Mayor4Unley

Have you ever wondered what your barista is really thinking (of you) when you place an order for a coffee? It usually is not a kind thought. Interesting that these days we all have our favourite barista with whom we think we get that special service. My barista showed me an article in The City Magazine (30 July). He said that it's all true. The article is shown below (with some formatting and typo changes). It’s worth a read. It will improve your understanding and enjoyment of coffee and raise your ranking with your favourite barista. What’s your barista really thinking on the other side of the counter? The City spoke to one who spilt the beans on what makes them steam up. Requests for “hot” coffee The hot water at coffee shops comes at one temperature – hot. If the 95C water in your long black isn’t hot enough, it’s probably time to look for a beverage with a higher boiling point. Very hot milk can ruin a coffee. If you ask for a very hot coffee, don’t b...

Last night I visited an old friend, an old codger who lives nearby. Before continuing with the story, I think the term old codger is a wonderful Australian term for an older man. I won’t get into comparing dictionary definitions, but in my mind, old and codger must go together. You simply don’t say that he is a codger. He must be an old codger. Yeah, the dictionaries disagree, but I dispute their comprehension. This leads me to wonder why there are no young codgers. Codgers simply appear as old codgers. Also, I am curious that there is no female equivalent of an old codger. Back to the story ... Last night I visited an old friend, Peter, an old codger who lives nearby. He is in his 90s and is always up for a visit. I take a bottle of brandy – St. Agnes VSOP. Actually I take a bottle of brandy every second visit. Peter likes to natter and is curious about what’s happening in the community and on Council. In the past he was heavily involved in local volunteer work. ...

Unley is a huge supporter of SALA and August heralds the month of the SALA Festival. August in Adelaide is SALA month. The City of Unley will again be supporting the SALA Festival. There are 2 events. The first is Where Business Meets Art and that is everywhere across Unley. It has been coordinated by Unley’s five Main Street Traders Associations and is designed to put art in our shops, cafes and businesses. 120 artists will participate and 40 businesses have committed to display the art. If your local shop doesn't participate, then ask them why. Maybe they'll consider it next year. The big event, the one I really like is SALA on Show where everything on display is for sale. This year it will return to Unley Road and be held in the Soldiers Memorial Garden and in the nearby Unley Shopping Centre carpark. Be there on Sunday 24 August starting @ 10.30am to 5pm. There will be 631 items for sale. Take a leisurely time to browse what’s on offer. It is estimated th...

The function and purpose of libraries is being challenged. Are books really out of fashion? I challenge that suggestion. Maybe they are becoming unfashionable and less read. Replaced by electronic media? Replaced by CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray? Curling up to book is a better feel than snuggling a CD. Whatever, the function of libraries is changing and whilst cracks of change might only appear on the surface now, there will be rapid shift in the near future. Libraries must recognise the need to change and embrace and experiment when the opportunity arises. It’s always better to be in control and driving the change rather than playing the hard game of catch-up. I found this interesting story about libraries in the USA that are establishing innovative and high tech facilities (aka. Workshops and Maker Labs) within the existing library. A practical example is the installation of 3D printers.  Residents can use the printers to make whatever they wish eg. a mobile phone case (yellow...

The State Government presented to an Unley Council workshop the final design for the reconstruction of the median strip along Greenhill Road. This will impact and limit access to/from Clark and Joslin Streets in Wayville. This design is what was suggested by the residents at the first community workshop. At the session I attended there was a majority agreement. The solution is a compromise. What will be allowed is: @ Clark, right turn out @ Joslin, right turn in Can Unley Council in any way influence this proposal? No! Construction will commence after the Royal Show.

Last night I was out door knocking Wayville residents about various local issues. I was unable to attend the annual event to celebrate the major recipients of Unley’s Community Grants. Here is a brief mention of the recipients in the Goodwood area: The Goody Patch. (Grant to develop a fruit and nut orchard.) Goodwood Community Services (Grant for a customised air gym to be used in the Goodygym.) Goodwood Central Traders & Services Association (Grant to stage the family friendly ‘Goodwood Groove’ event.) Goodwood Volleyball (Grant to purchase volleyball poles and nets to enable disabled participation.) For more detail on this night of celebration, I refer you to Cr Don Palmer’s blog.

Today is Friday and it’s Casual Day at work. It is customary to have a charity donation tin to collect for the privilege of wearing jeans and casual clothes to work. Earlier in the year, a female colleague visited Laos and was shocked by the stories about the impact of unexploded cluster bombs scattered across that country. During the Vietnam War, Laos became the most bombed country on the globe with the USA dropping (amongst other ordnance) 270 million cluster bombs on the country. Many remain unexploded. They continue to maim and kill. Often the result is loss of limbs. There has been a recent documentary about the efforts being made to find and destroy the cluster bombs. It has been estimated that at the current rate of progress due to a lack of substantial funding, it will take another 30-50 years. At work, our Casual Day charity is COPE - Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise which provides prosthetics and mobility devices for people who require them ...