I love these lil critters. I’m sad we can’t have them in Aus, but it’s probably for the best. They don’t live very long (3 – 6 years I think) and are very sensitive to temperature. Let’s be honest here – I just killed a pine tree. What hope to I have of keeping a wee thing like this alive?
Bebeh hedgies. SO cute.
Ready to roll.
Is that his tail down there?
I found this on YouTube – “Google Me Baby” by Teyana Taylor.
I really like it! Now where can I download it …
I’ve been looking forward to seeing this show for months as it’s based very closely on the movie that I love.
I took Mum, Dad and some friends to see it at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney today for the 1:30 matinée.
I have to say, I was very impressed by the show adaptation of the movie – it managed to remain very true to both the story and feel of the film, and the addition of songs and more dance numbers only added to the experience.
What I think the show did best was blend the happiness, humour and the drive that makes dancers successful with the harsh lives of the pit miners in County Durham who are faced with pit closures and losing their jobs.
The kids were all amazing. So talented and engaging. The music was fabulous – very similar to in the movie, with lots of original songs as well. I also thought the staging was inventive, with moving sets that added to what was going on stage rather than distracting from it.
If you can still get tickets, I would highly recommend this show. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up.
Beverly found out about an Alannah Hill factory outlet sale being held in Paddington, so Bev, Lise and I trouped off tonight to check out the sales.
The one thing I don’t like about sales is that it removes the pleasant buying experience. Instead, you get girls competitive about grabbing things in their size. It’s really shopping at its worst, but I can’t resist a great bargain.
Here we are, emerged victorious from our excursion.
My buys below – I got the lot for $380. About 60 – 70% below retail cost on all items.
We booked into our hotel – the Grand Hotel managed by Sofitel on Spencer/Flinders Sts. It’s perfectly located, near the Google office and right near the shops, water and trams. It’s a really lovely old school hotel, beautifully refurbished with modern amenities. We had a problem with our hot water, but they were extremely helpful so no complaints here!
Alec takes a look from the balcony.
Our awesome room.
Out and about. The giant purse is awesome.
The heritage-listed Shot Tower in the middle of the shopping centre.
Alec takes a break in Fitzroy Gardens.
The museum complex.
Hot Rod show at the museum complex.
Cars with amazing paint jobs.
On a tram!
All aboard!
At the Melbourne Aquarium.
I couldn’t get this guy in focus, but he was super cute.
View of Melbourne from the aquarium.
Alec checks out a strange exhibit.
I don’t remember what this was …
Jellyfish … ewwww.
Blubbery!
Japanese spider crab. Freaky!
Giant happy ray.
The fish viewing room. Cool!
We met Alice and Jamie for dinner at the 100 Mile Cafe. It serves only food that has been sourced within 100 miles.
This bread was yuuuum.
Alec’s entree. No idea what is under that green stuff.
Alice’s seafood spring rolls.
My entree – I don’t remember what it was called, but it was full of vege stuff and had an amazing dressing.
My vege plate.
Alec’s beef.
Jamie’s vege dish.
“I’m not a tree hugger!”
Walking back to the hotel we saw all kinds of cool sculptures lit up around the city.
A cruisy day in Ferntree Gully.
The adorable house in the bush where we stayed.
The Davies’ old dog, Chicka – a half-cattle dog, half-dalmation mix.
We did the 1000 step walk in the Dandenongs, which was a beautiful walk down hill (ow my thighs!) through the bush – we saw a wallaby! – followed by about 760 steps back up. Not 1000 steps. Go figure.
The track going up the stairs is also called the Kokoda trail in memory. Along the track are several memorial markers with info about Kokoda. Really interesting stuff and a great idea.
It certainly felt like a long way!
Alec and I flew down on Friday night for a long weekend in old Melbourne-town.
We stayed with some friends of his and their kids in Ferntree Gully, in the Dandenong Ranges.
Alec gets attacked by munchkins.
Lookout – that’s Melbourne waaaay in the distance.
Pretty sculpture in the park.
We stopped at Pie In The Sky for lunch.
Spinach, feta and wild rice pie.
Alec’s beef pastie.
Sassafrass lolly shop.
On Phillip Island.
Nobbies.
Watching sunset and waiting for the penguins to show up at Port Phillip Bay.
Penguins! We couldn’t take photos so this is from the wonderful internet. The penguins were awesome – so cute and making the funniest sounds. It was amazing to see them in the wild.
I like comfy clothes. Ones I can take a deep breath in and let my ribcage expand to take in the fresh Sydney air on Cityrail every morning. Will I be sitting alone in my unfashionable loose clothing in the not-too-distant future? Could be! The Sydney Morning Herald recently published an article heralding the return of the corset.
According to the The SMH, corsets have gone mainstream. Corsets are made of up to 10 separate, stiffened sections. “Each section or panel is also ‘boned’, meaning it is separated from the next by spiral steel rods sewn into the structure.” Corset-wearing enthusiasts such as Janet Coath, 22, sing their praise, with comments such as “They’re for people who like to look like people, more than people who look like grasshoppers”.
According to Wikepedia, there are numerous health disadvantages to wearing a corset that modern-day corset revivalists might want to consider, such as Glénard’s disease, “a common illness caused by prolonged corset use. It is characterized by lack of abdominal muscle tone and visceral displacement. Wearing tight-laced corsets over a long period of time may cause the lower ribs (floating ribs) to become deformed and pushed inwards. This can lead to organ failure, dehydration, or broken ribs”.
No wonder men think women are stupid for conforming to fashion. What person in their right mind would do this to their body? And what does it say about women that they want to return to the days of being tied into binding clothing that results in the above problems? I’m not even going to go into the psychological implications of corsets – I think I’ve said enough. Needless to say, there will be no corsets for this grasshopper.
What do you do on a rainy Saturday but go to a gallery.
Alec and I went to the Australian Museum for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
We also saw a photographic exhibition called Face to Face while we there that was about gorillas and other monkeys. It consisted of 30 huge portraits of monkeys that lived in sanctuaries – the majority of whom were orphaned when their parents were killed for the meat trade or so they could be taken into the live animals trade. Many were kept as pets, many kept in tiny cages for years. So sad.
The WPotY exhibition was amazing. Here are a selection of my favourites.
After the great photos we grabbed some lunch in the Myer foodcourt.
I love Hokka Hokka – who says fast food can’t be healthy?
I think this is the most amazing photo of a frog I’ve ever seen.
I’m amending this post after being asked if I took the photo. I only wish I did. I found it here. Photographer is unknown.