Melbourne cops more than its share of flack for bad weather, but today I haven’t a bad word to say. I left Sydney in the pouring rain and arrive to a dry Melbourne. So thank you Melbourne! I appreciate it – and am looking forward to the next few days here.
And I have a lovely view of Albert Park as well…
My accommodation and flights are all booked for Melbourne. I am ready to go. I’m looking forward to a few days in Victoria and hope to see you there!
John.
Male escorting in Australia is an ever evolving industry. From one year to the next it’s certain that things change. It is, I expect, part of the evolution of our society. Years ago most of the women who came to me were in their later forties, recently divorced, and looking for an experience to rebuild their confidence in themselves and their sexuality.
A couple of years later and that age had dropped to early forties and many women were still married, but looking for a way to fill their needs and also maintain their relationship – often for the sake of their children.
Then it was couples looking for safe ways to explore their sexuality and expand their experience together.
Suffice to say that sex work is always different! Part of that this year has been increased interest in my services from both Melbourne and Canberra. So much so that I am now traveling to both cities regularly.
If you live in Melbourne and don’t fancy flying to Sydney to see me, then keep an eye on my website and I will publish the dates for my upcoming tours – currently I will be back in Melbourne in the first weekend of September. I intend to visit Melbourne every second month, so you can also expect to see me there in November, January etc.
Canberra is another story. Being so close to Sydney it’s easier for me to visit at shorter notice. I won’t be publishing dates for regular tours in Canberra, but if you are interested in seeing me, then please don’t hesitate to contact me and we can arrange a time that suits you.
John.
Two weeks ago I was in Melbourne. This week I’m in Canberra for a couple of day!
I haven’t been so lucky with the weather – it’s pretty wet and blowy down here today – but it just makes it a nice day to sit in a cafe, drink tea, and write. Something of a luxury really.
The aesthetic of cities changes with the season. Having lived in Canberra a couple of times, the thing I remember most about winter is the stark beauty of the European trees, stripped of their leaves by the cold…
Walking to the cafe this morning I saw a bus with a bike rack on the front (and two bikes attached). I have never seen this before and it struck me as a very clever idea! Especially in a city like Canberra where public transport and you intended destination may not line up well. Being able to take your bike “on” the bus seems like a splendid idea.
It’s truffle season here in Canberra – and while I am not traditionally a fan of truffle oil – I have been sampling some fresh truffle and found it quite delightful. If you love truffles then Canberra is a great place to be in July, not just to eat truffles, but I am told that there are people who will take you out truffle hunting in a Truffière (the French name for a truffle orchard).
Since truffles grow underground on the roots of trees (often oaks), the hunt is conducted by truffle hounds (yes dogs! What can’t they do I ask you?) – or some people I have heard off use pigs (who love truffles too). The dogs can smell the truffle from above ground and lead the hunters right too them. It’s a rather quaint kind of industry, but given the price that black truffles fetch in restaurants (up to AUD$3000 per kilogram), it also a very serious business.
So, if you were thinking of a trip away somewhere for a weekend and are happy in a cool climate then I think that a truffle tour in Canberra would be a lot of – tasty – fun.
John.
For some reason the last few months have seen lots of bookings for me in Melbourne. It’s nice to come down here, even in winter.
It’s been a fun weekend, with a variety of Melbourne weather as one would expect. I came prepared though and have remained warm and dry.
I had forgotten just how beautiful Albert Park can be! It’s a lovely spot. I used to cycle around Albert Park with a cycling group when I lived in Prahran once upon a time. It’s hard to forget the crisp Melbourne mornings.
The things you see from up high! The office building beside my hotel was in the process of being smashed apart, very slowly. It’s strange to see buildings that seem perfectly useful being demolished. It’s a similar situation around Olympic Park where I live – the office buildings being slowly bought up and then knocked down to build apartment blocks.
If I had a dollar for every time I have peered down a tram line trying to decide if that dot is actually a tram… I miss Melbourne trams. They really are part of the culture. And so much more civilised than buses.
It was a crisp sunny morning in Melbourne, the trees bare, and a cold breeze, but the sun keeping things warm!
An excellent chance for a trip to the National Gallery of Victoria! I haven’t been in years.
The water wall at the entrance of the NGV is one of my favourite pieces of architecture. It really is compelling.
And this is why you should never sneak up on a Volkswagen Beetle! Needless to say it’s not good for your resale value…
I really have to say it’s a fabulous piece of art!
Next I spent some time walking through the Asian art collection. I love seeing functional objects that are also made beautiful. Asian cultures seem especially adept at this.
Then we have the…
I found the preponderance of religious iconography, heavy guilt frames, and sheer weight of oil rather oppressive and claustrophobic.
There were some gems though, including a Turner seascape,
this Monet,
And some rather handsome marble busts. I never cease to be amazed by what a capable sculptor can do with marble and some tools.
If you have been following the news in NSW, then you will know that grey hound racing is being banned due to the appalling training practices of some owners, and the high number of dogs who die simply because they are too slow to race. This detail (of a much larger painting) encapsulates why I agree with the ban. Domesticated dogs can’t help but love humans. They do whatever they can to please us. So that puts the responsibility on us to make sure that their loyalty and love isn’t abused. So if you are thinking about a dog, why not adopt a grey hound?
The NGV has some rather nice restaurants these days. I had a lovely lunch with a view of my favourite window!
The Yarra River may have a poor reputation, but it’s a lot cleaner these days and you can’t deny that it’s beautiful on a crisp sunny morning!
I love this stretch particularly beside the boat sheds where I used to row.
The old…
And the new…
And with that, I am heading home! It’s nice to visit Melbourne, but there’s no place like home and I am ready for my own space and most of all, my own bed! So good bye Melbourne. I will be back in September! If you would like to book, please contact me, or keep an eye on this site for my travel dates.
John.
I have just flown back to Sydney, having been in Melbourne for only two days – it felt like a lot longer though thanks to interesting people, a vibrant city, and catching up with family and friends.
I tweeted a lot of the trip because I was excited to be back in Melbourne and feeling a connection with it. So I thought I would share those tweets…
I flew out of Sydney eventually, but only after Jetstar cancelled my flight and moved me to a qantas flight instead. More aggravation than I needed and it left me lucky that my Monday afternoon booking had cancelled! Continue reading
I wasn’t aware of Gordons Bay until I stumbled across it in the paper today. It’s a nice find with what looks to be a long hot summer on the way.
I love the ocean and snorkeling, so I think that this might be on my list of things to do this summer (perhaps more than once).
It has an underwater “nature trail” marked by chain between concrete blocks to lead you around the bay. It really does sound like a fun experience. You can read more about it here:
http://randwickcitytourism.com.au/sights/gordons_bay.html
If you would like to try this with me, then drop me an email or text and we can do it together.
John.
It’s been a long time coming, but finally my (almost) new 2004 Triumph Daytona is back on the road. After some very un-hilarious mixups over some repairs that it required everything is sorted out, fitted, adjusted, tuned, and fixed. Now I just need some good weather!
If you would like to take a ride with me one day, just drop me a line. It would be my pleasure.
John.
I just noticed this article in the Herald …
http://www.traveller.com.au/shangrila-sydney-hotel-renovation-first-look-at-8-million-revamp-12kcyz
Looks like my favourite hotel in Sydney has had a makeover! Seriously though, for the best harbour views from a hotel in Sydney I can’t recommend a better choice than the Shanri-La. They also do an excellent breakfast.
The staff are also extraordinarily professional. I once arrived (in fancy dress – painted blue from head to toe and wearing a kilt) for a book launch and the parking valet didn’t even bat an eyelid.
John.
As a motorcyclist I LOVE Melbourne. Why? Because you can park on the footpath! Sadly my bike is home in Sydney and I am here on foot.
John