Aussie Magpie v Eurasion Magpie

Way back BC (before covid) I decided “Never Stop Learning” needed to be a thing (dementia be gone).  One of the things I had on the things to learn list was to name 20 of Melbourne’s most common birds.  List in hand, off I went for a bit of bird spotting and even went along on a bird watching walk at a local park. I did a little story and then promptly forgot. Whilst in Africa recently, my interest was renewed.   Maybe it’s an age thing.  First you get into growing tomatoes and then you move on to bird watching. Hmm, what comes next? Maybe bingo or bowls.

Now in the UK, I figured time to learn a bit about our local feathered friends.  I found two second handbooks on birds and got myself a new pair of binoculars (old pair MIA).  Bird watching seems to be a popular past time here and lots of people put out food. Living on the 2^nd floor provides limited opportunities for placing bird feeders in trees, but I’ve attached a feeding station to the window, so hopeful that once the trees bloom they’ll pop by.  

After a 2 year hiatus, the 2023 list is here!

It started off as 31 things to do in the month I turned 50 and then became 50 things to do in the year I turned 50.  Before long, there were over 100 things on that 2015 list and little sub lists had popped up like mushrooms all over the place.  I jotted stuff down stuff on bits of paper, in notebooks (I have a notebook fetish, I am not alone) and friends provided me with ideas to add.

I soon realised that adding things to those lists was half the fun.  So having decided to start up the lists again, I started where I'd left off for 2021.  Not only was 2021 a crap year, but the 2021 list was a sad and sorry sight.  17 out of 44 things completed - maybe not so bad considering lockdowns. 

But I learnt some valuable things.  For a start, I don't particularly like cooking, so why the hell would I want to cook through a cook book? I tried making a mosaic piece - ended up frustrated and didn't really enjoy it, so now I know that I'm not the artsy/crafty type.  

I wanted to learn a musical instrument.  So I got myself a guitar, booked in for some lessons and failed miserably. Arthritis in the fingers and a sore neck - no excuse. Maybe I need to find something easier - like my old school recorder (I think I could still manage "Three Blind Mice") or maybe the triangle? 

And as for picking up Frech again, being fluent in Spanish is good enough for me.

Whale watching on the 31st of July each year was a special thing.  Well I still love whales, the date is now insignificant, but I still want to see whales at any time of the year! 

Laz's Lane and Rita's Way - first tick off the the list

While I’m on a bit of a streak, I thought I’d write about my first tick off the 2021 list. 

Laz's Lane and Rita's Way are community laneway projects in Carnegie and having lived there for a few years, I’ve been meaning to go back and visit. What a wonderful surprise!

I think the story behind them can best be described by the info found on site:

Laz Stark lived in Graceburn Avenue in Carnegie and was a bit of a local legend. After Laz died in 2018, residents decided to turn the laneway into something special and named it after him.  

Laz's Lane runs from Koornang Road through to Graceburn Avenue, near Carnegie Primary School. It’s filled with colourful paintings and art works, cabinets containing figurines, mosaic art, a little library, and Angel wings - plenty of pic opportunities. 

The Garden and Gallery continue to be added to and all the art and plants have been donated and are maintained by volunteers.

It really is a wonderful display of community diversity and worth a look. 

Rita's Way is named after local artist, Rita Santucci, whose colourful mosaics and artwork can be found dotted all around Carnegie.  Rita’s Way is a newer project, just on the opposite side of Koornang Road. It too includes lots of beautiful ceramic art, paintings, and planter boxes and is a work in progress.   

You can read more about Rita in this article from The Age. 

And if you want to know more follow the Carnegie Community Laneways Facebook page. 

2021 - a year of HEALTH

Always loved a good list and back in 2015, the year I turned 50, I started the 101 things to do in 2015 list.  That then kind of expanded into a bucket list of all the places and things I wanted to do before I kick the bucket.  Many things were unrealistic but adding to it was nearly as much fun as planning days out to tick things off.

For the next few years, I added and ticked things off regularly.  Then when I had a whole year off, it kind of stalled a bit.  That was back in 2019.  As for 2020, well, let’s not talk about that one.

So I spent some time re-visiting the lists.  Removed a lot of things and started a new 52 things to do in 2021 list.  Plenty of space to add things as the year progresses.  Also as my word of the year is HEALTH, I though I’d better throw in a few things around that.

Still working out what my year of HEALTH will look like – but if Rebel Wilson can dedicate a year to feeling better, so can I.  Of course I need to lose some weight and get fitter.  I just signed up to NOOM.  Actually I started the 2-week trial 2 weeks before Christmas (probably not the best time) and unsurprisingly, haven’t lost any weight – but haven’t gained any, so that’s a win at this time of the year. My 4-month program has now kicked off and I’ve given myself to the end of April to lose 10kg.  Each day you work through a few little psyche tips and quiz’s, weigh yourself and log your food. Which is actually quite scary and makes you much more conscious of what you’re actually eating and in my case that’s not enough vegetables and way too much crap. 

Now in the past, the only commitment I’ve really stuck with is avoiding the gym, so now the challenge is to NOOM each day, walk daily, start the day with 30 sit ups and 30 push ups and do 20 minutes of weights 4 times a week.  Small steps. 

More veggies required.  I’m going to cook through a vegetarian cookbook, with my ultimate goal to stick to a 95% vegetarian diet by mid-year.

What else am I trying to incorporate into my year of health? Daily Meditation.  Dabbled a few times, but pretty crap at it.  So just trying 10 minutes at a time.  Breathe in. Breathe out. Easy. Not.

Also decided I want to go on a little retreat this year.  The ones in Byron Bay look lovely but are expensive and one slight problem is that I don’t really like Yoga, apparently that’s OK.  I also looked at Aruna Giri in Healesville – but then saw that it involved silence and maybe (OK definitely) that’s not for me.  I think I need to start off “lite” so have decided that the 2-night Inner Joy Retreat at Happy Buddha in the Blue Mountains is the perfect beginners retreat.  Now if only we’re allowed to travel……

Oh and to get into the zen mode, I've been reading about and ordered some essential oils. 

I’m also trying to get back into the habit of reading. Somewhere along the line last year, maybe because of no train travel, my reading dropped right off.  Which is a shame, because I love reading. So a relaxed target of 26 books on the list.  Oh and I’m listening to random podcasts when I take Lola out for her little walk each day. 

Not sure where I'm actually going to find all the time to do the above and work, but I'm going to be so friggin healthy, calm and in the moment, that I won't give a fuck.

Turning 55 certainly made me think that if we’re going to hit the road soon as Grey Nomads, we better be ready.

New Year, New Word

New Year’s Resolutions, goals, plans for the year and lists. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s go ahead and make them – but be flexible and be prepared to change them.  If my 2019 list of things to do was neglected, then what can be said about my 2020 one?   

Time to re-visit the lists – not to add anything, but to take things off.  Why? Because 2020 has shown me that my bucket lists need to be smaller. Do I really want to “Visit the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida” or “Drive a Ferrari/Maserati/Lamborghini?” No.  I don’t even like driving.  Because 2020 was a year to re-evaluate what’s important and what’s not.

I also like to choose a word for the year.  My word for 2020 was BEGIN.  Maybe it should have been STALLED. Do I keep the same word for a second year and take 2?  Do I choose a new word? 

I revisited the great list of words I had last year, deleted a few, added a few and still have a long list of possibilities:

FLEXIBLE	RISE	ENOUGH	ACTION
KINDNESS	RESPECT	DETERMINATION	CHANGE
CALM	CARE	STRENGTH	DIRECTION
CHALLENGE	HEALTH	LISTEN	POSITIVITY
FOCUS	ACCEPT	RELEASE	CONFIDENCE
BEGIN - 2020	FREEDOM - 2019	BRAVE	DIRECTION
HOPE	ENERGY	PRESENT	LEARN

Once again, I narrowed it down to 5 and then waited for one of them to jump out at me. I’m leaning towards HEALTH.  A year to focus on improving my health. And I think I'll keep Begin - because I kind of feel it didn't get a chance. 

Springvale Botanical Cemetery Tour

I have always had a bit of a fascination with cemeteries.  Not sure why, just find them interesting places.  Emi just thinks I'm weird.  Anyway, on Tuesday morning (4 December 2018) I went along on a free tour of Springvale Botanical Cemetery, as you do.  Small group, large bus and I was the youngest on board (I think). Doesn't happen often these days, so deserves a special mention. Off we went with our lovely and knowledgeable guide, historian Dr Celestina Sagazio.

It's said to be the most beautiful cemetery in Australia, and I can see why.  It really is stunning with over 30,000 rose bushes and more than 290 varieties. So if you want your ashes placed under a dusky pink rose with white edges, chances are you're in luck.  As well as roses, there are many other well maintained plants and over 80,000 trees including an old Red River Gum that's said to over 400 years old.

The cemetery, originally know as The Necropolis Springvale, was established in 1901. It covers an area of 422 acres (used to be bigger) and is Victoria's largest memorial park. The first burial was that of 7 month old baby Clarence Reardon, who died of whooping cough on 20 March 1902.  Sad.

Song He Yuan temple

Reflecting our multi-cultural background, there are resting areas for everyone.  The Song He Yuan Buddhist section has a temple built by Chinese Master Craftsmen and several pagodas. Extension is underway - time stops for no one.

There are sections covering many different religions and denominations and a viewing room in the crematorium to allow for Hindu's beliefs. The Jewish Metahar House (meaning 'cleansing or purifying') was built in 1940 and was the first denominational chapel. Interestingly, they place stones instead of flowers.


The children's lawn area is particularly touching, including an area called Bonny Babes for Stillborn babies.  There is a playground there and vibrant balloon sculptures to help create a welcoming place for young children, whilst family members take time to remember little angels.

Little angels resting in peace

Another section contains the Police Memorial listing the names of all who have died in the line of duty and there is an Australian War graves area. War graves all look the same because of the notion that in death, all are equal.



Grave sites come in all shapes and sizes. From the simple lawn burials to ornate tombstones (there is a model Ferrari on one and another with a stone helmet).  There are also 3 Mausoleums - the Rocco Surace, Luciano Rossetti and the new Saint Padre Pio.  Here bodies are embalmed and buried above ground.

Some other random facts I learnt:

1. The cemetery employs 50 gardeners
2. Burials in Melbourne are "forever"
3. Today, 70% are cremations and 30% burials
4. Following cremation, any metal is recycled and goes to the restoration trust
5. 2 large lakes host a number of birds and other wildlife and serve to reticulate the gardens
6. Ashes are not "scattered" but buried
7. One of the gardens is perfectly named the "Garden of No Distant Place"
8. Over at the new Bunurong Memorial park, natural burials are allowed where a shroud or cardboard box can be used.

Following our bus tour that lasted 90 minutes, we headed back to the Clarence Reardon centre that contains a cafe, florist, playground and many different function areas.  Lunch was provided whilst Julie, one of the customer care consultants spoke about the different burial options and how the cemetery operates.  The main message was to remind people to make a will and talk to family about your wishes. Death shouldn't be a taboo subject, after all, there is no escaping it.

So a tick off the list and now keen to do tours of some of our other cemeteries.  The night tour of Melbourne General Cemetery is supposed to be interesting. Weird? Not really.

Birds of a Feather

Pick a subject each month, learn about it.  Seemed simple enough way back on the 1^st July when I decided “Never Stop Learning” needed to be a thing.  Should have taken into account procrastination and time constraints.  So choosing to learn about birds in July (extended through to August, September and October) has been a long, drawn out effort.  Partly because there are a lot of birds (just to be clear here – I’m talking about the flapping, flying, feathered variety) and a lot to learn. But still, I now notice birds everywhere. Luckily whilst peering up into the tree tops I have only stumbled twice, stepped on dog poo once and have yet to have an eye plucked out by a kamikaze magpie. Win win.

Could I name the 20 most common around Melbourne, which was the challenge?  Yes, I probably could – although some of the little blighters are way too fast to check out their “wattles” and distinguish between Red, Yellow and Little Wattlebirds.  Yeah, yeah settle down. I know that Yellows are the big ones found in Tassie and here in Melbourne we get the Red and the Littles. And because I know you’re dying to know, the “wattle” is the coloured bits at the side of their necks.  Yellows have yellow wattles, Reds have red wattles and Little’s don’t have a wattle at all. Which kind of make’s the name Little Wattlebird a bit odd. But prior to July, I thought they were called Wattlebirds because they lived in Wattle Trees.

Anyway, after flicking through a few books and a half-hearted attempt at researching, I realised that this is not the sort of subject that you can just say done and dusted in a month!  Birding is a serious and popular past time.  I also discovered that I quiet enjoy identifying birds so maybe it can become a new found ongoing interest.  Still determined to at least say I’ve learnt something, I went along last Saturday 27 October to a Bird Walk at Cheltenham Park run by the very friendly and dedicated Friends of Native Wildlife. With binoculars hung around my neck, off we went. Now firstly I must say that I didn’t even know that Cheltenham Park Reserve existed.  Apart from sporting facilities and play grounds there are bushlands and several walking tracks – who knew!  Sadly, some of the bushland was decimated by fire last year. Arson was suspected, but certainly not by the residents resting peacefully at the Cheltenham Cemetery which runs alongside the park.

Our lovely guide Anne spoke about the birds we saw and answered questions. With her trusty bird App, we were able to see pictures up close and even listen to their calls. All very interesting and I learnt lots.  One thing I was amazed by is that here in Victoria we don’t have any crows!!  Those big, black, beady eyed birds are Ravens – Australian Ravens to be exact.  Or maybe the Little Raven. Which is similar to the Australian Raven, only, well Little. And because I’m now such a fountain of knowledge, I know that Ravens usually travel in pairs and have a wedge-shaped tail whereas crows are seen in larger groups and their tail is shaped like a fan. Their calls are different too.  If you’re a trivia buff, you’ll probably know that a “flock” of crows is called a “Murder” but did you know that a group of ravens is called an “unkindness” or “conspiracy”? Now you do – note for next trivia challenge.

Enjoyable morning and an interesting “bunch" of people. 

Going forward, my learn something new each month needs to be smaller and more doable.  I also realised that it should probably be in line with my goals.  So time to revisit the list and update.  And my November thing – “learn how to create picture quotes.”  

Australian Raven

Red Wattlebird

Backyard Chickens (nice butt Louise)

A three tick Sunday

The List has been somewhat neglected of late. Have moon boot, will travel, so a free day to remedy the situation.  A drizzly Sunday, Emilio working down in Somers, plans were made to meet B at IMAX. 

Now this was B's suggestion and bit of a surprise when she said lets go to the 10am session.  There are not too many people that B gets out of bed for early on a Sunday morning, but apparently I'm one of them. Special or what? Coffee and popcorn in hand (bit early for bubbles) in we went.  I love VR, 3D and IMAX movies, but had never been to the IMAX theatre here in Melbourne, so thoroughly enjoyed a ride through Africa in comfy reclining premium seats. Tick.  Oh and further motivation to go and see the gorillas. 

It was a sign - no line!

The Dish

Next stop Hawker Chan. The world's cheapest Michelin-star meal from a hawker centre in Singapore, (run by chef Chan Hong Meng) is now in Melbourne. Maybe it was the time or maybe it was the drizzly day but we got there and there was NO LINE. In we went. 2 serves of The Dish - Soya Sauce Chicken with Rice, plus a bit of Roast Pork and BBQ Pork.  Verdict, yum and great value for money. Tick number 2.

We probably could have gone straight to Hopetoun Tearooms, but decided that it was 12pm and a glass of bubbles was called for.  Stopped at Section 8, a funky bar in a funky laneway in the middle of Chinatown made out of a shipping container with wooden palettes for seats. No expense spared. Could have stopped at 3 glasses, but the rain got a bit heavier, so had another. No tick, but a good way to spend a rainy afternoon. Oh and after a few bubbles, we came up with another fabulous idea  - stay tuned!

Final stop, Hopetoun Tea Rooms - a Melbourne Institution.  I vaguely recalled visiting like 30 years ago, but not been since living in Melbourne.  It's in the gorgeous Block Arcade and opened way back in 1891.  The line was longer than Hawker Chan's, giving us plenty of time to drool over the windows.  I was here for the scones, it's the thing. WTF - they ran out of scones!!  NO. Hang on they had 1 lonely scone left, so ended up getting it for free.  Suspect that it was left over on someones plate (kidding). Was nice, but not the best I've had. Coffee, luke warm.  Cups, no longer fancy.  Service slow - they forgot our order and gave us a 10% discount.  Oh we did do a take away chocolate pecan tart that wasn't bad, but tiny and B had the lemon meringue which was apparently delish.  Overall disappointing over priced and no need to rush back for a full serve of scones.   

Go on then, let's have another!

Goals and Lists - take 2

New Years Resolutions, goals, bucket lists whatever you want to call them and are they different?   Not sure why we wait until the New Year to start things.  It's as good a time as any I guess.  I started working on my 2018 list and planned to write down my goals back in December.  But here we are, January has flown by as it always does and it's hello February.  Goals for 2018 and life, not quiet sorted.  I'm a hopeless procrastinator.

It's important to take time setting goals - after all we're talking what we really want to do with our lives - at whatever stage we're at.  So we're going to sit down and set our 1, 3 and 5 (even 10) year goals and plans.

Sure, there will be personal ones - like write more.  Earn at least $3,000 this year from my writing. Get published in 2 other publications. That kind of stuff. The usual ones like save more.  Lose weight.  Get fit. So wishy washy!

In the meantime, I have started on my 2018 bucket list. Much easier and less thought required. A work in progress and plenty of spots to fill as things pop up.  How did 2017 list go?  Some things fell by the wayside, others got scrapped, some were moved to 2018 and some were replaced as other opportunities arose. 60 out of 100 - not too bad. My aim is always at least 50.  And it's never so rigid that it can't be altered during the year!  Someone once said, "but you can't just change it as you go". Sure I can, it's my list - I can do anything.