Scenes from a (dying?) Mall.

Today, GOM & I went over to a Mall, to 'window shop', more or less. The current lounge suite is getting very tattered, & somewhat shabby. Gom has ridden his armchair to a standstill, one might say. The mechanism has broken, & is unable to be satisfactorily mended.

And then there is the small matter of the worn out upholstery where he rests his shod feet. "I'm NOT wearing slippers! Slippers are for OLD men!"

Of course, these things are thrown into sharp relief when there is something like a new carpet in the house. The tired old - well it is not actually that old, but it has wear & tear, I suppose you could say.

So we test drove a few lounge suites. None of which we both liked. Oh well, just as well we were only 'window shopping'.

But we were quite shocked to see how many businessess had closed their doors the left this huge complex. The number of empty shops out numbered the tennanted ones. It seemed sad, & we wonder why.

It is not a centre we visit regularly. In fact we probably average 5 times a year. But the thought is, that is always there, & is, or was, a supposedly "Supa Centre" where a bargain could be guaranteed.

Well not any more, & it's only saving grace now, is perhaps it has a large Bunnings, which is a Hardware chain who boast they will match a cheaper rival with a 10% refund. And a large Spotlight store, which is a chain of fabric/furnishing fabric, manchester/ curtainings store. And a magnet for poverty stricken quilters of course.

So after our abortive forays into the (small) world of lounge furniture, we sat in a Subway to have a rest, & a little lunch.

And the Subway is situated on the second floor, so we could look down below, & watch the passing parade as we had our leisurely lunch.

And there seemed quite a volume of foot traffic really. Mothers with toddlers. One little lad had a wonderful time. While his mother chatted to an acquaintance, he got out a chair from each dining setting, climbed onto each seat, & attempted to eat or peel each item displayed as a centrepeice on each table. We were quite amused when he first attempted to bite a fake apple. But our laughter turned to concern when he tried to rip the sheath off a fake corn husk!

And all the while, his mother, who appeared from our vantage point, to be 'watching him' seemed totally unaware of her little darlings acitivities! I suppose she had 'glazed out', as parents do, who spend too much time, shut in, with there little 'darlings'.

And we watched as elderly couples ( such as we!! haha) test drove lounge suites. And, like us, most of them didnt agree about what was good & what was not. Colour wise --& style wise. The good thing with us, is, we can usually find one we both like... eventually.




And, on another note, I wish I had smell enablement. ( is there such a word??)
But this is the reason. My Daphne is now in flower. It seems to be late this year. In New Zealand, it would be in flower for my mother's birthday on 17th July.

As you can see here, it is only just really coming into full bloom, but the fragrance is heavenly! I love it, & in the evening it is just beautiful.

Today has been a day when it has smelt gorgeous, & the perfume has floated into that back yard. Unfortunately, it grew really well in our front garden, which is not visible from our back yard, nor the are where we 'live'. I have to make a special visit to see it, & if the breeze is not in the right direction, we miss all the lovely perfume.

And here is an unkown shrub, which can stand hacking, slicing & general untalented butchering, & it will still bounce back, with vigour & determination, so I have to admire it. Plus the lovely variegated leaves are a nice foliage which lasts the winter & summer the same.

Oh I almost forgot- some of the baskets, waiting to be found homes again, & unpacked in the case of some of them.

I have no idea why that wall appears blue- it is really cream! How odd. It must be the light, I suppose.


Carly Simon, Anticipation.