A day at the Museum

This is Thang’s last week and I thought we should infuse a little culture into his stay even at this late date. He had not made it to the gallery or the Museum, so we headed off there this morning. The weather is freezing again 9 degrees as we set off. Called in to Kensington en route to see if Jude was at her shop & she was just arriving in her hat with ears?? Couldn’t quite make out what it was. So we had a chat and Thang had a brief browse.

The museum was fairly busy even at 10am and the fee for both was only $8 so not sure what deal was going on. We didn't look at everything but explored the Melbourne History area after the Lin Onus display. We saw his painting of Archie Roach and then heard Archie’s song “Bring the Children home” in the Koorie Exhibit. We especially loved the magpie truck!
There has been change since I was there last and there was a clever visual display of the growth and population growth of Melbourne suburbs over the century; Black Rock appeared in the 1930’s, so it would have been the back blocks to well established Abbottsford. We also listened to the story of Phar Lap, and his death at US hands!
There was a new exhibition about Little Lon, the dangerous area of Melbourne in the early 1900.s There had been an archaeological survey dig done there taking up what had been a big car park before a huge redevelopment (not sure where exactly) It was a fascinating display of poverty and struggle to survive. There were a lot of exhibits of relics found as well as a diary of a nun who worked in what is still Mission for Streets & Lanes.
We also explored the children’s area, which especially impressed Thang.
We then went down to Federation Square to the Ian Potter Gallery of Australian Art.
I did a tour (my version!) of the development of Australian art and pointed out the main artists of the impressionist movement, and took some photos. My favourite McCubbin, LOST, and Margaret Peston's flowers.
As we were leaving there was a poster about the Dali exhibition at the main gallery, and Thang asked who was Dali? One forgets what exposure to Art etc differs culture to culture.

Winter retreat

Queen's birthday weekend is the last public holiday till November so always welcomed. I am down to Aireys with Spencer and also Sponty, minding him while Wendy is in northern Australia for 2 months . He was looking a bit shaggy so I had Lisa cut him this afternoon. I met Lisa as I walked back with the papers and Spencer (who was off the lead) raced over to say hello, and when I asked her if she was working this weekend she said "Sponty, right?" Impressive memory! Currently we are warming ourselves around the fire as it is only 12 degrees and chilly but a weak sun. My plan for the weekend is to get into the changes to my thesis (again) and work on the proposal about a feeding admission program at Tweddle that has been approved by RCH as a partnership project.

The grounds are green with young grass (read weeds!) and the plants I put in in April are still surviving. Needs a bit of spring warmth to take off I think.
Had a major haircut last week. I have always had some grey hairs since I hit 50, but hardly worth searching for, then since late last year I have had a rush of grey! so I have been growing out the colour and letting my brunette show through, I have had some light colour foils done to help gradually let the colours come without the 'roots' look. I must admit it still does not look grey, but it really is there!

While I was away Thang finished painting the front fence. We had done the post last week and now it is all done Even has the French navy blue and white house number on (not in pic)

The mild weather has taken a down turn and we have a top tomorrow of 11 overnight 1. Now that is cold in Melbourne. The snow bunnies are ecstatic!

Thoughts on work

With the end of the financial year looming I have to decide on my plan to reduce my hours. Originally I was deferring this to the end of the year, but I feel I can manage cutting down to 4 days a week now. I have a meeting with my boss on June 4th (been booked up for 3 months, so hope he's not whipped off to visit NSW; he's a big honcho in Paediatric examiners) to talk about this and get the OK to have someone work the one day. Although the funds are there the money saving establishment may feel they can get by on 4 days only.

My clinic with difficult feeding is going well. This is my cat with a open mouth or licking his lips as he rolls by.

I had some Prem (28wk) twins this week one of which is a very poor feeder.They are now 6 months and 3 corrected and the boy is doing very well but the girls is struggling It was lovely being with parents that were so psychologically minded, and aware of what the experience of it all may have had for the babies. They describe how the babies won't go to sleep alone, and had 2 beautiful photos. One of the big boy asleep on his back with his arm out to the head of his sister, who was holding his hand and looking at him. The other was of them asleep, swaddled up and she was spooned at his back her head against his shoulder, the bedroom lamp just skimming light across their cheeks. Photo competition material!!
I have met with my friend Anne who has a consulting room and will spend July getting organised and then start seeing private referrals on a Friday, in Balwyn 5 minutes off the Eastern freeway, among the monied masses!

Anne describes how some private health funds have 'discretionary rebate' which parents may use with agencies logged with them, so will follow that up.

As an aside I was thinking again about private health insurance, and realised there is a 2% surcharge on fees, 2% for every year you don't join after 31. That would be 60% increase with a maximum of 70%. How could it be worth it???? I better stay as well as I am!

A new route

After months of walking a varied but same route to and from work I sought out some variety on the morning trek.
From a friend’s suggestion I found a footbridge over the Kensington Rail lines, but found this was actually 5+ minutes shorter than my previous route. However I use this way if I want a quicker return to the car.
What I now do is walk north along the street adjacent (raised) to the line then cross at Macauley Road crossing. This is a single lane road connecting traffic from Geelong road to access to the city via Kings way and is busy in the morning. However it has TWO rail crossings, Kensington & Macaulay Stations and like yesterday may have 3 trains within 10 minutes so the traffic queue is loooong! Why anyone would go this way is beyond me! I tried it driving 15 years ago and quickly gave up. It is also the bus route from Footscray and the scheduled time of a trip of 20 minutes is a ludicrous piece of fiction at that hour! I have got caught by trains usually every second day but usually only at one line. With the Ipod playing the sudden clanging of the bells had me jumping as I approached today.
So my walk takes me along streets full of charming Victorian and Edwardian houses, as well as the industrial strip of Macauley Road. I noticed from the other side of the road a plaque in front of a factory, and yesterday went over to read it. It commemorates the death of two fighter pilots of a bomber that crashed in 1943 on a demo flight.
I have a small but steady climb up Canning Street, then down another small street of lovely houses and gardens beside another park, then out onto Flemington Road.
All in all it’s about 35 minutes; a change and 5 minutes more exercise each way.

Paul Kelly Concert

I had a great time on Friday seeing PAUL KELLY at the Palais in St Kilda. He was just performing the one night and the concert was almost booked out. He came on at 920 and went through till 1130, so a great evening.
He sang all my favourites, but except for the song for How to make Gravy had almost no talk just one song after another. He sang all my favourites, If I could start today again, Leaps & Bounds, When I met your ma ,To her door, Before too long etc and one I didn't know, They thought I was asleep.


The Palais is a great building; and with the previous owners lease expiring and talk of it being closed I don't quite know how it is still having shows. Last night was Gurrumul, but I didn't book two shows in a row!http://www.gurrumul.com/

Interiors and exteriors are inspired by Moorish architecture with twin dome towers, a theme shared by many surrounding buildings in the suburb, including Luna Park, the St Kilda Pavilion, St Kilda Baths. The exteriors also feature faux Egyptian elements, whilst the interiors also include Baroque inspired elements.

Di's Salon

With sailing over I was thinking about what I would do over the winter. Usually Spring comes around and I have not done anything in particular. So I decided I might get into my knitting, and had a search on the web for knitting activity; I found a shop in Albert Park called Wool Baa which has a few things going on. http://www.woolbaa.com/Then the following week I had an email from Di inviting me to her Salon 1 in her new studio and the craft was "knitting"!
It was a small gathering around her wonderful long table, and I got back into my jumper that had stalled. I had finished the sleeve following the decreasing and found it was only to my elbow, so I had unpicked it and done no more in 18months. . Just 3/4 of a sleeve to go. That's the purple in the foreground.

There were four of us and next month we may do more of the same, or as a new craft I was thinking of embroidery that I had done at school, or ribbon embroidery that always looks good on baby blankets etc.

Presentation Night

It has been many years since I have not been embroiled in all the preparations for the Yacht Club presentation night. This year all I did was fold about 50 paper cranes and help for 4 hours in getting the decor set up. No tables, no late comers, no catering , no volunteer gifts, no wine estimates, just turning up in my black dress (old favourite) and new red shoes!

2007 Jelly fish (a hazard as we sail) was very popular but this year's theme is based on the Wave, so we had Origami cranes as decoration, inspired by Di and executed by the usual suspects!

All her contribution over the years was acknowledged as last night Di Leighfield won the Phil Jacquemin Award, Club Member of the Year! She looked gobsmacked! The night was a great bash as usual, a balmy 14 degree evening meant a wind-less stroll on the decking was possible. The light shining on the water always looked good. This year there were dozens of seagulls after the moths etc. attracted there; they floated around in between snacks!

The decoration created a hanging screen as you enter the club and we had table pieces as well as activity for the non sailors this time Origami, of a bird that we had not been able to work out. It kept them busy and we did get 4 finished ones as well as decorated tables. Lots of prizes donated by the CFA (Amber's boss!)and a linen company whose owners are members.

The band was The Good Old Boys who had played at Di's 50th They kept everyone dancing! Left about 1am without doing all the clearing up that used to keep me till 2am!!