Usually when one is advertising an apartment for rent, an agent might point out it’s location, size, or perhaps some features. You would also think that they would check their spelling or possibly even grammar.  Nope.

The Cleanest Appartment In Brunswick…….All New!
$305 p.w.
5/55C DE CARLE STREET BRUNSWICK
One too look at, this totally refurbished 1st floor two bedroom apartment. This property offers a large & sunfilled north facing lounge with balcony, a brand new kitchen with electric cooking facilities, two double size bedrooms with b.i.r’s, and a large brand new bathroom with internal laundry facilities. Other features include brand new window coverings, new carpets (to be layed still), large balcony & off street parking for one (1) car. Located one block from the Sydney Road tram & walking distance to the Moreland Train station, local shops, parks & gardens. Be quick this one will not last !

How many errors did you spot?

Realestate.com.au: Cleanest Apartment in Brunswick

What can I say? It has been eventful. Full of ups and downs, we have all experienced all forms of extremes this year.

The roller coaster ride of the share market has been nothing short of educational. We saw petrol prices bubbling higher and higher before sinking to close to a dollar. We experienced the joy of a strong Australian dollar and now lives with a more humble one. The closure of ABC childcare are still sending shockwaves through families, but we do have a new Prime Minister and there will be a new President of the USA. The weather … it has been a cool start to summer, will the drought be coming to an end?

So, what can we look forward to? Higher prices? Better and more funding for our health and education sectors? Higher unemployment? Lower interest rate? Lower house prices? Higher rents? Who knows!

We can only look forward and deal with what the new year will bring.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

For me, I just want the New Year to be
1. Less hot, and
2. More peaceful.

To everyone, stay safe and be happy!

10. Walking with Dinosaurs LIVE

9. What is it?

Still don’t know what they are.

8. Comet McNaught

7. “Game, set, match. Pervert wins, 3 upskirt shots to 0 arrests”

6. CNN The Scene: Holly Valance in Melbourne

It’s strange seeing an email from a CNN reporter asking us to check out something they wrote about Melbourne.

5. Beautiful Picture of Comet McNaught

4. Birrarung Marr Ferris Wheel

The huge ferris wheel is still standing on the banks of the Yarra and is set
to finish on January 4th.

3. Star Wars Stencil Art

2. Total Lunar Eclipse

1. Martial Arts in Melbourne

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, Metroblogging

Have a brilliant New Years Eve – y’all! Roll on 2007!

Over the next twelve days, we will revisit some of the posts from the past year.

• 
  The Great Bikini March

Colin reported on the Great Bikini March – which was to finish at the Islamic Information and Support Centre. Understandably a few people got a little het up about it……..”

• 
  Feeling the love….for Connex

Adrock2xander, strapping young man that he is – shared his joy for Connex train inspectors on a dark and gloomy night.

• 
  Makin it So!

Our Johnnie won the World #1 Mayor moniker! I think Johnnie rocks….obviously, and I also think he deserves the utmost respect. Despite what some may say……yes, he does have an accent….and yes, those of asian background may cringe a little – Adrock? Which really asks the question if you’re proud of your heritage, why bag others success? Melbourne is literally as multi-ethnic as we can get…..and it’s wonderful.

• 
  Burning up

December hasn’t been kind to Victoria, bush fires in the regional east burned bright and us city slickers lived under a pall of smoke minor compared to the devastation our regional cousins have suffered. Then come Christmas day snow fell on the alpine region…..where firefighters had been fighting long and hard for 3 weeks. Mother nature is REALLY pissed off.

• 
  Stage 3 kicks in

Zara reminded us that Stage 3 Water restrictions kick as of tomorrow, it hasn’t rained enough this year…..again, Mother nature is REALLY pissed off.

Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs

• 
  To Mo or not to Mo?

Ben took up the challenge to join MOvember, a fundraising event for Men’s issues…..it was a very interesting month for hirsute men – with punters “wondering is it for Movember or………”

• 
  We are two!

Metroblogging Melbourne turned 2 in November – HUGE thank you to all our readers and supporters that keep coming back and of course the authors that take the time to share their Melbourne.

• 
  Here comes the Groom

Zara reported on our Deputy Lord Mayor’s moves to set up a gay marriage register. About time I say, and hopefully a step closer to full rights for our Victorian Gay and Lesbian community.

• 
  Going up?

Ronny had a moment with an interesting elevator…..

• 
  Lose yourself in Melbourne

Neil brought us the new “Lose yourself in Melbourne” – Giant advertisement which proved a hit with our readers…..testing their Melbourne knowledge.

• 
  Myer’s goes x-rated

Melbourne’s Myer windows are a traditional must see for the Chrissy season……however this year a mechanical failure spiced things up the “Australiana window” – maybe Mr Koala had a little too much eggnog……GOLD!

Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October

Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs

• 
  Brains and a touch of bitch – miao!

How unaustralian! Viewers of the game show Temptation and non-viewers alike were horrified when contestant Lainie showed her true colours during the fast money segment of the show. Realizing that her chances of winning were shot – she was at $25 and the other two were at $65 – she decided to continue “buzzing in” after Charles reached $80…..preventing Harry from making ground. Lainie also admitted that she liked Charles better than Harry and that she didn’t actually know the answers…….wonder who got a lump o coal for Chrissie?

• 
  Storm in a Vegemite Jar

Neil reported on the outrageous claims of the banning of our beloved concentrated yeast extract spread – Vegemite…..truly a national gastronomic icon. Equated in the media with Enemy #1 Osama – as a dig at the yanks (sorry guys), this story also blew the lid on cronyism in the media….life’s hard in a petrie dish like Geelong. Something tells me it was a slow news week.

• 
  Lil Audrey skips in at 50,000th

Lil Audrey, Melbourne’s beloved Skipping Girl Vinegar neon sign has been saved with a makeover and heritage listing – noice! She also hit a major milestone as Metroblogging’s 50,000th post. Metroblogging has over 700 bloggers contributing to 51 cities…..congrats to all for their great work!

• 
  Trivia with a side of Parma

Newbie Ben, he of the Movember fame, broke his MB cherry with a call for Melbourne’s best Trivia nights with a side of Parma and a pot of course……

• 
  Tram drivers with talent

The daily commute can be pretty dour, Janice shared a special experience with a singing tram driver…..according to our readers it’s not such a rare experience, the trams are peppered with comedic warbling tram drivers – entertainment enroute – priceless!

• 
  Boys will be boys

Our Melbourne MB lads had a moment discussing their members…..all courtesy of adrock2xander…..who else?

Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:

January February March April May June July August September

Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs

• 
  How well do you know Melbourne?

September kicked of adrock2xander’s “Where Art Thou” series, testing how well we know our beloved town via photographic clues. Readers and MB Melbourne authors alike were quick to identify his many pics. A tour of quintessential Melbourne locations, starting with a sneaky pic of Melbourne’s State Library in town; Kooyong Tennis Centre – home to the AAMI Classic, Movida – for the best tapas in Melbourne and then returning to the State Library for the annual – Vic Police dance-off, hmmmm I think we might be able to track adrock’s haunts with these clues.

• 
  REAL customer service – it does exist

Surprisingly, I encounter few vending machines in my life…..the bane of my existence tends to be the malfunctioning parking ticket machine or old skool parking meter, usually when I’m running late….City of Port Philip are you hearing me?

Colin shared his love of grabbing a quick snack whilst waiting for a train…..and that awful moment when that little coil just doesn’t turn enough – just as you can taste that chocolaty crunch……what do you do? He called the hotline and amazingly got his money back.

• 
  The journo least likely to win a Walkley

The saga of miz Naomi Robson continued – with a dash to Papua via Indo to save little Wa-wa from being eaten by his tribesman. In true Naomi-style (or should that be lack of?) she, of the hard hitting Today Tonight, forgot to get the right visas and was summarily “asked to leave”.

It’s been a blast watching this one implode. Poor dear just can’t get it right – it all started with her getting caught on camera yelling obscenities at her production crew – then there was her “relationship” with convicted drug dealer Tony Mokbel…..apparently
she knew him as a businessman; who can forget her lessons in hair and makeup whilst Australia was awaiting the fate of the two men trapped in the Beaconsfield mine collapse and her homage to Steve Irwin in khakis accessorized with live lizard. Neil summed it up with Hey Indonesia, you can take her. In fact, we will trade you for Corby.

• 
  Oi! That’s MY wheelie bin

Zara gave us some home truths with a rant about rubbish bin robbers in her area of Fitzroy, and the diplomacy of her local garbage men – apparently they only empty the ones from the City of Yarra. It would seem that there is quite a hobby in stealing bins in Fitzroy; bjorn suggested wheelie bin races…..iew…..

• 
  Aliens of Bearbrass

Everyone has walked passed these guys a million times, finally we know their names – Johnnie, Charlie and Bob. Yep, our forefathers Batman, Swanston and Hoddle – not just random alien dudes crafted for tourists to pose with or stick a ciggie in their mouths. We also found out through reader Brett that Melbourne could have been named “Bearbrass”, “Glenelg” or “Dutigalla” – thank god they chose Melbourne.

• 
  Rest in Peace

September was the month where the world lost Australian International icons through tragic accidents. The first was the passing of Steve Irwin, our Crocodile Hunter and Melbourne born racing legend Peter Brock, King of the Mountain. Closer to home fans of the famed South Melbourne dimmie said goodbye Master Dim Sim maker Ken Cheng.

Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:

January February March April May June July August

Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs

• 
  Mid-week blues…

Colin laments on the lack of interesting bar activities on a weeknight. Melbourne, boring? Fair dinkum, mate!

• 
  RMITv Uplate

I stayed up for 10 hours through the night for a good cause. Go homeless people!

• 
  Hot air balloon crash!

Things that look out of place, do look out of place. Check out this balloon faux pas. Glad no one was hurt.

• 
  John So, he ain’t my bro.

For all of John So’s popularity, i still cringe and experience major bouts of Asian embarrassment whenever the Lord Mayour speaks. We can wax all the lyrical we’d want about him, but the truth still rings true – John So still can’t manage an intelligible sentence in English without you straining to pick out his wacky enunciation.

• 
  Mischa Barton in Melbourne.

Read above. Nuff said.

• 
  A silent protest

Hundreds of cab drivers of mainly Indian descent congregrated at the steps of Parliament this very night to silently protest against the lack of safety implements in cabs.

Unless you’re incredibly well-off, every Melburnian would have once boarded a cab. These are hardworking folks who shuttle the rudes, the arrogants, the drunks, the maniacs and even the ‘runners’, so to put up with unaggravated physical attacks is more than what they can take.

If you’re reading this, i urge you to pay for your cab ride, be nice to the driver, smile, and manage a ‘thank you’ when you alight. It isn’t much, but it’s the little bits that count.

• 
  Rude Melburnians!

Gota say, Melbourne has got to give herself more credit sometimes. This city is far nicer than many think. Bar a few dingbats, Melbourne is a wonderful city with polite and friendly people.

• 
  Asian blood in Anglo Australians – far out!

Neomien and i get into a passively heated exchange (?!) over the authenticity of her claims that some Anglo Australians have Asian blood in them. C’mon Neomien, who you kidding?

• 
  From footy book to foreplay

Only in Melbourne can you witness a lively banter of a 100+ footy book with foreplay, romance and handball.

Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs

• 
  Australian Customs = $$$$$ mongers?

Colin made good use of his ears and dishes the dirt on the customs in Australia. Good advice for me, as i return to Melbourne in a few days’ time. Only worry now i have is – what kind of alcohol beverage should i buy? :O Hmmmm decisions decisions…

• 
  Melbourne’s great divide

Here in Melbourne, we are so unique in our own funny way. While the Sydneysiders fret over racial tensions and are divided by racial and ethnic hatred, Melburnians are divided by the Yarra River. As for me, i live in Brunswick, so that makes me north of the river. However, due to my friends and weekend biking trips, i do make trips to the south of the river rather often.

But yeah, Sydneysiders sure are weird! :O

• 
  Australian customs + Melbourne Airport = recipe for disaster

First we had dodgy customs at the airport, now squirt reckons parking at the Melbourne Airport’s a rip off. At $15 for 2 hours, i’d say, “Hell yeah!”

• 
  Dungeon Crawl – Melbourne’s best kept video gaming secret

2006 also saw the opening of Dungeon Crawl, a funky and reclusive video game shop that specialises in rare games, good prices and personable service. Very unlike a major video gaming chain that we all know about…*cough* E *cough* B *cough*…

Dungeon Crawl – have you been there?

• 
  Southgate photo ban

In a move that’s has traces of the riduculously strict Singapore government, the Victorian government imposes a complete ban of photo-taking, claiming it’s an attempt to beef up security in the prime area. Bollocks i say. Mate, if i wana blow up a building, i’ll strap bombs to myself and walk into it. No need to advanced photo-taking preparation.

Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:

January

February

March

April

May

June

Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs