It’s the song by Melbourne band The Meltdown which has been the soundtrack playing in my head all this week and perhaps my mantra for this year given the terrible start we’ve had with the bushfires and poor air quality. With the upcoming Lunar New Year, I’d like to think we can start this year anew (and the next 60 year cycle in terms of Chinese astrology) with the Rat being the first sign that also represents the beginnings of a new day.
I’ve been suffering from post-holiday jet lag all week trying to adjust to being back at work and picking up where I left off. While Monday wasn’t great, I’d booked myself into a whole lot of meetings so it was a good way of getting back into the swing of things without having time to think about it.
I’m also missing regular exercise and everything feels that bit tighter post-Christmas! I’ve booked myself into a number of health check ups as well as organised some spontaneous and planned catch ups with my closest friends while things are quieter on the work front. It’s also a good time to read, plan holidays, do paperwork, de-clutter and get on top of some of the things we don’t ordinarily find the time to do.
For Mr Rosanna and me, this included a bulk shop for the first time at DC Coffee/Conga Foods at 70 Bell Street in Preston – the site of which has been sold and may become a Bunnings with hotel (!) – but it was good to go and stock up on pasta, cheese, tomatoes, tuna and Italian biscuits. When we lived in Brunswick our go to was Mediterranean Wholesalers so it’s good to have a closer alternative.
We’ve also spent more time hanging in the ‘hood including Friday night ice cream for the kids at the new Gelati & Co (ex-Wally & Fletcher) on Burgundy Street in Heidelberg around the corner from the newly opened Rockin Rolls cafe in Hawdon Street, the owners of whom apparently do a mean Bahn Mi pork roll. I’ve always gone to Aus-Vi Vietnamese bakery at Rosanna Village but must go check them out.
Montsalvat in Eltham launches Destruction, beauty and hope – the Victorian Bushfire Appeal special fundraising exhibition on 29 January. I have a number of Nillumbik-based friends and colleagues who’ve been attending CFA sessions the past fortnight. Warrandyte, while beautiful, has only one road in and one road out and I know locals who simply pack up and leave on high fire danger days.
We’ve seen the terror of this wide brown country, I hope the beauty soon returns.
Miss Rosanna 