Monday Ghost Signs

Remember last Monday when I was on my way from an appointment and in the back blocks of Brunswick Melbourne, I found some "ghost signs" - signs that have weathered the ravages of time.
I think the owners of some buildings preserve their ghost signs with a sense of history. This time I was travelling through another inner suburb of Melbourne. Carlton has always been a favorite of mine with many memories from my "young man" days but we won't go there!!!!
Suffice to say that Carlton retains much of its early historical architecture and heritage. Drummond, Lygon, Rathdowne, Canning, all streets that deserve some exploring - not by car but by foot or bicycle. Take the time to stop for some of the best coffee in the whole world - well, maybe not Italy. Maybe that's because we so many Italians that settled in Carlton after the war.

Coffee, that's sometimes what I do on the way to the office and this morning was no exception. I know this little cafe just across from the Melbourne Cemetery (our Piere la Chaise) that is quiet and friendly and it has ghost signs on the exterior walls.

Corner of Fenwick and Lygon Streets Carlton.

Renovations to Filou's Patisserie, on the corner of Fenwick and Lygon Streets North Carlton, have uncovered advertising images from an earlier age as a grocery shop. Products like Lux Flakes and Velvet Soap may be familiar, but what about Hardy's Jelly Crystals, Butterfly Dutch Cocoa and Electrine Candles, claimed by manufacturer Kitchen and Sons to be "the best candles in the world."^{1
From the Carlton Historical Group http://www.cchg.asn.au/}

Think I will some more exploring in Carlton soon.

The White Australia Policy

And they say Australia is not racist or sexist

Well maybe - maybe not 5 decades or more ago.

I lived in the northern suburbs during the 10 pound Pom era.

I was in primary school with immigrants

from Italy, the UK, Greece and other countries that I had never heard of!

But we were all just kids in the school playground - we didn't care where you were from.

We learnt much from being invited into each other's homes.

Adults were more concerned about these people from other countries.

Kids integrate better than so-called adults.

Learn more here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Australia_policy

GHOST SIGNS

You know sometimes finding a topic for a post for the blog is taxing - life is busy.

And then inspiration finds you!

The weekend was all time consuming.

Our son Mitchy arrived back home

from four months in India and South America.

He had so much to tell - we took time to welcome him back home.

Listen to his adventures - see his photos - amazing.

It was Sunday night and I had no posts for the Blog.

Then this morning I was in Brunswick, Melbourne

for a customer meeting.

Brunswick - so eclectic - so cosmopolitan.

But small pockets of the past still shine out, not so brightly as once was.

Ghost signs.

In days when there was a butcher and a pub on most corners.

And walk across the road for a Cool Summer Drink and your favorite tobacco.

Or maybe you need something stronger.

These buildings with ghost signs were within one block of each other.

I should do some more exploring with my iPhone.

FUNKY FRIDAY

Tomorrow - Saturday Arvo @ Bonsoir time we go to pick up our son Mitchy from Melbourne airport. It's been 3 months of travel for him. Some time in India and then some time in South America. Can you imagine how much he will have to share with us? 

Mitchy has a great sense of humour bordering on the sense of the ridiculous.

 I wonder where he gets it from?

Father and Son

He really does love me

Wednesdays Somewhere Else

We've been busy planning next years trip. It's about spending time with friends - they are what makes life more interesting, and somewhat more enjoyable. We've been very fortunate in our travels and our time at "Melbourne - home on the bay" to have good friends.

Two weeks in Italy

We've booked our lease car, a Citroen C4 which we pick up in Milan before driving to Tuscany to meet our Bayside cycling friends for the Retro cycling event called L'Eroica in Gaiole, Chianti. It will be a little bit silly as we ride on old steel bikes over the strada bianco - gravel roads in the hills of Tuscany. No carbon fibre or uncountable multi-gears on these bikes. We trade our Lycra for wool that was popular up until the 70s.
The local towns offer the riders local food and wine as we ride the 135 kms, some may do the 200 kms. Not for me the 200 kms. I could do it but it would mean less talk, less food and more importantly, less wine.

We've even booked an apartment in Paris for our last week. We've stayed there before in 2010 and we know an American fellow who lives in the Loire who spent some of his younger years in the district (you know the area well, don't you KB).

On the street where you live - returning to our apartment from 2010.

And some time in the Loire - can you guess where?

After two weeks in Italy, we'll meander towards France and the Loire valley to meet up with people we've met from past travels to the area. I may have mentioned it previously but Sue believes the Loire is her spiritual home. We've certainly had some memorable experiences in this very pleasant part of France.

So until next September we only have pictures on the wall to remind us.

Only eleven months and much saving ahead to go.'