Endings and the Weekend
May. 29th, 2012 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tcpipThree staff from our systems team are leaving work; two, previously on secondment, are taking at roles at the Victorian Life Sciences Computation Institute, and the other has decided to run off to Europe for pure fun. We had a farewell gathering on Friday night, eventually turning our training room (that is a very old 'photo) into quite an impressive video-and-music lounge, courtesy of Youtube and the very large projection wall, three ceiling-mounted projectors, and a reasonable sound system. Several drinks later some of us were playing laser skirmish.
The other end-of-an-era is the closure of Xanghai Restaurant (google maps link) in St. Kilda. Apparently the owners of the building have decided the location is better to convert into apartments. Proprietor Jin Wu Xu has been there for 28 years, and we've been attending about once a month for the past 8. On Sunday a small number of her most loyal customers were invited to come along to a final feast. On leaving we were given momento chopsticks.
Spent Saturday with Chris and Donna, in their delightful home in the Dandenongs, although alas both are having a couple of health-related issues. Attended a review of the Global Atheist Convention by Dr. John Perkins, leader of the Secular Party of Australia, at the Unitarians on Sunday. This was followed by an enjoyable session of Planescape Pathfinder (beautiful SRD) where my wererat monk ended up arguing with modron about an alliance with an imp.
The other end-of-an-era is the closure of Xanghai Restaurant (google maps link) in St. Kilda. Apparently the owners of the building have decided the location is better to convert into apartments. Proprietor Jin Wu Xu has been there for 28 years, and we've been attending about once a month for the past 8. On Sunday a small number of her most loyal customers were invited to come along to a final feast. On leaving we were given momento chopsticks.
Spent Saturday with Chris and Donna, in their delightful home in the Dandenongs, although alas both are having a couple of health-related issues. Attended a review of the Global Atheist Convention by Dr. John Perkins, leader of the Secular Party of Australia, at the Unitarians on Sunday. This was followed by an enjoyable session of Planescape Pathfinder (beautiful SRD) where my wererat monk ended up arguing with modron about an alliance with an imp.
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Date: 2012-05-29 01:11 pm (UTC)You might be curious to know that there's a church from 1906 up the street--except it's been converted into apartments. As in, the exterior which is no doubt an example of Heritage Architecture has been preserved (except for windows and balconies installed) but the interior completely changed. There's a second church along the road which is about to get the same treatment, unless I read the advertisement wrong. So while condos and things continue to go up in Toronto, some of the developers are keen on preserving the look of the neighbourhood.
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Date: 2012-05-29 10:37 pm (UTC)Hawkwind invented trance as far as I'm concerned :)
So while condos and things continue to go up in Toronto, some of the developers are keen on preserving the look of the neighbourhood.
A very sensible approach. Poor ol' Detroit could do with this kind of thinking.
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Date: 2012-05-29 10:39 pm (UTC)