Looking for a new favourite coffee

We've moved into a new office. Instead of the hipster delights of Collingwood, we're now amongst the hustle of the city. Collins street, no less,

And the coffee machine hasn't moved yet (and we do prefer a well made coffee anyway) so the challenge is on. We used to go to the Glassworks Cafe in Gipps st, where a medium latte is actually quite big, costs $3.50, and is well made by the barista who knows what everyone has. Loyalty card, one free in every ten.

So, is there somewhere near the new office to buy coffee?

Ok, it's Melbourne, there's about twelve places inside a minute's walk.

But which is the best? Where will we get delicious, enlivening coffee, from baristas who make us feel welcome? And don't sneer at the thought of making a (gasp) latte?

Will anyone give us a biscuit? Or other treat?

Each day, we've tried a new spot. 

First we try Bonnie Coffee. Friendly welcome. So much scientific apparatus, they obviously make very fancy coffee. Or maybe it's a meth lab. Excellent pastries, possibly just an art installation. The staff work at both sides of the center table, so you can't really tell where to wait. All smiles when we asked for latte. We asked for "large", which is about what we called "medium" until last week. $4.50, plain white paper cup. We introduce ourselves as new to the area. The coffee pusher gives us fizzy water while we wait. Because that's a completely normal thing. 

Bonnie's coffee was delicious, but later in the day, I wondered about a top up. I had tea instead. I know, I know, if you want your coffee strong, don't be drinking latte, but it's what I like.

Second day, we get more adventurous. Down an (almost) spiral staircase into what could only be described as a dungeon, we find Code Black, a properly serious coffee spot. The aroma could sustain you for at least half the day. We order our (gasp) lattes, and tattooed barista is unfazed. She knows that's what lots of people drink. I was amused at someone buying a tiny espresso in a tiny takeaway cup. 

We went for "large" again, still about the size of a Glassworks "medium". $4.20, but there was a happy skull on the cup, so that's a huge plus. Pastries also excellent. We introduced ourselves. They'd already met our IT guys. You know I work in IT, but we have IT guys that make OUR computers work. They are seriously smart IT guys, and they like their coffee. No fizzy water. No other treats.

Code black's coffee definitely sustained me all day. So that's a plus. And, the cup had a funny saying on the other side. But if you want to know what it was, you'll have to go and get one.

So that's the search so far. There will be another one today.

Just love those adult colouring books...

We got a pretty new quilt cover just recently. And it comes with an activity!

So I got out my best colouring pencils...

Phew, that took frickin' ages!

Urgent citrus news

This is an orange:

This is a grapefruit:

And this, the guy at the market assured Jeff, is a "Yellow". It's yellow outside, and full of orange inside.

The things they can do these days.

Catriona caught singing at Monash Open Day

Catriona is well established at Monash Uni now, and here she is singing with the MONUCS (Monash Uni Choral Society) choir. Miss C is second from the right.

They are drumming up support for their next fabulous performance, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers. This event seems to have not quite made it to their web site (students, eh?) but it's on September 19, one night only. Catriona will be playing A Woman.

Canon camera vs iPhone camera - who would win?

I have a cute little Canon camera, an Ixus 510HS. It's tiny, and pretty (it's white!), and for its size, it brings a heap of features to the table, including wifi, which is super handy on holidays. I expect it's completely obsolete now, being, oh, several years old.

But I also have an iPhone 6, so that means I have the camera that comes in that too. So, I find myself wondering, does this mean I can ditch the Canon and just carry the phone?

I mean, here's a photo I took on the phone, and I adore it. The full size version is my background on my work PC.

Credit for this cool photo also has to go to Cicerello's fish and chip shop in Fremantle, Western Australia, which as well as selling delicious dinners, has an aquarium quality display of local marine life.

So, that's one excellent thing the phone camera can do. But how does it fare in that other photography situation I like so much - I see a cool bird and want to snap a photo before it flies off?

This situation arose the other day, when our garden was visited by a Gang-Gang Cockatoo, which I thought was pretty cool. I had the phone in my pocket, so I snapped this:

Well, you can see the bird. If you knew your birds, you might be able to identify it.

Fortunately, this cockatoo was very patient, and waited while I went to get the Ixus. And this was what I managed with that camera:



Which I think is rather a lot better, and still with a pocket sized camera you can afford to carry everywhere.

So next time someone says they don't know why anyone would bother with a camera when they could just use a phone, show them this cockatoo!

Brrr, it's cool in Melbourne

This was the scene when we parked the car in Collingwood this morning. Frosty frozen leaves, and an icy path going past the station. It warmed up later. I'm using this photo as my desktop at work, though!

Secret Bunky

We're getting our bathroom renovated - yeah, I know, super exciting to you. But, here's a fun thing. On the wall where the mirror will go, the builders have marked up measurements. And drawn a funny face. I like that. So when the mirror is installed, we'll know that the goofy face is still there.

Here he is.

So I thought, I could add something! And it would stay there too! And it would be FUNNY!

So I added Bunky the Art Sparrow.

Here's the scene in the bathroom Before Mirror.

So in years to come, when I wonder why I feel like I'm being watched, this will be the answer.