Australian Members - Part II - if you read the first post, you'll get what this is all about.

[cemi1988]

looking to buy a valstarino jacket.

any recommendations as to the best place to get one?

 

[Bhodi]

Suggestions for shoe restorations in Melbourne - resole and clean of uppers.

Do any shops do something similar to this?

The cobbler at Manfred's Shoe Lounge in Nth Melbourne are worth checking out. I've had them do a few leather resoles & screwed flush metal toe taps. No complaints.

 

[sebastian mcfox]

looking to buy a valstarino jacket.

any recommendations as to the best place to get one?

Are you in Syd? Pretty sure The Finery Company stocks them

 

[Geoffrey Firmin]

Increased prices +decreased service = Australia Post.

Twice this week I’ve been waiting on AP to deliver. Both times when I went to track the items stated this item has not been scaned. WTF!

 

[Petepan]

Fresh brown tweed from Steve Calder:

It's softening up and will look even better with some wear.

Looks really nice Gerry. Still too hot in Sydney to even think about touching tweed.

Is it lined?

 

[Gerry Nelson]

Looks really nice Gerry. Still too hot in Sydney to even think about touching tweed.

Is it lined?

Thanks! It's still softening up but I'm really happy with it. It's quarter lined. I wanted it as lightly constructed as possible.

 

[California Dreamer]

Melbourne bookhounds might want to check out the Wheeler Centre's Mayhem program. I'll be heading to hear Junot Diaz speak, as well as some other sessions.

 

[Foxhound]

Melbourne bookhounds might want to check out the Wheeler Centre's Mayhem program. I'll be heading to hear Junot Diaz speak, as well as some other sessions.

Thanks for the heads up mate, I'll see you at Diaz!

 

[fxh]

Melbourne bookhounds might want to check out the Wheeler Centre's Mayhem program. I'll be heading to hear Junot Diaz speak, as well as some other sessions.

Most of Wheeler shows are booked out by old people within hours. The basement bar/restaurant is good for a relaxed short snort tho.

 

[Geoffrey Firmin]

Most of Wheeler shows are booked out by old people within hours

The voice of experience speaks.

 

[Geoffrey Firmin]

Brumbies win Tigers win. And Ireland play England. Happy St Patrick’s Day

 

[Coxsackie]

@Geoffrey Firmin for your first night's accommodation in Osaka I recommend City Plaza Hotel. Why? Because it's cheap, clean, comfortable and easy to get to, and not too far from anything.

Rooms are small (of course) but not ridiculously so. They have hot baths up on the top floor. And a great little coffee shop on the ground floor which opens at 8am, obviating any need for the overpriced buffet breakfast.

From Kansai Airport, catch the Rapi*t train (incredibly cool, you MUST ride it) to Tengachaya station. Change to the Sakaisuji line, five or six stops to Sakaisuji-Hommachi station, alight, five minute walk to the hotel. Saves a lot of dough on bullshit taxi fares and convenient as hell.

OK, it's not a ryokan, but believe me, after a ten hour flight, you want something familiar, not paper walls and weird pillows and having to change your slippers every five metres because you entered a different "zone".

 

[Coxsackie]

...and if you do stay there, walk about 150m east along Hommachi-dori on the same side (you cross one set of traffic lights), and you'll come to a neat little local yakitori joint which stays open until late. Great way to finish off a long day of flying, with some icy cold Japanese draught beer (or warm sake if you prefer) and some little plates of delicious stuff. Sit at the bar. Relax. You're in Japan. There's nothing quite like it.

 

[Coxsackie]

On a roll now. Here's me sporting a bunch of Japanese denim the other day in Melbourne. Shirt is the "sawtooth" from Brycelands, a faithful copy of a Levi's Family shirt from the 50s, made for Ethan by some Japanese company. It was expensive but is incredible.

Jeans are also Japanese, from Kapital via @SpooPoker . Hat is an Akubra which I bought back in 1995. I could have worn Western boots (I have a beautiful Canadian pair) but thought that was just a bridge too far, so instead I shod myself with Carmina jumper boots from @Skoaktiebolaget . Photo was taken near the old Newmarket stockyards, an amazing little historical pocket of Melbourne I've never visited before.

I don't usually dress like this, but what the ****, you gotta live your life.

 

[Terminator]

Looks great @Coxsackie. I’m also eyeing off that sawtooth but shipping plus excise and tax into Switzerland is going to be a ball ache. None of the Japanese brands fit me well and my understanding is that Ethan has these cut to fit Westerners better.