So … our renovations are powering along. Eastern Property Services have been super lovely and efficient to work with.

This week the slab was poured for the new building in the backyard. And the frame for the building is being delivered on Monday. So this week should be exciting out there.

Inside we are busy sorting and organising … because on Thursday the asbestos will be removed from the ceiling in our office and in the foyers (and we have a LOT of stuff in our office and the foyers). There is also asbestos in the lino under the carpet tiles in our two main rooms that will come out.

So we need to clear everything out and … after the asbestos is removed, and until the ceilings are reinstated and the carpet tiles go back down, we’ll have our main rooms closed and we will be using the desk in room 3 for our office during the day (where we usually have podcasting/counselling/music lessons). To compensate for the closed rooms we will be reorganising the community shed space - so it can be used for a wider variety of programming.

Kalimna and I are in the process now of contacting all our users that will be impacted by the works, to ensure they (you) have an alternative plan. If we haven’t spoken to you yet we’ll do it early this week … but if you are worried please feel free also to give us a call!

It’s all going to be fine … it is all a bit up in the air, but the focus is on keeping things running … and we don’t want anyone to feel concerned.

In this light, please note that our outside programming, including playgroups and our Friday community program should not be impacted by the ongoing works … we’ll use the kitchen by the community shed and the shed itself if we need indoor space … and we’ll have access to the toilet through room 3 … and it will be exciting and different and fun!

(Hopefully).

Sorry for the pause in our news last week … we were flat out getting organised here at ACC and I barely sat at my desk early in the week … and then I went to a conference on Thursday and Friday with all the other neighbourhood house managers from the north-east Melbourne region, which was great. But I wasn’t in the office.

And … sometimes when I haven’t got to the newsletter I do it on Sunday night … but … I went to the Northcote Rise festival on High Street and … see the photo below! … I got distracted.

What a great event though! Nothing better than dancing to a Latin themed oversized jukebox in the middle of a closed off street with neighbourhood friends on a Sunday afternoon right?

We’re so lucky to have such great things on locally! Did you go too?

Local counsellor John Byrne is holding a weekly men’s group at ACC on Tuesday evenings.

If you are a man interested in talking with other men about self care, including things like community and connections, boundaries and loyalty, intuition and improvement and mentoring and empowering others, please come along.

You can contact John on 0439 899 352.

It was super lovely to welcome our colleague Kathy Vrettas from Yarra City Council to our community morning on Friday. And we were delighted that she brought along Cr Edward Crosslands who is the new Yarra Mayor.

The Yarra neighbourhood houses have such a great relationship with Council, and we are always thrilled when staff and councillors come along so we can show off all the exciting things we have been up to - and that deliver on our shared strategic objectives to create great services for our local community.

And … to mark the occasion … I FINALLY took a photo of some of our crafting friends who come along on Fridays with GenU. They have been coming for at least 6 months now, and we really look forward to them attending each week. Such nice people!

If you are interested in craft or gardening - with a good dose of socialising thrown in - our community mornings might be just right for you too! Come along from 10am. All welcome. Lunch is at 12pm.

This year we have extended our Toy Library hours.

You can now collect and return toys on either

• Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm, or

• Wednesday morning from 10am-12pm (coinciding with our Wednesday Playgroup session).

Please note, you will still need to go online to reserve the toys you want to borrow before 10am Tuesdays, as our lovely friend and volunteer Sarah comes in around 10.30am to fill the orders for the week.

Joining a local toy library and borrowing toys is good for your hip pocket AND good for the planet! And good for your sanity if your home already has too much stuff! Keen? You can find out more join up here!