Bright In Brighton - A Pictoral History.

 

 

Such a beautiful day in Melbourne today.  We were jumping for joy when we hit the beach at Brighton, Darryl's old stomping ground.

The Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes are an iconic symbol of the popular beach that lies within Port Phillip Bay.  The first ones are known to have existed as far back as 1862, though the ones in the present location were probably constructed between 1908 and 1911.

All eighty two remain as they did over one hundred years ago, as licensed bathing boxes.  No service amenities such as electricity or water are connected.  They retain classic Victorian architectural features with timber framing, weatherboards and corrugated iron roofs. 

We thought it would be great to simply rock up to the beach and have all your umbrellas, deck-chairs, tables, towels, standup paddle boards, kite surfing boards and anything else you need for a day in the sand overlooking Port Phillip Bay.  Yup, but apparently you have to be a local ratepayer to buy one.  Oh, and they sell for up to $260 000!!
 

But just because we couldn't buy one, didn't mean we couldn't have fun with them!  For reasons unknown there was a lot of jumping and posing going on for the cameras along the beach, in between wrestling matches, shell collecting and running races.

 

 This one says it all.



 Face Plant! 

It was bound to happen.
Fletcher bit the dust on about Take 2.

 

 

And was not happy, Jan.

 

Go. Away.





He eventually recovered to take on the Boxing Kangaroo.





 Even Superman took flight at one stage.

 

 Jarrah put on his best levitation impression as a Genie, less the flying carpet.



All this jumping around required some serious sustenance.  As is the duty of all Uncles to spoil their nephews, the boys enjoyed some wonderfully flavoured ice creams from the local creamery, Jocks, courtesy of Darryl.  It is not necessarily the duty of Uncles to spoil their sister and brother-in-law so Andrea and I took a rain-check.



 

A constant theme in the boys' diaries throughout the entire Johnstonstouraus, food again took a high priority.  Earlier today, we walked through the South Melbourne Markets looking at all the wonderful local produce and quirky items for sale.

 

Whilst enjoying the obligatory Flat White, Latte and Cappuccino at an outdoor café, Jack spied a very popular Dim Sim stall.  He lined up and in no time flat we were enjoying what I rate as the best, and biggest, steamed Dim Sims I have ever encountered. 

 

Yum. 

I have never been a Dim Sim aficionado by any stretch but after this experience am seriously thinking of becoming one.  I don't know how anyone could actually improve on this example so perhaps it is all down-hill from here and I would be wasting my time.  But, I'm willing to try...

Bit of local culture here.  On the walk back from the markets we detoured to look at the South Melbourne Town Hall.  The beauty of this building was completely lost on the three boys who just wanted to parkour over the bins and street lamps but it suitably impressed Andrea and I.  No Town Halls like this in Perth!

Andrea was keen to have a meal in Lygon Street, Carlton (birthplace of Melbourne's café culture) while in town but by this stage in the day we came to the realisation that it wasn't going to happen.  Not this trip, anyhow.  So instead it was back to Darryl's for a hearty serving of left over Paella and a Star Wars rerun.