Out and about

These are some of the things I saw on a 33 degree day off from The Turtle.

 It was 24 degrees at 7am this morning and the outdoor pool at MSAC in Albert Park beckoned.
Lunch with a colleague from PEGS in Moonee Ponds and then over to Northcote. On the way I passed the ROCOR, or Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, which I couldn't miss because of its gold domes. Originally built in Collingwood, the church had to move to another site as there was no room for expansion on the original site. The congregation was none too happy at this prospect and even less so when they discovered that the site proposed by Alex Alexander, a prominent and astute parishioner, was opposite a former rubbish tip. But this site was available, the right size and, in fact, cheap because of its location. Eventually a park was built on the tip site and Alex Alexander was a winner at the end of the day.

 Just around the corner from the ROCOR is the CERES Community Environment Park. CERES = Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Studies. The park is all about education and urban farming and seeks to use sustainable energy and green technology to run facilities on site. There is an organic market and nursery, as well as an education centre and cafe.

 Next stop, Northcote. Northcote is 7km from the CBD and is on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people. They were the main tribe of people settled in the area which would become Melbourne. The European settlement of Northcote began in 1839 and in the 1870s it was home to a number of slaughteryards, piggeries and claypits. Now there are lots of shops, cafes and the Northcote Social Club, which I am yet to get to but which seems to host numerous bands which I think I'd rather like.

 Coffee at Penny Farthing with Patrick who is one half of Patrick and Jane, ex-Christchurch people. See http://bignoisefromalytteltown.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/patrick-and-jane/ to hear more...

 Melbourne loves cycles. Of all shapes and sizes, it seems. Run by brothers, Penny Farthing Espresso is all wooden tables, whitewashed walls and single origin coffee. Nice.