In the past fortnight ...
Saturday a fortnight ago was a very busy day. In the morning, met N (who was not all that well) at Antoinette & Bryce's. Bryce welded bars and bits on the front of the trailer, so two trolleys can be (locked) onto the front. Various other bits and pieces got fixed as well, including a few I could insist on 'cause I was there (my cunning plan).
I took the C14th pig-faced Bascinet to apply chemicals to get rid of the rust, since buffing had gone as far as was practicable, which I did on Sunday. Worked well.
Then to Jess's (who I knew from Rocky Horror, she has some great memorabillia) birthday BBQ, which was a great deal more fun than I expected. Suburban mums and dads with toddlers. Since Jess is a teacher (currently unemployed) and artist (scroll right down), included a few teachers. (Including one who looked very interesting, but enquiries later revealed was straight.) Jess and her husband Phil have the Jewish feed people thing, so plenty of good food. Apart from Jess and Phil, didn't know anyone except Stuart who turned up later, but that didn't matter.
Then picked up mishymoocow to go to the Stormhold Venetian Midwinter masked ball. Lots of people, lots of good food, lots of dancing. My foot chose to play up, so only danced one set. I was so out of practice with doing actual dances (rather than teaching simple versions to school students) and had not realised how reliant my dancing is on peripheral vision (which my mask blocked). Had very good time.
Didn't feel the need to take alcohol to either BBQ or masked ball, though the latter had plenty of yummy mulled wine.
Sunday was an archery event. but doing my walk-with-weights (increased to 7kgs in each hand for an hour), the rain clouds were advancing when I got to the top of the railway bridge (it's the Western suburbs of Melbourne: the highest bits are bridges) so decided not to.
Last two weeks of term, fairly busy with schools.
Friday of that week, went to the A&S (Arts and Sciences) dinner at La Paella, a Spanish-Morroccan restaurant organised by Mistress Gemma/Heather. Lots of mint tea. Like most folk, I had the beef tangine, which was lovely. A dozen of us (including doushkasmum & sacred_chao, mr_bassman & mrsbrown), good time had by all. (The Cutest Toddler made friends with a table of mothers and babies.)
Saturday night, Dawn/Elene had a short-notice Solstice Party, which was most enjoyable. Included doushkasmum & sacred_chao, splodgenoodles & tenbears (who were particularlly generous in food provision) and, after they had dropped the Intrepid Europe Travellers off, mr_bassman & mrsbrown. Also, latish, wizard_foots. I had slept much of the day, so did not get to the markets to do my wheel-of-brie thing: just provided two bowls of cheese cubes and cabana instead.
Sunday night, my brother arrived from Sydney. He had a week down in Melbourne, for a CSR training session. Haven't seen him for a few years. He has done the completely bald thing too (except no goatee or glasses). Had dinner at Bluefire in Docklands. Lots of nicely grilled meat, but expensive for what you get. He manages IT stuff for CSR. (He originally trained as an accountant but got into corporate IT well before it was fashionable.) His wife Jung's clothing business is continuing to expand--she specialises in doing the more complicated stuff that it is a bit too risky to import from China. Hadn't been to Docklands before. Stark and unattractive.
Tuesday night, took the opportunity to do apply chemicals to de-rust much of my armour at the regular Stormhold meeting. sacred_chao was usefully informative.
Thursday night, dinner with John again. He wanted paella. It was too short-notice for the Robbie Burns. The place in Port Melbourne I wanted to go to (convenient drive from Crowne Plaza, where he was staying) had closed down, so I drove us to La Paella where we both greatly enjoyed the paella. Then off to Cafe Fidama for desert. Drove John back via industrial precinct to go pass the CSR Yarraville factories. He pointed out that industrial waterfront usually does not persist if between gentrifying suburb (Yarraville) and water, but CSR owns the land and it's the cheapest gyprock factory they have (since boats can tie up next to it). CSR is apparently aiming to be a producer of everything that makes houses, while its ethanol business is continuing to expand.
Friday afternoon, his training concluded early, so John drove out to Seddon, and we had warm drinks and sweet things at Pistacchio and chatted. He brought me up on family news. Of the six cousins on Mum's side, they're all married except me (the oldest). Eventually, gave him directions to the airport. He thinks we should keep in touch better in future: indeed.
Saturday, lots of pottering around, some shopping. At Highpoint, was hailed by Chris, who I hadn't seen in years. Gave him my card so we could have coffee sometime soon.
Have increased my walk-weights to 7.5kgs because it was getting too easy. A bit of an effort the first time, but that's the idea.
I took the C14th pig-faced Bascinet to apply chemicals to get rid of the rust, since buffing had gone as far as was practicable, which I did on Sunday. Worked well.
Then to Jess's (who I knew from Rocky Horror, she has some great memorabillia) birthday BBQ, which was a great deal more fun than I expected. Suburban mums and dads with toddlers. Since Jess is a teacher (currently unemployed) and artist (scroll right down), included a few teachers. (Including one who looked very interesting, but enquiries later revealed was straight.) Jess and her husband Phil have the Jewish feed people thing, so plenty of good food. Apart from Jess and Phil, didn't know anyone except Stuart who turned up later, but that didn't matter.
Then picked up mishymoocow to go to the Stormhold Venetian Midwinter masked ball. Lots of people, lots of good food, lots of dancing. My foot chose to play up, so only danced one set. I was so out of practice with doing actual dances (rather than teaching simple versions to school students) and had not realised how reliant my dancing is on peripheral vision (which my mask blocked). Had very good time.
Didn't feel the need to take alcohol to either BBQ or masked ball, though the latter had plenty of yummy mulled wine.
Sunday was an archery event. but doing my walk-with-weights (increased to 7kgs in each hand for an hour), the rain clouds were advancing when I got to the top of the railway bridge (it's the Western suburbs of Melbourne: the highest bits are bridges) so decided not to.
Last two weeks of term, fairly busy with schools.
Friday of that week, went to the A&S (Arts and Sciences) dinner at La Paella, a Spanish-Morroccan restaurant organised by Mistress Gemma/Heather. Lots of mint tea. Like most folk, I had the beef tangine, which was lovely. A dozen of us (including doushkasmum & sacred_chao, mr_bassman & mrsbrown), good time had by all. (The Cutest Toddler made friends with a table of mothers and babies.)
Saturday night, Dawn/Elene had a short-notice Solstice Party, which was most enjoyable. Included doushkasmum & sacred_chao, splodgenoodles & tenbears (who were particularlly generous in food provision) and, after they had dropped the Intrepid Europe Travellers off, mr_bassman & mrsbrown. Also, latish, wizard_foots. I had slept much of the day, so did not get to the markets to do my wheel-of-brie thing: just provided two bowls of cheese cubes and cabana instead.
Sunday night, my brother arrived from Sydney. He had a week down in Melbourne, for a CSR training session. Haven't seen him for a few years. He has done the completely bald thing too (except no goatee or glasses). Had dinner at Bluefire in Docklands. Lots of nicely grilled meat, but expensive for what you get. He manages IT stuff for CSR. (He originally trained as an accountant but got into corporate IT well before it was fashionable.) His wife Jung's clothing business is continuing to expand--she specialises in doing the more complicated stuff that it is a bit too risky to import from China. Hadn't been to Docklands before. Stark and unattractive.
Tuesday night, took the opportunity to do apply chemicals to de-rust much of my armour at the regular Stormhold meeting. sacred_chao was usefully informative.
Thursday night, dinner with John again. He wanted paella. It was too short-notice for the Robbie Burns. The place in Port Melbourne I wanted to go to (convenient drive from Crowne Plaza, where he was staying) had closed down, so I drove us to La Paella where we both greatly enjoyed the paella. Then off to Cafe Fidama for desert. Drove John back via industrial precinct to go pass the CSR Yarraville factories. He pointed out that industrial waterfront usually does not persist if between gentrifying suburb (Yarraville) and water, but CSR owns the land and it's the cheapest gyprock factory they have (since boats can tie up next to it). CSR is apparently aiming to be a producer of everything that makes houses, while its ethanol business is continuing to expand.
Friday afternoon, his training concluded early, so John drove out to Seddon, and we had warm drinks and sweet things at Pistacchio and chatted. He brought me up on family news. Of the six cousins on Mum's side, they're all married except me (the oldest). Eventually, gave him directions to the airport. He thinks we should keep in touch better in future: indeed.
Saturday, lots of pottering around, some shopping. At Highpoint, was hailed by Chris, who I hadn't seen in years. Gave him my card so we could have coffee sometime soon.
Have increased my walk-weights to 7.5kgs because it was getting too easy. A bit of an effort the first time, but that's the idea.