Pumping at Redfern Heights
Yes, there is a Redfern Heights - how salubrious is that - sounds much better than Redfern East.
I was told about the Heights today which is where the petrol station is - 10 Botany Road, Redfern Heights.
Anyway, this is about my favourite petrol station - who would have thought I would even want to write about one. But let me tell you; this is like an old-fashioned petrol station (even if they don't pump the petrol for you) - independently owned by Mary and Eric for 35 years they offer service with a smile.
Mary started there when 27 years old (and a slim size 8) - she may not be a size 8 anymore, but   I am sure her smile hasn't changed.
Without fail, whenever I go there I leave with a smile thanks to Mary

Whenever I buy petrol I also buy a snake - today I was not charged and then Mary offered me another one - not being a greedy person I politely declined. 
As I didn't have my camera with me at the time, I returned to take her photo and she offered me another snake (I feel like the snake woman) which I did accept with thanks as that was not being greedy I think.
Support your local independent.

Let me tell you about these shops
I have recently visited 4 different shops in Redfern which have all been in operation for a minimum of 21 years. I struggle to think of many shops being owned and run by the same person for that length of time.
First up is Black Lace in Redfern Street. Poppy Doumanis has been here for 40 years and was one of the first in Redfern to take down the shutters - and good on her. I love the shop, personal service, and Poppy is always ready for a chat and is really helpful with her advice as to whether "do I look fat in this?" Poppy indents the clothes so there is a constantly moving array of gear at very reasonable prices. The photo of me in my profile is a George dress I bought last year for $90 - can't argue with that.

Next up is Redfern Fruit Market with Kitty at the helm.
Now this is a fruit/veg shop with a difference - music playing, crowded with the widest variety of the usual stuff, and loads of all the fabulous Asian herbs and exotica, enough to make any Asian dish. I just discovered the other day - god I must be blind - that in the low shelves under the fruit displays are dozens of dry-food items ranging from arborio rice, Chinese vinegars and sauces, various rices almost anything you need.
As well, snack foods are made daily, vegetable pancakes, vegetable spring rolls, mango pancake. Fresh fruit juices made to order. AND flowers - my goodness, how much Kitty has put into this small space. Always smiling, with spiky short hair, kohled eyes, black top she is not your average greengrocer. Drop in and see what I mean. 193 Regent Street, Redfern.
Don't know what happened, but have lost the photo of Kitty - bugger! I am going to take another photo and post it on another time as she is worth looking at.

Next up is my local hardware store owned by Joseph who has been here 42 years. How easy it is to just walk down the street to buy the odd hardware piece without having to get in the car and drive to Bunnings. I do have Josephs photo. Ambours Hardware 93a Redfern Street, Redfern.

Last on the list is Rogers Shoe Repairs - now Roger has been here since 1959 and is currently involved in the shoe repairs for The Great Gatsby. He works for the Belvoir Theatre and Opera Australia - so that must say something. He has worked on the stage shows Zhivago, Burn the Floor, Oliver, Tap Dogs as well as the film Wolverine. So with six degrees of separation I am connected to some very famous people. His son Nathan now works with his dad and he has a nice smile. No photos of either of them as they are shy but this is of me waiting for my shoe to be fixed. And someone wrote a poem about Roger as they must think he is pretty good.

I met a Pig.
On Sunday I met up with friends at the Norfolk Hotel (about which I cannot write as it is in Surry Hills, not Redfern) - on my way home around 6pm walking down Redfern Street to my place, I met a woman walking her pig - I think his name was Alfred. He looked very smart with a bright blue coat and red scarf. He was camera shy and wouldn't show his face, but I snapped him as best as I could.

More on our night at Souths

I finally have the night view of the Rabbitohs oval which looks quite magical. The intense jade green of the grass looked beautiful. I do think the balcony at Souths will be the place to be when the weather warms up.
The band on the night of the launch of Simmers Bistro was pretty good, with the lead singer appearing to have a pretty good time.

On August 4th, Souths will be holding a Greek Taverna Nite with live music (hopefully the band above) plus dancing. Should be fun.
Anyway, we left on our way for some Chinese wearing our fabulous new hats and with our gift bag - such style on the streets of Redfern!

After turning up at Souths on Chalmers last week, one week early for the launch of the new Simmers Bistro, my red-haired Blog Buddy (RHBB) and I managed to get the date right and at 6pm on Tuesday night we arrived in the same outfits as the previous week (I did not wash mine, RHBB may have, but I didn't think it necessary) - and this time we were at the right place at the right time, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

We were greeted by Sarah who will be front of house at the new

bistro, bright and charming she should be just right for the job.

We were served some yummy food and the duck was a standout.

I loved one of the waiters, young, enthusiastic and happy in the job.

We stood out on the balcony and across the road the team was training under floodlights and the bright green of the turf visible between the two buildings looked quite magical. My photo did not work because of the street and flood lights unfortunately.. 

I think the balcony will prove to be a perfect place in warmer weather to sit out and watch the activity on the street and across the oval.

We left after about an hour and decided to go for some Chinese at the Wah Fung in Regent Street. This place is a favourite with the local, cabbies and now me. 

We had a HUGE bowl of short soup, really well flavoured. 

To follow I thought it would be good to have a bit of a naff dish of Sweet and Sour Pork - but how good was that! That is the thing, something which originally tastes good is then transformed into something pretty yuck and then it loses cred in the flavour stakes. Well, after a previous visit, my favourite dishes there are now Duck san choy bow, Short soup, Fried rice and Sweet & Sour pork. I need to point out that I consider myself a bit of an expert on Chinese food and here I am extolling the above dishes - oh well, there you go - so much for being precious about food.

I know that much of what I have written so are has involved food, but that is to change - life is not just about eating (oh really, who said that?) and I want to show more about this amazing place - more will be coming about the small funky shops and businesses, the people and what is going on behind closed doors.

Just a small side note - doing this blog is proving to be such fun and has opened the doors to meeting people who are as enthusiastic about Redfern as I am - how lucky I feel to be here at this point in time. If you have any comments please send them to me.