Creepy and kooky

Yes, it’s Halloween this Wednesday night and there are a number of local events taking place including the two sold out events Trick or Treat on Were(wolf) Street in Montmorency and HallowSCREAM at Montsalvat in Eltham (get in early next year people!) plus Watsyvania Halloween in Watsonia let alone the many local neighbourhood streets that take part in the annual celebration of all things scary.  My two children are nothing if not inventive creating both zombie and witch doctor costumes (below) last Halloween crafted from other bits and pieces we had in our costume box.

As for me, I’m now gearing up for my last Bold Thinking Series lecture for the year on 22 November at The Sofitel featuring former Australian Deputy Leader and Foreign Minister – the Hon Julie Bishop MP (some think she should have been PM) and have also been dealing with her office the past couple of months.  La Trobe (and other Universities) sometimes gets accused of being very left-wing so it’s great to have some people on the right involved in this one including Emeritus Professors Judith Brett and John Carroll as well as incoming academic Andrea Carson.  I will be very interested to hear Ms Bishop’s reflections on life, leadership and lessons learnt.

Until then, there’s lots going on although I was a bit incredulous over the weekend walking into both Bunnings Northland and Leo’s in Heidelberg who’ve already brought out their Christmas food and decorations!  It’s a bit premature when we’ve not even had Melbourne Cup week but I think it also reflects the current state of Australian retail, which is still doing it pretty hard.  I’ve already started buying early Christmas presents and will be buying local wherever possible.

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Finals fever

Despite growing up in a family of girls, I now seem to have made up for it as the sole female (bar my dog) in a family of boys.  It’s finals season in my household not only in terms of the AFL but also with kids’ sports.  I’ve been one of the many team managers for the Banyule Hawks this season and it’s been a lot of fun.

Spring has arrived and it was glorious standing outside bathed in the morning light today – the weather is going to heat up this week and it’s about time!  I’ve desperately needed some motivation although I did go out for a very brisk run yesterday afternoon and I hope you all had a great Father’s Day – or Mother’s Day to those single parents out there doing double duty.  It’s not always an easy day for those without a father in their life and I have a number of friends and family where this is the case.

On another note, local artist Rona Green is selling two of her whimsical designs Fritz and Lionel (above) on antique white cotton/linen blend tea towels, which would look great framed and hung on your wall if not used in the kitchen!  Tickets are currently on sale for the Montsalvat Arts Festival in two weeks’ time being held on 16 September.  Their family-friendly HallowSCREAM event on 31 October also looks like a lot of fun if you’re a Nillumbik local.  My children have just celebrated Book Week at school, as most primary school children have, and their costumes will be getting a second airing for Halloween.  It was barely celebrated when I was a child but seems to have become such a big event with the baby boom that’s been going on the past 10 years or so.  Have a great week  and enjoy some of that sunshine.