there was great food wonderful cakes
Many months ago we wandered into Rathdowne Street in Calton North and found a wonderful cafe for food, cakes and coffee and super friendly service. BUT
Category Archives: Opinions
The God We Made: The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence
Book Review: Quarterly Essay 102, 2026
When you take to reading a book you always have some levels of expectations. With this essay I thought the author would venture into thoughts and places to expand the thinking of AI – something I now use often. Continue reading The God We Made: The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence
Weird Heritage
The wonders of Ivanhoe heritage design
Somewhere in the past decade, the original Ivanhoe Town Hall had a complete make-over and the council delivered a well designed complex that consists of a new style library (a great facility), a small gallery (ok but not great), the meeting rooms for the council, and the main building became a venue – a large hall space for weddings and a range of cultural events (looked good!!)
Orwell’s Roses
Rebecca Solnit 2021
Another good read of a Rebecca Solnit book. This one was Orwell’s Roses, a series of essays that roam through a range of topics and issues that she relates back to the theme – that George Orwell planted roses at his house.
Immortal Gestures Damon Young
Book Review
I was looking forward to reading Damon Young’s recent book: Immortal Gestures, Journeys in the Unspoken. I am intrigued by people’s behaviour, how people move and how they communicate through gestures. Was this a book I had been waiting for?
The Enlightenment Myth
Book Review: The End of the Enlightenment
The world population in 1700 was 600 to 680 million. the European population around then was around 127 million. How many of these earthly beings were aware of the debates centred on the philosophies of the enlightenment?
Is gullicism a real word?
word for the day maybe
It is amazing how gullible so many people are and have always been; think religion, think Trump, think Australian Prime Ministers such as Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison, think those who still listen to anything broadcasted by or published by the Murdoch empire.
Meta facebook and climate change
Meta doomed to climate change & tidal flooding
Fun Fact: While looking up something else, I noticed a side bar image of the Meta (Facebook) headquarters. This is in Menlo Park California. Then I noticed the background and that the vast complex was almost at sea level.
Maling Road Canterbury
the ups and downs of cafe food
Some time in the latter part of 2025, we wandered along Maling Road in Canterbury (Melbourne). This is a small street with loads of character. It is not a main thoroughfare for the suburb, so light traffic only. We had been perviously to the antiques shop and this time went to find some lunch.
Missing You is a dud!
TV series review: Missing You
To say it upfront and clearly, Missing You a TV five part series from 2025 is a dud.
The Guardian gave it 3 stars out of 5 stars; far too generous.
Ruth Hollick 1883-1977
Australian (Melbourne) photographer
We have uploaded pages to celebrate the photography of Ruth Hollick who was a professional Australian photographer during the 1920s and 1930s.
PIX: The Magazine that Changed Everything (1938–1972)
A SLNSW photography exhibition I will not see
The State Library of New South Wales has mounted an exhibition and produced a catalogue for an exhibition of photographs dating back to PIX magazine 1938 – 1972. Continue reading PIX: The Magazine that Changed Everything (1938–1972)
social media distraction
or the case of they believe anything!
The Cathy Wilcox cartoon in The Age 10th December 2025 (Melbourne) says it all about an aspect of today’s society.
search for yummy honey
a taste of honey
A couple of months ago I wandered into the local Coles supermarket to buy a bottle of a Coles own brand of honey (Coles Finest) that I had been enjoying for a few years. It came with four different versions. All were good and I would swap between them for variation. This brand was one of my more regular choices for honey.
Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard
Museum Victoria special exhibition
Having an interest in archeology and having watched many programs such as Time Team, those with Professor Alice Roberts including Digging For Britain – the arrival of The Galloway Hoard into Australia definitely put a museum visit on the list of things to do before Christmas this year.
Continue reading Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard
Biscotteria Carlton North
great food wonderful cakes
Went for a wander up Rathdowne Street in Calton North and found a wonderful cafe for food, cakes and coffee and friendly service. this is a find!!
That’s no way to treat a baguette
originally published in 2017
One of the pleasures of life is a great cup of coffee and a real baguette.
A suburban oasis
gardening with characters
One of the many pleasures of living in Melbourne is that when you walk around the nearby suburbs, there’s plenty of diversity to take in.
Looking into the past
A coastline missed
While I am enjoying our move in late 2023 to Melbourne from Canberra, and have no regrets about the decision to have permanently left Canberra, there are aspects of a former life that will be missed.
Royal portrait unfortunate failures
King Charles in soiled suit
I was visiting my local framers when I noticed that they had the portrait of Prince Charles for sale – again. They have been selling these portraits for a couple of years now.
Architectural cliches
French Provincial Style
The real estate sign states that this house is French Provincial Elegance in a Village Precinct. This mock style of building design pops up all over Melbourne’s suburbs.
Declining interest in the USA
Decline of the US empire
The current crisis of democracy within the USA has not been a surprise. The reality of what is happening on a day-to-day basis is absolutely shocking and horrible to watch.
Beyond The Basement Review
A Review of Prahran Legacy photography
We travelled down to Docklands to Magnet Galleries Melbourne to see the exhibition The Prahran Legacy: Beyond the Basement.
Crikey bias on full display
Media outlet shows its bias
I am a Crikey subscriber and enjoy many of their articles. However they have biases and sometimes their opinion pieces detract from what is otherwise reasonable journalism.
Review: The Anthropocene Reviewed
Book Review: John Green’s Anthropocene Reviewed 
This book has apparently received rave reviews and is listed as a bestseller. My short response is that it is OK – but not great. I gave it six out of ten stars.
Tonalism at Hawthorn City Gallery
Exhibition from a private collection
This is a must-see exhibition from the collections of John and Peter Perry that beautifully highlight the works and influences of Max Meldrum (1875–1955).
Deutscher Hackett auction April 2025
visual arts exhibition
Last Thursday we made another visit to Deutscher Hackett auction house in South Yarra to see their wonderful selection of Australian art – paintings, sculpture and prints.
Martin King
Art of the Moment 
We wandered into the Whitehorse Artspace (Box Hill Town Hall) to see some artworks that were recommended plus to simply look the place over. We were impressed with the latter and as a bonus saw this artwork by Martin King. Loved it!
Urban development rubbish
the property industry looks for sympathy
You have to cringe when you see how easily the property lobby take the public for ride with misleading information published as serious article in The Age – being Melbourne main newspaper.
Visit to Daylesford
April 2025 in regional Victoria
April 2025, and on a first visit to Daylesford in country Victoria. It is a country town with not a lot to distinguish it from many other country towns in Victoria and NSW.
Exhibition of photography from Prahran College
The basement: photography from Prahran College
(1968–1981)
Last Saturday (1st March 2024) the Museum of Australian Photography staged a very crowded (that is well attended) exhibition opening of the photography of students of Prahran College (in Melbourne) with works dating from 1968-1981.
Continue reading Exhibition of photography from Prahran College
review of Griffith Review #86 & #87
For various reasons up till recently I had not read much of the Griffith Review. I like a good non-fiction essays, and had appreciated that this publication put out a selection of essays that should have attracted my attention. And so over January, I bought these two editions.
When journalists sane wash
A significant number of commentators have called on the media to stop sane washing bad behaviour of particular politicians and their lackeys. This call went unheeded during the run up to the last US elections and so a gang of self serving mobsters are now in the White House. I would have expected better from the The Atlantic.
Being in a different home
it is about belonging
One year on from moving to Melbourne and on an evening walk that includes the top of the high street for this shopping centre, I have stopped to look at the scene in front. And took this photograph.
Alma Figuerola Australian painter
early 20th C Australian woman artist
More visits to auctions has led to research on Alma Figuerola. Seven of her works were in a Gibson’s auction in October 2024.
Mary Meyer Australian painter
early 20th C Australian woman artist
Following visits to auctions and subsequent research, we have been looking into the lives and works of a couple of Australian early 20th century painters. One artist that caught our eye was Mary Meyer – who had six works up for sale at Joel’s Women Artists auction here in Melbourne in September 2024.
Walking Gertrude Street Fitzroy
On Saturday 26th October we went for a walk around the top end of Fitzroy in Melbourne along Gertrude Street. There was some art to be seen as well as the fun of the street.
Another NGV visit
National Gallery of Victoria visit
We had things to do at the NGV, so arrived early to allow about an hour to take in the rehang of a couple of the galleries – in particular the 19th Century European.
Deutscher Hackett auction visits
visual arts exhibitions
Another post about visits to auction houses to see visual arts exhibition – being four day events before the auction. There’s usually a mix of artworks – some wonderful to some ordinary.
MAph Bowness Photography Prize
Museum of Australian Photography exhibition
An opinion piece about photography exhibitions, the visual arts, and things.
As the title of the exhibition indicates, this is a photography prize exhibition. Maybe a third of the works are not photographs but are contemporary artworks that either use photographic processes or at least have links to photography.
Visiting National Trust Como House
Exhibition: Traces of Girlhood
On Saturday 7th Sept 2024 in Melbourne, we travelled over to South Yarra to visit a National Trust property, Como House. Till 20th October it is open house on the weekend (see times below)
Exhibition Searching for Sanctuary
State Library of Victoria exhibition
The full title for this exhibition is:
Searching for Sanctuary: A journey of survival by Barat Ali Batoor
World of Books
Victoria State Library Exhibition
There are several reasons to go to the State Library of Victoria. It is a great place for research – and – they have very engaging exhibitions. One of their current exhibitions is high up in the dome (4th floor). This one is World of Books.
How many storeys are inappropriate?
Ivanhoe Urban Architecture
Political spin justifies anything
Recently in The Age (19th July 2024) several local politicians and a few ‘experts’ spoke of the coming of apartments towers to the central areas of Ivanhoe with the emphasis on those sites nearer the railway station.
Councils and high street architecture
Ivanhoe Urban Architecture
On the main intersection on Upper Heidelberg Road in the middle of the Ivanhoe shopping strip, stands this building that I think is all about the real estate agency on the first floor – meaning I suspect the real estate is also on the upper floors. On the ground floor are two businesses.
Joe Cocker in Ivanhoe
Unexpected signs of life
A living in Melbourne story: A couple of months ago while meandering along Ivanhoe’s high street, Upper Heidelberg Road, I casually took in this sign on the bin. I kept walking – thinking so how about that – Joe Cocker is coming to Melbourne. Continue reading Joe Cocker in Ivanhoe
Melbourne and Graffiti
Graffiti as aesthetic rubbish – not art
Melbourne, in particular inner Melbourne, has a serious problem with graffiti.
(Image above – a composite photo- captured from two train journeys).
Staying sane
podcast programs to assist with sanity
Sometimes it seems that the only sane thing to do given the dangerous state of US politics is to find somewhere to hide and no longer communicate with anyone.
Become a hermit. But…
Waving the flag
National Colours on display 14 July
It was the 14th July in Ivanhoe and at least one cafe was honouring this important French national day. The cafe was quiet when I took the photograph, it was after hours and one person was inside doing the clean-up.
Is this architecture?
local bank makes a statement
Upper Heidelberg Road as it runs through Ivanhoe in Melbourne has many buildings of interest. The street has a general people friendly feel to it. In among them is this bank building. Isn’t it wonderful!!
NGV Africa Photography
An exhibition within an exhibition
We were visiting the National Gallery of Victoria St Kilda Road when we split up with Gael heading for the paid exhibition of African fashion and I headed in the other direction to check on a couple of 17th century Dutch paintings. A few minutes later the phone tingled with a message that there was an exhibition of great photography within the fashion exhibition. Change of plan!
Art as event – Steve McCurry Icons
exhibition at Seaworks, Melbourne, early 2024
This exhibition is now closed but its staging was a curious event. Before I write about the exhibition, a few words about the photography of Steve McCurry.
MAph Built Photography
Museum of Australian Photography exhibition
An opinion piece about exhibitions, the visual arts, and things.
Always up for a drive out to the Museum of Australian Photography at Wheelers Hill – in Melbourne, we drove out through the suburban streets (rather than the freeways) for the pleasure of taking in a range of suburbs on the way. The changes of architecture and the various old and new build environments make the journey worth-while.
National Gallery of Victoria 3rd Floor
Visiting 3rd Floor NGV Fed Square
An opinion Piece about exhibitions, the visual arts, and things.
Our major public galleries now promote their special exhibition/ blockbusters to such an extent that people often overlook what else is on offer. Normally there are fantastic collection and other special exhibitions on offer.
Crace Crowley and Ralph Balson
National Gallery of Victoria exhibition visit
On exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) till 22 Sept 2024 is a beautifully curated exhibition of two fantastic painters who were pivotal in the development of Australian abstract art. This is a must see – even for those of us who are photographers.
My rating for this exhibition is 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎 (out of 5).
Does Clive Hamilton value his own backyard?
This piece as originally published in 2022
Looking at the creative political sign in front of the Kingston Glass Workshop in October (now removed), the message was clear.
Continue reading Does Clive Hamilton value his own backyard?
Time to move to Melbourne
At the end of June, I took time out from writing about local urban political matters.
Canberra builds crammed expensive housing
The ACT Green’s Building the Better Normal policy
Recently I was sent a real estate advertisement for a rooftop unit on Northbourne Avenue Canberra.
Revisiting Cedric’s Garden
On Saturday 5th November 2022 I wrote an online piece for Canberra City News that received positive feedback from readers as well as directly from friends.
The wonders of signs
is this what we signed up for?
Developers love putting up their signs of things to come that will make life better for future residents.
Trust me, I am an ACT Greens
ACT Greens Jo Clay fronts up on planning
There’s an ACT government standing committee on planning, transport and city services, headed up by Greens MLA Jo Clay that has asked the community to make submissions on the current draft planning bill.
NGA Canberra Sculpture Garden
A place to visit often
There were few people visiting the NGA’s Sculpture Garden when I visited to enjoy the garden’s well-designed spaces and to check out the artworks.
Supermarkets, galleries and Italian food
There was news in May that a new supermarket is to open in Canberra. Harris Farm Markets are to build a new store at Majura Park on the northern end of the site occasionally used by the circus. Continue reading Supermarkets, galleries and Italian food
Marion Mahony Griffin’s vision for Canberra
and how it is being lost
When Marion Mahony Griffin provided those glorious drawings for the submission to design Canberra, she included a distant view of the mountains.
Continue reading Marion Mahony Griffin’s vision for Canberra
A day out in Braidwood
Making the time out to visit regionally
Earlier this month we ventured out for the day to meet a friend at Braidwood. She was from the south coast and so Braidwood meant we both travelled just over an hour.
pandemic travel to Adelaide
not so normal travel during the pandemic
We took the opportunity to travel to what seemed like a faraway place – Adelaide.
Rebecca Solnit
Trump and on not being inattentive and indifferent
Rebecca Solnit has written about regimes such as Trump’s do not last forever.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
George Monbiot on the signs of change
George Monbiot writes about the signs for change. Please make it happen.
Dickson auctions
Just months ago a Luton’s auctioneer stated that the property going under the hammer was the only house for sale in Dickson.
Danger to dogs from the ACT Government
Some issues just do not go away. Dogs that are dangerous or potentially dangerous is such a topic.
Thanks for Flu
Here’s a message from me – and the many others who suffered through the flu recently:
This goes out to those thoughtful people who insisted on going out into public areas when they had the flu.
Michael Leunig
David Marr on equality
Populism
Populism now divides, yet once it united the working class
The words populism and populist have no simple, coherent meaning.
J J Cale
J J Cale & Eric Clapton: Call me the breeze
post truth & politics & energy
A good article summing up the state of politics, where truth is an option to be discarded.
Inequality
What we can learn about fighting inequality from Australia’s convict past
Analysis shows that while land values per acre rose at 2.2% per annum, land rents fell by 0.3% per annum in the 1800s. Powerhouse Museum/Flickr, CC BY-SA
Rebecca Solnit on Trump
It’s Time (again)
It is definitely time for all forms of peaceful and concerted actions to adjust our democratic structures to deal with the damage being done by forces that have resulted in Trump and his cronies being where they are.
Noam Chomsky
Neoliberalism Is Destroying Our Democracy
the democracy experiment continues – but will it get beyond the influence of neoliberalism
Looking for arts policy
will we ever have an arts minister?
While Australia is a great country – it has been a long time since we have experienced a government that was actually committed to its culture.
Trump hair
George Monbiot
George Monbiot on how dark money is subverting democracy in the UK.
Click on the banner above
Monbiot on Terrorism
Architecture
a note to the ACT Chief Minister
About the architecture along Northbourne Avenue
Architecture
How to waste public money
The saga of the proposed Garden Bridge over the Thames in London has been well covered in the UK press. It is indeed a saga. It is about a folly.
Rhiannon Giddens
Music Review: Rhiannon Giddens: Freedom Highway, February 2017
My comments have nit changed much from my previous post on Rhiannon Giddens: This 2017 album features a woman with a strong and beautiful voice – singing folk songs of America – making very beautiful Americana music.
Neoliberalism has run its course
A few stories on this topic – and the world needs more people to identify this and to lead the change away from this nasty ideology.
George W Bell
Special presentation on George W Bell
George Bell (1920 – 2008) was member of Group M – in Melbourne.
Clive Hamilton on Turnbull
being Turnbulled!
Author Clive Hamilton has been engaged in the climate debate for more than 20 years, with books selling worldwide.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Very good article about this event – click on the image
Chuck Prophet
Review: Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins
Released February 2017. Rating 4/5 – highly recommended.
Architecture
Architectural vandalism at Parliament House
They have tried before and have failed–but this time they have got their way.
Architecture
Click on the image for the story about the Arts District development along L.A. River
Lies, lies and the NeoCons
There’s so much wrong with the democracy experiment at the moment. But is good that a few journalists are seeing the issues that must be dealt with.
The Guardian on globalisation
Clive Hamilton on Trump
Trumpism as Whitelash
Clive Hamilton, Charles Sturt University (republished from The Conversation)
( a note from Paul Costigan – Before you read the Clive Hamilton article below from The Conversation– – have a look at the photograph above. It is scary!)
Singapore visual arts
For many years tourists regarded Singapore as a stop over to somewhere else. Most spent a night or three but rarely much more.
Why all the super buzz about the supermoon?
George Monbiot
on democracy – reality or myth?
click on image for the piece from The Guardian.
The Auditor-General, the Chief Minister and pesky chooks
There were moments during the ‘meet the candidates’ forum in Lyneham a fortnight ago when it seemed that something was not right with the Chief Minister, Andrew Barr.
Continue reading The Auditor-General, the Chief Minister and pesky chooks
