Days 11 and 12
Holidays are great, but they make you lose things, like time. I’ve misplaced a day and Margaret hasn’t seen it either – oh but hold on – Nicola has found it for me – it was my shoplifting day. So, in view of this I thought it might be nice to give some bog standard info on the Aussie way of life and what and how much they pay.
I was very aware while out and about of youngsters, especially their behaviour. At first sight they seem, and this is from age about 6 up, to be too forward and outspoken. Maybe even bordering on the cheeky stroke insolent.
But, last night we went to a twelve year olds birthday party. This was the son of Huddo and Yvonne. Max, has a younger brother of 7, and a cousin of 5 Ella. Max’s friend was there also. The four of them struck me as behaving about 4 –5 years older than their actual age. It’s only when you watch the interaction and dialogue between the wee ones and their parents, you sus out the answer. Parents treat their kids as small adults, instead of the European way of parental domination. It works very well.
Prices and quality
This morning, Saturday, Marg and I took the train into Melbourne and headed for the Victoria Market. It’s just like St. Georges Market on steroids. Apparently there is over a hundred stalls and the place is divided into different sectors. Deli, amazing food from around the globe, Dairy, Fish and Meat, I could write a whole page on this sector alone. Let’s just say the meat and fish look as though they’ve been prepared for sale by Master Chefs or 5 star butchers. There’s a huge fruit and veg section, and a section selling clothes and stuff.
We found the meat, fish and deli prices to be very similar to home prices. Fruit and veg, gloriously fresh and perfect looking seemed a bit cheaper than Tescos.
If you want a coffee, and this is a serious coffee culture, it will cost about £1.90 an average, a pot of beer (about a half pint) is £1.38, a glass of wine about £3.85. An average breakfast is about £7 - £9.50. Eating out at night is about £11 - £18 for a main course.
On the up side, sun is free, and if you’re careful with the cream, won’t get your fingers nor anywhere else burnt!
The past 2 days Marg and I have been exploring the city on our own. It’s brilliant. No time constraints, no worries about getting lost. We do that constantly, and the fun is trying to remember how we got ourselves back on an even keel again.
St Pauls Cathedral (Anglican)
We’d spotted a huge cathedral, and as usual wanted to visit. No religious stuff, just an admiration of work carried out years ago before health and safety wallahs brought the world to its unprotected knees.
This church was just the ticket. Almost Presbyterian like, even a bit austere. None of the trappings of cathedrals we’ve visited in Catholic countries. It’s sad. Australia is a vibrant young and very wealthy continent. Melbourne's main church has none of those gold icons nor hugely expensive artwork. India has sod all; their churches are worth millions. Same to a lesser extent in Europe. It’s time the world woke up to the fact that God never wanted to be anywhere but in peoples hearts. All of these embellishments are not required. Food and water are.
A nice way to spend an hour, reading all the obituary like tablets, dedicated to people that actually gave a dam about their fellow humans. Now, back out into the heat. Not too bad at 26°.
Chinese Museum
The girl who lives next door to here recommended the museum.
I’m fast running out of time, so this is short. It was interesting, arranged over 4 floors. The first 2 floors told the story of emigration from China and surrounding countries, I noticed Japan was not one. A floor dedicated to artwork where paintings could be had for between $200 and $5000 fried rice extra. The top floor was all about clothing and society in general. We stopped at a Chinese home bakery. Now that was something else. Fantastic array of bread related products. Marg had the equivalent of a Danish with ham, cheese, pineapple and some sort of cream, I had a really bizarre hot-dog. Yummy.
It’s magic, we asked two people for directions at different times. Both were Irish, and only one was able to help.
It’s nearly two weeks since we last saw our wee nuisances. You know who you are. I hope you’re behaving for your Mum and Dad.
We miss you but at the same time we’re meeting new people so that sort of makes up for it. People that say, G’day mate, or, How are you, today? They all speak with Australian accents. Anyway, you wouldn’t like all this sun!
We had breakfast on Carlisle this morning, after coming back up from the town.
I’m just about to finish this, Mum's out on the patio reading in the shade, Twev is watching the cricket, and Nicola is sorting out where we’re dining tonight. It’s 28° outside, down from 33° at 11:30.
Altogether a hard life!
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