We had 17 sweet days in Melbourne and while I was counting down: (oh no, only 3, 2, 1 days left in Melbourne) David was counting too (yay, only 3, 2, 1 days till we're back home). We worked hard on the apartment, doing all sorts of landlord repair and admin things, all very time consuming and expensive. A year's worth of house maintenance and cleaning all in one go, plus the paperwork and hassle of changing tenants. One of those tasks involved the oven, which while looking superficially clean, was harbouring a secret pool of grease under the bottom element. This began to belch black smoke when we tried to cook Wim's birthday cake. So we took the cake out and cleaned the hot oven, by which time the cake had formed a massive sink hole in its centre, which had to be excavated and filled with strawberries later. Then there was the peanut oil on the carpet, the black mould in the bathroom, the dangling towel rails, the mess in the courtyard garden and the stains on the mattress. Sigh. All fixed now. Is it worth the effort? I think so. Maybe the new tenants will be better.
The rescued cake looked quite good and fooled everybody. But no-one came back for seconds and we threw the uneaten half away the following day...
Wednesday saw the opening day of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton. This beautiful building dates from 1880 and was the site where Federation was celebrated in 1901. It has been lavishly restored and is an absolute joy.
This picture shows the intersection of the central naves and the short transepts, with "lunette" panels painted above the arches representing such noble concepts as Peace, War, Federation and Government.
http://museumvictoria.com.au/reb/history/the-building/
(Above) Floral art competition entrant
A newly released Meilland rose from France "Child's Love". It had a delicious spicy scent.
Florist window display featuring strelitzia, lotus pods, palms, monstera and bamboo
Another florist display all in greens
Warrnambool orchids, a grower's display
A tulip grower's display
A carnation grower's display
Two old garden tragics seated on the "Photo Spot" chair
Another floral window display, David's favourite by Belmore Flowers. They were just so many beautiful works. This is a small selection.
Close up of section of Sue's favourite, featuring orchids, pepper berries, proteas, ferns, lilies.
This was a heroic effort in the wearable floral art section. Chilis, lemons, limes and...furballs?
These two roaming seagulls had the small child in the pram really worried.
There was a concurrent sculpture exhibition outdoors in the Carlton Gardens, this was our favourite: a stainless steel octopus by Todd Stuart. This and 24 others are available for only $25,000 each if you are interested.
There was a display of "Achievable Gardens", with complete plant listings. This one included a lot of furniture!
This one used a selection of glaucous plants to good effect.
Back in Fitzroy we had one last meal on the street, Huxtaburgers. Here's an amusing shop window sign nearby.
Thursday morning, on that Jetstar plane
Picked up the curtain rods from Surry Hills and drove home with them taped to the side of the vehicle. Arrived home, knackered.
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