10/365 Yep, It's A Busker

My last day of holidays (I'm a few blogs behind but have faithfully taken a photo every day). I went into the city to do something.... What was it? Oh, to buy ink and more storage solutions. So after picking up some black Quink and a set of three over-the-door hooks, I came back through Bourke Street Mall and spied this guy busking. I was impressed that he managed to get a piano into the mall so after taking this photo and making a donation, I went over to ask. The answer was much less exciting than I had anticipated: by truck. I had romantic visions of him wheeling it all the way in from Brunswick or something. Nevertheless, going to all that trouble to load and unload it from a truck sure beats a guitar on a strap.

My request was 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'.

General Sumo recommends:

Making an extra effort as a busker

I'm not interested in your artful dreadlocks, your dolphin candle store clothes or your hemp guitar strap. Call me when you're respectfully dressed in a tuxedo t-shirt and jaunty top hat and have wheeled your piano all the way from Brunswick. 

Having correct grammar

Note the correctly placed apostrophe on that bottom sign. If I'd noticed that at the time, he would have gotten another few coins. I've seen professionally painted signs that can't even get that right!

Over-the-door hooks

$8 or something at Big W for the three-hooker

The answer to all of our 'I can't be bothered putting my clothes in the wardrobe' problems. I should have got the five-hooker.

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?