Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

It's a big weekend here in Melbourne It's our Australian Football League Grand Final weekend. Melbourne Visitors Centre - Flinders Street Now our team Hawks (Hawthorn FC) were knocked out in a preliminary final  by everyone's second favourite team the Western Bulldogs  known locally as the Doggies! Footscray Bulldogs Street Art The Dogs have not made a Grand Final for fifty-five years. Their opposition the Sydney Swans are no strangers to a Grand Final  making for a fantastic Melbourne-Sydney tension. We love that rivalry! If ever there was the time to use the expression the underdogs,  it's this weekend. Go the Doggies! The Western Bulldogs herald from Footscray where I work It is such a great week to see the place decked in red, white and blue. We have had overseas visitors this weekend and after a hectic week of travel ourselves, we are all happy for Melbourne's  public holiday yesterday to celebrate Grand Final Eve....

Go Banksy go! The rebel in me has always had a soft spot for street art. It's the wild creative that appeals. Speaking the honest truth with a spray can. Nicholson Street, Footscray, Vic, Australia I t's hard to know how to reply when asked in Bristol, UK this weekend:  "have you ever used a spray can before?" 'How do you know I'm not a world famous street artist from Australia?' 'Or the real Banksy?'  I ask. Footscray,Vic, Australia Street Art My absolute hero is Banksy. I love the dark humour of  the Bristol street artist  whose real identity remains unknown.  I admire his willingness to tackle head on the issues of the day. Banksy and Little Wandering Wren: two peas in a pod - ha! Banksy has the week, depicted Steve Jobs,  Apple founder  and Syrian migrant,  on a wall of a migrant and refugee camp in France. Further along the wall are the words 'no-one deserves to live this way' Having work...

There is a house in Footscray which stands out. It is a rather brash and possibly underneath it all,  quite an ordinary house. You cannot ignore it. It always reminds me of my  daughter's soccer team  Boroondara Eagles FC. BEFC is way over on the other side of town in the leafy suburbs. The Women's team have been promoted each year  since starting in the State League. They are a young team the majority are U21. In 2014 they made it to the dizzy heights of  Women's Premier League. That is one massive step up. Now normally what happens is that players take a while to adjust to the faster, more physical game. They can feel quite over awed at playing against more experienced players some who have played for their national teams, or those who are returning from playing  college soccer in America. It can be a brutal introduction. The sport is a brilliant one for girls but if you are not up to it, you wil...

I love my fabulous Fridays working in Footscray Footscray is one of those Melbourne suburbs which let's just say has proudly enjoyed a colourful past. There is always something interesting to look at in Footscray. What about this bright blue house? Is this a garden full of art  - trash or treasure?  Every time I walk by I see something else that captures my attention, like the blue Australia hat on the top of the wooden post. I reckon a fair amount of work has gone into this garden  at one stage or another... But I do wonder what the neighbours say?! It does make you wonder how the Postie  ever finds the post box?! One thing I always stop to read are the quotes on the side fence: 'The greatest wealth in life is health and wisdom!' Footscray promotes fabulous street art offering an annual Street Art prize How about this one, it is a combinations of lots of other walls that I find out and about on ...

Found in Footscray, Melbourne... Linking with Monday Mural

Do have those suburbs in your city,  on the wrong side of the tracks? You know, the ones that nice girls don't go to? Nice girls don't go to Footscray ...  oh, and maybe Frankston You know the place that is the butt of all jokes... What do you call a 30 year old Footscray or Frankston girl?  Answer: Granny The sort of place that might have been nice once,  and might be nice again, but it's industrial heritage dominates? It's hard not to think of chemical plants in Footscray... So imagine telling your friends that you now work in Footscray? And imagine telling your friends that you really love the place  ' Yes Footscray ' you say, as they imagine they've misheard. The Footscray they think of as a horrible part of town,  full of junkies and muggings! It would be fun to buy a house there, you say but you already know you've missed the moment. Footscray is becoming trendy! Property prices have soared. Footscray ...