those roy grounds flats - still very burned

I am sure I have discussed these small, incinerated apartments in Harrison St, Hawthorn, the most northwestern tip of Hawthorn, previously but I can't find the post. It wasn't that long ago. Well, they were set alight one night and nothing has happened much since, certainly there's nothing to be done to save them, I would say. Perry and I visited them/their corpses today.

tampere 5 july - 2 (niemenranta)

Moving on from the interesting old summer house, I came to this newish residential development (Niemenranta) presumably on former industrial land or similar. I love how Finns (probably not just Finns) have these amazing enclosed verandahs that are a bit like half-rooms, so you feel like the building has had part of it sliced away. Of course it's not like that really because they keep the outside world bit very schminck and presentable - mostly. There's a bit of variation between these buildings.

This is the Ulkokuntosali - streetworkout at Niemenranta. 

Then it was more or less time for me to walk back in time for the Pispala cafe to be open so that is what I did.

flagstaff hotel #2

Went past the former Flagstaff Hotel a couple of days ago and got a shot of what is probably the only remaining element of the deco detailing, I am referring to the bit between the 'window' below (with the gruesome artefacts) and the rollerdoor. I don't know what you call that but I assume it has no function, and it wasn't removed because why bother (and I suppose if you removed it you'd have to put something else there instead to stop the rain getting in). I could be wrong but looking at this picture now I think I can see some words above that window, perhaps the word 'Hotel'? Probably. 

So what's here is hideous but I had a little browse through the newspapers and it would seem that in the early 90s the block was slated to become a high-rise (ten storey?) apartment block, that didn't happen clearly, I am ambivalent about whether that would have been a better outcome than Witches in Britches, I mean this is an ugly building now, but its former incarnation wasn't that delightful (can't speak for what it looked like originally, it certainly has the dimensions of a 19th century hotel). 

ascot vale yesterday

Perry and I had a walk in what I suppose is West Ascot Vale yesterday afternoon, but I bet the people who live there have another name for it which indicates to their satisfaction that they're not like the rest of AV, being hidden away between Epsom, Langs and Maribyrnong Roads as they are. It's mountainous there, too and quirky as well. EG:

I mean I assume this (above, in Hunt Crescent) is temporary but how would you ever get it off? 

These (above) are in Hunt Crescent too. I would not be able to handle a really steep drive, I'd have nightmares. Below: the kind of salt of the earth weatherboard that I bet was a lot more prevalent in this area than it is now. I'd love to know what houses like this are like inside. Good I bet. 

Below is Eden Court. I have to say looking at this house I felt like I'd stepped back into a 1958 Home Beautiful cover. Just sumptuous. 

And this is also amazeballs. I bet this is nice to be inside in Summer. 

This shit is crazy. I assume someone heard that old CDs in the garden kept the birds away and reasoned some other redundant audio technology wouldn't hurt as well... then made them birds. Intense. 

This is an apartment block seen from Woods st but actually technically located in Harold St. The big vacant block in front will surely someday contain a house or something, I wonder what the deal is. 

Perry wasn't up for a conversation about this at the time as he was busy with other problems. 

trip to europe last month - goodbye kuopio (again), hello helsinki

16 February - so - this is an odd thing I saw yesterday:

I don't know what it was, but I'll tell you what it looked like - a bunch of police, some with guns, at a door to a home in Kuopio. No voices were raised, they all went inside. 

This is nothing, just an interesting looking asian cafe. It was open. 

Laura had noted how few cats we had seen on our journey - like, about four. None of them outside. Until this one, which I saw and she didn't. It was a happy story because I got to see a cat but also its owner was just arriving home when I photographed him/her. 

Kuopio apartments. 

Intriguing graffiti at Kuopio station. 

We had a four and a half hour journey Kuopio-Helsinki then got a taxi to our accommodation, not much has happened since then, maybe tomorrow huh.