Cafe #30: Edna's Place

Date: 9 December 2007, 4.40pm
Location: Glenhuntly Rd, near Carre St, Elsternwick
Coffee: $3.00 (didn't give it a try)

This is a great cafe. I'm sitting on a velvety olive-green couch in a window alcove, looking out at the busy street. The black-painted wood floor slants upwards to the window corner and there are three red-stencilled three-rose patterns on the window. Walls are yellow and maroony-brown and there is a standing lamp with bright multi-colour plastic flower chains hanging down the shade. In front of me is an oval wooden coffee table. Behind me the left wall of the cafe has shelves of chatchkes - dishes, teapots, jugs - and the counter looks like an old-fashioned general store's, with wooden cabinets. It's a cosy, lovely cafe, though I could do without the annoying radio station that is being played. I didn't get coffee but instead a chocloate scroll - I can't afford both these days. It was nice.

I wanted to go to the beach today, but of course it is now windy and chilly - just my luck. And I'm dressed for the beach.

The colloquium I helped organise happened on Monday and Tuesday. The papers presented were great, the panel was good, but not enough people came: for example, seven audience members for five panellists. The early morning papers had almost no one to hear them. Nevertheless, I was most impressed with the quality of the papers and enjoyability of their presentations. We are chalking the lack of crowds up to bad choice of dates and focussing on feedback that it was a relaxed and enjoyable colloquium.

I presented my first academic paper, which went well, though I didn't feel it was as highly intellectual as others. I'm glad the colloquium is over and that my confirmation report has been handed in. They were taking me away from my thesis. This weekend I have finally gotten back to work on Foucault after some days of fulltime work as a Student Advocate and doing invigilation at Melbourne Uni.

Cafe closing, so must go.