The world where I live — coast
Further down the peninsula on the Port Phillip Bay side is God’s waiting room, otherwise known as the seaside village/town/growing metropolis of Rosebud. In meetings when I had a job that allowed contact with other humans, the council representatives said Rosebud has the highest percentage of pensioners of any municipality in the country.
And they’re grand pensioners, too. No Gold Coast bleached bouffants or half a tonne of oversized gold jewels adoring anyone’s wrists here in down-to-earth Rosebud. We need to travel to further along Nepean Highway to Sorrento and Portsea for the serious bling.
There’s even a few square inches of beach that isn’t overrun in summer by camping and caravaning tourists, though the sound of a dozen jet skis more powerful than the cars that tow them can drown out the gentle cawing of the seagulls.
Rosebud locals appreciate the revenue and support of the tourists because the town has been allowed to grow and have ready access to new shopping centres. Just don’t expect to park within bloody coo-ee of anything from the week before Christmas until the weekend after Australia Day. Even with my secret shortcuts, I’ve been caught for more than hour trying to do the 10-minute hop from the end of the freeway to Rye. A friend who lives less than five minutes from the town centre says he lives on tinned and powdered food during the tourist season; I’m not sure how serious he is.
The local chemist saved me once when I was stricken with a surprise migraine, the pizza shop serves a fresh and flavoursome Greek salad and even people with handfuls of plastic ducks are welcome in Rosebud. If I’m fortunate enough to reach retirement age, I’d be most pleased to spend time in this sunniest of waiting rooms.
Crank-o-meter: i’ll see you again in february when i can deal with the traffic
January 11th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
People with handfuls of plastic ducks should be welcome anywhere!
A couple of years ago, my mother and I went to Cromer - which is a British god’s waiting room. Every second shop seemed to sell mobility aids. It was strange.
January 12th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
I agree — they’re such cheering, sunny little ducks!
Hmm, I guess you didn’t spend too much on gourmet produce and souvenirs in Cromer then?
January 13th, 2010 at 1:31 am
Well as it happens, Cromer is the home of the Cromer crab, so we did actually buy a truckload of lovely seafood! I think the only other purchase that day was a new hairbrush.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Love the quacks.
When asked what she thinks about Rosebud, mrs harps replied: “not much”. Apparently, no good handbag shops.
January 13th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
*laughs* so you got a brush with crabs and mobility aids? Ahhh, no wonder people don’t hang out with me.
Mrs Harps is correct: no good handbag shops. I may have to scour other parts of the peninsula for something that’s not a patchwork faux hobo.