Are they just labels ? Some can be applied to what amounts to a pile of old tat.

Less often, they apply to collectible ,wearable and highly coveted pieces from the past .

These items are becomingly increasingly popular , and are reminiscent of a bygone era . They generally offer , superb tailoring , gorgeous fabrics , unusual design , and unique pieces . Whats not to like ?

Many recycled boutiques have sprung up , with these items gracing their shelves.

Op shops , grandma’s closet and fete’s can reveal undiscovered treasures .

A rich, and varied source of clothing, is hard to find as more competition, for pieces occurs .

Long time bower birds , ie munters , are finding their traditional hunting grounds well picked over, or depleted .

Price plays a big part too, as stocks of preloved items are usually cheaper than designer boutiques . That is, of course, unless a recycled retailer has hit on the source , and gathered , and repriced, the items , in their more up – market boutiques .

Its no coincidence , that locations are becoming closely guarded secrets, traded between friends, or passed down from mother to daughter !

Gorgeous Recycled Imported NYC Party Dress

Daytime TV does it for Munters

Ditch the kids , pack hubby off to work , conduct a quick 15 minute whip round the laborious household chores , and the day is yours .

Kick back on the couch , something hot and steaming in your hand , locate  the 4 device remote control , and enjoy . Back to back Kerri A Kennel , Years wasted of our Lives,  and the Bold and the Ridiculous , for the next 3 + hours .

Yeah right , by the time Munters , have cleaned the house top to toe , after the holiday onslaught , completed 15 loads of washing , bought enough groceries to feed a small African nation, for a year , and ironed clothes  equal to a days equivalent at  a small industrial laundry, Munters are dead on their feet.

Movie dates , shows , shopping , coffee shop catch ups , are all a pleasant memory , as  reality bites,  and real life takes over .

Whew !, at least its a relief to get back to work , where everything is quiet , orderly , and it is generally a kid free zone .

Family ‘ s , bless em ” , what would we do without them?

A small , low powered, scooter, may be an option, to transport Munters.

Easy to park,  and maintain .

An intensive driving course , is required .

Protective clothing, is essential , including the wearing ,of a helmet .

Practical munters , who can ride a pushbike , cycle , pedallie , wheelie etc , should be able to manage,  a scooter .

Its about balance , learning a new skill, using  a practical nature , being safe  ,  owning the ability to try new things , having  the nerve to get out there in traffic .

Not for everyone , but worth a thought, as Melbourne’s roads become increasingly impassable , with vehicular traffic congestion, and finite parking spaces.

Breeze past the road hogs with a smile on your dial,  to your next shopping / lunch destination.

You’ll be able to climb out of the protective clothing , and rearrange the helmet hair , with time on your side .

Not Scooter Wear

The tournament , is being held in Durban , South Africa, and will be televised ,into Australian homes.

Fortunately, for many munters , it is a public holiday Monday .Many, will be able to go back to bed, after watching the match.

Whilst , not normally, a promoter of sporting events ,the Football World Cup ,only comes around, once every four years .

This , is a one in four chance, for munters everywhere , to watch it, and if the experts and fans , are to be believed, the Australian Socceroos ,have a good chance of success.

Get , into the green and gold supporter gear , warm the set , cool the tinnies ( or champagne, for most munters! ) and get barracking.

Go Australia

Big and small retailers alike are on sale.

Discounts of 40 % , 50 % even 60 % and 80 % entice shoppers and exhort them to buy , buy , buy .

Caught up in the heady fever of consumerism its hard to resist these bargains .

But are they really bargains?

If the item is much coveted , needed or required as replacement for worn goods buy it .

A hot pink , tight , impractical silk dress may not look such a bargain in the cold , critical light of day .

After all , who really wants a mustard coloured fake fur scratchy synthetic doona cover even it is 80% off original price .

There is a reason these items are heavily discounted . Who would ever buy them under normal circumstances ?

A word to the wise Munters , be careful out there .

A Good Buy for Footy Fans

Fur like Warmth

Winter in Melbourne is a good time to hibernate .

Nights are cold and mornings are dark .

Slow cooked , comfort food of soups , stews , casseroles and baked goods all beckon.

Savvy munters will hide the extra few kilos under stylish layers until the warmer weather when they will shed their surplus skin like a butterfly discarding a chrysalis.

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

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.

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 .