Sunday Selections

River and others post Sunday Selections. Here is my bloomin' lot this week.

There are saucepan lids for my forty year old saucepans. No need to use my best china.    

Phyllis, what have you done to my gleaming and sparkling saucepans?

Yes, just what you want to see as you open your fridge first thing in the morning. Is it Julius? 

Cats prefer running water as it won't have bacteria that still water might have. Think creek as against stale water in a puddle. 

In the living/dining area, there are fourteen seats of various varieties, yet these two often choose the floor. Kosov has had a head shave since this was taken and looks much better.

When entering my apartment, tradespeople offer to take their shoes off. I say, don't bother. It's fine. That's a polite way to act. Truth be told, just check for shoes taken off at the door as a guide, as Phyllis's and Kosov's guests did. 

Another photo of the old and the new, taken on my return trip on the 58 from the zoo.

Today I will go to town to buy some new more comfortable walking/daily shoes. Mine look ok, but they aren't comfortable even after adding an insole. Yes, I went for the cheapest. This time I won't. Later I am meeting my Indian friend who is the same age as me, and my Hairdresser Friend at a gay hotel for a Sunday afternoon drink. We may kick on for some Asian food in Victoria Street, Richmond.

I suppose I am still alive as I do keep doing things.    

Saturday Train Arithmetic

There is a ridiculous situation of the Laverton train, travelling via the Altona Loop, is only partly recognised. In some areas it is a separate train line, but often is lumped in under the Werribee train line. It needs to be a properly listed train route. I know how the line works, but god help a stranger.

Nevertheless, with a welcome change, the Sandringham train line no longer stops at its former gloomy platform with one set of escalators, sometimes switched to up, sometimes switched to down. The off peak daytime service has been increased from 15 minutes to 10 minutes, which is terrific. 

And now, instead of the above mentioned gloomy platform, the train stops at a through running normal Flinders Street platform. The train goes on to provide a twenty minute service to Williamstown, Laverton and Werribee. 

As Sir Les Patterson used to say, 'Are you with me'? Probably not. 

I really have to be in a certain mood to start checking timetables, and I am not there yet. I caught a train from Laverton via the Altona Loop travelling to Sandringham. 

Simply put, a train from one end with a ten minute service can provide a twenty minute service to two destinations at the other end, not three. I never imagined Laverton would be included, and I have no idea how it all works. I guess I will have to edjicate myself, or someone will know. 

Just Sayin' 'Bout Climate Change

A decade or so ago we stayed in a Fairmont Hotel next to Lake Louise. Feeding down to the lake was the impressive Victoria Glacier. Within the hotel were some historical photos from the 1920s. Back then the glacier was wider and came much further down the its carved valley to the lake than what I could now see for ourselves.

Nothing had really hit me so personally about climate change until seeing that photo as my eyes alternated between the photo and what I could see. I knew about climate change, I believed in the science but here seemed to be living proof of a much reduced glacier.

It is early days in terrible raging river destruction in Nepal and Tibet, with a horrendous loss of life, include dual figures of Australians killed. It is also early days to call the cause of the flood being a result of climate change, but I'd put pretty good money on it being warming glacial ice breaking away and causing the flood.

Most of the world is making good noises and some even taking lots of action to stem climate change, but Fuckwit #47 has pulled back on clear climate science in his country. Just one more reason to despair about the future of the US.

Rising sea levels are already shrinking the shores of low lying South Pacific islands. It's gonna be us, Australia and New Zealand, who will have to pick up the pieces of no long inhabitable islands. We can call them Climate Change Refugees. We can't let them drown. Well, it won't be slowly rising seas that does them in. It will be events of nature, cyclones, sea storms, high tides etc, all making island living more dangerous.

Note to Bone Doctor

A few weeks ago Bone Doctor stayed after a doctor's conference and then drinks and socialising afterwards. She arrived back here after I had gone to bed. I left her notes on a small notepad. I would just put the original here, and while I don't have much shame in life, I am ashamed of my wobbly handwriting, so I'll just type it.

Note 1: I meant to leave you a wee dram (Scotch) to help you sleep but alas it disappeared. Sleep well, and see you in the morning. There is some port on the trolley.

Note 2: Chuck over the side of the bed whatever pillows or stuffed toys you don't want and cuddle the toy you do like.  

Note 3: If you are hungry, take an old age pensioner's meals on wheels sandwich from the fridge. 

Sister called last night, right as the 6pm tv news began. She has no respect for the life of her older brother. She and her wife will stay next Thursday night before going to a football match at 10.00am, scheduled to suit American tv audiences. 

Let me investigate. NFL, what is that?   The NFL's first-ever regular season game in Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday 11 September 2026

The Los Angeles Rams will play against the San Fran Cisco 69ers 49ers. I still don't know what NFL is. National Football League? Yes. I will guess this is the slow football with players wearing a huge amount of protective gear. I've seen bits of it on tv, and it's even less interesting to me than Australia's own football and soccer. How can you identify a hot and sexy football player in such garb, and helmets, whereby you can't even see their faces.

Different strokes for different folks. 

A few cents

There is something in life that really get on my goat up my nose, and that is bank card fees.

There is another, a public holiday surcharge at cafes and restaurants when you visit on a public holiday. Yes, staff are paid higher on public holidays, but it is a known amount and should be part of the business owner's budget forecast and overall general pricing to what is sold to include the extra public holiday costs.

But let me focus on the first, card surcharges. They really took off during the Covid years, when people stopped using cash. The surcharge was generally 1.2% to 1.5%. Translating to now, a $5.00 cup of coffee will cost $5.07. Some business really tried to rip off customers with excessively high fees.

I argued with staff in a cheap Asian bakery in Balaclava, where she wanted to charge me $1.25 for a 90 cent bread roll because I refused to pay, and nor did I have any cash. Five years later, I've never been back, although I have wanted to. 

Worse is when you are charged the fee when there isn't a way to avoid paying, like paying cash. You can choose a cafe that doesn't add the card fee, but when booking a concert ticket or a plane flight, you really don't have a choice. 

I hate this extra fee. I don't care if they want to charge me $5.10 for my coffee, that includes the fee, but I don't want to see it as a surcharge added after I pay by card. It needs to be the listed price.

I remember being in New York City in 2015, I think, and what the price label or on a menu was not the price you paid. I think two compulsory taxes were added to the bill and there was an opt out environmental tax. I won't even mention tips, necessary because businesses are allowed to not pay a living wage. Tipping is a insidious disease. 

Finally in what I expect will be very popular, the Federal government is banning the card fees, as of October.

For that loss of seven cents on my cup of coffee, usurious banks are increasing account keeping fees (I don't pay any), and reducing flyer points, etc etc. That's fine with me. 

The price I see on a menu or a booking, or a label, is the price I expect to pay. And only a tip for something out of the ordinary, like if I spill my drink on myself and staff help to clean up. I don't think that is unreasonable.  

High Seas

This is an interesting video from our ABC. Note the mention of tide height. I've never seen the presenter before but he does a well enough job.

At 12 metres/49' I thought we had the highest tides in the world but no. For that you must visit the east coast of Canada, to the Bay of Fundy (thanks Jackie) with its shores being in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick provinces where tides can be up to 17 metres/56'.

Check out this video with commentary and time lapse video.

Or this purely visual and luscious video. 

I don't know if I should continue to occasionally publish posts like this. They take time to get things right, and find the right clips, let alone that I am using the work others.  

Monday Mural

Last week's Monday Mural was well liked, and why not. Along with Sami and others, here is this week's, nothing too wonderful. I have to spread the great with the not so great.

An Australian football match is underway and nicely captured in this mural. Atop the building says A.D. 1879. By the team colours, it seems like the former South Melbourne football club, now Sydney Swans. But I cannot imagine a connection between the team and railway workers to be seen in the background. 

Sunday Selections

River and others participate in Sunday Selections and here is my contribution this week.

A surprise dinner for me arrived, and very tasty it was too. Note the label "Smokey inspired BBQ chicken", not a smoked barbeque chicken. 

The major shopping street of our poshest suburb has a cigar shop, and what a lovely exterior it has and I am sure the interior is very nice. It is pity it is all so dark. Just trust me.

There'd be dinosaurs.

Promoting a musical instrument shop.

What a grave mistake we made to interfere in what wasn't our business, but it certainly wasn't any reflection on those who fought and were conscripted and forced to fight.

You can just see the No Smoking sign inside the fence of the Smokin' Hut Cafe.

After using plastic coated light weight metal clothes airers for years, needing to use a second smaller one when Phyllis and Kosov moved in, the smaller one broke, so while this one was about $45 and I did hesitate, it is great and this single one is enough drying space. 

Is Phyllis trying to get rid of more of my stuff? No, just out for a wash in the dishwasher as they were getting dusty.

One of these remote control cars took ten AAA batteries to power it and the other four AA. I think they may have been returned to the store as I only saw them once.

How awkward. Given the traffic flow is in one direction, towards the top of the photo, how did this car get here.

The car driver is wearing an overcoat as details were exchanged. I always remove coats and jackets when driving. I feel they restrict my movements. 

A #47 win?

If you care to, can you check your Google Maps and see what Gulf of Mexico brings up for you, especially if you are in the Americas. Here is what I see in Australia. Place name changing is a bit topical in North America at the moment. If it is hard to see, my view says Gulf of Mexico and in brackets, Gulf of America.

Funny Friday

Head to Linda's, in Quebec City, blog to see her latest offering of Just for Laughs humour. It's a simple theme and well done, and immediately reminded me of a scene in I Love Lucy where she and Ethel (I thought she was called Viv) were working on a sweet production line. 

Not all the humour in I Love Lucy has held up, but while simple and silly, I think this clip has stood the test of time but oh god, how awful was canned laughter back then. 

Howl me down, at your pleasure.

 

In memory of Dolly

 Melbourne, Australia, 26th August 2026

By Explore Melbourne

Andrew gets laid, single X post

If you don't want to read about non explicit gay sex, you know what to do.

After a couple of decades or more of staring at each with desire but never speaking, the guy who worked for the same company as I did, although in a different area, around ten years ago I found him on social media, and e-communication began, but we both had partners and it was never going to be easy to hook up. 

We connected online again a few years later, and then a few more years later. 

Two plus years after Ray died, I suggestively messaged him again after a long time of not doing so. Great to hear from you, he replied. I am in England, Channel Islands actually and I won't be home for about five weeks. Every few days we would keep the candle burning by messaging each other. I must say, I waxed and waned about meeting him. At my age I am no longer driven by hormones, a blessed relief but he was very convincing and I guess I was too. A week and a half after he returned we met for coffee near his home, and then adjourned to his place for some fun. I had no confidence that after all this time, it would work but hey, it did and went really well, with both hunger and passion. 

We may just see each in a friendship way and/or maybe a repeat session. I don't know and don't care too much. He is a nice guy and I would be happy to see him again socially, and as I left his place and walked down High Street, Northcote, I was chockablock full of endorphins and in such a relaxed and dreamy state. I caught the tram back to town and I needed something at QV (shopping centre).

Oh my god. I could hardly move to trudge up the hill to QV. I was absolutely exhausted, and all of my joints were aching. 

For those in the know, I did take PrEP before I met him and I will for the next two days, as I was told to by my doctor.

As I am writing at nearly 9pm, I still feel exhausted, although more relaxed. 

I think doing the biz with passion and energy is best left to the young, but I have no regrets about today. I am just too old and lazy to make it a habit.

Buildings

Now housing a number of a bars, this fine 1899 Albert Park building was once called Red Eagle Hotel, earlier Windsor Hotel. A stroll of a couple of hundred metres and you are at the beach, and there are many cafes and restaurants nearby. If you want to have a decent drink at a bar, the number 1 tram passes by.

My father banked with the E.S.&A Bank. English, Scottish and Australian bank, I think. It went on to become the ANZ Bank, Australia and New Zealand. I'd never noticed this sign remnant until recently. Below it says, The E. S. & A Bank Ltd Administrative Offices. 

 

The tv programme The Block took on this building some years ago and the show's participants renovated the building, including the installation of a hanging vertical garden, which died soon after the show ended.

The garden was resurrected and has been kept looking healthy for a few years now.

 

As I returned from a visiting the zoo by the 58 tram, I noticed this old building in a rather prominent place. How much longer can it last before its demolition and another shiny tower is built on the site. 

Senior Moments

Ray's sister gave us a money box, which if you had an incident of a senior forgetfulness, you were required to put a coin in the money box.

For some years, from the beginning of Covid, I never paid cash anywhere. Now at times I do, and I get change back, with coins going into the Senior Moment money box. Today I emptied it into the device at the bank and it slowly counted the coins, rejecting one foreign coin, and the total was $30. Amazing how it mounts up.  

Senior Moment fell out of fashion for 'brain fog'. 

Call it either, I have no idea where I was going with this post below. I really should have pasted in the FB link, and I would have remembered. But wait, I did put the link in that takes you to Huffington Post but to nothing specific. Oh well. Tough tittie. My words of wisdom will not be written. 

A horrible irony: The Internet was a boon to introverts, who have found a social life they never had and "met" countless people on Facebook, etc., and who are very comfortable in correspondence, such as in interviews like this,

Monday Mural

Sami is the Monday Mural leader, and here is my contribution this week. 

I believe this mural is in Barkly Street, St Kilda. We all need to love; friendly, passionately and deeply.

Look, there is even a Love shop in the background. 

Sunday Selections

As usual I am joining with River and others for Sunday Selections. Now what do I have to show you?

This cat toy has a a motor to make the arm move about and a red laser pointer. Jass found it uninteresting, until we removed the arm, disabled the laser and put cat treats inside the toy, which has an opening for the treats to fall out. She has become quite adept at patting the ball around to get the treats. 

Sorry cocky, we don't feed the native wildlife.

Oh what a mess at the back of public telephone box.

I didn't even know you could text from a public phone. Public phones are now free in Australia, as they make huge amounts of money by being covered in advertising. 

Kosov now has the full set. 

Phyllis bought a bus. 

Luggage hatch open. 

Mirrors swung out.

Interior lighting on. 

Jass rather likes Kosov's old laundry basket.

When one's car is in use by someone else, it is quite quick to visit Bunnings in West Footscray by the Metro tunnel train. Finding something historic is a bonus. 

The good, the bad and the fugly.

I am not sure where this cartoon came from but it inspired this post. 

I recently learnt about trucks, lorries if you like, world wide. Flat faced trucks are the standard in the UK and Europe. The driver has good visibility in front of them.

American trucks have a big engine sticking out in front of the cab and very poor visibility immediately in front of the driver's cab. With advent of cameras, radar and auto braking, this is probably not a huge issue now with new American trucks but it certainly was in the past when the drivers couldn't see immediately in front of them.

As Australia does, at times in picks up on the best from overseas, and the worst. We have a mix of both types of trucks but our inland long distance trucks are certainly like the one above. But we do also have long European style trucks.

On our outback roads, this style dominates.

GM is the US has made some horribly aggressive looking SUVs.

Now Japan has taken on the look, as you can in my parking garage. What is making cars look aggressive all about? We already know they are killing machines. Now they are looking more the part of a killing machine.

There's a whole lot more of these aggressive looking cars than these two in the car park.

Me's upgraded my tech

Advertising leaflets were placed in our letter boxes, which is not allowed but it easy enough for someone to get to the mail room to stick leaflets in letter boxes. I look at whatever a leaflet might offer, and mostly they go straight in the convenient nearby mail room rubbish bin.

This one grabbed my attention, my own internet supplier offering deals for new customers. I noted that once the bonus sign up discounted period ended, they would be on a better plan that I was.

I was paying $85 per month for my internet connection, with the modem spreading the signal to the whole of the apartment. Tvs, my desktop, phones, tablets, laptops, a few lamps, and Rover the vacuum cleaner all use the internet. My speed was 100mbs, and truly, I find that quite adequate and I was actually getting that download speed.

But for new subscribers, they would eventually end up on the $80 plan and get 700mbs download speed. I was outraged that I was paying more for less. 

It was time to talk to someone in the Philippines about my internet. 

Oh Sir, you are on an older plan.

It would have been nice if you informed me that there was a better plan for me.

I am sorry Sir. Our website clearly shows our plans.

Well, I will take the $80 plan and have a 700mbs service, thanks.

Sir, I have made the changes to your service. It will take some time to change and someone will call you.

Weirdly I was shuffled between various people on the phone but it wasn't too bad taking about 15 minutes. 

My expectation was that some buttons would be pressed somewhere and I would have an upgraded service. 

A few days later someone called to make an appointment. Ok, between 8.00am and 12 noon. I normally shower at 8.00, so I showered earlier on the day of the appointment. At this point I though the tech person might have do something in the basement or my floor's service room. I would just let him in.

He called about 8.30 and said he would arrive at 9.00. I let him in and he was a pleasant and competent man. He had to install a new box next to my modem. Lordy what a mess of wires. I had forgotten the name, and now I am forgetting it again. I think it was a LAN cable that connected this new box to my modem. I was told I don't own the new box, but as a homeowner, it wasn't that relevant. The LAN cable was bright yellow. That won't do at all in a public area of my apartment.

I've just remembered it is an ethernet cable, not a LAN cable.

Well, now I am connected, I should have 700mbs download speed, a huge increase from 100mbs.

Mr installer, 700mbs is an amazing speed. 

Sorry Sir, your building is old, your tech installations in the basement were early models and the wire from the basement to your home is copper. You won't get 700mbs but let me check. 

Sir, you are getting 365mbs download speed. If your building had newer equipment, and a fibre cable to your apartment, you might get 700mbs. 

After he left I went to JB HiFi and bought a grey ethernet cable and tidied wires and plugs as best I could, and that made the rat's nest, like Sybil's hair, look better. You only see the mess of the wires when at the end of the kitchen but they aren't really visible to visitors.

The black thing is the modem and the new white booster thingie sits flat on the bench.    

The end result, I have noticed a much higher speed for some things I might download, but for general computer business, such as blogging, there is no difference. It was hardly worth the bother, but then I am saving $5.00 a month. Did I mention I know how to look after the pence?