I don't get out much...

(William St, Northbridge)

Over the past 12yrs I've probably ventured into the City 5x

and 3 of those visits have been in the last 2wks!

I don't get out much....

no seriously I don't.

I have small windows of opportunity in which to meet my business & domestic duties
so my shopping excursions consist of the same few Op Shops 
which are conveniently close to the same couple of food shops
where if need be I'm not far from somewhere I can post stuff, pay bills, fill the car.

With no workshops until early Feb.
and it being the teens day off and both girls with gift vouchers & money burning holes

we made a day of it 

not minding for a moment that it was predicted to hit 36º

cos when it comes to retail therapy there is no discomfort....

We were on a mission to check out the groovy part of the city first -
William Street, Northbridge (the other side of the tracks)
where a few of the shops I've come across while blogging/surfing/lurking live.
We weren't disappointed
It was so nice to walk into a shop and be greeted with a genuine smile & willingness to please -
notably different from my usual shopping centre or spotlight experience.
I put it down to the fact that these shops are owner operated 
so they have a vested interest in making sure your experience is pleasant.

It worked 

we'll be back 
in fact Stella has already asked her Dad to share her 'Gift of Time' in the record shop she found.



So as not to bore you stupid with the photos and stories of our day
I've made a mosaic so you can help yourself at will so to speak.

1. Sacred Ground, 2. Pigeonhole, 3. Lunch, 4. Penguin, 5. Diana, 

6. Outre Gallery, 7. Good Luck, 8. My Girls, 9. Noise Pollution, 10. Vintage Records, 

11. Pinocchio, 12. The Tree of Life, 13. Rummage, 14. Pen, 15. Pens, 

16. The Magic Circus, 17. Rummage, 18. The Tree of LIfe, 19. Rummage, 20. The Maze, 

21. Rummage, 22. Rummage, 23. Pigeonhole, 24. Namesake, 25. Feathers

Shopping with a List - what a joke!

 Yesterday we went shopping. 

I had a list. It was a small list.

I don't remember looking at the list 

which is probably how we managed to fill a trolley 

and still not get what I was after.

Poppy Wall Decals weren't on the list but I don't know how I've lived without them!

I've got 2 Poppys left and I'm not sure if they should go up or not....

This little Piggy went to Market!

I had to go to 2 destinations in order to purchase a twin needle and replenish my skin care. Fairly simple exercise, not too draining on time or expenses.

You'd think!

I know exactly where the needles are situated in this shop and once inside all it was going to take was a right turn & 5mins however I went left!

An hour later I'm sitting in the car thinking, "what was I thinking?!" Not entirely true, the whole time I'm walking around the shop (with a shopping trolley!) plucking this & that I'm thinking "WTF am I doing, I don't need more fabric - do I?",  justifying each metre purchased with "well, summer is coming and you don't have that colour, fibre or print".

I promise to make clothes!

It wasn't over though, I still had to negotiate the Shopping Centre for the one other thing still on my list. 

Again I knew exactly where I had to go & again I sabotaged myself.

There's only one place in Perth that sells my favourite brand of shoe and it just happens to be directly opposite my skin care shop.

I chose to go in. They were on special. I bought 2 pairs.

I promise to make clothes to wear with my shoes!

Elizas Melbourne

Eliza did come on the same holiday as us only she remained permanently connected to those she'd left behind....

however in-between texts she did manage to fit in some
touristy stuff

(Melbourne Museum)

... lots of eating
(Queen Victoria Markets)

... a bit of flirting
(Mr Bucket - St Kilda Esplanade Markets)

and some serious shopping...
ha,ha,ha :}

while finding moments to share with us.
Melbourne was remarkable for a ridiculous amount of reasons.
I'll share more once I've gotten over the jet-lag.

Paperwork

Back in a week!