It's been happening for a couple of weeks now - people are putting their rubbish out for the annual hard rubbish collection. Scavengers are lurking the neighbourhood streets in search of treasure.
Our hard rubbish consists of two "cat scratched" couches. Our poor departed Rosie refused to use the cat scratching post. She waited till we went to bed and then started to work on our couches.
There are a few chairs out there as well. My brother in-law found them on the hard rubbish many years ago and with our house sprucing, we don't need them any longer so maybe they'll be recycled by a scavenger.
By leaving our hard rubbish late to put out, it stays neat.
Our neighbour across the road started early and the scavengers picked what they wanted and left their neat stacks terribly untidy.
Our next door neighbour has no hard rubbish but then they have always been very neat.
Wot pisses me orf about Melbourne lately - or maybe more about Mentone is the high density living in our once backwater peaceful little village atmosphere of Mentone. We moved here 30 odd years ago and it was full of old folk that were welcoming and friendly. They have passed away and now we, yes that's Sue and I have become those old folk in the street.
Once we would meet people in our street and chat, we'd close off the street for the Xmas street party. It hasn't happened for years. In fact,you hardly get a wave from some neighbours. Fortunately we do have some close neighbours still and that's really nice and reassuring that that village feel is not totally lost.
But as the years go by and us older residents move on, I'm sure what we have enjoyed with our neighbours will be lost.
This is what I see from our backyard over our garage - what are they building over there?
Many multi-level apartments are being built in Mentone. The old buildings are being replaced to house those Double Income No Kids (DINKs) professional couples. I'm sounding like a grumpy old man - well I'm getting to that stage. I hate the multi-rise buildings in our area, I don't like the fact that the new neighbours don't have the time to say hello when they walk by while I'm in the front garden.
Cranes blot our skyline to build more human filing cabinets and we are 20 kms from the Melbourne CBD.
It reminds me of the Tom Waits song - "I wonder what he's building in there".
Both these photos are of a hilltop village in Tuscany.
Montalcino is where we will return in 2014. It's hard to believe it was 2006 since we were last there.
The reason for our return is to meet a group of cycling friends from Australia to do a ride called "L'Eroica". The event is basically a Gran Fondo, a ride for fun over three choices of distance. It covers the hills and dirt roads throughout the Chianti district on October 5, 2014.
Our bikes must echo the romantic period of Italian cycling up until the 1980s, before carbon fibre frames and all the modern technology of today. As we cycle from village to village we will be fed along the way by the friendly local inhabitants with cheese, pizza, pasta and of course the beautiful wine of Chianti.
Talking of wine, the most furthest distance from the start of the ride will be Montalcino where the famous Brunello di Montalcino rosso is produced. It lies about 30 miles from Siena where Sue and I hope to stay for two nights before the ride.
Looking out from an archway of Montalcino over the Val d'Orcia
A wall hanging bought in Montalcino will always bring back memories from Tuscany.
From empty nesters to a full house in December - Our two boys will be home from overseas. Andrew has beem in the UK and other places for two years. Mitchy took off for India and South America and both will be back home in late November/early December. So from just the two of us, we'll be five soon
Just got off the phone to Jack, he's my Dad - a regular feature of the blog. He's visiting in December to come to what he calls the Boozy-do. Its a meeting of old bike riders. If he never won a bike race (but he did) in his life, he's winning the race of his life because he's the oldest bloke there. Recently I've been filling his chair for him but I feel like a youngster although his old mates make me feel welcome.
As you may know I've been painting our bedroom and I'll expect that I will complete it next weekend. Next project is too do the study (or 4th bedroom) before Jack comes down from the Gold Coast.
The great thing about his visit is that he'll spend time with our two boys, Andy and Mitchy, his grandsons.
Jack also has a great grandchild so he's doing OK.
Jack with Andy - He's studying in Leeds and will be back home soon. Andy is the academic in the family , just like his mum Sue.
Jack with Mitchy - Mitchy is in Peru or somewhere in South America. You can read his blog on our sidebar on our post.
Jack and me. He's doing his Leonard Cohen impersonation. Probably sings as bad as Leonard.
How many of us live to be a great grandfather - go Jack.
Sorry my post is short but its been a very busy weekend. Hope yours has bee a little more relaxing.
PS: We are also planning our next overseas trip to Italy and France at the end of September next year.
More to come on that soon.
