33°C in St Kilda today.

 

It's a balmy 33°C in #StKilda today and the #StKildaBeach Foreshore is packed with people! It's a great vibe with the majority of people behaving and enjoying the #beach. Some may regret their new shade of red skin tomorrow, but there was definitely the smell of coconut oil in the air!

 

It was sad to see one dog owner with his dog on the sand, which was lying down on its side panting in the direct sun.  We were actually concerned for the dog, despite the fact that #dogs are not allowed on the beach at this time of year. We can only hope that he took his dog to some shade and gave it some water. 

 

It was great to see the St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club set up and keeping an eye out on everyone. They do a great job and we are grateful.

 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday folks!

Photo: St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club set up their Beach Patrol today.

 
 

 


 

Wild Storms Subside

The wild weather that hit Melbourne yesterday was quite horrific. If you were in Melbourne last night there was no way that you would have missed, or escaped, it.
 

It was a typical Melbourne sunny afternoon and what appeared to just be the simple beginnings of a rainy evening, turned into a horrific thunder and lightning storm at around 2:00am. The lightning was very intense and each flash was so bright that it lit up the sky as if it were day.  The thunder was so loud that my apartment windows vibrated.  It was the type of thunder that distresses pets too. My cats are always quick as lightning trying to scurry under the bed, but giving them a cuddle and letting them sleep on the bed always calms their nerves. Hopefully other pet owners took time to comfort their pets too, especially when the power went out.

According to The Age, 50,000 Victorians lost power due to these storms but many of them were reconnected by Monday afternoon.  There was only one moment during the night where all of the power went out in East St Kilda. All power was out inside my home, and it was eerie to look out the window and see no street or traffic lights. It was completely black and it was another flash of lightning in the sky that illuminated the streets again for a brief moment.   The power returned approximately 15 minutes later. Things were not so fortunate for the owners of a house in the nearby suburb of Prahran. Their house was struck by lightning and caught fire, causing around $850,000 in damage.

Melbourne's public transport system also took a beating with many train lines and services interrupted due to flooding.  We are relatively lucky in St Kilda because if our train line, the Sandringham Line, is delayed or cancelled in such circumstances, we still have trams and buses that are available to us that all head into the city, and although it may take a little longer than the train to get to Flinders Street, it is not as bad as someone who may be relying on just the one train to commute to work.

 

Overall, St Kilda escaped having too many major post-storm issues, and now that the storms have subsided, we look forward to more pleasant Spring weather for the rest of the week.



Photo taken from my balcony.

Dogs off leash in Alma Park

As a dog owner, it's not difficult to know the importance of getting outdoors with you furry family member to let them get some fresh air and exercise.  It's also important that they have an opportunity to run and play freely without being restricted by a leash all of the time.

Alma Park in St Kilda East is a popular place for people to take their dogs.  In fact, it is common around 5pm each day, to see a whole group of like-minded dog owners in the park with their canines.  It's like a small community where people get to know each other and each others' dogs, they share stories about caring for their pets and offer each other advice, while the dogs run leash free.

 

As responsible dog owners, it is a requirement that people remain in control and in view of their dogs, as well as pick up after their dogs. The majority of people do this without any hesitation. However, some of the other dog owners will strongly "remind" people when they don't! It is such a shame when you witness some dog owners turning a blind eye when their dogs are doing their business, and then just walk away as if nothing happened.  The classic one is when you see someone looking at their smart phones conveniently at the right moment!  

 

Considering that the park is used by many other people as well, whether they be lads out kicking the football, or parents with their children in the playground, personal trainers utilizing some of the grass areas with their clients, or just people sitting and relaxing in the sunshine, there is nothing worse than stepping in, or even worse, sitting on, some unexpected doggy doo. 

 

There are other "off leash" parks around St Kilda and the City of Port Phillip if Alma Park is not near you.