Upon the good ship Titanic

It's not all fun, food and games in Melbourne, there's culture too!.

Despite heavy demand for berths, Vickie scored passage for five on the Titanic Artefact Exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. We were each issued with a White Star Line boarding pass indicating an actual passenger on that fated cruise, and were tasked with following the fate of our respective identities. Kim's doppleganger, The Countess of Rothe, survived, unlike David and I who honourably gave up seats on the lifeboats and went to our watery fates.

All that chivalry is exhausting and we were soon ensconced in groovy Cutler & Co. slaking our thirsts, followed rapidly by crawling to another bar further down hipster central Gertrude Street.

It must end soon.

Melbourne meanderings & munching

Brunch, nibbles, elevenses......., call it what you want, there are far too many meal options on the mean streets of Melbourne. A late family lunch at Residential on Lygon, brunch at Birdman Eating in Fitzroy and supper at Cookie's Thai all in the space of 24 hours meant shanks' pony was our preferred mode of transport. If you're not careful, you could get fat!. By week's end, Alicia and Bill's respective schedules will ensure we have visited every culinary hot spot Melbourne can offer.

Melbourne's weather has been all it's meant to be, with this shiny morning ozone-laden after last night's downpour. Despite this inclemency, wandering along Lygon Street to buy The Age is surprisingly more enjoyable than venturing into a frosty Canberra morning in search of the Canberra Times. Anything is preferable to the rehashed mediocrity that is morning commercial television (ABC24 is not provided!). I almost bought the Herald Sun, however their love affair with Collingwood shows no sign of abating.

Marvellous Melbourne and musicians

What do you call someone who hangs around musicians? A drummer!, according to cousin David (a percussionist himself). Whatever the reason, everywhere we went we couldn't get away from these groupies.

Initial contact was made at the Narooma Blues Festival (aka something else this year), so it wasn't surprising. Legendary Aussie rocker Lonnie Lee was supported by his Leemen who included Dave's mate Leon Issacson. Two days later we were trawling Melbourne's hipster central Gertrude Street, Fitzroy and came across Lucky Luscombe, drummer with RocKwiz Orkestraband. As our female accompanists (sic) purchased clothes we sat patiently and uttered approving commentary.

To be continued (and expanded upon)....