Motley Balaclava morning

A Saturday morning stroll for the newspaper (what we'd call a Sunday paper in the States comes out a day early here) is a whirligig of nationalities and ethnicities in St Kilda East (referred to by locals as Balaclava). Jewish women walking to synagogue, hair tamed and skirts pressed. Sallow-faced Aussie blokes and sheilas lurching for antidotes to late night indulgence. Polish and Russian emigres carrying bags of thinly sliced kielbasa and warm babka. Asian couples inspecting fresh fruits and veggies.

Then there's me in my 'ny' Giants cap and the always lovely Indo-Fijian Aradhna sitting in Kiwi-owned and operated Batch Espresso sipping perfect coffees and reading year-old New Zealand periodicals.

We love our new neighborhood. Can't wait to host visitors. {hint hint}

Thanks to Louise for the Giants link ... would love to be with her and my dad watching the Jints battle the Packers for an NFC title in Lambeau this weekend ...