aussies

[australwind]

I have to agree with you, australwind. Was posted there some time ago. Lived at St Kilda on the Esplanade. The gentification had just begun. The BMWs were just moving in and the girls were still very prominent on the landscape.

Acland St was very different to what it is now. Closed run down shops in a couple of places and this older guy who had a shop on one of the corners with hessian bags of coffee beans. The best smelling shop ever!!! Nice guy.

When I was there in Feb it seemed that only two of the original Continental patisseries were left, but doing a roaring trade. Very yuppie now! lol

So when are you likely to be down this way again, Trisk?

Good coffee and cake awaits you!

 

[warrior queen]

So, my man went back to work today.
West Aus this time.... working on the North West Shelf gas field.
It might be 2 months, not sure yet.

This means two things - I will be around more, and I don't need to do SHIT for Xmas!

I will go down to my daughters place for chrissy lunch, then leave the kidlet there and come home to an empty house!
Bliss!
I've been saving a beautiful bottle of red and a book just for this.

 

[jusgoodcleanfun]

sounds like fun

 

[Triskele]

I think its worse to be invited to "thank you at Christmas time" event where everyone is recognised as being part of a team...all of whom have their names on the Certificate of Appreciation except you.

You wonder whether you really should have bothered.....

Welcome back...

Holy Crap!!! They better have re-issued that certificate and grovelled in writing!!!

So when are you likely to be down this way again, Trisk?

Good coffee and cake awaits you!

The way things are going it looks like Feb/March. Lots happening til then.

 

[Triskele]

So, my man went back to work today.
West Aus this time.... working on the North West Shelf gas field.
It might be 2 months, not sure yet.

This means two things - I will be around more, and I don't need to do SHIT for Xmas!

I will go down to my daughters place for chrissy lunch, then leave the kidlet there and come home to an empty house!
Bliss!
I've been saving a beautiful bottle of red and a book just for this.

I've got out of full on Chrissy Day preps for a few years now. Have been elsewhere with the cherubs and outlaws and have taken something to contribute where ever we've been. Sydney this year. It's great to come home to peace and quiet, although I always work Boxing Day and that's Hell on skates!!!

 

[australwind]

Holy Crap!!! They better have re-issued that certificate and grovelled in writing!!!

Not yet... but they looked really pretty with egg on their faces when they were informed of what they had done... or rather not done!

The way things are going it looks like Feb/March. Lots happening til then.

I can wait....besides its always much more pleasant when the seaside suburbs are not full of holiday makers...

 

[warrior queen]

*sigh*
Everyone is in Xmas mode.
Everywhere I go, the cheesy music is playing, the pseudo-'sales' are in full swing, and the shopping trolleys are full of crap.
I think I might have to start the anti-commercialism party....

 

[never_enough_au]

Where do I sign up?

 

[Orlanth]

I love Christmas. I love what it stands for; renewal and hope. I'm the Christmas Polyanna, organising wee gifts for the customers on Christmas Eve and supplying hats for us to wear.

I despise the way that unrealistic expectations can be placed on people, by each other and ourselves. We don't have to be perfect when we get together at Christmas, just considerate and nonjudgemental. I can hear people winding up already! Such a wasted opportunity, who knows what will happen to those we love over the next year?

Xmas got ruined for my famiły à few years when docs said that my hèalth was failing me, my brother attempted suicide and my dad battled with cancer

 

[Triskele]

Xmas got ruined for my famiły à few years when docs said that my hèalth was failing me, my brother attempted suicide and my dad battled with cancer

I hope this Christmas is much better for you and your family, Orlanth.

 

[Triskele]

Where do I sign up?

Welcome back, never_enough.

 

[warrior queen]

Xmas got ruined for my famiły à few years when docs said that my hèalth was failing me, my brother attempted suicide and my dad battled with cancer

The best thing about those kinds of Xmases is that they're over

 

[DormantEvil]

My family has several health concerns, but I still believe Christmas is a blessing, because its the one time of the year that everybody gets together for dinner. We are spread out a lot, and travel is something we try to limit. And since people are sick, its good to see them as much as we can, just in case it doesn't go well for them before next Christmas.

 

[Orlanth]

The best thing about those kinds of Xmases is that they're over

that Xmas almost destroyed m family

 

[warrior queen]

that Xmas almost destroyed m family

Ever noticed just how important the word 'almost' is?

 

[darkelf9]

Hi there, Mr Elf!

I don't envy you all the driving. I've got out of major trips this year coz the car done got broked! Good timimg, I'd say. Loaned the exes new 2nd car for the graduation treks for the Princess Cherub. The grad dinner was at Parliament house. Very nice venue! Quite grand and special for the kids.

Been down to the river with the girls to cool off a few days ago but things cooled down then. Only 22 today. Will get much hotter. Been toying with the idea off putting in solar panels but off grid. They reduced the tariff you get back, so my plan is to install batteries and run aircon/heating and water heater from it, with alternate power points for when solar is used up. Worth a better return to me. Would pay itself off much quicker. Will see.

Sorry about the 'wee' thing! It was the image of an elf that did it.... I love my chainsaw but don't use it as much since I sold my land.

Moorabin sounds just right. I certainly don't want to drive in the city, those box corners scare me to death!

And as for what you get on Christmas morn.... I'm sure Santa will be nice and it won't be wee.

Hey Trisk,

The main driving trip is over did about 390km's and essentially went in a big circle. Finally got some relaxing in to my holiday this week. Been nice and quite for the last few days just trying to not do much of the "have to" tasks. Also trying to get over the head cold. Not fun doing all that driving with a head cold. Feeling much better today. One more driving trip to go, but much less. Only staying within the suburbs this time, then again Melbourne does extended a ways. Nice and cool as well these past few days warming up again on the weekend.

Yeah I thought elf meant small until I played a video game which showed elves of all sizes and no Santa in sight.

Now by box corners do you mean hook turns?? Melbourne city centre is built on a rectangle so you really can't get lost. No little one way streets like in Sydney. We used to have more hook turns but yes they do still confuse people. It just looks wrong doesn't it but meant to ensure that the trams are not held up by cars turning right hence the hook turn. They have now introduced a traffic signal for it in one area which does help.

I've already had most of my Christmas presents since we did that early this year. One more Christmas lunch to go on Christmas day.

Since moving out of the inner suburbs I hardly go into the city centre anymore since everything I need is close by. The large shopping centres in the suburbs are the main reason. There is a hotel not far from a major shopping centre in Moorabbin, also there are places in the beach surburbs not far from Moorabbin. Brighton Beach is not far either. I used to go there on the train as a kid since we didn't live that far away. Nice beaches in that area.

 

[darkelf9]

Melbourne has the best range of food (and coffee places) in Aus, I think!

(I'm sure that someone is likely to correct me but given I have spent the last 12 years traveling and having to eat out - I've had a fair range of experience with the good, the bad and the downright awful!)

I like any opportunity not to have to cook and I have fond memories of Acland Street from back in the late 80's when I used to work down thereabouts....

Hey Austral,

Yeah I get the same feedback from frineds who come to visit, although the girls mainly want to come down to shop, food isn't quite on their radar when the shopping bug bites. Even had some visitors from Italy say how much they prefer Melbourne to Sydney or Brisbane. Whilst a big city it doesn't feel congested. When ever I go to Sydney it just feels close and small.

 

[Triskele]

Hey Trisk,

The main driving trip is over did about 390km's and essentially went in a big circle. Finally got some relaxing in to my holiday this week. Been nice and quite for the last few days just trying to not do much of the "have to" tasks. Also trying to get over the head cold. Not fun doing all that driving with a head cold. Feeling much better today. One more driving trip to go, but much less. Only staying within the suburbs this time, then again Melbourne does extended a ways. Nice and cool as well these past few days warming up again on the weekend.

Yeah I thought elf meant small until I played a video game which showed elves of all sizes and no Santa in sight.

Now by box corners do you mean hook turns?? Melbourne city centre is built on a rectangle so you really can't get lost. No little one way streets like in Sydney. We used to have more hook turns but yes they do still confuse people. It just looks wrong doesn't it but meant to ensure that the trams are not held up by cars turning right hence the hook turn. They have now introduced a traffic signal for it in one area which does help.

I've already had most of my Christmas presents since we did that early this year. One more Christmas lunch to go on Christmas day.

Since moving out of the inner suburbs I hardly go into the city centre anymore since everything I need is close by. The large shopping centres in the suburbs are the main reason. There is a hotel not far from a major shopping centre in Moorabbin, also there are places in the beach surburbs not far from Moorabbin. Brighton Beach is not far either. I used to go there on the train as a kid since we didn't live that far away. Nice beaches in that area.

Heavens, Mr Elf! How on earth did you manage to get a headcold at this time of year???? Not very clever of you! I hope the darn thing has gone by now. They're a misery in the heat.

As for Elves of varying sizes..... while that could be very, um, interesting, those gamer bods just can't help tampering with nature. There are some self evident truths; some clutched to the chests of Americains and the others relating to the wee folk. While I'm sure there is a Lephrechaun in the bottom of my Smirnoff bottle, their elf cousins may be larger but still wee folk. Large elves is just ludicrous proposition! (Yourself excluded of course ) Spread by Peter Jackson so he could use Australians in LOTR.

Mmmm. Hook turns, are they? Ooops. Still horrid and best avoided by moi. I remember Brighton Beach. I hired a bicycle and cycled down past there to Black Rock (I think that's the name) Was a very loooooooooong day but was super fit in those days....... And my cousin lived at Noble Park.

I loved shopping in the CBD down there, as well. Loved Georges. Is it still there?
The gear cost a bomb but was everlasting.

I solved my Christmas present problem for the adults by making fooooood. Stuff they like but wont make themselves. Kids stuff was dead easy.

Just got to get through the next 4 days dealing with stressed pre Chrissy travellers. Boxing day is a day in hell. People are usually mellowed a little after Boxing Day.

Oh, I had an interview today. Will be a while b4 I hear how it went.

 

[Triskele]

*sigh*
Everyone is in Xmas mode.
Everywhere I go, the cheesy music is playing, the pseudo-'sales' are in full swing, and the shopping trolleys are full of crap.
I think I might have to start the anti-commercialism party....

Ok, WQ. I was officially ready to string tourists as daisy chains and hang them in the main street today! Most are terrific, but being beligerent to Juniors who are bending over backwards to be helpful is LOW. Hope Santa puts a brick in their stocking.

 

[australwind]

Oh, I had an interview today. Will be a while b4 I hear how it went.

Best of luck with that... hope they don't leave you hanging for too long before you find out.


I am very pleased to report that my boy cracked the job market finally and today was offered a position at which he will start on Mid February....thank goodness!

He's been in the market for the last 7 months and was beginning to think there was something amiss.... its a long time to be unemployed when you have responsibilities.

 

[Triskele]

Best of luck with that... hope they don't leave you hanging for too long before you find out.


I am very pleased to report that my boy cracked the job market finally and today was offered a position at which he will start on Mid February....thank goodness!

He's been in the market for the last 7 months and was beginning to think there was something amiss.... its a long time to be unemployed when you have responsibilities.

Congratulations to him! What a great Christmas present! It's hard to keep morale up for so long, isn't it?

The results of the interviews will be delayed by Christmas. Knew it would be a bad time for that. And I hate waiting!!! I'm too antsy!!!

 

[australwind]

Hey Austral,

Yeah I get the same feedback from frineds who come to visit, although the girls mainly want to come down to shop, food isn't quite on their radar when the shopping bug bites. Even had some visitors from Italy say how much they prefer Melbourne to Sydney or Brisbane. Whilst a big city it doesn't feel congested. When ever I go to Sydney it just feels close and small.

The thought of driving in Sydney is enough to make me shudder violently and ask for a return ticket to home ASAP...

Whilst I will sing the praises of Melbourne as being the best place for food - I would be remiss if I didn't toss a few bouquets in the direction of some of the country towns I have stopped in.... for instance, one of the best Thai meals I have ever had was in Goulburn, Malmsbury bakery is a dieter's worst nightmare and the most delicious fisherman's basket was sampled in a remote little village somewhere in the Nullabor...

 

[australwind]

Congratulations to him! What a great Christmas present! It's hard to keep morale up for so long, isn't it?

The results of the interviews will be delayed by Christmas. Knew it would be a bad time for that. And I hate waiting!!! I'm too antsy!!!

He's very relieved.... but I had him on a very short lead in order to rein his head in a bit and he expected that I would let him loose now that the job is secured....HA!

Not on your life! That's why I am MISTRESS and he is boy

 

[warrior queen]

Farewell, my friends!

 

[australwind]

Farewell, my friends!

"Help me make it through the night?"