Bells are ringing

WAKE UP! They are metaphorically shouting! Every morning I put myself through the torture of the alarm going off at least 4 times after snooze, because I just can't bring myself to crawl out of my warm and cosy bed. It is just too much of a shock to have to get up and out in to the cold world (see previous post - Autumn is in the air). But every morning I do it. Mainly because the dogs cold wet nose says pokes me and this tells me she needs to go outside.

This morning however I actually got up after 1 alarm ringing. I don't quite know what's wrong yet, but I am up and ready early, and will be actually walking to the station this morning. Until then I am at a loss. I am too early to leave, but too awake to go back to sleep. Ah what a dilemma. I could take the dog for a walk, but then I would need another shower, I could attempt to go back to sleep but then I run the risk of falling back to sleep, or I could troll through the message boards to keep me amused for another 15 minutes. What to do?

Maybe I should just go have breakfast instead.

What do you do?

Autumn is in the air

Seems as though in Melbourne, Autumn has come early .Those clean crisp mornings have replaced the warm (not hot this year) starts to our day. It is lovely to step outside and not melt as soon as you hit the train. Nothing worse than having to press up against some sweaty armpit as you struggle to stay up right, as the train lurches from station to station.

There is a downside though. Because we have started wearing warm clothing again I have noticed I am wearing scarves again. In February. If I was in London, this wouldn't be a problem, but for Melbourne, in Summer, this is not a good thing. I realise that by living and working in Melbourne we are prone to having four Seasons in one day, but in reality, it has never really been this tumultuous before! And while I look very cute in scarves, I am not ready to put away my Summer clothes just yet.

Here's hoping that this weekend is all the weather people are promising. I want at least one more weekend to enjoy some warm sunshine before Winter descends once more.

Not a clean sock to be found.

I don't know how he does it. He is only one man, but the amount of laundry that the Boy can create, is phenomenal. Five loads of washing on the weekend. FIVE. And the basket is still full.

Saturday morning started with three loads of washing. It was accumulated from the past 2 weeks or so, as only one load had been done the weekend previous. All these loads went in the machine, and out on the line, and quickly there was no more room to hang anything else out. And miraculously there was NOTHING in the basket. It was truly a lovely feeling, empty basket == happy BtrFly.

Then the Boy got home from work, and after a quick bout on the computer, and trying to find something in the bedroom, well cleaning up of all his things were on for young and old. Don't get me wrong, he isn't untidy by nature, just a bit lazy, so clothes that had been washed in weeks previous had gone on the pile of other clothes, and dirty clothes, well they just hadn't worked out how to walk across the room to hop into the basket. By the time he had finished the basket was overflowing, and I spent Sunday doing another two loads of washing. The basket still isn't empty, but I have to have something to do next weekend I suppose... At least now his socks are mostly clean.

Ahh comedy shows. You make me laugh.

Brilliant night out last night. Went to see a comedy show at the Comics Lounge in North Melbourne with Dad (he is down until tomorrow), the Boy and a friend. I had cheap tickets that have to be used and I thought what better way than to go see Cal Wilson and friends.

The night started with pizza (for me) at a cafe/pub type place up the road from the venue. Not bad food, and the Boy was more than happy with his gnocchi. For an Aussie through and through, he loves his different ethnic styled foods. We got dessert to go, and wandered down Errol St snarfing our food. The Boy's was covered in powdered sugar and he mentioned people might think he had been rolling in flour or some other innocuous substance *shifty eyes* if he wasnt careful!

Thankfully he managed to get it down (it was a massive snot block, aka vanilla slice) and we met Dad at the venue. Our friend was running late, so we went in to get seated. Friend rocked up a little late, but still managed to just get in before the show started.

Cal Wilson was the MC for the nights entertainment, and I have to say, I <3 Cal Wilson, I think her self deprecating style of humour is very well done, and she doesn't seem to take it all too seriously. I have seen her live once before, and I would see her again in another show. The other comedians were pretty good, except for the guy who thought he was being deadpan, instead he was just dead. One guy sitting behind me yelled out, "get off the stage". I seriously considered leaving. He was at the point of being vulgar, very monotone, it was really hard to listen to, and just not funny, and the rest of the audience thought so as well. Thankfully he was the only real down fall of the night.

I usually find the comedians that fall flat to either be really new, or very nervous, or both. I have been to an opening show of a guy who had never performed before, and it showed. He was too nervous to really get the timing right for his show, and as a result it really ruined what could have been a great night. He was forcing the act, with things that he thought should be funny, but only if you have the comedic reaction of a 10 year old. That said the geeky premise was good, and coming from an engineering background he should have pushed the geekiness up a notch. I do wish him luck, because I believe if he can master his material, he would do better.

So, give me your stories. Funny ha ha or funny groan, it's all comedy under the bridge.

Stop. Bender time!

Well not quite, though I thought we would get close. Last night was a night out at the Vodka Bar with Dad, the Boy and the Boy's cousin. Lots of drinking of flavoured vodka shots (I have to say I absolutely loved the pineapple vodka, and the rose flavoured one as well) followed by very tasty food (I had potato gnocchi fried and then put in a bowl with mushroom ragout - nom). But mostly it was about the perve factor on Chapel St.

For those of you who don't know Melbourne, Chapel St is a very long road that runs through quite a few suburbs. It is in the more affluent area of Melbourne, and it attracts a lot of tourists. We had a window table, and with the application of not really a lot of alcohol at all, the comments on the "scenery" began. And oh boy, they were not picky. It was very funny though, because we saw a lot of different people, and even a boy with a "Bieber" hair-do (not good on anyone over 13 in my opinion..)

After dinner, a stroll down Chapel Street was just what was required to walk off some of the food we had just eaten, lovely night for a wander really. Cops were out doing their thing. The girls in short dresses were starting to emerge, and the boys with hats were accompanying said girls in short dresses. Gotta love a hat when the sun is down!

Oh and to top off the night, and we even had a brush with fame, seeing Dave Hughes buying some Lord of the Fries across the street!

If you enjoy your Vodka and your "scenery", and you are in Melbourne, Borsch Vodka Tears is the place to go. Just remember to book because they are always busy!