Anthony Malloy

We have two kids each, two Tiger cubs and two Doggie pups. My kids are Bert and Moo, both of whom were made Tiger members the day after their birth. I know, I know, but I was a bit busy on the actual days of birth. Bert may be a lost cause, he has no real interest and whomever is offering the best lollies on the day is pretty much who he will follow, a fact well know and exploited by a certain grand mother who shall remain nameless but she starts with ‘Z’ and ends in ‘ita’.

Moo, though, is my Tiger girl through and through.

On Monday a parcel arrived from Aunty Helly.It was a Tiger jumper that Tom had gown out of. Moo actually squealed with delight and her face lit up. The jumper is still draped across the foot of her bed, not allowed to be put away. It’s sitting next to her members scarf and Tiger footy.

Today the Herald Sun had a pin up of the team so I bought a copy for her. When I showed her she beamed and said “now I have 5 Tiger pictures on my wall!”. I went and checked, sure enough she had four Tiger things up on her wall and this was the fifth.

That’s my gal.

Rae is out cruising around the Yarra Valley today on a Hen’s day, having a wonderful lunch and sampling more wine than is possibly healthy.

She can have it.

A little while ago I found some Toy Story Lego on sale and I’ve kept it for a day like today when it’s just me and the young ones. The set was a little too complex for Bert so I got to make it all by myself, and I was in absolute heaven. They’re all happily playing with it now and Bert’s still smiling. Truly a perfect way to spend a wet late summer Sunday afternoon.

It’s sad to read that Angus & Robertson and Borders (the Australian version) have gone bust.

Angus & Robertson were the first book chain I can remember in Shepparton, original tenants of the Capri Centre when it opened (I can only remember Lyric Music and the video store as other shops). I must have spent a small fortune there as a young lad. It got to the stage where whenever a new Doctor Who book came in they’d automatically put it under the counter for me and leave it there until I next visited. They’re all still on my bookcase here, $3.95 a pop.

Borders was a revelation when it opened at the Jam Factory. It was just sooooooo huge. And they had chairs where you could sit and read the books! And a cafe! How positively American. It was a great place to have a browse before or after catching a movie and they too must have taken a large chunk of my pay.

Of course they can both look at me and say thanks for the sympathy but we would have preferred your dollars. Guilty as charged. A few years ago I discovered Book Depository and with prices generally half those of local book stores, often significantly less, I couldn’t justify buying local. Just this week we were in Borders with the kids and I found a fantastic book on Lego, but it was $69.95. I can get it delivered for $32. And the only reason I’d buy the physical book is that’s it’s a huge coffee table book. Now I’m buying books for my Kindle, and they’re even cheaper.

It’s hard to imagine a world without book stores, but with two giants failing I’m beginning to wonder if books will increasingly become a collectable, like vinyl LPs are today.

It’s still a functioning milk bar so it’s not for Our Fading Past but I loved this old sign.

I wonder when the last SEC bill was paid here?

And just around the corner, a bonus old Pepsi sign.

Today was Rae’s last day as an unemployed layabout so to mark the occasion we went out this morning. It was a different sort of out though because the two eldest were at school so it was just the four of us. It means we can leave the van in the garage and just take the car. It means there’s less arguments (parent’s with three kids will know what we mean). It meant we didn’t have to do head counts.

We took the little ones to Borders to spend a voucher we had. They loved it, reading some books and browsing the goodies on display. Moo ended up with Little Miss Giggles and Henry decided on a new Faraway Tree for when we finish the one we are currently reading. We chose for the two big kids and I scored a cool Doctor Who mug that features the logo from my era Who.

What better way to follow up book shopping than with a coffee? Off to Max Brenner for coffees and baby chinos for the kids. On the way we stopped at Darrel Lea ‘cause you can never have too much sugar on a morning out with mum and dad. Finish off the shopping with some sushi for Henry (that’s ma boy!) and chips for Moo (who is surprised there?)

On the way home I said to Rae that one day we have to go to the sorbet/gelato place in Ardeer that we drive past all the time. “Why don’t we go today?” she said. Oh boy. Bad move. The lovely Italian guy there took a real shine to Moo and Henry and kept on bringing out samples of their amazing products to try. Henry scored his own little tub that he polished off in record time. We only bought two small lots to bring home but we’ll be going back. So many flavours, all so good. We can’t recommend Traino (47 Holt St) enough. Go, you won’t be disappointed.

It was a perfect morning. Relaxed, unplanned, fun, spent with my wife. I love days like today, they really are the sort of days you live for. Now Rae starts her new job tomorrow so holidays will be a long way off. I’ll keep the memory of this one for a long time. Good luck tomorrow my love.