Thanks to everyone who came op shopping with us on Tuesday. We dodged the rain showers (mostly) and had a lovely time in Abbotsford visiting two op shops. We also stopped for Vietnamese for lunch on Victoria Street. Everyone bought something - Linda bought a footstool (which was tricky to carry around), Marie-Louise a dress, Monica some tea … and I can’t remember what the others got (I bought 2 jumpers and a long sleeve t-shirt).

Thanks to Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bank for supporting this adventure - it was really inspiring to go op shopping on public transport. Truly. So relaxing.

This last week it has been great to usher in spring - whilst Thursday felt like the depths of winter, Friday was sunshiny and lovely … and it was amazing to spend time in the garden! It is looking so fantastic and Clare and Corrado and Jenny - and everyone else who comes along on Fridays and contributes should be super proud. The wicking beds out the front, along with the delivery of fogo compost that we spread around, have transformed the bed outside our fence. Thanks to Yarra Council for helping us purchase the beds and for delivering the compost for free. On Friday Clare picked a huge amount of produce (our bokchoy was about to go to seed) and so we have lots of lovely home-grown vegetables ready for cooking this coming week.

Speaking of coming up this week we have all the usual things - our food programs, line dancing, book clubs, choir, music lessons, sound healing - along with two exciting workshops on the weekend. Weaving with Corrin starting up for a 6 week course (book in here) and Spoonmaking with Maylei - a one-day workshop (book in here).

We hope to see you at ACC soon.

Cheers Leanne

A few snaps from our Thriftseekers Op Shop Adventure on Tuesday.

We caught the train from Alphington to Collingwood, then took a short stroll down Gipps Street to the Abbotsford Salvos. It is such a great op shop, with furniture (Linda bought a footstool) and clothes (Leanne bought two tops) and homewares ((Kalimna bought an owl) and books (Heather shopped in this section) etc. etc.

Then we walked down to Victoria Street to the other Salvos (near North Richmond station) and ran into Rob - who does lots of arty things at ACC and also volunteers weekly at this Salvos). Lovely!

After exhausting ourselves shopping we went to Tran Tran for lunch - and returned to ACC by train at about 2.30pm.

It was an excellent adventure! We look forward to the next one, coming up soon. To join in just book online.

Thanks once again to the Community Bank on Queens Parade for supporting us to run this adventure in our own backyard.

Last week we had a packed house for Garden the Plate, where we cooked vegetarian Indian dishes - they were really yummy. We had a pea raita, eggplant in coconut and a dry cauliflower curry, with basmati rice. It was excellent.

This week we are making okonomyaki (Japanese vegetable pancakes) - shining a light on cabbage. And we will make some teriyaki prawns and rice as well. Yum. Cooking starts at 11.30am. It usually takes about an hour for the cooking and then we sit down together to eat our creations … and finish up at 1pm. Book in on our website if you are coming along so we can judge numbers.

On Tuesday we have our Op Shop Adventure - you’ll find the details and the booking link the post below. We’d love you to come along. Last time was lots of fun - it was great to see what others were looking for and to compare bargains!

On Wednesday we have our 1st Wednesday Book Club here at night …and the two book clubs on Thursday (day and night). It is now the time of the year for book clubs to choose their reads for next year which is always a bit exciting! Darebin Libraries purchase new sets of books each year to try to ensure that book groups get variety year in and year out.

Speaking of Darebin Libraries, we have a little interactive community thing called Due Back up at Fairfield Library for Adult Learners Week. If you pass the library or an in the library please take a minute or two to fill in a card - a recommendation from you of a ‘book that stayed with you’ and a quick note about something you learnt from it There are some photos in the post below.

Corrin in starting up her Learn to Weave course in the Community Shed from this coming Saturday - if you are interested there are still spots available. It runs from 10am-1pm for 6 weeks and you will learn to weave and make something beautiful in the process - a scarf or the like. Here is he link to find out more and book in.

We also have Maylei back teaching a Spoon Making (whittling) for a one day workshop on Saturday 13 September from 9am-3pm. You can find out more in the post below.

Of course we have our Community Morning on Friday - a great chance for a chat inside or out (Clare will be busy in the garden with Jenny and Corrado and our garden is looking super with all their love and care) followed by lunch at 12pm.

We’d love to see you.

Cheers Leanne

Join us on Tuesday for an op shopping adventure … in Abbotsford. We’ll meet at ACC at 10am and then catch the train from Alphington to Collingwood station and walk down Gipps Street to the Salvos on the river - if you haven’t been there before it’s huge and full of treasures.

We’ll then walk down Nicholson Street to Victoria Street and stop for lunch at one of the Vietnamese restaurants before visiting a second Salvos right near North Richmond station … (another ripper with great clothes, bric-a-brac and furniture!) and from there we’ll catch the train home. This op shop adventure costs $5. Lunch is included. BYO MIKI.

We’d love to see you. Book in here.

And once again THANKS if the Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bank for supporting this little sustainable transport and shopping adventure!

Maylei is back - teaching a short course on Saturday 13 September in whittling, specifically spoon making. The workshop runs from 9am-3pm.

This is a hands on workshop to teach you the steps and the tools to make your own spoon.

It is designed for beginners and will go through safe use of the tools and techniques for carving.

All wood and materials are provided. You can find out more and book in on humantix.

https://events.humanitix.com/spoon-making-with-maylei