Shops.......

I thought it was about time I introduced you to one of the shopping malls here, each suburb of  Adelaide has it's own shopping area and each it's own character.  Some are more like very long high streets, some are a cluster of shops gathered around a roundabout, there are lots of individual shops and lots and lots of cafes, many of which do yummy GF cakes and delicious coffees and teas!  Oh dear.... the excuse I make to myself is that I'm supporting local communities..... well somebody has to do it.

This is Burnside Village 

It is a very well designed shopping area, there is a sense calm and even peace about the place.  Lots of jewelry shops, trendy shoe and clothes shops, loads of cafes, a health food shop, butchers, fishmongers, fruiterers (veg shops to you and I), bakeries and a supermarket. 

There are interesting statues (the spring ones wobble when you push them), the water features are decorated with tiny brass lizards and frogs, some are designed as children's play areas and have multi-coloured balls to play with.  There are quite a few places to sit rest your wearies and watch the world go past.  It's so well thought out there are even 'bins' by each door for you to collect bags to put your wet brollies in while your shopping.... and the loos are very nice! 

                                                                             

As with any shopping centre it gets busy with beautifully dressed and quite glamorous ladies who shop and lunch, booted and suited business people and ordinary shoppers.  Believe it or not the photos were taken on a fairly busy shopping day!

The one thing is which they seem to have got very wrong, and a lot of people are upset and writing letters of protest about it, is the once very beautiful gum tree which the 'village' was built around.  This poor tree is at the centre of the village and has been slowly dying since the village was built.  Apparently there was a misunderstanding about the type of glass used in the roof.  Various remedies have been tried but have had no positive effect.  The last resort is now being taken special tree misting computer controlled sprays and UV lights are being tried.  If it doesn't perk up by October then it will be removed and a refurbishment will take place, I think sadly it's days are numbered.

In total contrast was the antique shop we went to at Edenhope called Higglety Pigglety, you will, I'm sure never have seen anything quite like this Aladdins cave.  From the moment you walk through the gate to be gaily greeted by one of the Cockatoos you are in another world.  The house itself is traditionally built and quite old... I'm judging this from the very few bits of house on view.  It gives the impression it is about to burst at the seams its so full of treasures.  

Joanne, the owner and very interesting larger than life character from the Cook Islands directed us to various parts of the house, gardens and out houses, each with it's own collection.  There were vintage clothes, kitchen wares, lampshades, furniture, porcelain, books, hats, there was not a surface left uncovered, infact virtually anything you could think of could probably be found there.

A narrow path winds it's way through the 'shop' and grounds, Joannes little and very friendly Jack Russell dog followed us around.  One path we took towards an out-house was lined with more cockatoos, the odd goose and a small gathering of hens.  Joanne disappeared ahead of us into one outhouse and after much irate clucking (not from Joanne) she emerged clutching Miss Henny Penny, who'd made a nest in among the 'antiques'.  It was hilarious...

It was such an over load on the senses that we only managed to look around one room.  But after a satisfying bit of haggling we managed to come away with a few 'bargains'.  We have promised to return......