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Rookery Life
Jun. 23rd, 2022 12:34 pmThe past several days have seen life in The Rookery engage in the sort of intellectual, cultural, and social activities that I initially wanted in my mind's eye (a certain complication aside, but that's OK). It has been an almost constant parade of visitors of great intellect and enthusiasm which has often allowed me the opportunity to provide lunches and dinners to assist in the discussions, which I delight in doing so. One of these visitors was a certain Melissa M., whom I haven't seen for around 25 years. We used to hang out together in Sydney at a rather notorious warehouse inhabited by an early website company (The Evil Brotherhood of Mutants) and the earliest incarnation of the music collective, Clan Analogue. There was even a movie done about the place that had eventually become "Lanfranchi's Memorial Discotheque". Anyway, it turns out Melissa had been more local than I assumed so we caught up for a lovely dinner last Friday before her holidays - all she could find to bring was an ancient bottle of Passion Pop, which we both laughed at, and then discovered that said drink ferments itself into a reasonable light muscat with age. Who knew?
The following night I had a business meeting and dinner with Anthony L and Robin M, eating at the new incarnation of Old Kingdom which used to be a favourite some twenty years ago when it was based in Collingwood under a Timorese-Chinese owner. On a charmed whim, I bought the table next to us a round of iced cream because it was a kid's birthday and his family was obviously devoted; I left before it was served and without telling them. The day after was an adventure with my aesthetically-inclined old friend Mel S., first to the NGV in Southbank and then to the NGV at Federation Square for the indigenous art exhibition, "From Bark to Neon". Dave C was in town so the following day caught up with him and discussed computing, politics, Glorantha, and magick (not in that order), which was followed with an Albert Park branch meeting at the Limerick Arms with Dr. Michelle Ananda-Rajah, the new Federal member for Higgins who spoke on how much inner-city Liberals disliked Scott Morrison (at least as much as the rest of us). Also spent a bit of time chatting with my old comrade (and former MLC, and Vietnam anti-war activist) Jean McLean.
Rookery Life has also witnessed the closure of Willsmere life, with settlement concluded whilst I was interstate. I've used the proceeds to pay off most of the Rookery apartment, which is going completely cottage-core. My study now has something like 15 indoor plants, the small balcony is on the path to becoming the Hanging Gardens of Southbank, and there is a flock of up to 15 spotted doves that visit every morning (along with the occasional finch, mynah, and currawong), providing great entertainment for Sabre cat. There is a little bit of coin left over, so I have a couple of short holidays planned as well, along with looking at retirement options for my not-nearly-old-enough cheap LG K9 (internal storage is an issue). At the moment I am looking at the Oppo A74, but not being a 'phone nerd I am happy to take wise advice from others.
The following night I had a business meeting and dinner with Anthony L and Robin M, eating at the new incarnation of Old Kingdom which used to be a favourite some twenty years ago when it was based in Collingwood under a Timorese-Chinese owner. On a charmed whim, I bought the table next to us a round of iced cream because it was a kid's birthday and his family was obviously devoted; I left before it was served and without telling them. The day after was an adventure with my aesthetically-inclined old friend Mel S., first to the NGV in Southbank and then to the NGV at Federation Square for the indigenous art exhibition, "From Bark to Neon". Dave C was in town so the following day caught up with him and discussed computing, politics, Glorantha, and magick (not in that order), which was followed with an Albert Park branch meeting at the Limerick Arms with Dr. Michelle Ananda-Rajah, the new Federal member for Higgins who spoke on how much inner-city Liberals disliked Scott Morrison (at least as much as the rest of us). Also spent a bit of time chatting with my old comrade (and former MLC, and Vietnam anti-war activist) Jean McLean.
Rookery Life has also witnessed the closure of Willsmere life, with settlement concluded whilst I was interstate. I've used the proceeds to pay off most of the Rookery apartment, which is going completely cottage-core. My study now has something like 15 indoor plants, the small balcony is on the path to becoming the Hanging Gardens of Southbank, and there is a flock of up to 15 spotted doves that visit every morning (along with the occasional finch, mynah, and currawong), providing great entertainment for Sabre cat. There is a little bit of coin left over, so I have a couple of short holidays planned as well, along with looking at retirement options for my not-nearly-old-enough cheap LG K9 (internal storage is an issue). At the moment I am looking at the Oppo A74, but not being a 'phone nerd I am happy to take wise advice from others.
