Week 1 - Day 4.1

So we had the unexpected cancellation of today’s session at the luthier workshop.  We hope things are OK in Chris’ world  . . . cancelling one day of a 12 day course must have been a very hard decision for him, especially seeing Fil has travelled all the way from the UK just to do this course.  The general plan at this stage is to start at 7:30am tomorrow (Saturday) morning and work out how we can make up the time from there.

It unfolded that Fil and I had way too much time on our hands.  We started by doing the right thing and focusing on other things.  I am told that he and Suzy made a very exciting trip to Aldi and then joined the Melbourne tourist tram for a run around the city and ‘out’ to Docklands.  Being Melbourne, it rained most of the day – so they had to either stay indoors or on the free touristic and historic tram.  I also understand they looked at the Parliament House of Victoria – and I think they agree with me that his country is the most over-governed in the world!  Lorraine and I did many administrative things – like pay some bills and sort some details for our upcoming trip to the South Pole and other places.  

In the end we both succumbed to our natural instincts and met for a beer!  This was an interesting experience.  Being the trendoids we are (not!), Lorraine and I knew all the latest and most cool places to go (not!).

1000 £ Bend . . .

Our first attempt at joining the ‘hip mob’ was at a place called 1000 £ Bend – which is just across the road to where I park my vehicles in Little Lonsdale Street.  Just where do they get these names?  We endured the noise and shouting from other patrons for one drink, but when the lights were turned down and the music up, we made a polite exit from the screaming crowd in search of a more ‘oldie’ friendly place.  Mind you, we were impressed with the gratuitous use of technology - the old TV indicating the location of the toilets was a nice touch of a solution looking for a problem!

Not sure I get the meaning of the name - but perhaps that is the whole idea?

This sign is way beyond me!

Mmm . . . there are simpler signs

Campari . . .

So we called in at Campari in Hardware Lane.  After climbing the stairs all the way to the rooftop beer garden we concluded it was WAY too noisy for our old ears.  So we went down about two stories to find a protected sound booth.  Mind you, the drinks were about double the price of the noisy 1000 £ Bend, but at least we could hear ourselves and each other!

The busy Hardware Lane

Even though we can remember 1968 . . . it was nearly 50 years ago when the Beatles were a band!

The sound booth

Tomorrow . . .

Hopefully it will be back to making guitars tomorrow - all being well with Chris.  As Fil said - we'll see each other later tonight at 6:30am!