Back in the swing

It didn't take long to get back to life in Melbourne. Monday night I attended Book Club. It was a great discussion about The Coral Battle Ground by Judith Wright. It was a tedious read about a serious topic,  the recounting of the first attempts by conservationists to stave off development and mining on the  Great Barrier reef.  Here we are 30 years later trying to save the reef again from big business and sloppy governments.  We all admitted that we are however more talk than action (silent protestors).  It seems to me that we older women need to become the activists these days. You can't help but be inspired by these people who really commit to making a change. They are courageous. We are puffed up hot air. I signed the petitions and donated but haven't taken to the streets or written letters to members of parliament. 

I had Ziggy on Tuesday as usual and we had a great time at the park. I think he was rather over stimulated as he didn't actually go off to sleep for ages and was chatting and pretending to play with someone. I only went up once to settle him and then I just left him. He was happy but quiet didn't happen till nearly get up time! He had been so pleased to see me back again. It is so touching when they miss you. He had a lot of fun pretending to cook a BBQ with mandarin segments. He even commented about the 'oil' spitting!

Wednesday I got stuck into the accreditation work again and fixing up my accounts etc. it always takes ages to  do these administrative chores. Back at the gym too. I had a late breakfast with LeeLin as well.  Then before I realised it was time to leave for the VALA seminar at the Dock, library at Dicklands. What a great space! Met everyone and was most amused to see a tall banker type in dark suit and short hair riding his skateboard up the street after work. I wished I had the presence of mind to take a photo. It was such an interesting juxtaposition of suit and skateboard. 

I had rather cavalierly committed to ' Dry July' at the gym. No wine for a month, what was I thinking? So I had no wine at the seminar and none when I returned home. I really felt like a wine too. I guess that is the point, break the needy habit.  I have been able to resist quite easily so far but like to drink my water or cordial in a wine glass. It seems more of an occasion. 

I was really tired on Friday because Jonathan and Nick had come for dinner Thursday night and I had made a  special meal in a bowl, soup and polenta chips. Well they weren't chips but more like shards! They still tasted delicious. I enjoyed cooking something different for a change. Cooking new things is interesting and rewarding when the recipients are so appreciative.  The boys worked till midnight and I don't feel I can go to bed when they are still here. I do the mum thing and ply them with food and drink to sustain them. We talk a bit but it is just a really comfortable family feeling sort of night.  I miss Peter sometimes on these nights. He would be so proud of the boys. 

I decided to try and get some urban walking shoes. My  current ones are very shabby and not very waterproof.  Every place I went was out of my size. They aren't even all that chic, just very sensible but still no sizes. Ugh! I wanted them for Saturday when the weather was predicted to be very wet and cold and we( Irene, Janine and I) were booked in for a Miss Fishers's Murder Mysteries walk. The character for this series is Phryne Fisher, heiress and lady detective. The series is set in Melbourne in the 1920s. It is a lot of fun and the clothes and sets are very authentic. This walk includes an afternoon tea, and cocktail at the end at the Gin Palace as well as visiting the film sites within the CBD..

Afternoon tea on the set of ' the police commissioners study', actually the formal room at Tasma House and Irene at the Gin Palace.

The guide Kathy was very interesting and added lots of information about the buildings and showed the film sites from the series on her IPad at each place. The Gin Palace was a very trendy, dark comfy seated bar that obviously specialises in gin. They have 120 different gins and our cocktail was made with Melbourne made gin and Melbourne made vermouth. It was delicious.  A home grown gin would be a good gift for taking overseas. Needless to say I broke my dry July promise for the cocktail as I had booked it well before and I admit I was weak.

I went back to Irene's place for a quick dinner and then home to make muffins and breakfast treats for the family who were coming for brunch on Sunday. A lovely finish to a full week.