Weekend freedom
It was weird not to have to study this weekend - handed in the final essay for the semester on Thursday and now have a break from uni until early August. That’s a good feeling.
Had a good weekend with a few interesting outings. Ventured into Fitzroy on Friday night - have only been there once shopping and have been wanting to check out its night life. It’s very Newtown-ish and funky. Had a great meal of contemporary Vietnamese cuisine at Red Rice including flaming beef rice paper rolls, betel-leaf beef parcels, fish cakes and their special red rice to accompany. Good service and yummy food so we were suitably impressed.
Had a drink beforehand in The Perserverance Hotel and a hot chocolate after at San Churro, a Spanish chocalateria. Very interesting wandering Brunswick street too - lots of great Melbourne-type bars with comfy couches and dim lighting. That’s a great thing about this city.
On Saturday, we popped into a photo exhibition at Albert Park, organised by a returned volunteer who had been in the Maldives and wanted to raise money for rebuilding after the 2004 Tsunami. The photos were great and there was also a farmer’s market on at the complex (Gasworks Art Park) so that was all interesting.
This morning we had galettes at Fraus, the pancake place we have been to a few times now. Andrew then went to see a work colleague in hospital who had a stroke last week and I had a look around Victoria Market while he was doing that.
I had another poor attempt at learning to drive the manual car this afternoon. I’m finding it difficult and need to have more lessons and probably practice intensively rather than just now and then. It’s frustrating but I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.
What lovely things you do in that interesting city. Friend Polly said she drove a Pugeot once and found it very difficult because the levers ie indicators etc are on the opposite side to other cars. Is that the case with Andrew’s car. I’m sure driving will become easier very soon. Keep perservering.
Yes the indicators are on the left so every time I go to turn, I put the windscreen wipers on!!! That’s the least of my worries though
hehehehe! Manual cars can be so frustrating when you’re learning. You’ll get there. It’s all just co-ordination with the clutch bizzo. Soon you’ll be whipping along the freeway in a manual.
Yes had another lesson this morning - I was getting the clutch action by the end of the lesson but stalled once at lights and was pretty jerky at other times. Just have to keep practicing.
Ruth’s just like a little bunny, hopping along happily
Well, not necessarily happily, last week she threw up her hands in frustration and said that she’d never drive a manual again… Maybe it is just the quirky Frenchness of my Peugot that is doing her head in 
She’ll get there. It is just getting the first gear clutch thing going and then she’ll be right as rain. She has the advantage of already knowing how to drive so it is just learning the clutch - it is far more difficult learning a manual from scratch…
I think Andrew must be using kangaroo petrol in the Peugot!!!! Maybe one of these days you can try driving a Ford (affordable!!!)!! Ian says he’s going to have some lessons again, ready to sit for his licence. Keep up the good work :-#
The good news is I had another lesson on Saturday and then went driving with Andrew on Sunday and it was a big improvement! I could actually get somewhere in Andrew’s car. We found a quiet spot in an industrial area and I was able to practice a few things like reversing and starting on an incline. There were still a couple of stalls but much better on the clutch this time.
I knew you could do it…..practice makes perfect
I can’t wait for you to give me a spin in the Puegot next time I’m in Melb