The good

We had a low-key but enjoyable celebration of Marita’s birthday on Saturday. In doing so I discovered that both our suburbs are host to dog-related cafes — the Dancing Dog in Footscray, and the Spotted Dog in Bentleigh. And both do a very fine meal.

The bulk of the rest of the weekend was spent lazing, relaxing, that kind of thing. Just the way a weekend should be.

The bad

My tipping was up the creek — only 2 out of the possible 6 games this weekend tipped. As much as I’d like to think I’m reasonable at tipping, after the 8 out of 8 two weeks ago, and the occasional win of an annual competition, basically it’s all fluke.

Then there was the mission to buy a ladder. (No, not a footy ladder.)

I worked out that what I needed was a 2.1 metre single-sided ladder (yeah, they still follow imperial measurements and come in 30cm/1 foot increments). 1.8m would be too short to safely and easily get myself through the trapdoor in the ceiling to relight the heating/leave rat poison for my visitors. 2.4m would be too big to easily manoevre the ladder down the hallway and into position. 2.1m would be perfect.

Having determined that the fine ladder maker Bailey makes such a thing, and having equipped myself with my sister’s car complete with roofrack and ties to bring home such a product, do you think I could find one? Nope. Bunnings may have 10 different types of mouse trap*, but they don’t have a 2.1 metre single-sided ladder. In fact I visited two branches, and was out of luck each time. Neither did Penhalluriacks.

To add insult to injury, I didn’t have convenient change for the sausage sizzle at Bunnings Moorabbin, either. Sometimes they’re commercial outfits, but this was the real deal, run by a kindergarten for fundraising. Oh well.

Happily the Bailey web site can tell you what shops have ordered a particular model in the last 3 months, which gives me a few good leads for the next installment of the hunt.

*Or they may not. I’m really just speculating.

The ugly

I happened to walk around the back side of Bentleigh tonight. It’s pretty euch back there, with darkened, ugly car parks, which probably occupy more space than the entire area of shops on main road. I suppose every suburb has something like this tucked away, a consequence of our car dependence. But it ain’t pretty.

Update 29/6/2006. Google maps have updated their satellite images for the area, so now you can see it from above. This is Centre Road between the railway station and Jasper Road:

(Click to see it in Google Maps.)