Posts

Port Melbourne starts a circle

Image
 This post has two catalysts: On 15 July while birding at St Kilda a passer-by commented about seeing a group 5 big black and white birds diving into the sea at Port Melbourne.  This sounded like Gannets but my informant was unsure. We have just read a book "Melbourne Circle" which visits inter alia  Garden City, an interesting sounding area at Port Melbourne. I was taking the car out to get fuel so it seemed a good chance to drive to the Port to check these matters out. The Google Maps route went to Garden City first so this blog will follow that example.  I will begin with a review of the book (compiled for a U3A newsletter). “Melbourne Circle: Walking, Memory, and Loss” Nick Gadd This is another book with much scope for emotive unhappiness, as it is written in places as a letter to his late wife [1] about the walks they did around Melbourne.  However I think he dodges that bullet and I just ended up feeling a little sad for him, but thinking how well he de...
Post a Comment
Read more

Music and Waders

Image
 We have joined the  Prahran Mechanics Institute Victorian History Library as they seem to have a very interesting collection of books and look to do some interesting related events.  One of these was a concert (?recital?) of music from the 19th century by the Four Seasons String Quartet.  We bowled along and they did a very interesting hour of music.  They also started with a buffet (funded by Stonnington Council) included pastry stuffed with chocolate!  It appeared this was PMI's first venture into music, and we hope it won't be the last: having sold all seats should encourage them. The second musical event was going to be an oboe/piano duet at St Paul's Cathedral.  When we got there it emerged that the oboeist was unwell so a viola/piano duo pinch hit.  The performers (Yi-Sheng Cheng, piano and Lucas Levin, viola) were very good (we have seen them before) but 2 of the 3 movements of  the Viola Concerto by York Bowen were rather dull. The t...
Post a Comment
Read more

A birdy walk at Albert Park

Image
 I hadn't been to Albert Park for a while and having paid for a tram ride to town and back in the morning it would cost me nothing to ride the rail to MSAC.  Well, nothing except a lot more time than expected and a rise in blood pressure.  The 16 tram took forever to arrive at 505 and then, at St Kilda Junction, the driver announced that as he was running late he was avoiding St Kilda and going along Dandenong Rd.  So half the passengers, including me got off and climbed on another #16 which was following. The #96 to get to MSAC turned up on Fitzroy quite quickly. Here is the route of my birding walk. The driving range was well covered with balls, but no indication how many shots were birdies. As soon as I got to the edge of the Lake (point1) I spotted the cocked tail of a Black-tailed Nativehen. A very good addition to my year list. The I spotted another bird of the same species. Eventually I got the two together. With some coots for comparison. Moving on around the...
Post a Comment
Read more

More tram trips

Image
This covers our explorations over a couple of days.  The first on 16 June was actually a walk from 505 to inspect some small cottages Frances had found near Chapel Street in Prahran.  We began walking down St Kilda Rd and along High St. Chimney pots have long been an interest: these are both on a cottage on High St. So is this well ornamented building. Getting close to Chapel St.  the Mechanics Institute was impressive. We turned into Macquarie St and noted these well preserved cottages ... .. but the main interest was this pair of Carpenter Gothic dwellings.  They are listed on a Heritage site ... .. and one has a spiffy chimney. We wove back on to Chapel St noting this impressive facade above a kebab shop. A few samples of art in the street.  This is one of two on the ends of the Melbourne Polytechnic building.  The other end depicted a Kookaburra. Just at the start of Macquarie St: I have no idea who the subject is, and the artists name has been tagged o...
Post a Comment
Read more