BAYSIDE HOUSE PRICES

A comment from one of our regular readers, Nadege on the West Coast of the US mentioned she saw a house in Hampton, a bayside suburb not far from us with a price tag of one million dollars plus. Yes that's not uncommon in certain areas but there are affordable houses in Melbourne for 1st home buyers. It just depends on where you want to live.

When I was young (Oh! is that me talking) we just wanted to start home ownership. No big screen TVs, not even carpet on the floor. That was our first house which was about 12 miles from the CBD of Melbourne way out in the northern suburbs. The first morning we woke to the sound of cows, horses and magpies.

The second house was in Mentone and yes, we are still there after 30 years. Its a great area and we truly love being here. Its only a short drive or long walk to the beach from our home on the bay.

OK, here's the deal - we bought in 1992 at $47,000 back then and we have no idea what it may be worth today - possibly in the $700,000 plus but who's counting?

We are about a kilometre there abouts from the beach and most probably on the wrong side of the railway tracks but its still a really nice street we live in. After 30 years neighbours come and go but really not so many in our street. That says something doesn't it?

Mentone took its name from the French town of Menton (on the border of France and Italy) which sits on the Cote d'Azure.We stayed a night there on our first (2006) visit to France.

Back to House Prices in Melbourne - shall we concentrate on our local area? Why not?

From Mentone, further around the bay towards the city of Melbourne there are the suburbs of Beaumaris, Sandringham, Hampton (the one that Nadege mentioned) and then Brighton. I don't think we need to go further for this post.



This house is on Beach Rd near where Sue's brother and sister in-law live. It blocked out their view of the bay when it was built. It is currently being advertised for $1.6M. What the buyer will not know is that there were some issues on the build quality at the time. I remember it being built from styrene blocks infused with concrete. Some work needed to be redone.



But you will wake each morning with glorious views of Port Phillip Bay. These are the views the builder stole from Sue's rellies.



This little cottage on Beach Rd is a real steal at just $1.6M.



Just the next suburb on at Hampton, this little number was just over the $1m.



I did find this Hampton town house - brand new for under $1m.



This Sandringham house didn't have its price disclosed
but it certainly would be around $1.5m



Brighton a little further down the road from Sandy and Hampton has this house for sale - who knows how much it will go for! Very French Provincial.



Still in Brighton - maybe you don't need servant's quarters and a 5 car garage, then this older style 2 bedroom apartment in this exclusive suburb might be more to your liking. It's advertised from $480k to 520k.





So if you're thinking of moving to the "World's Most Livable City" then you might like to have a little search of your own. Not all houses sell in the $1m bracket but it is getting harder for young couples to find affordable homes in bayside suburbs. They can buy a new home and land packages in the outer suburbs from $350k plus. Maybe they would like to renovate an older home or prefer apartment living closer to the inner suburbs. Home ownership is the dream of most young Australians but renting sometimes their only option.

 http://www.domain.com.au/?mode=buy



WORLD'S MOST LIVABLE CITY

One of our regular blog readers, Craig congratulated us being voted the WORLD'S MOST LIVABLE CITY. We sometimes take things for granted - we know how livable Melbourne is, especially in our "Home on the Bay" area. This doesn't stop us from admiring and experiencing other cities even if it is through our fellow bloggers.

How many of you out there have been to Melbourne and what were your experiences, good or bad? Let us know, leave a comment.

More for your interest here.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/melbourne-judged-worlds-most-liveable-city-20110830-1jjaq.html

CHINON and Jeanne d'Arc

I'm not sure we knew much of Jeanne d'Arc before our stay in Chinon - that is to say much more than movies and folk-lore.

I'm sure that I was not aware of the strong connection between Chinon and Charles VII, that is until I saw the amazing bronze statue with the "Maid of Orleans" on horseback in her suit of armour and brandishing a sword in one hand while holding her flag in the other. We stood there looking at the statue for some time in awe. It stands in the area of where Chinon's market is held every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Looking up from Chinon's medieval lane ways, this is what you see.

Looking down from above Chinon are the ruins of Chateau de Chinon. We we were there in 2008 there was a great deal of rebuilding and restoration going on. Unfortunately we didn't get to actually inspect the ruins, nor did we on our visit the following year. Writing this blog has enlarged our knowledge of the places we have visited. It wasn't until we returned and I developed a passion for Joan of Arc's history that I discovered that her meeting with the Dauphin, Charles VII was the turning point in the 100 year war between the French and English. I didn't know that earlier much of the grand chateau was the built during the period (1100s) of Henry Plantagenet. It was also the inspiration for the play/film "The Lion in Winter" very loosely based on the plotting and intrigue between Henry and Eleanor of Aquitaine and their sons, Richard (the Lionheart), John and Geoffrey.



I could walk these streets and see something new every time.

It was in 1429 when Joan of Arc travelled from her home in Domremy in northern France to Chinon to gain an audience with Charles. She said she had visions and heard the voices of holy angels telling her to seek an army from him to battle the English so that he may take his place as the rightful King of France. Legend tells us that when Joan arrived at his court at Chinon Castle, the Dauphin was in disguise and another was dressed as the future King. Joan went straight to Charles although she had never seen him previously and kneeled before him. In private conversation she told him of things - of a personal nature that no one else knew. The rest is history and Charles was crowned King of France at Reims some months after Joan of Arc's successful battle at Orleans.

Her reward was to be imprisoned and later, burnt at the stake after a lengthy but dodgy trial at the age of 19.

Wikipedia tells us that there was a portrait of Jeanne d'Arc that has not survived but there are many statues, paintings and stain glass windows depicting her that we have seen in our travels throughout France.

Charles VII crowned king of France 1429 at Reims after holding court at Chinon.

This monument to Jeanne d'Arc is what sent me on a research learn more of her history.



We stood motionless for some time, taking in the detail of Roulleau's work. I then walked around and took photos at many different angles but none can do justice to the actual statue.



I sometimes wonder if Charles or Jeanne d'Arc walked the streets of the commoners below Chinon Chateau.



The Medieval buildings of Chinon hold some intriguing details - you only need to look more closely.

Walking the streets by day we returned to our B & B Logis Saint Mexme to shower and go out for dinner - we ate in the square at a restaurant with an Italian influence. Walking back home, the streets of Chinon took on a totally different dreamy atmosphere. You wondered what century you were actually in.......

It had been a big day but the next day was to be a visit to the Cadre Noir in Saumur, something that Sue had dreamed of. In her early days, pre-Leon that is - she was a horsey person. She tried to influence me in her passion but I've always preferred two wheels. I have to admit though, to see the precision of these horses and their riders was an experience I'm glad I had the opportunity to have enjoyed the show. Our host at Logis Saint Mexme, Helene organised all the negotiations for Sue. Nothing was too much of an effort to make our stay memorable, so much so that we return next May.

I've asked Sue to do the next "Wednesday in France" at the Cadre Noir. It was her special day.

A BIASED VIEW of Melbourne Newspapers

Living in Melbourne, we have on offer two local newspapers - there were three when I was very young. The other was the now defunct Argus.

The Age is the only one that I will put my hand in my pocket to buy, the other - The Sun Herald I refuse to buy - well that is until recently when Cadel Evans won the Tour de France.

You wouldn't believe that the two papers came out of the same city when looking at the front page. The Sun Herald, a tabloid usually will run a front page on some footballer's scandal - turn the page and there is the obligatory shapely young lady pouting at you, not that I am against nubile young women, but its not NEWS.

Sure, The Age covers sport too but their front page story is usually dealing with local or world issues of the day. They have a great coverage of finance, food, entertainment but not in the gossip sense of the Sun Herald which is more about who has a new hair style or who was caught having an affair with whom ever.

Do I sound biased yet - you betcha. Its a bit like TV and radio news these days where the ABC report the news and the commercial stations make the news. Why do the commercial news readers act the news with inflections in their voice or that "look".

Maybe I'm just becoming a grumpy old man!!!! (or was I like this when I was young?)

Strangely, I was struggling to fine a weekend post and yet We have had a great weekend starting with an impromptu invitation Friday night to see a movie documenting on of my fave photographers, Annie Leibovitz of Rolling Stone magazine fame with dinner beforehand. Lovely ride was had on a great spring morning Saturday. To conclude the weekend we just arrived home tonight after a great dinner with friends with fantastic food and several bottles of Pinot Noir mixed with lots of laughter. Hope I can get up for my morning 6.00 am ride.

Saturday Song - Daddy Cool

1971 Daddy Cool hit the Aussie charts with Eagle Rock. It still gets played long after the group disbanded. Ross Wilson went on to other bands and has written so much material with many other bands and singers recording his songs.1971 - Eagle Rock and Daddy Cool.

After listening to Daddy Cool, tell me that you didn't tap your feet along with the boys.

35 years on and they occasionally come together for Rock n Roll tributes.