Lights out, Go, Go, Go!!!

Race day and we’re both restless with anticipation of the first race of the F1 season, however, the day is far too good to just sit in the stands and as this will probably be our only opportunity, we set off to walk round Albert Park lake and the track. It is a long walk, but it offers us a different view of the earlier racing and a good view of the lake and park. It’s amazing to hear all the cars racing round the track and yet the black swans, coots and seagulls just carry on serenely floating on the water searching for food. The grass is straw coloured, more like dust really, except where it’s been watered for the golf course. This must be the only place where you can walk a golf course while looking at great views of the lake and city and still see the motor racing. It takes us over 2 hours to circuit the lake, amazing to think Lewis Hamilton drove round it in under 1 minute and 21 seconds!

There’s so much more to enjoy, the Heineken village where there’s lots of beer on sale, a stage and live music, that is if he ever finishes sound checking! There’s a children’s play area and a brass band playing. Hot and not a little sweaty we need a drink and somewhere cool to sit, the F1 Advantage Club is an oasis when it looms on the horizon. Successfully settled in a couple of chairs, Dave finds us a drink, a beer for him and a saintly lime and soda for me. Or that’s what I thought, in large letters it advertises lime and soda but in the smallest of writing I notice it also contains vodka!

The last couple of hours are spent anxiously watching the clock and sitting in the shade. We’re in our seats in plenty of time to see the drivers parade with them all perched in MG cars, then there is the tribute to Charlie Whiting, race director who died a few days ago and the shooting tragedy in Christchurch, New Zealand. Then, at last it’s lights out and go, go, go. Bottas beats Lewis off the line and frankly, that’s race won for him. There are other exciting incidents, Sainz car going on fire in front of us, Grosjean going straight on at turn 15 to retire and Verstappen hunting down Hamilton but not quite catching him. All too soon it’s race over, not quite the result we wanted but well done to Bottas, it’s going to be an interesting season.

So tonight, we fancy a casual night, relaxed dining and may be a drink so we take a stroll down Fitzroy Street. However, it’s St Patricks Day and all the Irish bars are full of the green clad drinkers, not for us, an about turn and back to The Banff. It advertises “paperbag pasta” which doesn’t sound promising but is actually really good. 

The Storeroom

The stroll back takes us past a open glass door at the bottom of our apartment block and we find ourselves drawn in. it is probably one of the most random bars I’ve ever encountered, upside down gas lamps on the ceiling, skate boards, bikes, aircraft seats, traffic lights and Darthvader to mention a few of the items adorn the walls and ceiling of the place. Even better, as we arrive the black wooden door slides shut, and you have to lift the phone to exit! Fortunately, there’s a back exit to the lift up to our apartment!!!