Post-Christmas in Melbourne

On Boxing Day, we did nothing. Got up late, unloaded the dishwasher. Went back to bed in the afternoon. Energy beginning to seep back the following day, so went over to Wim and Akinyi's and did some terrace gardening, then ate their lovely African food for dinner. The following day David walked to the MCG and watched Ponting and Hussey being bowled at by the Indian team.  Here's the scene

Meanwhile, Lian and I went shopping and bought cheap clothes in the post-Christmas sales. She's a canny buyer and took me to all the best bargain spots.  I bought  5 good quality T-shirts, a pair of trousers and two cardigans - total cost under $100. The went and had a pedicure. If you have never had a pedicure, do it now. At one of those Asian nail emporiums with the massage chairs. Aaaah.

Lian and Matt have dined us too, it's great having offspring who cook well!

The weather is just perfect and invites you to be out and about. Especially considering our apartment is quite dark, as it is overshadowed by huge multi-story buildings to the N and E. It's cool and shady in summer (and freezing cold and shady in winter). This is the complex garden courtyard, our apartment is immediately to the right, with its own courtyard garden.

We have been trying to work off all those extra Christmas kilojoules with a daily swim in the apartment's pool. There never seems to be anyone else using it, and I just can't understand why not. It has a spa and gym and sauna too.  If you like that sort of thing, which I don't. I suppose other people must feels that way about swimming, but I just love it.

 Street art is very big in Melbourne, and a lot of the little back laneways are decorated, although it is done clandestinely.  This one seems to be officially sanctioned and the display changes regularly. It is quite different to the last time we walked through it.

 There is also an enormous amount of public art on the streets, especially in the CBD.

Some of it is quite historic, such as these arcade mosaics. This one is the Australia Arcade on Collins Street.

 This is the entrance to the Block Arcade off Elizabeth Street.

 This is Cafe Olio in a laneway off the Block Arcade. How Melbourne is this scene? Features flirty young Italian waiters in tight white shirts and black aprons, who instantly become your new best friend and who flourish up to the table with good coffee and gigantic serves of cake. "You want a piece each? Well, my friends, that is very brave.  I will bring you water to help you..."

  "Stay as long as you like! There is a rule at this cafe, you can't leave until you eat it all...no, no, no, I just joke" But, we had to leave some - delicious as they were. Back to the pool!