A wintry visit to Melbourne

I have just spent two weeks in Melbourne with daughter Kate and her husband Kim. Despite the erratic weather which is so typical of Melbourne (wet and windy one day, sunny the next, followed by a cloudy and gloomy day - and sometimes all of these aspects in the one day), I had a wonderful time. I mostly lazed about knitting and reading, going out to lunch and dinner with friends, visiting the National Gallery, returning to my regular haunts in Fitzroy, watching Kate cook - and eating the results. I must admit it was a pretty hedonistic time food-wise. And I must have gained kilos.

Here are some highlights.

Exploring Fitzroy
I said hello to our old apartment in the MacRobertson chocolate factory complex ...




and bought a Portuguese tart from my favourite Spanish food store, Casa Iberica.








I then visited Babkas in Brunswick Street for a shoo-fly bun (something I used to do every Saturday  morning)...

 ... peered down graffiti embellished laneways...

 ... passed by Vasette, the best flower shop in Melbourne.

... and made the obligatory trip to the Fitzroy Nursery, another of my Saturday rituals.

Visiting two Melbourne institutions
I spent a couple of hours in the Australian art gallery at Federation Square.

Then had lunch with my cousin Dale and second cousin Olivia at the venerable Hopetown Tearooms - a Melbourne institution for old ladies and tourists - in the very elegant Block Arcade.

Yes, I know..... but it was soooo delicious.

Relaxing with Kate 

 Kate works near the magnificent South Melbourne Town Hall...

... in the library that was originally the post office.

 Lovely little Scout was a delight.

Kate gave me two knitting projects ( a beret and a scarf). Here I am with cats and scarf. George is on my lap.

And the beginnings of a 1930s fan scarf.

Two of Kate's fabulous meals: a Moroccan bestilla (chicken pie) and a Middle Eastern rice pudding decorated with cinnamon-infused apricots and pistachios.

A treat for Kate and Kim was going to the Cuckoo tearooms in Olinda in the Dandenongs, an institution that has been going since 1958. With its kitschy Germanic decorations (think cuckoo clocks, reindeer, alpine bells, wooden carvings, and waitresses in embroidered blouses, full skirts and boots) it was certainly an eye-opener. When I told people I was going there they invariably gushed 'Oh, I had my birthday party there when I was 10' or 'It's so corny, but the whole family used to go there'. And I loved it.

A wander around the suburbs

I love the varied architecture of Melbourne. Here are some houses in Elwood, a nearby suburb.

I couldn't go any further without a visit to the St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

Two highlights

1. A night of Sea Shanties

There were two events that I absolutely adored. The first one was an event that Kate had organised for the library. The words on the poster excited me. 

Off we went. This was different to Kate's other events as it was at an art gallery in St Kilda (not at the library). What a night. The singers were wonderful. They described the history of sea shanties and introduced each song with humour and fascinating facts. As the audience, we were taught the choruses and joined in robustly and enthusiastically. There is something about singing communally that is at once satisfying, exhilarating and utterly joyful. Everyone was laughing and clapping and giving their all. The night was a huge success. We were still singing 'Bound for the Rio Grande' as we boarded the tram home.

I am the blonde on the far, far left.

2. A fashion exhibition

The other highlight was the fashion exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria - a collection of over 200 garments showcasing haute couture and Parisian fashion from the late 19th century to today. Amazingly, it was part of a private collection that the NGV has acquired. Not only were the clothes glorious, but they were presented right among the art works and furniture that are part of the National Gallery.

Here is a sneak preview. I'm going to do justice to the exhibition by devoting the next entire blog to it.

Obviously, Pierre Cardin .... and me!

I think this black number may have been my favourite
 - all slim and elegant.

Add in a fabulous meal with my former boss Kim and good friend Andrea, a visit to all three Book Grocer shops in the city with friend Michael (after a yummy Indian lunch), a dinner at Tommy Ruffs for the best fish and chips I have ever had, and cosying up on the couch with Kate for a couple of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' movies, and you can see that my time was very well spent.

And so my two weeks finally came to an end. Lovely memories... and I'm starting the diet right now.