Australia Revisited - Part Two - Glen Waverley (Melbourne)

Friday, October 26, 2018

Harold and Chris dropped us off at the Canberra Airport Domestic Terminal where we checked in for our flight to Melbourne. It was a lovely day, warm and sunny. We were looking forward to a smooth flight to our favourite destination in Australia. Right on time, the airplane taxied down the runway and we were airborne.

For most of the flight (an hour and twenty minutes) there was a clear view of the ground below us. We flew over the occasional town, lots of forest, significant tracts of farmland, all divided into fields of very green new growth (it is spring here). We also flew over two mountain ranges, small by Canadian standards, but high enough to have snow on their peaks. Ski season is just winding down but there were clearly some runs that were heavily packed with snow and probably still open to the stalwart skiers who like to stretch the season to the bitter end. (I bet many readers are surprised to learn that there are snowy peaks in Australia.)

And then it was time for our descent into Melbourne. Predictably, the sun was shadowed by deep cloud cover and the weather changed. It was a bit of a bumpy ride in but the plane landed very softly on the runway. Well done, pilot!!

We collected our bags and headed for the Sky Bus which would take us to the city centre. This was the first time we had used this transportation. We were pleasantly surprised at its proximity to the terminal doors, its frequent departure schedule, its ease of carrying and storing luggage on board, and its comfortable seating. It was about a 25 minute ride to Southern Cross Station in the heart of the CBD of Melbourne. We enjoyed the ride and the familiar landmarks that are well known to us after many. many trips here.

It was there that we learned of a very useful and supportive service, available at no cost to the clients. The bus driver noted that we had some large luggage to move to the train station and wondered if we needed some help. He recommended Travellers' Aid. We have seen Travellers' Aid desks in airports and railway stations in several places but we did not realize the range of services they provide. We inquired about whether assistance with our luggage was available. Yes, it was ... and after only a short wait, an electric cart arrived the transport us and our luggage to the train platform where we needed to be. We were impressed, to say the least.

And, it was quite an interesting ride. We went through locked gates, through closed doorways, down a couple of long ramps and even into the basement storage area of the station. We were actually under the train tracks, all the while chatting with the very pleasant driver. We finally emerged from the basement, travelled up two more ramps and we were at Platform 10. Our driver pulled up beside some seats, helped unload the luggage, checked the train schedule for us and ensured that we knew exactly where we were going and how to get there. 

Travellers' Aid is supported by voluntary contributions by its clients as well as charitable donations. Our observations suggest that the primary clients are those with physical disabilities, those who are aging, people travelling alone in need of guidance, and those of us who have large luggage that needs to be transported by hand across a long distance. What a wonderful find as an aid in travelling!!

Our train to Glen Waverley arrived on Platform 10 right on time. We moved our luggage onto the car and settled in for the 45 minute ride to Glen Waverley, our final destination. Once again, the landscape and landmarks along the route were familiar and our excitement grew as we got closer to the station. From the station, a short taxi ride took us to the home of good friends, Barbara and John Hurst, who had offered to help us get settled into our accommodation.

A tour of their newly renovated home, a visit with their children and grandchildren and a lovely cup of tea awaited us. And lots and lots of conversation. The last time we had seen John and Barbara was about a year ago in Greece where we travelled together. Much has happened in all of our lives since then.

Later in the afternoon, John and Barbara took us and all our luggage to the home of friends who are currently travelling in Michigan. Anne and Ian have offered the use of their home and their car while they are away. What a generous gesture. We are so fortunate to have friends such as these.

We ensured that our keys worked and that we knew how to work the lights, the heat, the laundry and the kitchen appliances. And we made a plan to meet John and Barbara for dinner a short while later. We unpacked and settled in. It was lovely to be 'home'.

We often describe Australia as our 'home away from home'. Having spent most of five years living here between 1995 and 2004, we have developed quite an extensive network of friends. In Canada, we have never been interested in having a cottage but prefer to travel to new places instead. Over time, however, Glen Waverley has de facto become our cottage community. Although we do not own a property here, we are embedded in some small way into the community and we are honoured by the warm and gracious welcome and generosity that awaits us each time we come to visit.

We agreed to meet John and Barbara in the food court at the Glen, a regional shopping centre. We knew the Glen was undergoing a major facelift but we were totally unprepared for how different it was!! First of all, it has expanded in size at least double and all the stores are in different locations. The surface car parking has vanished and underground multilevel parking has replaced it. Upon entry, a camera takes a photo of the vehicle licence plate. Two hours of free parking are available but anything beyond that has a fee. When a vehicle is ready to leave, it pulls up to the exit gate and the machine again reads the licence plate and determines if two hours has been exceeded. If not, the gate rises and the vehicle is able to exit. If more than two hours has elapsed, then a parking fee is imposed and the driver must deposit the money into a machine (cash or card) before the exit gate will rise.

I will not bore you with a description of all the changes. Jim and I intend to explore the entire complex one day next week. But I must describe the Food Court. The new look is quite impressive. First of all, there are no fast food chains here at all. Every food counter makes food fresh from their small kitchens. Glen Waverley has a large Asian population which is reflected in the choice of foods available - Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese to name a few. There are also more traditional Australian foods such as meatpies and sausage rolls along with salads, sandwiches, burgers, fish and soups. 

What makes the Food Court unique as well is the arrangement of tables. It is much more like restaurant seating with large and small tables and chairs that can be rearranged according to the needs of the groups of diners. Our group managed to find a table in a secluded corner which was very helpful in hearing our conversation rather than the general din of the area. We all chose to have beef soup from an Asian vendor with choices of coriander, chili, leeks and noodles. The noodles were all  handmade from scratch behind a window and 6 different sizes of noodles were available ranging from very thin to very thick as well as triangle shaped noodles. Quite a selection!! We thoroughly enjoyed the soup which arrived to our table piping hot. And we enjoyed our continued conversation as well.

Once dinner was finished, Jim and I headed back to our 'home' and soon fell into bed. It had been a long and tiring but thoroughly delightful day. We are in our 'happy place' and look forward to the next three weeks.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Little did we know what a full day awaited us. A longstanding tradition is to meet at the Glen each Saturday morning with a group of friends. We always plan our arrival in Melbourne on a Friday so that we can meet this group for coffee on Saturday morning. Up bright and early, we made our way back to the Glen to have a coffee. As we strolled along one of the mall corridors, we heard a bit of a ruckus behind us. Others seemed to the stopping and turning around but, since we knew that it would have nothing to do with us, we continued along our way. The voice we heard calling out came closer and closer and finally someone grabbed me by the shoulder. Indeed, we were mistaken to think it had nothing to do with us. There was our good friend, Deb, trying to attract our attention so we could say hello. I guess we should have heeded the sound earlier.

Hugs all round and a lot of laughter as well. Deb’s partner, Bill, was also on hand and we continued to our designated table together. Before long, about 12 people had gathered. Except for John and Barbara who we had seen yesterday, this was the first time in three years that we had seen the others. Handshakes and hugs and lots of conversation followed. The warmth of the greetings touched our hearts. Genuine interest in our life, our children, our grandchildren and our travels. Of course, we peppered our friends with questions about similar topics. And then we settled more into a listening mode as they discussed local events and family matters as they would every Saturday. It was a great way for us to catch up with everyone.

From start to finish, the coffee lasted about 90 minutes. A perfect way to greet this day.

We had created a grocery list with every intention of getting some food before we returned home. But alas, we learned that the next social activity was scheduled for 1:30 pm and it was about an hour’s drive away. So much for grocery shopping.

We returned home and got ourselves organized. Two friends, Heather and Margaret, picked us up about 45 minutes later and we headed outside of Melbourne to the Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria in Cranbourne. We had a delightful trip along the highway and through the countryside until we reached the gardens. A walk had been planned for the Third Saturday Walking Group, followed by another coffee. About 23 people gathered and most headed off into the bush and the gardens for a 5.5 km walk. It was a lovely day for a walk in the woods. Of course, it was important to heed the warnings about the snakes. It is spring here and the snakes have emerged from the winter haunts. Some of them are prone to bite and some of those are actually quite poisonous. All the walkers were wearing solid footwear and were well aware of the presence of snakes. Thankfully, none were seen along the route.

A smaller group of four chose an alternate way to see the gardens. There was a little bus that made its way through many of the areas with a delightful and knowledgeable driver. So we paid a small fee and hopped aboard. The tour was about 40 minutes in length. The Gardens themselves are designed to reflect the geography of Australia with a selection of flowers, grasses and trees that can be found in each region. We began our tour in the very dry and hot red centre, travelled through grasslands, meandered along the seaside, passed by rugged rocky areas, traversed some cityscapes and completed our tour in the woodland area. As it is spring, many flowers were in full bloom. The bottle brush was brilliant red and the peppermint garden was especially fragrant. The variety of eucalyptus trees was astonishing. I had no idea there were so many different species, all with unique bark. The driver’s commentary was excellent and she was also quite willing to answer questions along the way.

When we returned to the first stop on the route there was enough room on this little bus to enable us to go around a second time. Two of us opted to do that. I found the second time around even more informative as the plants became slightly more familiar. Of course, the beauty of the flowers and the fragrance of the peppermint and eucalypts alone made the repeat journey a success.

A quick but productive trip to the gift shop was followed by a parade of 23 heading into the café for afternoon tea. A range of beverages was ordered and a range of sweets were selected. Personally, I favour Melbourne cappuccinos over all other beverages. This afternoon’s sweet was a salted caramel cheesecake. Yum! The conversation was lively up and down the table.

The conversation in the car on the way back to Glen Waverley was also terrific.

Back home again for a short while. Since we had not yet made it to the supermarket, there was no food in the house for dinner. So Jim headed off to our favourite food outlet – Charcoal Chicken to get the traditional chicken and chips meal. We were not the only ones enjoying this choice tonight as Jim ran into Laura Morgan in the shop picking up chicken and chips for her family as well.

But the day was not over yet. After dinner, we headed out once more to participate in a cards and games party at Geraldine and Robert Fleming’s home. About 16 people were there and we quickly divided up into smaller sets of people to play card or word games. I played a new game called UpWords which is a variation of scrabble but played in 3 dimensions. You can pile letter squares up to five levels. Each level up brings more points to the score. It was fun to play but certainly required quite a lot of thinking to create words that fit within the patterns on the board. There was a lot of laughter as we tried to create new words and convince others that they were real.

Another round of coffee, tea and snacks was on offer at the end of this very pleasant evening. And then home again … this time to go straight to bed.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Although we do not generally attend church in Canada, we certainly do in Glen Waverley. Our entire community of friends has evolved from involvement in Glen Waverley Uniting Church from the moment we arrived to live here in February 2000. The warmth and kindness shown to us then when we were new to the community and knew no one has extended to today. Walking into church, it felt like we had been there last week except, of course, everyone is a ‘little bit’ older.  We were greeted by name by many, many people who also enquired about our children and grandchildren. It all felt so familiar – the service, the coffee time afterward – except that the congregation was much smaller than it had been when we were living here.

We are trying to coordinate a schedule so that we will be able to see all the people who are important to us while we are here. Needless to say, our social schedule is going to be quite hectic. We also would like to visit some of our favourite places along the way. I have a feeling that the next three weeks will flash past and we will have to set aside some of our plans until we return again.

We had lunch with Deb Amos today, back at the Glen. She was keen to visit a new bookstore that had a café in it. The bookstore is an independent bookseller called Robinson’s Book Store. Of course, we had our photo taken under the store marquis and Deb was pleased that her inaugural visit into the store had actually been with the Robinsons (us!).

Although it is lovely to spend time with larger groups of people, we do have our best conversations in smaller groups. It was lovely to spend some time just with Deb today as we covered a lot of topics and caught up on each other’s news. When Jim grew tired of the conversation, he strolled around the Glen, did a couple of errands and even looked for some new clothes. Predictably, he did not buy anything.

And then it was time to head home again. The grocery shopping was still not done but we did have leftover Charcoal Chicken for dinner. I prepared dinner and figured out how to use the oven and Jim is at the supermarket as I write this blog. When he returned, dinner was ready, the blog was well underway and our pantry and fridge finally had some food in them.

And now … a quiet evening at home. We are so grateful to be living in a lovely home which we can enjoy.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Monday morning is GOMER time (Grumpy Old Men & Early Retirees). It is actually much more complex than that. At 9:15, a group of men meet to go for a walk in beautiful Jells Park. If nothing else, they are punctual. The appointed meeting time is 9:15 and they start walking at 9:17. Anyone who arrives after that has to catch up or walk alone. At 10:00 am, a larger group gathers for coffee. The walking group, this morning, arrived back a few minutes before 10 and, although their reserved table was ready, they did not enter the cafe until 10 am exactly. 

There were about 8 walkers this morning (men only) but 25 men assembled for coffee. It is unusual for men to organize themselves for coffee. This started in a small way about 15 years ago by men reaching out to other men who were lonely and in need of companionship. The original group included about 6 men. It has grown steadily over the intervening years and many of the original members no longer attend for various reasons. It was fun to sit at a separate table in Madeleine's Cafe and watch and listen to the men. They are a gregarious group, to say the least, and get louder every year, perhaps as a consequence of having greater difficulty hearing. And frequent outbursts of laughter permeate the conversations. What a friendship bond there is among them!! 

And now, for the women ... Not to be left out, some of the wives began to accompany their husbands to Jells Park when GOMERS was meeting. A small cluster of women are now regular walkers  ... but not with the men. The women walk on their own and then have coffee in the cafe ... but at a table well removed from the men. As the men finish their coffee and conversation at about 11 am, they come over to the women's table to say hello and suggest that it is time to head off to other activities. And they will all meet again one week from then.

After three days of whirlwind activity, we finally had a chance to return to the home where we are living and enjoy some time there. Reading, blogging, napping, food preparation, organizing our calendar and simply chatting occupied us until it was time to head over to David and Susan Morgan's for dinner. 

We were delighted that two of David and Susan's daughters, Kaye and Laura, were able to join us for dinner. It was wonderful to catch up on their activities, both professional and social. We enjoyed a lovely curry, homemade naan and a salad while we peppered the girls with questions and shared stories of our own. We had created a colourful platter of fresh fruit and traditional Australian ANZAC biscuits for dessert. I will say it looked colourful and tasted delicious, a fitting end to a terrific meal.

The girls headed off to a meeting and David, Susan, Jim and I had an opportunity to chat over a cup of tea. It was a very pleasant evening all round. Again, we are blessed to have such good friends in this community.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

This day began with a long and leisurely conversation with the Wilson clan in Elmira. First we chatted with Karen and caught up on family news. Then, each of the grandchildren took their turn with us. Happily, they were all in particularly chatty moods so the conversations were rich and diverse. How their ages, interests and personalities shine through these conversations!! And they all make us smile.

Clara (4) was excited about being a princess in white for Halloween. She also shared that everything about school was good. She wondered if tigers live in Australia.

Edward (6) was eager to tell us about how he his class was making maps at school. He also wanted to know if we were still in the Seychelles or in Australia now. And had we seen any kangaroos?

Wesley (9), always a great conversationalist, described his Stickman Halloween costume in great detail, including the five strands of battery operated lights that would illuminate him as he goes trick or treating. He was fascinated by the fact that we were already in Tuesday when he had not yet gone to bed on Monday. He wanted to know if it was difficult adjusting to sleeping when you moved across many time zones. And he asked us to bring him home some slippers to keep his feet warm. Size 5, please.

Fresh fruit salad and Australian ginger marmalade on toast constituted breakfast. And then we got ready to go out and explore the Kingsway, our community shopping area when we lived here 18 years ago. How it has changed!!!

When we arrived in Glen Waverley in 2000, the Kingsway was a very traditional shopping street with several bakeries, two butchers, a couple of green grocers, some restaurants, a news agent, hairdressers and one Asian grocery store. I loved wandering from shop to shop purchasing the items we needed and chatting with the various shopkeepers. I became a 'regular' in the butcher shop, the bakery and the greengrocer, being addressed by name in each place. However, even during the four years we lived here (me, intermittently) things began to change. First, the butcher closed, followed by some bakeries, then the green grocer and finally the news agent. These shops were replaced by new restaurants and cafes. Karen actually worked in Shine, a large almost club-like place where the food and service were good and the hours were long. (Shine has also closed since then but the awning over the street where Shine once was located still bears the name, Shine.)

Over the years that we have returned for visits, the Kingsway has continued to evolve. As we strolled along and took in the most recent changes, we had to admit that what we were hearing from our friends was accurate. The Glen Waverley suburb has absorbed a high density Asian population and the shops, restaurants and services reflect that. The traditional Glen Waverley that drew Australians to this location in the beginning has largely vanished. Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese shops and restaurants now line the street. Around one corner, there is a new 5 storey building with one or two Asian restaurants on every floor. We have not yet explored the space but we suspect that the prices in the restaurants will go up the higher they are located in the building. From the top floor the view must be pretty spectacular.

One of the original cafes, Muddings, our favourite, has withstood all the changes and is still open for business. We stopped in and were delighted that Kathy, the proprietor, recognized us instantly. Another warm welcome back to our home away from home. We ordered our cappuccinos and chatted with Kathy about all the changes in the neighbourhood. She is proud of the fact that she is still there and doing a fine business. She has been in the same location for 21 years!

The Glen (shopping centre) is only two blocks away from the Kingsway. The reconstruction of the Glen started at the furthest point and has worked its way toward the Kingsway over the last three years. The construction site complete with very high cranes is now 'in the face' of the Kingsway, featuring more retail space and parking garages as well as three tall towers of one bedroom condominiums, 500 in total. The proximity to shopping and the train line to the city will make these very attractive for young professional couples and will, no doubt, sell very quickly. There is a model suite open in the Glen. We will take some time this week to visit it. The prices have not been disclosed in the print advertising or on the website. These condos are likely to be very expensive living quarters.

Following our stroll down memory lane, we turned the corner and headed for the RSL. Many communities have an RSL (Returned Services League) with a restaurant, social events, wide screens to watch sporting or racing events and, of course, a bar. Members are always welcome and non-members are asked to sign in when they arrive. 

We were meeting Dean and Anne Mann for dinner. We signed in as non-members and were given a table right beside the window. Dean and Anne arrived a few minutes later and hugs were exchanged all round. Dean and Anne had visited us in Waterloo just over a year ago so it felt like we had seen them quite recently. But there was still much to catch up on. Conversation did not slow down for a minute, even when the server spilled all four glasses of wine and beer beside Jim. Fortunately, the broken glass and most of the liquid hit the floor and not Jim. With little notice to the incident, we talked on.

The food, the service and the prices at RSLs are generally pretty good. We have to remind ourselves that the prices on Australian menus include the taxes and, in general, there is no tipping as servers are paid a reasonable living wage. So, the price printed on the menu is indeed the price you pay. All in all, the value is very good.

Jim has roast pork dinner ($17); I had fish and chips with salad ($17); Anne had chicken schnitzel (also $17) and I forget what Dean had. It was also the same price. My fish was excellent but we talked so much throughout the meal that we did not even comment on the food. Grandchildren, children, travels, the joys of retirement, church, grandchildren, children ... The list goes on. We were fortunate to be able to find time to spend with Anne and Dean as they are leaving for Kenya on Thursday to continue their work in an orphanage they are connected with outside Nairobi. They love the kids there and they love the work they do.

All too soon, the evening came to an end. Farewell to dear friends until the next time. Who knows where, who knows when. But they will remain in our hearts and minds.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Happy Halloween!!!

Today was a day of self-indulgence. I had developed quite a painful callous on my left heel. In Australia, the regulations around pedicures are much stricter than at home. And I knew that a crack in the heel would not be able to be treated by someone who does pedicures. No cutting is the rule here. So I made an appointment with a podiatrist, first time ever using this service. Mitchell was a 26 year old 6 foot five man who was very good at conversation while he worked. He used a scalpel to clean off the callous, all the while plying me with questions about living in Canada, what my profession had been, how my family was structured and what I liked about Australia. Eventually, he ran out of questions so I decided it was my turn. I asked him about his life. Why had he chosen podiatry? What did he enjoy most about it? Was he married? Did he have children? This is where the conversation got interesting. No, at age 26 he 'far too young to get married'. He has a partner who he believes is his life partner but there are several things they need to experience together before getting married. First, they have to live together (they are not there yet); second they have to travel together; and third .... this one I found fascinating and humorous ... they need to own a dog together!! I have to admit I emitted a bit of a chuckle when he said that but he gave quite a good explanation. Did they share the same philosophy of pet ownership re exercise, training, sleeping arrangements etc? Were they both prepared to take some responsibility for walking the dog, feeding the dog, cleaning up after the dog? Were they able to agree or compromise happily on their preferred breed of dog or a rescue dog? It all began to make a bit more sense to me but I still find it charming and a little eccentric. Cute.

My feet felt much better after Mitchell had worked his magic and Jim and I carried on with our day. We were exploring beyond the bounds of Glen Waverley today and I was surprised at how unfamiliar the territory felt. When we lived here, I was confident in going almost anywhere in Melbourne with an extensive knowledge of the main thoroughfares deeply etched in my memory. Not so now. I was deeply reliant on Jim and his GPS to give me specific instructions about when and where to turn. Nonetheless, we always managed to get where we wanted to go. And I do have my left and right turns sorted out. Especially important when one is driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.

After a coffee at a lovely restaurant, we travelled to Mount Waverley, surprisingly not far from Glen Waverley. I had found a small shop there where I could have a manicure today. So Jim wandered around the local shops, called Pinewood, while I was further indulged with nail treatment, new polish and a hand massage. Bliss!!

I noticed that just across the street was a 24 hour medical clinic. Little did I know that it would come in handy later in our trip.

We returned home briefly to freshen up for yet another dinner out. This time we were meeting Faye and Ray Wagon at a restaurant close to their new home in Peppertree Village, a retirement home a bit outside of Glen Waverley.

Jim and I met Faye the very day we arrived to live in Glen Waverley in early 2000. She was the secretary of Glen Waverley Uniting Church and we happened to wander in on that Friday afternoon. We were looking around the foyer and reading the notice boards when Faye came out of the office and asked if she could help us. We told here we were new to the community and looking for ways to get to know people. She told us a bit about the church and invited us to come to the early service on Sunday morning, the service that attracted families who had children about Iain’s age. So we did attend … and thus began a continuing friendship with Faye and our deep commitment to the Glen Waverley congregation who welcomed us and befriended us through thick and thin as we became part of the community and settled into life in Australia.

So, dinner with Faye and Ray is always a cause for celebration. We enjoyed another meal in another restaurant with great friends. Conversation covered children, grandchildren, church life, transitioning into a retirement village and the aches and pains of aging. Laughter peppered our time together. We decided to have coffee at Faye and Ray’s new home and appreciated our tour of their home (we can now visualize where they are) and the continued conversation and laughter. It was a late night by the time we made our way home.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Thursday was a quiet day, a day for working the blog, organizing photos and arranging the next round of social activities. It was a leisurely day that include a luxurious afternoon nap.

We had a date for dinner with friend, John Baines, tonight at a restaurant called Steak Ministry. We had eaten there with John when we were here three years ago and, although it was fabulous, we were a bit surprised to find it still open due to the excessive price of the steaks. But there it was … and there we were seated at a lovely window table with a good friend.

Steak Ministry serves Wagyu steak, first developed in Japan and made special because of the marbling of the fat throughout the meat. A server brought us a tray of six steaks to choose from. Each one was marbled in a particular way and we were asked to select the one we wanted. I have to admit I was somewhat less interested in the marbling and more attentive to the prices. The pieces of meat on the tray ranged in price from $80.00 for a 6 ounce steak to $300.00 for a somewhat larger and more exotic piece.  Other items on the menu including salad, potato and vegetables were available at an extra charge. Of course, beverages and dessert were also additional prices.

We all settled for the $80.00 steak and a side of potato. John ordered a shared charcuterie board and we enjoyed every morsel of the food we consumed. Conversation was lively, the service was exquisite, and the food was absolutely wonderful. We each indulged in a dessert as well – deconstructed apple pie for John, a pistachio ice cream dish for Jim and I enjoyed a salted caramel parfait. Yum!!! Coffee followed and a superb meal and terrific evening came to an end.

On the way home, Jim told me he was not feeling particularly well and that one leg was especially painful. I looked at it when we got home and his leg was somewhat swelled on one side. Of course, we immediately thought about DVTs. He suggested that he might go to see a doctor in the morning but I told him about the 24 hours clinic I had seen earlier. So off he went on what turned out to be simply a strange pain in his leg. But, the medical system here is thorough. After seeing the doctor at the clinic, Jim was sent to the Monash Medical Center for further tests and monitoring. I was at home and we were communicating by text. It turned into a very long night for Jim. Many hours passed before he actually saw a doctor at the hospital. He felt they were keeping an eye on him lest something more dramatic happened but in the end his symptoms were not serious enough to provide a specific diagnosis. In the early morning hours, he was feeling much better, had seen a doctor and agreed that, other than fatigue (he had been up all night) all was well with the world.  We were both extremely relieved that it was nothing more than a random pain. We are also continually grateful for a medical system that is universally available to all who need it.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Jim had a pretty low key day today. He was tired from having lost a night of sleep so he napped on and off as the day progressed. Happily, he did not have any specific plans for the day.

I, on the other hand, never let a page go unturned so I was off for lunch at Heather Bailey’s. Heather and her husband, David, have been great friends since the very beginning of our life in Glen Waverley. They even kept Iain with them for a week while Jim and I took a trip to China. We have always looked forward to spending time with them whenever we would come to Glen Waverley since then. Sadly, David passed away earlier this year and, although we have kept in touch with Heather since then, I am looking forward to some time to spend with her face to face.

As always, I was welcomed into their home with open arms and the conversation began as if we had had coffee last week. We never lack for topics ranging from kids and grandkids, travel, politics, friends, hopes and dreams, and this time, of course, quite a bit of time about David. We paused to put lunch on the table but sat for a couple of hours dawdling over our quiche and salads so that we could talk some more. Then we moved back to a lounge area near a large bright window overlooking the magnificent garden and we talked some more. After 3 hours or so, I began to make noises about needing to be on my way … but somehow the conversation continued. Finally, at 5 PM, I stood up and said, “I am walking to the door now.” And I did.

Jim had already texted me to ask if he should bring dinner to Heather’s. But I managed to make it home to have dinner with Jim. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Heather. And we have plans to do it again before I leave Glen Waverley. Yes!!

That evening, uncharacteristically, we spent time in our borrowed home. We enjoyed a leisurely dinner of bits and pieces from the fridge and even turned on the television for a while. It was a lovely evening of relaxation, catching our breath for the next round of visiting.

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Today was a busy day. As is typical on a Saturday morning, we met a group of friends for coffee at the Glen. Conversation is always lively even though we sit in gender groups – men and women separately. It is a nice way to head into a weekend. This tradition began about 18 years ago when two couples seemed to meet in the supermarket aisles every week and eventually decided it would be far more comfortable to finish the shopping and chat over coffee. The group has grown since then and, now retired, most no longer actually do their shopping on Saturday mornings.

When the coffee group dispersed, Jim and I remained at the Glen with two purposes in mind. The first was for me to get some new shoes. There is a shoe store here that seems to have shoes that suit me best. I have fallen into the habit of buying shoes in Australia each time we come. In fact, the pair that I was wearing that morning was a pair I had purchased in the same shop three years ago. They are now completely worn out but I love them and will reluctantly part with them at the end of this trip. Today was no exception as I tried on numerous pairs of shoes and finally settled on four new pair – red sandals, blue multicoloured pumps , and two pair of black flats.

Apart from paying the bill, the experience was delightful. The helpful salesperson was very patient and showed me many, many pairs of shoes. And we had a fun conversation along the way. Jim was only too happy to carry two  large bags filled with shoeboxes as we strolled through the mall.

Next we did take a walk … a long walk … to see the ‘new Glen’. Under construction for over two years, 48 new shops opened last week. Some were the same shops that had been here before with new locations and designs. Some were brand new shops, trying to entice new shoppers the Glen. Once we explored the top floor, we used the people movers to reach the second floor. People movers are brilliant installations. They are moving sidewalks that carry you down one level at a time. No stairs involved and a gentle slope so that shopping carts, wheelchairs and strollers can be easily and safely transported. And for people with an escalator phobia (me), there is no fear at all. I highly recommend them in all new construction as an alternative to escalators. Of course, there are traditional elevators as well.

The second floor has the feel of a large indoor market. There are three full sized supermarkets as well as hundreds of specialized food stalls. Seafood, fruit, Asian groceries, bakeries, delis, fruits and veg, butcher shops and so much more. Intermingled among these shops and stalls were several places to pause for coffee or more specialized beverages. Some even served full meals. It is quite a different area than the food court upstairs which is a more like a destination. This area is for shorter stops to take a break while shopping.

Of course, throughout the mall, there are several banks and ABMs lest you require some financing to complete your journey.

There is still substantial construction underway and it is anticipated that the Glen will double in size as well as add 500 housing units in tall towers over the next 2 – 3 years. It will certainly be a major part of the transformation of Glen Waverley from a quiet suburb to a central shopping/entertainment/ living hub.

While there is considerable parking below ground at the Glen, it does not currently seem adequate to meet the demands of all the shoppers who are there. Each car that enters has its license plate photographed and given 3 hours of free parking. Lights and directional signs help drivers locate available parking spaces. Some of the parking is colour coordinated – blue for handicapped, pink for parents for small children, and yellow for seniors!!! I like that concept.

When exiting, the license plate is again photographed and a computerized gate determines if you have exceeded your three complimentary hours of parking. On Saturday, we were over our limit and so were charged $3.03 for our additional parking. We paid by credit card and the gate lifted so we could exit. But Jim was annoyed … his feeling was that, given the amount of money we had spent in the Glen, we should have somehow been given additional parking time. Perhaps a token or card system from stores where sales exceeded a predetermined amount would be a good idea. Not bad thinking but it is not going to change this week. Now, several days later, Jim is still maligning the system. Let it go, hon. Let it go.

Once out of the Glen, we travelled several kilometres to one of our favourite markets, the Dandenong Market. Along the way, we passed the Police Paddocks. They are just what they say they are – the paddocks where the police horses graze when they are off duty. It is a large and beautiful piece of countryside, populated not only by horses but also by many, many kangaroos. It was a sight to behold. Sadly, there was no where along the roadside to pause and take a photo. The beautiful sight will remain in the mind’s eye.

Dandenong is a microcosm of Melbourne itself. Whereas Glen Waverley might be considered uptown, Dandenong is certainly downtown. It is a beautiful combination of cultures congregating in a marketplace that offers everything from slippers to tire pumps to gadgets for the kitchen. Loud, gregarious food vendors dominate a large section off the market, calling out their prices and value of meat, vegetables, exotic fruit, fresh fish and fresh baked goods. Boxes of bananas, papayas, mangos and pineapple are available at low prices, especially as the day wears on toward closing time.

Food vendors form a ring around a central courtyard. Every type of food you can imagine – Greek, Indian, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, Italian, Sri Lankan … and freshly made jam donuts. It was time for lunch and Jim and I chose a Sri Lankan vendor. He chopped the meet and the naan before our eyes and a delicious dish was created. We should have ordered one to share but we could not resist the flavours and spicing. So we had a goat meat curry and a chicken stir fry. Too much to eat but we sure enjoyed trying.

We wandered among the clothing vendors searching for just the right t-shirt and for sheepskin slippers. We found the t-shirt but left without the slippers. They will wait for another day.

On the way back to Glen Waverley, we made one more stop. This one was bittersweet. We were going to Springvale Cemetery to visit the gravesites of two close friends who had passed away since we were last in Australia. Springvale Cemetery is a very large and beautifully manicured cemetery. A stop at a Customer Service Office provided details about how to find both of our friends. We sat on a bench across from David Bailey’s space in a memorial wall and reflected on how he had added joy to our lives in so many ways. We then moved on to Cynthia Chin’s final resting place. Her ashes had been interred only a week ago. Cynthia’s kindness and grace had touched our hearts and will forever be part of our Glen Waverley experience. We are spending time with both their families while we are here, reaching out in a small way to express our love and appreciation for these two very special people. We were quiet on our drive home.

After a short stop to freshen up, we again headed out the door. We were on our way to Deb and Bill’s for dinner. We stopped to buy some flowers at a favourite flower vendor on High Street Road and arrived with a bouquet and a bottle of wine in hand. Deb had created a lovely meal which we all enjoyed. The conversation was lively and peppered with laughter. Deb and Bill are friends who we have travelled with and kept in touch with quite closely. It was wonderful to be in their home. Another friendship that remains constant over time and distance. How blessed we are.

Sunday, November 4, 2018

As we did last week, we began our day at the 9:15 church service. Today, the gathering of worshippers, many friends among them, was celebrating a very special baptism. The grandson son of Robert and Heather Elkuizen was being baptized. Robert had been a minister at Glen Waverley when we first arrived in 2000 and had provided significant support to us during Jim’s very serious illness at the beginning of our lives here. It was wonderful to be in the congregation on the day that Robert would be part of the ceremony welcoming his new grandson into the church. There were no tears and lots and lots of smiles as the baby was put through his paces and seemed to enjoy the entire experience. His parents were clearly very proud of how he handled this public presentation.

After church, we returned home for a light lunch and a rest before driving out of the city to a suburb called Lynhurst. En route, we stopped at our favourite flower vendor, a Vietnamese gardener who grows and sells flowers throughout the year from a small roadside stand not far from our home. The range of flowers is beautiful and the vast garden area demonstrate how many flowers this small establishment grows and sells. A real success story for a Vietnamese immigrant family. We love to support them.

Our friends, David and Susan Karoly have moved to Lynhurst since we were last in Australia. It is about a 30 minute drive from Glen Waverley along a newly improved and enlarged freeway which now boasts 5 lanes in both directions at its widest. Happily, this being a Sunday, there was very little traffic on the road and that made the driver (me) very happy.

Lynhurst is a suburb that emerged from the dirt about 12 years ago. Most of the homes are two storey brick structures of varying sizes. Gardens are well established and many now familiar spring flowers were in bloom. Of particular note are the amazing roses that grow in most household gardens in a broad range of colours. Absolutely breathtaking!!

We were happy to see David and Susan and the meet their two newest family members, the dogs. They were soft and fluffy and friendly and well behaved. It was a treat to interact with them. Shortly after we arrived, Kate, their daughter came over with two of her children. We have not seen Kate for many, many years and it was fun to catch up with her and here tales about her life as a secondary school teacher and as a mom.

David and Susan had invited another couple to join us for dinner. Peter was an artist and Annemarie was a medical administrator. We hit it off with them right away. The evening promised to be great fun. Lots of conversation comparing Canada and Australia. Both countries have strengths and weaknesses and both countries have many similarities. Laughter permeated the conversation, perhaps aided by the gin and tonics and wine that was being consumed. (I was careful to stop imbibing early enough to be clear-headed when driving home.) Susan prepared a delicious meal of beef stroganoff with rice and a salad. The fruit laden pavlova served for dessert was stunning … and tasty too.

The drive home was mostly dark. We have not driven in the dark very often, especially out in the countryside. And the highway was much busier than it had been earlier in the day. It was a relief to finally reach our exit and turn on to much more familiar roads.

Another wonderful day with friends and food had come to an end.