New Chairs

One of the lovely things we got from Beaumaris was the dining room Table, chairs and sideboard in Mahogany. The chairs are covered in a black and brown tweed that matched the lounge suite However I decided to cover them in lighter fabric. I have used fabric that was in the drawers of material, all leftovers of any dress, curtain or clothing Maddy ever made for us, the boys or herself. I remember this fabric but not where it was from. I also have for the other two chairs some dress fabric that was dresses that Celia and I had in our early teens.

I had great fun taking off the old backing, but on advice of crafty friends left the old fabric there and just covered it over as the webbing is fine. I bought a staple gun and had a great time banging it together!!

RAIN!!

We have had a wonderful week of rain. As I walk to work the Moonee Ponds Creek is rushing by and all the storm water drains are pouring more water in. The creek is muddy and up to its banks. Unfortunately it all then runs out to the sea!! I hope the catchment areas have been as lucky.
The local park, en route to work is as green as can be and all the pots in my garden are flowering or shooting up.

This white Hellebore has suddenly burst into bloom and looking very nice just on the back step All the Banksia Roses are in bloom and looking great!

Scrap booking

I have been doing a bit of scrapping this last week as I scan and print old pictures on my new Printer. (The old one would NOT load the print function with my new iMac)
This pugnacious looking toddler is me at about 14-16months. We had only moved into the family home after my birth as early pictures show the house being built in 1947.
Tony looks a much happier baby!!
We all know the family picture below but I now have a couple of versions Obviously we moved about the garden. I love this one of Tony looking pleased with himself!!
This would have been taken in 1952 or Jan of '53 as Celia is the baby born November 1952. I am in school uniform but had just turned 4. Maybe it was a try on for the coming year!

Library Displays

The local Footscray Library has 2 showcases in which they have rotating displays. In August they displayed our collection of Japanese dolls and toys.
and in September they have had a small sample of Celia's snow domes.
I always see someone looking when I visit the library

USHOW

On Thursday night I wended my way (very slowly along with hundreds of other cars) crawling down Kings Way in the rain to The Mercedes Benz Show room. (no complaint about the rain just the slooow traffic!) 35 minutes from Flagstaff Gardens to just out of the casino tunnel.
The event was the official launch of Andrew and Nicholas' new business venture USHOW Real estate. Andrew and Nicholas were resplendent in orange bow ties to fit in with their logo. They have a team of designers, accountants, and sign writer (Briner ADS) on board to get their online business going. Several new sales representatives were there for the unveiling of the company car Smart cars and the logo.
Nicholas was a very impressive speaker and you could do nothing but believe that they will succeed.
After the drinks I headed off around tho corner to the Malthouse Theatre to see One Night the Moon. It was very impressive , but I am so used to hearing my CD with Paul Kelly singing that the voices seemed a bit weak. And the strong song "This land is me" from Albert the aboriginal tracker, his mike wasn't working! Must have been very frustrating for him, he kept palming at it but to no avail. After he went off stage it was OK when he came back.
I had booked for Wendy and I as Di was going anyway. She ended up sitting next to us!

Ghost trains

The day started well with the car not starting!
It had been giving me a bit of unreliability (not its usual behaviour) over the last week or two. The garage could find nothing wrong when I took it in last week, but every now and then it takes a few turns to start. This morning it took 5-6 with no result so I decided I'd walk (not sure which route, when I set off.)

I headed down to the Footscray station, the development of which is moving apace! and thought I would get the bus, but the bus goes down McCauley Rd which is at a standstill in the morning when I walk along there, so decided on the train to North Melbourne (not far from where I sometimes park the car) and then walk or try the new Bus route 401 that goes to the Royal Melbourne.
I arrived at the station at 8:10 and saw the 8:05 was due in 2 minutes! so got on and got a seat; we were to stop at South Kensington then North Melbourne. a trip of scheduled 6 minutes.
We stopped outside Kensington to wait for a regional train to go past and then for the one beside us to go then we moved into the Station. Then we left for North Melbourne where we also stopped this time for a Ghost train to do something (unseen by all on board) then we headed off again -200yds and stopped again. This time for another train going somewhere much faster than us. Finally we stopped at the Melbourne Junction for another Ghost special then arrived at North Melbourne at 825. I probably could walk it as fast!
The bonus was that the bus was waiting for us all. This new route serving the RM Hospital and Melbourne University was a brain wave of someone, as it prevents the need to go into Flinders Street to then get the tram up Swanston street. The bus trip is on quiet roads and takes about 5 minutes to the first stop. A solidly packed bus but with another 2 minutes behind. I arrived at the RMH at 8:32 and walked up to the Kids. Even with the delays I was at work from the door to the desk in 50 minutes. The trip home however only took me 40 including shopping!
I arrived home and after calming the dog's enthusiastic greeting, tried the car and it started straight away! So hope it will be OK again for a few days. I have to get to Doncaster after work tomorrow and don't want to cancel at the last moment.
With a new car imminent it only needs to last a few weeks at most!

Swan

My morning walk is always varied, with the traffic, walkers, whether or not I have to stop for the train crossings, occasionally getting in to conversation with those waiting, or whether I see the regulars as well.

Last week I was crossing between the stationary cars (they queue up for ages with the above said trains crossing) and paused as I always do to be sure no bicycles were coming, when a motor bike zipped by. I paused (but obviously gave her a fright) As she went passed I said 'Bicycles"
A bit further up she stopped and called back that there is a pedestrian crossing (true) but as I approached I said I was sorry for frightening her, (she was on P plates) but thought not making the cars stop another time was a good will gesture! She shrugged and pulled out--- straight into the path of skate boarder also illegally using the bike path!(which is on the road edge). Didn't hit him but sudden swerving etc Good thing the traffic was still stationary. The guy walking near me "she won't last long of she's not more careful!"
But my walk was cheered the next day as I walked down Arden Street (sometimes I vary it) and saw the black swans sailing up ---with 5 cygnets clustered between them. I didn't have my camera, and as I walked home along McCauley Road they were down there with a whole bridge railing of people watching.
SO next day I brought my camera and they weren't there, but I had decided during the day that I would go down onto the bike path at McCauley road (if they weren't there) and walk along to Arden street. This was a perfect plan, as just as I arrived at the Arden st Bridge they sailed up. They were then ushered up onto the bank with each swan on alert all the time Two homeless men live under the bridge and as they came out the swan advanced hissing, but the men were feeding them and approached very carefully.
A lovely interlude!