's what in it: 

• 3 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of frozen blueberries
• 5 or 6 walnut halves
• 2 tablespoons of homemade seed mix (sesame, poppy, sunflower and chia seeds, pepitas and desiccated coconut, dry-fried then ground up)
• a drizzle of maple syrup. 

It would make a pretty good breakfast too. 

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. 

The Gleeful Omnibus. Vrooooom!

Artwork atop the Sportsgirl building in Richmond.

At last the interwebz have told me what this is!

Tsk tsk. I haven't blogged in nearly a week, but it's not because there's been a lack of glee in my life. Not at all. There's been loads of glee. LOADS of it. I'll start with today.

I went shopping on Chapel Street with the intention of buying some quirky homewares for my flat. I ended up buying three original My Little Ponies (one wears a tiara! Another has little pink glasses! Just like real ponies!), a giant bubble blowing wand, rainbow gel pens, the cutest notebook, a beautiful postcard by an artist called Art and Ghosts, a gorgeous colouring book and coloured pencils. Yes, ALL for me!

The colouring book is called Lolo isn't Lonely Anymore - "When Lolo's house is sold, she must move far away from her beloved city to the country. Everything is different, and at first she is very lonely, but soon she learns to listen and look, and finally starts to notice all the great things that were there all along".  The story speaks to me (it's a little bit like this blog really) and the illustrations are lovely. I hope I don't mess it up when I colour it in!

A trio of cats sunning themselves in a bookshop window

I walked home from Chapel Street along the river. I don't often walk along that stretch of the Yarra, but it offers some great views of the city, including this lovely vista. I just happened along at the perfect time of day.

And then I noticed a fairly well-concealed rough path heading down to a jetty on the water so I went down there and it was beautiful - the view of the city at sunset and the almost-full moon and Our Magic Hour sign reflecting on the water. I love you with all my heart, Melbourne.

Secret spill

I have been wearing new ankle boots all week. They're very comfy and I love them...although I did fall over in them at work BUT NO ONE SAW ME! How 'bout that, eh?! 30-odd people in my department and I fell over out of sight. Go, me! (If Frisky falls in the office and nobody sees her and nobody hears her, the bruise on her kneecap shall be proof that it did happen!)

Speaking of work, there's been a re-shuffle in my group and after Easter I will start working for one of my favourite people in the department. She's awesome - very funny and so lovely. I'm very happy about being her minion. Our first task shall be to work out how to buy gin on her corporate Amex.

The not-very-early birds 

For the last week or so on the way to work, I have passed Mr and Mrs Plover hunting for their breakfast on the same stretch of riverbank. I like seeing them every day. They're another addition to my free- range menagerie of birdy pets. I've seen them catch a few worms too. This proves that the saying about the early bird is wrong. You heard it here first.

I've also seen possums, two scampering rats, and a native water rat (rakali) swimming in the river (at night, not on my way to work).

We've had some very damp weather this week, but I find it hard to be glum about it when I can look out my office window and see a huge blanket of dark grey cloud suspended over the city, waiting to dump its load. It looked quite apocalyptic, but fantastic (sorry, no photo).


MORE comedy!

Luke and I went to see comedian Mark Watson last night (at the Forum again). I loved it. There wasn't a lot of discernible structure to his stand-up, but he's face-hurtingly funny, the crowd interaction was great and, like David O'Doherty, he has such a likeable stage presence. And five minutes before the show was due to start he was sitting on a couch in the foyer chatting to punters and having his photo taken!

Cute Satan

I saw Satan in the city last night when I was waiting for Luke. Two Satans in fact. A man-sized devil and his mini-me devil sidekick. MIDGET SATAN! (yes, I know midget isn't PC, but it's funnier than LITTLE PERSON SATAN!). Midget Satan was tiny and adorable. He chased a girl with his pitchfork and she ran away squealing. What a sook. (I think they were promoting a Comedy Festival show.)

The leaves are starting to turn colour and fall. Yay, autumn!

Tomorrow I'm having brunch with a friend I haven't seen in ages and then we're going to Daiso, which I'm told is like a Japanse $2 shop. Can't wait!


Sneaky important bit hidden at the bottom

There's a boy that I like and he likes me too!

River reflection of Our Magic Hour