Richmond sundown

Reception at GM Holden Ltd. headquarters office in Port Melbourne

Sunset in Mill Park the other day

reminded me that moment in the Independence day movie

Reception of Epping Police Station

Sundown at Uni Hill Bundoora a couple of days ago

Southern Cross and Melbourne CBD from NAB

Melbourne facilities in Agatha Christie's era

Reading an autobiography of Agatha Christie I was amazed by facilities in Melbourne which she describes in the book. Shortly after her first marriage Agatha Christie travelled around the world and also visited Australia. On the pages of the book she describes how they stayed at hotel in Melbourne:

The sanitary arrangements were slightly embarrassing to one of Victorian upbringing. The ladies of the party were politely ushered into a room where two chamber pots sat in isolation in the middle of the floor, ready for use as desired. There was no privacy, and it was quite difficult...

I find it quite unexpectedly taking into account that Melbourne always and particularly at those times has been a quite progressive city. For example, the first sectioned water meter was provided there in 1853. 

Challenges

Challenges, challenges, challenges.
This word like warning has been blinking ahead of me for about last 3 month. I'm a student again, I'm absolutely dependable again and there is no clearness about the future.
I need a job, my favourite job. But dreams about being an engineer instead of a waiter breaks with every application that was sent and responded that "application has not been successful on this occasion". No one needs a part-time engineer here. But why? No answer.
Today I went to campus in order to enroll at course. So did Yana. Afterwards it was funny to compare the artefacts of our tours. As the matter of fact, the information pack for Bachelor of Arts looks like this:

Whereas the pack for Master of Mechanical Engineer looks quite poor:

I suppose it was done for making that "CHALLENGES" (that ahead of me) even bigger and more significant.

On that pessimistic note I should stop sobbing and to dig in 400 pages of articles back. 8 fancy equations is waiting for me and they desire that I found them.

Maintenance works in the underground city loop

Due to maintenance works in the underground city loop some line services (South Morang, Hurstbridge, Lilydale, Belgrave and Glen Waverley) not operate via City Loop 19, 20, 26 and 27 January. Because of this platforms №1 and 4 are closed.
A replacement bus services is operating in the city.

Advanced Plus is finished

20 weeks of English for academic porpoises course is over. Now I have a pretty big baggage of language for a critical response, but there are still a lack of skills for everyday conversions.
My commute has come to the end and there is no need any more to go to CBD every day and I have plenty of time.
I got 86 out of 100 at this level which is pretty good I suppose. However I should keep study and improve my English because in two year period I need to get score 8 at IELTS in order to apply for skill select.

The Biggest Fan

Last month my wife's friend offered us to attend a Good Charlotte's gig. He was one of the organizers of this event, so we got one of the best seats in spite of the fact that we're not fans of the band at all.
We had seats on the second floor in the front of the stage. On the ground level under our place and slightly forward there was the main zone with the crowd of GC's fans. So we were able to see clearly the stage and the crowd. Right next to us seated a family couple in their 40ies. Woman seemed indifferent to what was happening on the stage, however man's behaviour was quite strange: he was looking through the huge binocular and covering his ears at the same time, making faces that indicated his dissatisfaction with the music. It was very strange and carried on during the whole concert.
Afterwards, when the gig finished and we went back to metro station in order to catch a train. Surprisingly, we saw the same couple, but at that time they were accompanied by two teenage girls who definitely were fans of GC because they both were wearing white pants covered with praising words about the band. At that moment we understood the man's strange behaviour. The parents bought tickets in the expensive zone, but with good view in order to look after their daughters who obviously desired to be closer to the stage.

Busking

I don't know about the other Australian cities, but in Melbourne in order to be allowed to perform on the streets people should buy the license for busking. The cost of the such pleasure is $20. For this price everyone get bill (which symbolize the license), booklet with information about basking and up to one hour presentation where is not allowed to play in the city and the other organisation questions.
I wonder how the Australian government treats this issue because, I'm not sure but, in Russia it's prohibited to perform on the street. I many times saw the police fines people who played musical instruments on the streets.

The purse story

It's getting funny that every time when I meet Yana after a gig some bizarre story happens.
Few weeks ago I was on my way to Flinders Street to keep Yana after the concert of The Rubens (by the way, here is the result of her work that day). In a coach with me were just a few people. Opposite to me, across the pathway there was a couple: a boy and a girl. They look like hard clubbers: guy wear a huge cardigan, whereas girl wear a cocktail dress alongside with a bizarre fur top. The couple was in a good mood, they definitely went somewhere to have fun. After the passing a few metro-stations in the coach went guy who look... I don't know... just like an ordinary guy, but bolt a little bit.

Winter

When we arrived in Melbourne, it was the end of June, temperature was above +10C during a day and above +2C during a night. And I suppose it was the coldest winter time, because since July temperature is about +15 during a day and +(5-8) during a night. It seems unbelievable for person like me who get used to temperature -20C in winter. But sometimes in the apartments may be very cold, especially in the morning because there isn't central heating. There is a air-condition in our apartments, but it isn't very useful considering that it is located in the living room whereas in the bedroom is empty. So we bought a heater and put it there.

Finally I manage to find some time to write here. Now my wife and I live in a small suburb in Melbourne, Australia. It is called Fairfield. I've never thought that I ever will live in such place. Maybe someone who grows up immersed in western culture find a suburb like ordinary place to live, even maybe boring, but for me who lived in Ukraine and after just a little bit in Russia a suburb is just the marvellous place. An asphalt road with grass and houses on both sides. A lot of space, just a few cars that leads to light local traffic.
Our suburb is warded by FIDO (Fairfield Industrial Dog Object).

Our flat is in the block of apartments which consist of 12 flats. There are only 2 floors buildings. Actually all suburbs are built that way. The centre of a city it's a territory with a lot of skyscrapers whereas a residential district is filled by a 1-2 floor houses.
We found our apartments for 5 days which is pretty good because I often hear from our Melbourne's friends that it's quite difficult to find an accommodation here.

Today is quite a sad day.
Firstly, I'm disturbed because my left lung is wheezing. In my view I caught cold in the country and it seems that pneumothorax is about to begin again. I'm not afraid of the operation repeating. The thought that our moving will fail is the biggest fear.
Secondly, Jack White's concert is taking place in Melbourne on 25th of July. The tickets are for sale from 1st of May. We've decided to visit this gig therefore Yana has tried to buy 2 tickets today, however it was already sold out. Bloody hell! I still can't believe it. In Russia I just can't imagine the similar situation. What a grief!
Finally, I can't conceal there is not only delight in moving to Australia, but there are a lot of challenging problems. First of all it's looking for a lodging.On the other hand, I strongly believe that we'll manage to solve all difficulties.
In order to dilute this sad mood here are few photos of Melbourne:

The Yarra River and Eureka Tower

The photo from 88's floor of Eureka Tower

The City

St. Paul Cathedral

Federation Square