Our Home on Borrowed Time?

In our previous post we put up some pictures of our lovely little home. Well actually in the last month or so, the house owner had decided to put it up for sale. So for the past few weeks we had been rather inconvenienced due to troops of strangers moving through during the inspection dates. It goes up for auction mid-September. Of course we'll rather not have to move for the time being given that we're looking to buy a house within the year ourselves. But what can you do. Anyway we're hoping that another investor ends up buying our current place (it's that kind of market here at the moment, most owner occupiers are priced out) and keeps us on as the tenants. That would definitely be the best outcome. But even if it's the worst case scenario and we have to move we'll be given two months notice, so no big drama. Anyway our home has now been listed on the Real Estate websites so it's a great chance to show you folks more pictures (this time some of the inside) courtesy of their professional photographer!

Pictures from Thompson Real Estate Flemington, VIC. and linked advertised property websites.

The furnishings are ours so try to pick out the IKEA cheapies! According to Forbes, Mr Ingvar Kamprad, aged 80 and founder of IKEA is currently ranked fourth richest man with a net worth of $33 billion. All from marketing particle board and laminate! Actually thought I'd read recently that he may have even ranked higher but apparently not, so Gates and Buffet can still breathe easy.

Our Cottage in Flemington

Here are some pictures of our home in Melbourne. It's a little Victorian single-fronted cottage in the city-fringe suburb of Flemington. Those of you who know Melbourne will know that Flemington is where the famous Melbourne Cup horse race is held during a month-long orgy of horse racing, tipping/betting/punting, gentlemen in fine jackets carvorting with ladies in fine hats fueled by glasses of fine champagne...it's known as the Spring Racing Carnival. Anyway our house is about two kilometres from the racecourse.

Kingy at front of house taken during Spring of 2006, about a month after we moved here from a dark and depressing apartment the next suburb over in Kensington.

During the warmer months, there are prolific brambles of roses in our little courtyard out the back. There's room in our small back verandah for coffee and breakfast (forgive the makeshift tablecloth courtesy of Becton-Dickinson)...

...and a great view of the nearby government housing flats! Actually we also have a glimpse of Melbourne city beyond that.

Way Back in Sunny QLD, to Start

I know that this site was supposed to be about our shenanigans in Melbourne but we do go back to sunny QLD for much needed doses of Vitamin D occasionally. So what better way to start posting some pictures than of our first trip back in August 2006. This is also for those of you ex-Brisbanites now living in lands far away...do you remember lazy Sunday afternoons laying out the picnic rug or throwing the frisbee around at beautiful New Farm Park? Well there's where these pics were taken. That's one mighty fine fig tree!

Greetings all from Melbourne!

Hi all! HuiKheng and myself have finally got around to putting up this website so that friends and family (you folks!) can keep in touch and and easily find out what and where we've been up to. Wouldn't believe it but I (Frank) have now been in Melbourne for more than two years already. Lots have happened in that time of course but we can say that we've been enjoying it here and have not regretted the move one bit. The weather is crap sure, but the city's always interesting, there're lots of places for great food, and pretty scenery can be found around about the state.

Went for a pre-dinner stroll at South Gate and Crown Promenade along the Yarra River yesterday (Sunday) evening. It's the time when Melbourne's skyline is at its prettiest (see photo). Bit of chill in the air but there was a crowded throng out doing much the same thing as we were. People can sense that winter is nearly over and spring is only just around the corner. The days are noticeably lengthening. Anyway, to start with we'll be posting a somewhat retrospective picture blog of our life here in Melbourne over the past year or so, for the benefit of those of you that have lost touch with us in that time. Or rather, we have lost touch with you due to extreme slackass-ness.

We're actually going skiing in NZ's South Island next week, so further posts may have to wait till we get back from our trip. Till next time, love to all! Frank & Kingy...