Yeah, the move is done. And so am I, but only pro tem – and that’s largely due to last Friday morning, when the whole development was officially … ahh … opened, I guess, by the Federal and the State Ministers for Housing and a couple of Members to back ’em up. That’s not forgetting the staff, the dozens and dozens of people whose companies and departments are associated. In other words, it was a shitfight, but a most delightful one.   🙂

434 newly built homes ready for residents to move in Prahran

I have still to do a camera interview for Housing Victoria the week after next. As to why in the name of any god you can think up that is to happen, it’s because, believe it or not, ’twas I who featured all throughout this official do. The two Ministers – terrific women both ! – hung on to me throughout the morning; and the only time I wasn’t in their company was when each was speaking at a press conference … but I had been kind of fed along the line to stand very close, even then; and it turned out that the reason for my being kept nearby was that I HAD TO SPEAK, TOO.    [gasp !]

I feel as if there wasn’t a single moment when someone was saying “M-R, when did you move in ?” / “M-R, what d’you think of it ?” / “M-R, which level are you on ?” / “M-R !”— you get the picture. I was so exhausted that I had a moment of weirdness in the middle and had to go out onto a garden deck and just sit for five minutes while everyone was inspecting an empty apartment to see what one was like. But that was fine, because a most yummy bloke (Mark, his name is) kept me company in a very kind and sweet way, to ensure I was OK. All the men were luverly,  btw: there was John and Richard and Grant and Al, not forgetting the afore-mentioned Mark, and they were all high up in either some corporation or some department or some off-shoot of a department or an elected person ! I don’t waste my time with nobodies !!! [grin]

And then about a dozen of the uppermost came to inspect MY apartment ! Harriet, the State Minister, promised to send me a framed photo of she, Julie – the Federal Minister – and me. She has said whichever frame is chosen will be the nicest one. Ve shell zee … 🙂 The Boodster was seen briefly as he checked out the crowd coming in and disappeared into the bedroom wardrobe; and it turns out that both Harriet and Julie are cat people and I should’ve known because they are so nice ! I did tell everyone that if any of ’em have a spot in their garden/s that gets morning sun, they’re mad if they don’t get a cactus orchid to put there, and they were all impressed by Phyllis. Harriet knew enough to ask if this isn’t the night bloomer with the scent ?

The press conference followed, on a rooftop garden in the next building, and then it was all over. I sat down again on the edge of a garden, and those two gorgeous women came to sit by me. I asked if they’d be trained to speak as they did – meaning that each was able to speak for 5-7 minutes without repeating herself or saying “Umm …” once ! They said no, it was something you just picked up, and both claimed to have made vile addresses when they began. I don’t believe them.

Oh … I forgot to say that not only – at the start of the whole shebang, when people were still turning up and the numbers were growing exponentially (!) but it seemed that everyone knew who I was ! – I had turned to my left to find standing next to me a most beautiful young woman with a wonderful smile and a quiet manner and voice. “And”, says I, “who are you ?” “I’m … ahh … the Federal Minister”, Julie replied, entirely unoffended and in fact delighted to have been “incognito”. A short time later, when I was as ever being addressed by several people at once and another good-looking young woman joined us, I was telling this appalling story; and this one smiled widely, causing me to ask her name, too. Yep, you guessed it: Harriet is the Victorian Minister. Only I could do this not once but twice, and within the space of minutes.   😦

I do have some photos, and I also have some photos of my WONDERFUL apartment. But I’m waiting for my dresser to arrive so that the bedroom can be properly furnished before I put them online.

As for the photos of the opening, I think I might spend some more time sorting through the limited selection I have, in case any better ones turn up (which I’m hoping will happen). So for now, just accept that this is by far the best rental I have ever been in, run by the nicest group of people.