Recycle
Due to tough economic times recycling , re-using, re- inventing and renovation of products is popular. It is becoming fashionable to re – model existing products , swap items no longer required at swap parties amongst friends or donate to charity particularly large commercial chains like Savers who reward you with a percentage off goods purchased for each donation .
glo-mesh purse circa 1970
Consumers are using recyclable markets , opportunity shops , white elephant stalls at community fairs in their quest for good quality items .These venues can provide a rare vintage item and a switched on munter will consider adding them to their list of shopping destinations.
Designer Bargain
Ides of March
Storms in Melbourne on Saturday were unseasonal , unexpected and terrifying.
Age Newspaper Report on Storms in 1925
Roads quickly flooded , traffic ground to a standstill and shopping centres , cinemas and sporting arenas where deluged with lashings of rain and hail stones.
Those munters out shopping were possibly oblivious to the chaos all around them until it became time to leave the store.
Buckets of water were pouring down the front of the windows of the new shopping complex I was in , torrents cascading through light fittings and electric doors unopenable and shops computers all failing .
The get away car normally parked in the underground car park was mercifully parked in the street. Despite rapidly rising , swirling floodwaters , doors were opened and shopping flung in .The only casualty in the hasty departure was a thong that floated away on the rushing torrent.
A terrifying ordeal began as a path was forged through the rapidly flooded roads which were quickly becoming impassable . Parked cars were becoming submerged and inner city streets were unusable. A circuitous route was employed and a safe arrival home was managed by using all the non damaged and unaffected roads.
raining cats and rabbits?
It was an unnerving experience . One that truly tested the tenaciousness of even the most sturdy munter.
Melbourne Storm
Education
Life is education . Learning is everyday experience . Values , honesty and doing the best you can with the resources available to you.To learn is to grow. With the current emphasis on VCE enter scores and competition for tertiary placements and job opportunities young people deal with a huge amount of pressure.
who knows
Certainly to do well is desirable for health and happiness. Education can be about learning and not just securing financial gain only.
Go to the MTC and see ‘ the Drowsy Chaperone ” a great bunch of Aussie actors carried along with huge amounts of exuberance , talent ,bravado and a great love of what they are doing .Visit the Sydney Myer Music Bowl and be treated to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra thrilling audiences with awe inspiring music and opera .
Ron Mueck another successful Aussie exhibiting at the NGV . He is revered now but was refused traditional art school training .
good shows
The ‘ Furious Mattress “ the current Malthouse production by an aussie writer and cast is providing excellent quality entertainment .
At Malthouse
When I asked a young 19 year old on her thoughts about a friend being pushed into nursing by an anxious parent she replied ” Nursing wasn’t what the the girl wanted to do but the mother decided it was what she should do “.The girls friend made the poignant comment the mother had decided she didn’t want her to go uni because after all ” you wouldn’t want her to learn anything “ .
Those wanting to be both depressed yet uplifted can see the thought provoking movie” Precious “to realise the right type of education does matter .
Mid Week Movies
An enjoyable afternoon can be spent mid week at the Movies.
Tickets are cheap . Its not crowded and all the latest releases are up on the big screen .Parking is readily available and there are no long queues snaking around the box office .
Mid Week Movies
Drink and food are able to be taken in , each seat is provided with a small table and drink holder attached to your seat .Most cinemas have a creative snack bar far beyond the realms of choc tops and popcorn. Alcoholic beverages are on offer as are gourmet snack foods.
great surrounds
So munter what are you waiting for .Get out there and head to the Cinema for a couple of hours R&R.
Pure escapism at its very best.
Breakfast
Breakfast is taking over from ” lets do lunch .
Cafes are thronged on weekends with Munters all enjoying outdoor tables and al fresco eating at breakfast time . Eating Breakfast out provides a great way to relax , talk and unwind as weekly time schedules that must be stuck to can be relaxed at weekends .
outdoor tables
Most cafes catering for this new trade offer an all day breakfast menu.
Alternatively all types of groups meet on weekdays for Breakfast . Playgroup , kinder or school mums grab breakfast , network and catch up.
Self employed people often exchange ideas over breakfast .Business meetings are often conducted during breakfast.
Reunions , bucks and hens nights groups , parties and groups all unite over the most important meal of the day, breakfast .
Historically some of the most famous Breakfasts that are celebrated are
The Wedding Breakfast
gourmet food
The AFL Grand Final Breakfast to which you make sure you wear your football jumper
a collectable footy jumper
Coffee
Is ” lets do coffee ” the new euphemism for ” lets have a drink “?
Probably not . However the proliferation of coffee shops and the patrons drinking coffee in them is massive .
Every shopping strip boasts at least one coffee shop with tables outside in Melbourne’s good weather.
outdoor seating
Men , women and children are at tables drinking coffee. The menu caters for the young with baby – chino. Mums are offered soy latte or skinny version sof their favourite tipple to help with weight control or allergy maintenance.
Men conduct business meetings over a short black .
your local cafe?
Young people of all ages go for ‘just coffee’. They talk , meet , plan and discuss . Its a cheap way for cash strapped students to meet without hefty bills in a place conducive to open discussion. Most can afford the price of a latte’
network at your local cafe'
.
“Lets do coffee “is the new networking tool. Popular , affordable and accessible for all.
Football Jumpers
Strictly speaking it may not be a topic for Munters but here goes.
AFL or Australian Rules Football has a huge fan base worldwide.
There are 16 teams in the competition that is played Australia wide and is televised and broadcast around the world. The sport is growing locally with the addition of 2 new teams being organised for the 2011 competition . Additionally it is played on the world stage with exhibition games being played in Ireland , the UK and Asian Pacific Nations such as New Guinea and Cook Islands .
The brightly coloured , modern jumpers or guernseys are made by all the large global, sporting goods manufacturers eg Adidas , Puma and Reebok. These jumpers are dri fit polyester styled without sleeves and moulded to fit the players body. Unique , iconic logo’s and mascot adorn the jersey and printed team name and number are often on the back .
Official licensed products are properly made with the appropriate signage and are the correct colours and have portrayed the accurate team logo /mascot . Of further benefit to the local industry they are made in Australia and some funds from their profitable sale are ploughed back into the development of the AFL code. These are both worthwhile benefits resulting from the purchase.
When to buy
Clubs often change their strip at the start of a new season .
Historically, team mascots are not often changed nor are the teams famous colours.
Manufacturers are also changed when contracts expire and new companies are employed to produce the garments.
The start or end of the season is a good time to buy especially if strip is to be superceded and fans want a piece of history.
Those Clubs who have been merged with others or the teams older style woollen jumpers are highly collectable.
Fans everwhere wear their teams colours proudly.
Its tribal , topical ,sometimes controversial,but never boring .
Exhilarating , exciting, and enjoyable thats aussie rules .
Be a part of it in your jumper , jersey, guernsey. You can read more on Football Jumpers.com
Port Power's Old Strip
nice jumper
Change of Season
The end of Summer beckons . It has been another long hot glorious summer with cicadas heralding dusk and parrots squabbling as they feed from the local flowering gum trees.
Mornings are darker and days are perceptibly cooler .Bright light is still common in the middle of the day and the odd hot day still occurs but with decreasing frequency.
Olga does Bags
February is traditionally the hottest month and the devasting bushfires in victoria of february 09 attest to this .Record breaking temperatures , combined with strong winds set the dry bush around melbourne alight with a sickening ferocity and loss of life.
Easter is early April , pre – season footy has started and the shops are advertising their autumn fashions . Summer sales are over , op -shops have recycled unwanted Christmas presents and young people are back in the daily grind of school , study , sport , and part – time work . Tertiary students commence on 1march after a long summer hiatus and workers and employers alike have long been back in the routine.
Gold Shoes
Time out for Munters to enjoy some leisure . Grab it while you can . It promises to be a long cold winter.
routine
Kids are back at school and routines are being re-established . Pickups , dropoffs , lunches , uniforms , supplies ,books and activities are organised and despatched and life again assumes some normality .
New Frock
Munters everywhere are cleaning out cupboards , recycling reusuable goods to the local op shops and generally reorganising and establishing a clean safe environment in bedrooms etc . This whole process is a very cathartic experience . Routine and control are back and munters love it .
Designer Wear
Time to get back to the things we love , like shopping.
A quick trip to the op shops often unearths great treasures in the form of new items given as unused Christmas presents. It is often possible to replace bits of school uniforms from bulging racks of good quality outgrown bits.
Flattering Florals
You may be able to pick up that coveted new novel that was sold out at the bookshops over Christmas for a fraction of the original price.
Savage price cutting in department stores is almost over as they are now in the throes of bringing out next seasons range .
The long heady nights of summer are fast becoming a memory and mornings are darker as daybreak is later with each passing day .
Antique Lace
Its over
The mornings and nights are drawing in with less daylight and a subtle drop in temperature . An end to summer is in sight . The school holidays are also drawing to a close . What stretched ahead with endless possibilities and exciting challenges is nearly ended albeit all too quickly for parents and kids everywhere. A new school year is upon us and the difficulties and tasks that entails are to be faced . The summer hiatus is almost over and schoolyards everywhere will be again full of noise and bustle leaving empty houses in its wake . Munters everywhere will again be just getting on with their
work
toys
life’s , and all that involves , ie ; working ,shopping , caring for family and friends . Summer will have just become a memory and a repository for stored passions until the next long hot summer holidays roll around .