When the Cheshire emerges...

Not many cities have a similar effect on such a diverse range of people, but Melbourne is one of them. I found proof while I was there two weeks ago, as I spoke to four of my friends/family who have moved to Melbourne for a particular purpose.

All four are female, and each had experienced different things as they settled into living there. There had been ups and downs but ultimately Melbourne had improved their wellbeing and lifestyle.

I call it the Melbourne effect.

I can't speak on what Melbourne is like for males, but I've heard on good account that it's just as amazing for them. What I realised talking to these lovely ladies though was how BUSY they were. Melbourne is a city of things happening all the time. And they were thriving on it. And they were happy.

I like to keep myself busy a lot, and I'm generally a sociable person. I was listening to their stories, of work, study and play and getting excited. Because now I've moved out of home and am comfortable with that, everywhere's a potential residence.

Melbourne's always been one of my favourite cities, having gone there the most outside of Adelaide growing up. Now as an adult, I would be the perfect Melburnian. The Melbourne effect would have innumerable advantages with me as a candidate because I take what I can out of anywhere I go. I'd go to the footy more, the Melbourne International Film Festival (oh yes), all of ACMI's exhibitions - it's endless! Then there's the clothing scene... oh, and going out *sigh*.

Do you get what I mean? I feel the effect rubbed off on me a bit actually. I catch trams around Melbourne and it feels normal. I hardly felt like a tourist.

I just have to find the right job to get there.

***
You have a very powerful mind that can make anything happen so long as you keep yourself centred.
Why?

I'm rather proud I managed to achieve this, but it was a slightly slow news week and I thought I'd write a piece on the Australian Open for publication. It was put in Saturday's paper, take a look if you like: http://bit.ly/114QEkf.

Because I still can't post more pics on here, I'm going to give you a link to my Facebook photos to have a look, so as well as the tennis you can see some of the amazing food I had and all the souvenir stuff I came home with (good thing I had only packed 14 kilos): http://on.fb.me/T37AZx.

I want to add that after I wrote my article, annoyed at the lack of Australian prosperity at the tournament, we had two title wins. I was extremely happy for Jarmila Gajdosova and Matt Ebden in the mixed doubles, while Nick Kyrgios beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in an all-Aussie boys final. Champions! I actually have a distant connection to Adelaide's Kokkinakis (never met him though), so was upset not to see him win - but Kyrgios was apparently unbeatable throughout the week. Greek power!

After I wrote an entry on the tennis prior to going, for a little while I wasn't sure if I had booked too much and would be over it by the time Friday came along.

How wrong I was.

I had the perfect mix of a week, tennis interspersed with more sightseeing (I never seem to be done with that in Melbourne still), friend catch-ups and shopping. The cousin I was staying with was surprised at how I could be out all day (easy, it's Melbourne)... it did catch up with me though. I was sick getting back to Dubbo.

I got one half of the draw right, seeing Andy Murray and Roger Federer in action twice as well as Janko Tipsarevic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Jarkko Nieminen and Tommy Haas, one of the sporting crushes of my youth. Wow.

Of the top females I saw Victoria Azarenka twice (whose noises - can you call it a grunt? - I could deal with), Marion Bartoli, Petra Kvitova, Laura Robson, Serena Williams and a doubles game with her and Venus.

No, I didn't see Novak Djokovic. And I watched Federer play Bernard Tomic in Garden Square on Super Saturday night after paying for an elusive Rod Laver day pass I found while searching on my phone knowing everything was sold out. Oh yeah, did you know the middle Saturday's called that? Just because it's always a sell-out with people buying all the day passes. Even the cheap ones. And true to the tales, there was a four-hour wait to get into the Heineken Bar area. Didn't go near it.

The Australian Open has always been an important part of my summer, looking forward to hard-fought battles, expertise from Bruce McAvaney and Jim Courier (and even Lleyton Hewitt, he knows his shit), and of course, seeing the best of the best. At tennis as well as athleticism and physicality. And after the first few minutes of being there amongst it all, I was already addicted.

***
If enough of us shied away from conflict and confrontation, just imagine how much war we could eliminate.
Why?

Oh I had to do it... Happy Star Wars Day everyone!

I can't say I'm marking the day with anything this year besides the acknowledgement. The closest I'll be to intergalactic war is reading about Prometheus in my just-arrived new issue of Empire.

But I love that there's a Star Wars Day. I was brought up on the original trilogy as a kid and then eagerly awaited the release of the prequels. Actually, the first issue of Empire I ever bought had Darth Vader's mask on the cover and a massive feature on Episode III. In a way buying that issue kickstarted my real interest in film.

I had a recent Star Wars related moment in Melbourne on the tail-end of my recent holidays. With two friends, we find ourselves in a sock shop with crazy tights and the like, perusing before I spot a small book propped up on the counter displaying their Man of the Day.

Then I was told I could pick it for that day.

It was hard. All the gorgeousness of yesteryear in one book. Rob Lowe. Tom Selleck. Kiefer Sutherland... but with some guidance I finally decided on one Mr Han Solo.



The choice was loved by the staff and I walked away gladly knowing there is love there for Han. Look at his face. Charmer.

***

To other news:

- I read The Hunger Games (book one) over the last week as almost the last of my half of the newsroom, and I'm SO excited about reading the other two now. I did things the wrong way round and saw the film first but reading the book I was still sad even though I knew what was coming. And the romance - wow. Knew all about that too but now I like Peeta a LOT more. I love that I'm getting excited about reading for pleasure again proper now!

- Because it's Friday night I have to present my Shoe of the Week. And this week it's also time for Shoe of the Month.

For this week there is two. The first because they would actually look great on a flamenco dancer which I respect, and the second because they would make for interesting bridal shoes. Thoughts anyone?




Shoe of the Month is...


This was a previous Shoe of the Week... looking back, April was a bit of a failure. I still think these could be made to look good.

While watching sports replays aren't everyone's cup of tea, there are definitely advantages. Some general, and some specific to the given game.

Having followed the Tomic vs Verdasco Australian Open game online while at work (and now with Optus I can get it on the road for free, yew!), it was good to wind down with watching the last two sets.

Even if I knew how it ended.

Because you find out things. You're not watching for the score as much as the other elements. Tennis is a particularly interesting example.

People still call tweets twitters.
   Jim Courier trying to correct Bruce McAvaney was hilarious while still very subtle. People today were tweeting from set three that Tomic could come back...

The tweeters are always right.
  They weren't wrong were they? I particularly liked one tweet (sorry for the lack of source) that wrote they were loving the tequila sunrise outfits of Verdasco and his Spanish ensemble. Great comment. Power to the tweeter.

Things about the players' outfits become more noticeable.
  While I saw the outfit first as a Spanish summer as opposed to the drink (bright with their flag colours), Verdasco's wearing a hat now. Whether he did before I cannot recall, I was always too busy appreciating his face. Which is harder when a cap attempts to cover it.

You appreciate faces in the crowd.
  Many a time there's someone famous in the crowd, or a mysterious partner/friend/relative in a player's box that isn't revealed as a significant person for much longer than you would like. Or just general people in the crowd like in this game, where who I think was an extremely good looking guy was sitting behind Pascal Maria. On a side note, that's a name I appreciate. The coolest name for an umpire ever.

Realising the ad quality has seriously declined = dampener.
  While the Australian Open is back (which is awesome and something I ALWAYS hang out for), I miss the awesome American Express ads with Andy Roddick in his heyday. Nothing could ever top those for this tournament I don't think, too good. We lost out when Amex pulled their major sponsorship.

Jim Courier would have to have the best US accent ever.
I've been on the Courier bandwagon for some time now with some help from my besties, but listening to his voice without having to reeeeally pay attention to the commentary is very manageable. It's not nasal, doesn't have a twang, and he doesn't stutter. Plus he's totally charming so that always works in someone's favour.

I never took advantage when it was closest.
I lived in Adelaide. It can cost you $49 one-way to Melbourne with hand luggage. WHY I never organised to take the time off I don't know. And then when I looked at ticket prices for 2012 (thinking of finally getting there) I moved halfway across the country.

But regardless, I will be going in 2013. I've waited far too long and next year it will be well deserved.

FLASHBACK: this is the last tennis action I saw live (besides the mens Wimbledon final last year, but that was on a screen so technically doesn't count), the inaugural World Tennis Challenge in Adelaide in 2009. We saw Jim Courier in the flesh and watching the oldies play was a lot of fun.

Djokovic with his trophy just by the door there...

Has anyone seen this shitty excuse for a travel article? First the Sydney Morning Herald were reporting on the outrage from New Zealanders... continuing on from the previous entry on my uncertainty of visiting Christchurch, I can kind of see their point.

Then it got ridiculous.

Perth and the western coast were a possible no-go. Because of shark attacks apparently. NEWSFLASH: THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. Especially if you don't swim between the flags like you're told. What a joke.

Then (of course, of course) there was Greece. Yes, they've had riots. Yes they're financially unstable. But why fuel the theory that Greece is only ever good for the islands??? Ok so there's a tiiiny bit of bias being of Greek heritage - BUT - this is something I have never really understood since first visiting.

The islands are pretty amazing. I've been to six. And will go back for more. But the mainland is different entirely and is interesting for it. Athens is a MUST for the Acropolis and surrounds, yet people don't give it the time of day or go there expecting a Paris and then become sorely disappointed. The history is what makes the country, and if you can ever get further north than Athens, or Patra on the Pelopponnese, the never-ending mountains as well as artefacts will entrance and surprise you. Plus Thessaloniki has a similar vibe to Melbourne in its chilled nightlife, a very cool place.

My point: she said to tread lightly in Athens and only go to the islands right? She's obviously never been there. If there's more taxi strikes or what not (which I don't see happening now their summer's over) where's the first place they hit? The ports. That's where you DON'T want to be. I went through it and considered myself lucky to have hit the mainland by then, except when it affected us in Corfu (Kerkyra). I'll post a video from that someday.

In short, the article is utter rubbish.

PS: SMH has pushed me towards Christchurch being on the itinerary through this story. And THIS photo...

That's a shopping mall. From shipping containers. That's just a bit cool. It looks like Lego that I want to play with.

I won't say too much on the final few places, only because I've been writing so much down for my personal records - and I'm starting to procrastinate from doing it, which isn't good.

Mallorca ended up being different to what I expected - perhaps that's because I was under the impression I'd be hitting the clubs, beaching it, sleeping and not much else. What I ended up doing was seeing all the important sights and areas thanks to our host Michel (good) and buying three pairs of shoes in as many days although my suitcase surely wouldn't allow for it (even better). When we did hit the clubs (on the Sunday night) it was exactly what I expected though - drunk Brits being bogan everywhere. Fantastic. Missed out on Deadmau5 by two nights at BCM (their main club where DJ Sammy performs every Friday - !) - I didn't get to go there which was a huge bummer but finding out I'd miss out on them killed me.

Barcelona was a great night, we really should've stayed there longer like we originally planned. Only as a transition between Mallorca and Athens we ended up having arguably the best accommodation all trip (with towels... and SOAP!), the best central location AND good luck with two clubs. Funny story time: dancing with Helen, then an Argentinean guy whose cousins had befriended us decides to get real close and ask me: 'Can I bite you? Pleeease?' I almost went into hysterics. Gold. We only had about four hours sleep before leaving to catch our flight, where I happen to bump into Beth from Tomatina. Small world.

Athens was great as a bookend to Nemea because I saw a totally different side of Greece, the one seriously affected by their current economic struggle. Student transport ticket for 90mins: 50 Euro cents. Cheeeeap. And they think things have skyrocketed. But spending time with my mum's side was great; went for coffee everyday - around a marina, Glyfada (which is a really nice area) - and returned to my love: the pite. Went to a restaurant which was constantly packed called Georgia's Pites where they seriously had the best yiros' I've ever had in my entire life. These didn't have chips in them like anywhere else but they tasted incredible.

Saw the Acropolis and surroundings: the Parthenon is colossal. I didn't want to leave it; so so beautiful. Think I cried a little. Saw Hadrian's Gate and the Temple of Zeus and then most of Ancient Agora where Helen had slight issues... climbing some steps, which of course are marble and therefore slippery, and an exasperated Helen says to me: 'MORE marble?!' I just turn and say: 'Dude, it's Ancient Greece. Of course there's marble.' That, with Barcelona two days before brought arguably the two best quotes of the trip. Genius.

Loved the Monestiraki and Plaka areas... felt drawn to Athens - and not just because everyone dresses impeccably. Caught myself imagining an older version of me there with a husband and kids walking around the streets. I must've looked local enough; a (hottt) TV presenter approaches me with mike and all. Couldn't help him out - need to brush up on my Greek properly I've decided. Didn't matter for the club we went to though... like Mykonos, looked like something out of a film. Every girl in heels (and me caught out wearing flats because I didn't know we were going) and really good mix of Greek and English music made for a great night out.

Before we knew it the five days were over and we were going home. No major dramas getting back to Oz, except for the freezing night-stay in Melbs. A horrible wake-up call. But I went to Sydney to shop and sightsee a bit more five days after coming back to Adelaide. After THAT I was shopped out AND aware I was really home. Which got me down for a bit. But I think I'm okay now. Looking at all my clothes makes me happy anyway.

My Melbourne 'Unies' trip let me discover many things. One of those was this grand new release 'book' called This Is Not A Book. Funny that I discover it in a bookstore away from home, but I couldn't resist. It was staring at me from the counter. It was red, and had a scribbled title which intrigued me. And I hadn't bought a book in ages (from an actual bookstore). So I bought it.

And it's not a book. Might be in the shape of one, but it's telling me it could be something that could change my life. A series of 'tasks' fill the pages, asking you to do things outside the square. What a perfect way to spend the summer. And summer it is... fitting that I decide to grab it this morning and realise it's December 1st. Woah. December. The first 'official' day of summer. Sweet.

I've yet to look through it all but thought I'd be logical to start with and begin on page 1. The task is as follows:

This is an inconvenience. Take This Is Not A Book everywhere you go for one week. You must place it in full view at all times.

So if you see a red book poking out of my bag or on the table over the next 7 days you know why. And I'm daring you not to be curious. The goal is to get through everything in the next few months. You can help me if you wish. Because this thing with pages that apparently isn't what it's meant to be is sticking around.

November hasn't ended yet but it feels like it's ended up as being one of the craziest months of my life. Not only because it's signalled the end of uni, or that many are hitting the big 2-1 by now (I still have a fair way to go on that front) - but lots just seems to be happening.

Fair enough, November brings the start to the silly season with Adelaide's Christmas Pageant. This year I experienced the Melbourne version briefly but realised that Melbourne's always that busy anyway. Man I love that place. Our 'Unies' trip was a great way to let off a bit of steam, and although it was my third trip there for 2009 I still learnt more about the city. It's amazing.

So I wrote a list, right. Ha, total change of subject... A list of things to do in the summer that could be my last as I currently know it. It includes the usuals of shows to watch/books to read, but also things outside of my box. Like learning how to cook with the easy cookbook Steph bought me for my birthday, learning a language, and de-cluttering my room. I guess you'd call them life skills, preparing me for something beyond studying. Looking at it Blu-Tacked on my wall, there's a lot there. To be fair, I seemingly have months to complete it. But the prospect of that scares me a little. Then it begs the question: do I really want to find a 'real' job straight away?

It appears there could be a potential prospect coming my way... and whether that leads into something or not, I need to be ready for it. November's shown me I can deal with lots of things, but landing a full-time job would be all new territory. Being thrown in the deep end for me is nothing new now but it still shakes me up. Am I reeeeally ready?