It was the first week back for Tress and we had both been at work the whole time, so when Friday arrived, we did our usual thing to just go into a quiet little spot for a “TGIF” feed. We went to Yaring Thai, the little hole-in-the-wall joint as the crow flies, and ate our hearts out, gorging on the delicious whole fried barra, massaman beef curry and a somtham salad.

On Saturday, we walked the little fellow, and then trekked into the city for a bit of a wander. We hadn’t been into the city (other than for the football at the MCG) for a little while now and when Tress said we should do something fun for that day, we decided to do lunch downtown. The trains at Blackburn were being replaced by buses so we detoured and headed to Syndal for the Glen line instead, and trekked into Flinders Street.

We ended up at the Roti Bar joint on LIttle Collins street. When we got there, a short queue had built up and while waiting to get a table, we saw how the place was just buzzing. The special of the day was a banana leaf spread. Back when we were in KL, my colleagues and I would do a weekly banana leaf lunch at Jalan Ampang (or it could have been Leboh Ampang). We’d feed ourselves crazy and it was known as “pukul mati” – loosely translated to say food coma I guess.

I had the banana leaf at Roti Bar, with a spiced yoghurt drink that was a bit out there. Tress had a roti and a teh tarik – safer options. The roti and the banana leaf were delicious. They were very generous with the curries and veges and we particularly enjoyed the fried bitter gourd. A minor case of food coma followed, and we then walked through various laneways in the city, including the always popular Degraves. It was good to see the city buzzing again. The beautiful autumn day must have helped. We walked towards the Alexandria Garden, past the Fed Square where a Buddhist celebration event was on. We then went into the NGV, before heading back to Flinders Station to get home.

We stopped at The Glen to pick up something from the butcher and the Asian grocer, before heading back to again walk the fellow at the oval. Later that night, we put our feet up and watched the Demons v Cats game. That trickled goal by Fritsch at the dead won it for the Demons, by just a goal. The two relative sitters that were missed by the usually brilliant and dependable Cameron, the champion Cats goal kicker, didn’t help…

At St Alf’s on Sunday, it was Peter’s closing chapter. Helen Petering presented him with the “seat of honour” and there were enthusiastic applause. He’d be missed when he leaves in a couple of weeks. After the service we headed to our usual lunch place at Donvale, and I felt it was a bit underwhelming. Maybe it was time to try a different place…

Back home, we walked the little fellow, did the usual Sunday cook (a pork rib congee) and then walked him again as I followed the Doggies v Hawks game on the footy app. The Doggies started in a blitz, kicking 3 quick goals and I thought “here we go again” but my dear Hawks showed fight. We ended up leading the Doggies for much of the game, ending with a 7 point win. What a win. Hard fought but so very satisfying. It was a Doggies home game at the Marvel at Docklands and I had said to Tress earlier, that we hadn’t been informed if it was a “replacement game” so we could watch it, but following it on the AFL app was nearly as good, given the win. It was great to hear the team song again.

The news on the domestic front has been bleak, with reports of fights, stabbings, and the likes. I have been on an escapade mode for a little while now, preferring to either not read or watch such news, or letting them quickly wash over me. It doesn’t take away the depressing effect. We live in ever messier times, with depravity mounting around us. My reading is through the Gospels now, with Luke telling us how Jesus went about righting wrongs around him. We said the Lord’s Prayer as always, at St Alf’s and as we did, I wondered if and how His will can be done on earth as in heaven again. How we need Jesus to right the mounting wrongs around us. Even as I live my little (cloistered, head in the sand?) life.