The Collecting Chemist of Elsternwick -1

Geoff and Sue Szwarcbard's Guardian Pharmacy at 393 Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick has a treasure trove of items from chemist shops of yesteryear. Their chemist shop is quite ordinary. It looks like it could have been there a very long, long time but gets "modernised" every few decades or so. It is not large and spacious and bright like really modern pharmacies found in shopping malls. No this is a very traditional squeezed in chemist shop in a suburban shopping strip in the main street of Elsternwick. The first clue is the signs hanging in the doorway as one enters from the street.

The signs in the collection are metal - in some cases complete with rust.

The technique of delight: Timothy Spall

There are actors Miss Eagle lusts after - like Sean Connery. There are actors who cheer and enchant her - like Martin Clunes and Nigel Havers. There are the young and the beautiful who stun the ageing Miss Eagle - like Johnny Depp. And then there is the category of sheer delight: delight in his skill, delight in his characterization, delight in his diversity of roles and delight in such wonders being wrapped in an ordinary and seemingly unchangeable bloke. This is the beloved Timothy Spall. The pleasure he has given is beyond measure.

Miss Eagle is prompted to tell you about the wondrous Timothy in coming across this article this week.

Bank Place - where the corporate and legal world meet

At the financial end of town, between Collins Street and Little Collins Street, is Bank Place.

A Grand Prix winner

I saw this car in Sydney Road, Brunswick yesterday. As you can see, it claims to be off to the Grand Prix. Now which year was that?

Street art at Balaclava - 2

Between the wall above next to Hudson in William Street off Carlisle Streeet in Balaclava

and the group of businesses below

is an art framing shop which has no street art on its frontage.

I wonder why?

Is it because the owner considers that only art in a frame is really art?

Street art at Balaclava - 1

I love this little man sitting behind his cloud.

I love the flower in his shirt pocket.

In fact, I love him so much he is now on my 'puter desktop.

He decorates the wall below -

sitting to one side in splendid isolation

from a larger work which is part of the seating

for a hole in the wall cafe off Carlisle Street, Balaclava.

There is seating along the wall as if it were a bus stop.

Perhaps the wall can be read like a newspaper - since it has its own opinion page

A pressie in the post...

The lovely lady in the white van comes down to the end of our street where The Trad Pad is and she toots her horn. Always excitement, but even more so to-day. I have never done this blog-present-swap before so I was really excited and bounded out the door of the office and away from the computer to greet her as she came in the gate with a box in her hand. My present came from Dolly. Into the dining room to open my parcel. I opened it up and here is what I found:

A lovely crocheted runner lined the box.

Inside were beautifully wrapped chunks of stuff.

And when I unwrapped all the prettiness, here is what I found:

That long skinny tube is a lavender bed wand. This is novel. I am about to find out what a bed wand is. Then there is the vanilla and cranberry scented orb - a lovely globe of a candle. I haven't lit it yet - but in my mind I can smell it. Or is that the scent from the Ultra Brilliant, Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss found in the Juicy Tube. My lips are now a lovely mulberry colour. Talk about appealing to the senses! I can smell it, it feels nice on my lips, I can taste it - am I meant to eat it too? And then there is the french lavender soap - La naturel jardin. And when I am scented with the soap, relaxed with the aroma of the candle, made pretty with the lip gloss, and have scented my pillow with the lavender bed wand, I put on those cuddly cosy bed socks (which will go well with my blue nightie), grab my good book (at the moment it is Theatre by Somerset Maugham which has been made into the film, Julia), and tuck into the chocolates. Now isn't that the sort of pampering we all need and love.

Thank you, dear Dolly.

Your parcel and you are much and well appreciated.

And thank you, dear Ms Robyn, who dreamed all this up and put it into action.

Claire exhibits at Hudson, Balaclava

Claire Robertson from Loobylu,

along with two colleagues, Van Sowerwine and Christina Gordon,

has been exhibiting her talents and her wares at Hudson

on the corner of Carlisle and William Streets, Balaclava in Melbourne's inner east.

Today, I went over to Balaclava and to Hudson to have a look.

Exhibits in the store window

A familiar figure

Piece de resistance

The Tim Tam is tops

Now is the time for all good Aussies to come to the aid of the Tim Tam.

Over at yarnstorm, Jane is singing the praises of a brand of chocolate biscuits which she favours. Miss Eagle has left a comment in which she speaks on behalf of all Australians.

Miss Eagle thought she could (with safety and certainty) so Miss Eagle did.

Would welcome your support for the Tim Tam here and on Jane's blog.

For Kali

Kali, this is for you. Enjoy your journey.

It is not a Christmas Pudd nor is it a Christmas cake.

I am hoping that someone as creative and as vintage oriented as you will find it of use.

Vale, Pro Hart

The Three Horse Race by Pro Hart

One of Australia's greatest brushmen of the bush is dead. Pro Hart, a commited Christian, has gone to another place.

Pro Hart was born in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia in 1928. He grew up on the family sheep station "Larloona" situated near Broken Hill, and he was educated by correspondence with this brother Bob, and their mother as tutor. In his early twenties, Pro moved to Broken Hill and worked underground as a miner. In 1960 he married Raylee June Tonkin and they had five children, three boys and two girls. To develop his gift, Pro attended a few local art classes but he was mainly self-taught. He was discovered in 1962 by a gallery director in Adelaide. From there his success as an artist began to flourish.

Pro was nothing if not prolific. This together with his longevity has meant that the prices of his paintings were not governed by exclusivity. Even working class Australians could stretch things a bit to own a Pro Hart, even if it was only a small one.People who loved the Australian bush and the lifestyle and the mystique of The Outback loved Pro Hart's work. He brought life and love to the depiction of our country. In fact, like his Maker with whom he now rests, he is truly a creative spirit.

Avec Amour-sitting

Herself has a demanding schedule this week - so Miss Eagle has been asked to sit Avec Amour, her beautiful shop. Would you like to come and meet Miss Eagle and see all the pretty things?

This is your pink-edged invitation to visit Miss Eagle

at

Avec Amour

1569 Ferntree Gully Road

Knoxfield

Melbourne

at the following times:

Friday 1pm-4pm

Saturday 11am-3pm

Miss Eagle regrets

Miss Eagle regrets she is unwell and is taking to her bed. Where is that champagne? Perhaps it is a cold, maybe it's hayfever, and then again it could be the flu. Treatment? Feed a cold and starve a fever? Mental note: Go and see Doctor Beccy re annual flu injection. See you all 'ron (that's short for later on).

The Golden Tapestry...some more

Zambia

Australia - Surf Beach

The Ya Ya Sisterhood

I just got round to visiting Ms Robyn's link to get my ya ya name. I am now Queen Sassy Mouth. OK, OK, Miss Eagle can hear ya. Spot on you're saying. Well, all Miss Eagle says is, just remember to curtsy!