Friday was the nominated day to go shopping in the 'burbs. DD had a day off and we started in Footscray. I arrived in Footscray on the Geelong train at 10.19, he train left Marshall at 9.19 and by the time we got to Geelong the train was packed, a velocity of five carriages.First stop at the Homy ped Factory outlet
![]()
Where I bought two pairs of shoes greatly reduced and worth the visit. The back of the Michaelis Baylis factory who make Homyped can be seen from this train what you also see is the back of this
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
So for all who have wondered and watched this overgrown weedy paddock by the Maribynong River transformed, along with the cycle, walking track, here it is. From Footscray I went to Brunswick to the Black Apple and bought some more bargains. Went to the Savers shop and they wanted $5.99 to $8.00 for a man's tie, I will stick to my op shops. The Don Bosco shop had ties for $2.00, more to my liking.
Then off to have lunch at Curly Pops featured restaurant. Hidden Secret Garden in Union Street Ascot Vale where I gorged on
![]()
![]()
![]()
We shared the main and the sweets , I needed a walk after this and was treated to an unexpected long walk.
The 3.59 train from Southern Cross was at platform 3 b, that meant a walk back as far as between Latrobe and Lonsdale streets to the train. The guard said " Welcome aboard the 3.59 to Marshall which will be terminating at South Geelong , you will be shown to a bus that will take you to to the Marshall station. Thank you Vline, not happy Joyce. You see Geelong were playing at the "G" and everything stops for the %#(&)&^%@!% football.
I am not a footie follower.
Queen of Heaven
The Heavenly Queen Temple can be accessed from Neilson Place where the Homyped factory is.
THE remarkable transformation of a vacant Maribyrnong River site into a Buddhist temple complex began with a 16-metre statue of the Heavenly Queen.
Sydenham, Geelong and Ballarat train line passengers have a perfect view of the statue, which is just south of the railway line, opposite the Newells Paddock site.
The stainless steel, gold-painted statue was designed and made in Nanjing, China. Heavenly Queen, also known as 'Mazu', Lin Mo Liang A.D. 960-987) was born in Meizhou Island in FuJian Province during the Sung Dynasty in China.
The six-building complex has been a decade in the making, since the 35,930-square-metre site was remediated and sold to the Heavenly Queen Society. When complete, it will include a memorial hall, souvenir shop, office, exhibition centre, drum tower, a secondary temple, bell tower, lake pavilion and extensive Chinese gardens. The large temple and complex is better viewed from the site.
The etched granite and the carvings are
worth seeing . I don't know what they convey , it is the workmanship that I admire and the detail.
Then off to have lunch at Curly Pops featured restaurant. Hidden Secret Garden in Union Street Ascot Vale where I gorged on
The 3.59 train from Southern Cross was at platform 3 b, that meant a walk back as far as between Latrobe and Lonsdale streets to the train. The guard said " Welcome aboard the 3.59 to Marshall which will be terminating at South Geelong , you will be shown to a bus that will take you to to the Marshall station. Thank you Vline, not happy Joyce. You see Geelong were playing at the "G" and everything stops for the %#(&)&^%@!% football.
I am not a footie follower.