Monday Mural

Along with Sami and others, here are my mural photos for this week, going back to 2024. Rather than randomly choosing each week, I think I will post in order. Here are two today, because neither is particularly wonderful.

I've shown a photo of another of Minna Leunig's work before, using the same style. It took me ages to establish that she is the daughter of her rather famous late father Michael.

This one has an Aboriginal feel to it. 

Sunday Selections

Along with River and others, here are my hopefully previously unused photos.

This was a bit of a mystery but I've worked it out to be a 1958 Fiat 1100 Millecento. I don't remember even hearing about that model, let alone seeing one. They were sold in the UK, and is quite an attractive car for 1958. There is much work to be done here.

In keeping with the heritage appearance of this building, isn't that the most discreet McDonalds' signage you've ever seen. Just a single small yellow M (I found in another photo there is another discreet M).

Maybe one of these bricked up openings of the former warehouse was a hay loft for horse food.

The sign reads www.dutchcargobike.com.au. Perfect for transporting your new born. 

Milk bars here were what you now might call a convenience store. I think in New Zealand they were called a dairy. Amy?

I quite like visiting Werribee by train. The train flies along at 115/71 at times, the maximum speed for suburban trains, for ten kilometres between Newport and Laverton Stations

What is in behind the shops in the main street? A river, a rather green river.

Guess what the river is called. Would you be surprised if I said Werribee River.

Work by Phyllis. There is a Tap sign on the kitchen tap because you would never guess it is a tap. I've never heard it called snail tape. Calling it Durex fell out of favour for certain reasons. I call it sticky tape.

An underground public toilet in Carlton, now closed and I assume filled in.

Perhaps the classiest stink pipe you will ever see, used for the toilet's ventilation. 

I wish the Minster for Public Transport would get out on trams a bit more and she may experience the worst examples of all over advertising. Fortunately it has been banned on trains, and should be banned from tram and bus windows. 

Busy

 I am way behind with things. I'll have something for tomorrow.

Fingering

Some people can do amazing things with their bodies, and Hitesh Petal is one of them.  I didn't know this tune at all, and it seems a bit viral. Is being a bit viral like being a bit pregnant?

A bit of what I think is AI slop.

A short compilation. I'm continually amazed at what popular culture I discover years after it was popular culture, but I missed it at the time. But after looking at dates on video comments, maybe not so long ago.

Just so awful

I feel so sad for our country and by all accounts a very decent woman, who happens to be an independent politician. Dr Helen Haines, member for the federal northern Victorian electorate of Indi, was attacked by a driver in 4WD not once but twice or more, mashing her legs between the front of his large vehicle and her own. It is horrific to try to even imagine what that would be like for the victim. 

The alleged culprit was initially apprehended by a local businessman, then along with others until police arrived to arrest him. It may turn out to be a terrible mental episode. Umpteen authorities are investigating and the law will prevail in due course.  

I have never heard such respectful words about any politician from all political directions than I have today about Dr Haines. I am not a believer in bagging politicians because they are politicians. There are some very honourable people in politics, of course with some not so honourable. 

I am not sure about other countries, but aside from perhaps the Prime Minister and high profile politicians who have a security detail, generally our politicians can get about freely in the community without threat, and I hope this doesn't stop that and we give in to the haters.

Helen is in a serious but stable condition, no doubt being treated the best doctors in Australia. With such trauma, she will initially be treated as a public hospital patient at no cost. She was flown by helicopter to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital and has had one leg amputated as the surgeons try to save her other leg. As she recovers, she can choose rehabilitation between public or private care.

This will be life changing for Helen, and if you wonder what it is like to suddenly become an amputee, you could hear, read and listen to what my acquaintance James O'Brien in Sydney has to say about it, along with his interviews with amputees, in his Limb Shift writings and interviews.

Good luck Helen. You need it.    

Money Spent

Another post that has hung around unpublished for some time. At least I've ticked one thing off. I'm over it, and publish as is. 

In the last years before I retired, I was constantly worried about whether I would have enough money to retire. I did have enough, and then the government gave me a portion of an old age pension, the extra benefits being of many things being discounted.

Before Ray died, we had paid half for our apartment to be repainted and recarpeted. It was a long discussion about whether to change to timber boards, but we decided on carpet. 

While I delayed it for a couple of months after Ray's death, it was done.

Then money from my mother's estate came through, which meant I had money to spend on what I now see as neglecting our place for some years.

In no order over two years;

New microwave.

New dishwasher (the old one failed).

New French door fridge.

New range hood.

New dinner service.

New chair cushions. 

A stand for the desktop screen to ensure I keep my head held high, and a new mat for the computer chair, and then another after the first broke, plus a new desk chair...so comfortable.

Living area venetian blinds cleaned ( a waste as I replaced them the next year). 

Bedroom of Phyllis and Kosov window tinting redone. 

Living area blinds replaced.

Living area and a couple of bedroom window tinting redone (it decays over twenty years).

New lounge chairs.

Range hood fan replaced (the old one failed). 

Extra benchtop lighting added.

New split system air con.

A robot vacuum cleaner. 

The future may see new fan lights in the living room and at installation, have the hard wired smoke detectors replaced, done. While the fan lights are very practical, my living area lights are very old fashioned and to modernise would be adding about ten recessed LED lighting fittings. While these would make the place more modern, I don't want the bright lighting and I'm quite happy with my lamps. Fan lights are what I want.

I might have new floor tiles laid over the top of the old kitchen, bathrooms and toilet tiles. Smart looking in 2026 is quite different to 1998.  

I am adding value in some areas to my home, but I don't care about that and nor am I out to impress anyone. I am spending money to please myself. 

Monday Mural

See what Sami and others come up with for Monday Mural.

Another Sammy became a famous seal a visitor to a town down on along our west coast.