Between the wall above next to Hudson in William Street off Carlisle Streeet in Balaclava
I love this little man sitting behind his cloud.
Perhaps the wall can be read like a newspaper - since it has its own opinion page
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 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.
A familiar figurePiece de resistance
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.
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).
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!
Two sisters had their glory tonight on the bikes.
Anna Meares, and her sister Kerry - from Queensland - won gold and bronze respectively.
Congratulations girls!
Your victories are all the better for the charm of your sibling rivalry.
Three flags: they flew tonight
Stephanie Rice and the joy of winning
The Women's 200m Individual Medley Final has got the Land of Oz off to an exciting start in the swimming events. 1-2-3, Gold, Silver, Bronze to Australia. But it is not the quantity that was so exciting - it was how Stephanie Rice won. Stephanie, of the three girls - the other two were Brooke Hanson and Lara Carroll - was the newby, the inexperienced one. But, Stephanie, Miss Eagle thinks you are a determined minx. You went for it. You were determined to make the most of your opportunity. You took the lead early with everyone thinking: just wait for it. That Brooke will break through. But that didn't happen. You faded and came again. You had what it took - to break in the beginning and break through when it was really needed. And in a Games record of 2.12.90! What an example to us all! What a metaphor - work hard, train hard, be determined and make the most of your opportunities.
