14/365 Wardrobe Emergency!

You know the feeling: you're off to a special event, you've spent an hour trawling through your wardrobe but you've got nothing to wear. Well, my sartorially challenged friends, now is the time to rejoice! At least for those of you doing the weekly shop. Above is the perfect shirt to wear whilst shopping for fresh produce, as found at the South Melbourne Market. 

Try not to take offence when people comment on your juicy melons.

General Sumo recommends:

South Melbourne Market

Cnr of Cecil and Coventry Streets, South Melbourne

Although the Central Market in Adelaide is still my favourite, the 50 minute plan ride is not always practical. The South Melbourne Market is a damn good substitute. Fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, bread, sweeties and pasta are in plentiful supply as are cute dogs lining the street outside. If you're lucky, you might catch a random butcher singing opera. My only complaint is that it's a little bit vanilla. This is not the place to come if you're looking for anything that falls outside the regular white upper-middle class diet.

T.O.M.S. (The Organic Meat Store)

Stall 30, South Melbourne Market

I'm not such a big meat fan but I've loved everything we've bought from T.O.M.S.  The service is fast, friendly and helpful and the guys can tell you where the meat is from - something that makes someone struggling with the ethics of meat-eating, like me, feel a little bit better.

2/365 Jumbo

It won't win any photography awards but could possibly have ended in a Darwin award - Grant getting the most out of our new Jumbo vacuum-seal storage bag.  

I was at Big W today to pick up some more wooden coat hangers and, upon turning around, was confronted by a half-aisle selection of vacuum-seal storage bags. After a few minutes of deliberation between Large and Jumbo, I went with Jumbo due to its promise to house two whole bed sets. In a two-bedroom apartment, I am always looking for great storage ideas. Having only seen this type of product in the dubious environment of late-night infomercials before, I hoped that it wouldn't disappoint.

Like the true storage nerd I am, I couldn't wait to get home to try it out. Then, when I did get home, I was tired so I had a nap on the couch whilst The Who-Who had a nap in the new armchair.

Refreshed from my nap and with Grant home from work to share the excitement, we set about putting all of our spare bed accoutrements in the bag. As you can see, we hit a snag trying to get the pillows in. The Jumbo bag really is Jumbo. In the end, it took a quilt, four pillows, two cushions, a knitted rug from Oma and the Aerobed mattress protector. The Jumbo bag was too Jumbo to fit back in the study wardrobe comfortably so it is now under the bed, waiting for The Who to go and lie on it, which he invariably will. This has now freed up space for those important essentials, Corona and Diet Coke, to go in the wardrobe.

General Sumo recommends:

Space Bag vacuum-seal storage bags

About $18 at Big W and probably other places. And yes, it really does work and it really is easy. I always thought infomercials were too good to be true. Maybe I should try the Ab King Pro.

East of India

7 Degraves Street, Melbourne

Locally designed pieces made with beautiful fabrics imported from India. The fabrics are absolutely what makes these clothes, especially for someone like me who shudders at the touch of synthetics. The quality of production absolutely deserves a mention too. Not too sure about the limited opening hours and slightly uncomfortable buying experience though. On the upside, look out for the cute brown puppy dog under the counter!

Not working

Finally, time to do all those things that make home life run smoothly - make the bed, do the dishes, do the washing, get watch batteries replaced. I feel like I actually have a life again as opposed to just a job and for the first time in about nine months, I don't feel stressed. Turns out I'm actually a nice person without work stress. Who would have guessed?