I was completely thwarted in my attempt to lead an ‘interesting’ life this past week by a chesty cough to which I finally admitted defeat and owe an (thankfully short-lived) addiction to cough syrup. On complaining about a voice which comes and goes as it pleases, a pharmacist gave me a rather scathing look and told me to rest because he "bet I hadn't". He was right, as it happens. Spurred on by a friend who managed to get rid of exactly the same illness in a fraction of the time by staying home and doing nothing, I took heed, and had a rather boring weekend of cabin fever. Well, to a point (this is me after all).
On Thursday night I took a walk with a friend down to Gertrude Street, which connects Fitzroy to the neighbouring suburbs of Collingwood and Carlton. It was the penultimate day of the Gertrude Street Projection Festival, and since it was a clear (but cold!) evening we figured we should take a look. Some of the projections were a tad weird, but some were really clever: a tree which came to life; a building that had all of its edges and windows outline - particularly cool since the projector was off centre so that must have been really difficult to set up; a genius bit of advertising in the from of projected moving fly posters for a band, amongst others. Gertrude Street itself was a bit of a discovery for me, with loads of cool bars and coffee shops, and 'curiosity shops'. And so close to where I live too. Seriously, I need to start walking around with my eyes open!
Saturday took me on a wander around the Queen Victoria Market, which I have been to a couple of times, but never really paid any attention/dedicated any time to it. I went with the intention of a) buying something, and b) taking some photos, but neither came to fruition. My heart (and head) just wasn’t in it. The Market is cool though. I’d read the history of it the day before, (I know! Me! Turning into a PROPER tourist who reads the guidebook and everything. I’m still in shock!) and was a little disturbed by the fact that a) there were shootings there once upon a time (disagreements over price fixing in the wholesale section) and b) that it is built on a site that used to be a cemetery, particularly the carpark where there are still some 9,000 unknown bodies buried!
I have spent a great deal of time this past week booking trains and planes. After about 9 months of almost solid winter, I am need of something exciting to look forward to!
