Greyhound love

The rain over the bay yesterday

I have become obsessed with greyhounds. We had a pet greyhound called Bess when I was a kid and I've long wanted to have one of my own one day, but lately I just really, really, really want one. Seeing them in the news more because of the recent ban on greyhound racing in New South Wales hasn't helped. I guess saving a squillion photos of them on Pinterest doesn't help either. Today I found a series of photos of Borys and Walter, a Bengal cat and rescue greyhound, who are best friends. It's so cute it hurts. 

Greyhounds are actually ideal dogs for apartments because they are very lazy, but we aren't allowed to have pets, and I wouldn't go and get one on the sly. One day maybe...

I love these dog portraits, and of course I like the greyhound/galgo ones the most. There's some dog breeds in there I've never heard of - like the Silken Windsprite and the Azawakh. Look how adorably gangly the Azawakh is! 

My week is half over. Yay. 

Old signs and cute cottages in Seddon

That one yard in the neighbourhood...

Luke and I went west for brunch today, to the inner western suburb of Seddon, which is tucked between Footscray and Yarraville. We had a nice meal (with friendly service) at a Spanish cafe called Lola and then a wander around the streets...well, actually a drive because the wind was too icy for wandering on foot.

I might have mentioned before that we're a bit snobby (which I should be ashamed of, being a working class bogan from the bush, but I can't help it). We've never lived in the western suburbs and we've never want to live in the western suburbs because....well, it's the western suburbs. 

But let me tell you, Seddon is delightful. DE-lightful. We were utterly charmed by its streets of beautifully renovated little cottages with bullnose verandahs edged with intricate iron lacework. We drove along,  looking from side to side, exclaiming, "Oooh, that one's nice!" "Look at those windows!" "Oh, they're all so cute!" "IT'S ALL SO PRITTEEEEEE!" (Those last two were me.) I even liked the few the unrenovated ones because I like urban decay too.  (I didn't take many photos because I wasn't on foot.) 

We liked Seddon so much that when we got home we looked online at places to rent in the area, but sadly there were very few in our price range. Boo. (Not that we're looking to move now, but we'll have to sooner or later because the flats in out building are being progressively renovated and then rented at much higher prices.)

There was also some stellar ghost signage in Seddon and surrounds.  

 ETA peanut butter...makes you glad you're hungry 

The ETA sign has been retouched (regrettably, in my opinion), but the others haven't, probably because time has revealed two signs on top of each other  ('Grocer' up the top and 'TJ Cawthorn' underneath), which I'm guessing would be a trickier restoration job.  

 Drink Cinzano

I was pretty chuffed when I saw the Yarra Coffee Palace sign above. I got Luke to pull over and then I was thrilled to see this on the side of the same building: 

Temple Bar Tobacco...Mild & Mellow

Unbroken, pop, freebie

Cute kid at the footy on Saturday

I dropped a melting moment (aka yoyo) biscuit on the ground today and it didn't break! I couldn't believe it because they can be a bit crumbly, but when I picked up the brown paper bag and looked inside, it was still perfectly intact, just a tiny bit flat on one edge. I should buy a lotto ticket. 

I've been eating toasted pumpkin seeds as a snack lately. I love the taste and I also like toasting them because when they get really hot they go 'pop' and swell up a tiny bit. 

I found a Myki card at my tram stop yesterday and it had a day's travel left on it. I should probably hand it in to the nearby train station. 

Spring is imminent, and a day out

Bright sunshine, blooming lavender

It gladdens my heart to see signs of spring appearing. Magnolias are in bloom, shrubs are budding and I saw a bee the other day. Today I was out and about with sunshine on my bare arms. It was delightful.   

Luke and I were treated to a day out at the football at the MCG yesterday courtesy of his work. It included lunch and afternoon tea in the Premiership Club, a tour down to the boundary of the hallowed turf during the team warm up and tickets to the game. 

 Luke and me boundary riding

 Me relaxing on the interchange bench

My team, North Melbourne, played and lost to the reigning premiers, Hawthorn, but it was still a fun day out. Free food and booze is always appreciated and I haven't been to the footy in years.

The stadium was only half full, but that still means we were sitting in a crowd of 50,000 people. It's a pretty amazing atmosphere, even when your team is losing. 

Football selfie with freshly coloured quiff

Yes, I know I haven't finished blogging about my Queensland holiday yet. I've been busy spending time with Luke upon his return from overseas and being too tired for blogging. 

Luke's nearly home!

Recycling bin face

Luke has landed back in Melbourne from his trip to England and Ireland! He'll be home soon! I can't wait! 

I bought a mini trampoline (aka rebounder) a few months ago, but the first time I tried it, I felt sick within 10 seconds, which was disappointing, but not surprising because I've had mild balance/vertigo issues over the past five years. The rebounder sat unused until last week when I got back on it and took it easier than last time. My feet barely left the mat. And yay! I was fine! I bounced on it - gently - for 10 minutes. And I was fine! (If you're wondering why I bought a rebounder, it's because bouncing is good for you and it's fun.)

Rebounding is part of my new exercise program - 10-20 minutes bouncing a day, 10,000+ steps a day, one pilates class and one yoga class each week and a bunch of stretching and resistance stuff (at home - I'm ditching the gym altogether).   

I'm too tired to write about day 3 of my holiday tonight (partly because  of all the exercise I've done this week) and I can't concentrate because LUKE IS GONNA BE HOME SOON!

Bus stop cat, nap, Brisbane - day 2

Remember this fluffy ginger cat I patted on the way home a few weeks ago? Today I walked past its house again and it was sitting at the bus stop - actually sitting on the seat beside a woman who was waiting for the bus. She said it's not her cat, but it often sits at the bus stop and its even tried to get on the bus a few times! Funny kitty. 

I did a yoga class this morning. I wasn't sure how I'd go because my abs were sore from previous exercise efforts, and I felt weary after walking most of the way to the class (30 minute walk). But I did well - it was challenging, but not too hard - and I liked it. I'll go back (even though it means I don't get a Friday sleep in).

I walked all the way home from yoga which meant I had done 11,200 steps by about 12.30. I was rather sore and worn out. I couldn't resist a nap, and it was awesome. I cannot adequately describe how much I love my bed. 

Back to my holiday! On my second day in Brisbane, I met Gillian. It was weird because it was a little like meeting someone new, but mostly like catching up with someone you know. It felt normal, but also surreal to finally be in the same place after 10 years of being friends.

We went to Old Government House for the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Costume Exhibition. I don't watch the show, but I've see enough to know the clothes are stunning - as indeed they were. Gillian and I were 'oohing' and 'aahing' all over the place. 

Eveningwear 

We weren't allowed to touch the costumes, but it was SO hard not to. I'm very tactile - I love to feel fabrics, and these fabrics were all so beautiful - silky, filmy and floaty, ornately beaded and sequined, and even a bit of faux furriness. Many costumes were displayed with sample fabrics - I could have run the silky, chiffony fabrics through my fingers all day. 

 A swimsuit from an Ethel Mermanesque scene

The descriptions of how the costumes were made were fascinating. Some are vintage and some new, and some are a mix - for example, new fabrics with vintage lace trims.   Some things were dyed and manipulated in other ways. There was also a mix of original and new jewellery and accessories. They were sourced from all over - some donated, some from the head costume designer's own collection, some from vintage stores. 

Some costumes turned out not to be suitable - like the a gauzy nightwear-style jacket that was to be worn by Miss Fisher in a scene with a tarantula, but the spider, being rather hairy, got caught in the fabric. I bet Essie Davis enjoyed having to get changed and do that scene again.

Beachwear

The exhibition included a mock up of designer Marion Boyce's workroom, which had work benches covered in all sorts of bits n bobs - beads and lace and fabrics, but still we couldn't touch! There was a video showing Marion at work - she didn't even use patterns; she just cut up a piece of fabric freehand and bam! A gorgeous dress!  (You can get a better look at the Miss Fisher costumes and Marion's other work here.)

I left the exhibition wishing I could be a costume designer (alas my sewing skills extend to hems and buttons). 

After the exhibition, Gillian and I strolled through the Botanic Gardens, which are right on the edge of the CBD.  

 Lizard, hanging out on the steps, eating bugs

 African Sausage Tree (really!)

 Pretty pink tree (a tabebuia, I learnt via google)

Big old tree

Mysteriously lighthearted and Brisbane - day 1

I went back to work today and it was wet and miserable, but I was mysteriously lighthearted. It was probably partly because my boss is on holidays for two weeks. That's always good for the spirits (even though he's a great boss and I know how lucky I am). 

I went back to pilates tonight after a couple of weeks off. It was good to be back - my body needed it. The instructor is always so cheerful, which makes me cheerful too (obviously I'm not one of those people who's annoyed by the perpetually cheery). 

Oh, my holiday!  This is what Melbourne looked like on the day I left: 

 From the top deck, front row of the Skybus

And this is what Brisbane looked like when I arrived. It was about 28 degrees! I felt like I'd flown to a whole other country, not just interstate! There were people in bikinis and boardies all over the place (including in my face as I ate lunch at a cafe).

Streets Beach, Southbank

I spent the afternoon and early evening wandering into the city and back again via the Brisbane River. I love how the CBD is perched right on the river and there are boats moored practically at the doorstep of city office towers. 

From the Wheel of Brisbane (London Eye imitation)

 Eagle Street Pier

 Cute cottage near where I  stayed

To be continued...