HELLO MINI BEASTS

We were at the Pacific Epping Shopping Centre the other day and we chanced upon the Mini Beasts exhibition, where four tiny critters of the Australian bush were represented by gigantic interactive sculptures - fun!

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

HAPPY DOG

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting; it is principally white-bodied and smooth, rough or broken-coated. The term "Jack Russell" is commonly misapplied to other small white terriers. The Jack Russell is an energetic breed that relies on a high level of exercise and stimulation and is relatively free from serious health complaints. Originating from dogs bred and used by Reverend John Russell in the early 19th century, it has similar origins to the modern Fox terrier. It has gone through several changes over the years corresponding to different use and breed standards set by kennel clubs. Jack Russells have appeared many times in film, television and print with several historical dogs of note.

This is a popular pet dog in Melbourne and one can encounter it on a walk in parks and parklands around town. Despite their small size, these dogs are not recommended for the condominium or apartment dweller unless the owner is ready to take on the daunting task of providing the dog with the necessary amount of exercise and stimulation. They have a tremendous amount of energy for their size, a fact which can sometimes lead to trouble involving larger animals. They may seem never to tire and will still be energetic after their owner has called it a day. While socialised members of the breed are friendly towards children, they will not tolerate abuse even if it is unintentional.

This post is part of the Friday Greens meme,
and also part of the Saturday Critters meme,
and also part of the Camera Critters meme.

CHRISTMAS AT EPPING

Pacific Epping is a shopping centre in Epping, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It opened in May 1996. It is located on the corner of High Street and Cooper Street, 500 m away from Epping railway station, Melbourne, and approximately 21 km north of the Melbourne CBD. Until September 2013, the shopping centre was known as Epping Plaza.

In mid-2007, Epping Plaza underwent major extension and the total number of stores grew to 218. Further development in 2009 included extension and refurbishment of the Fresh Food Hall, now named "Hunter & Gatherer". The area to the north of Hunter & Gatherer was also refurbished. Stage 5 added 11 restaurants and cafés in a street-style setting on the Cooper Street side of Epping Plaza. Reading Cinemas built two extra auditoriums. The completion of Stage 5 rebranded the shopping centre to Pacific Epping. Stage 6 is set to commence in 2014 and will add 50 specialty retailers, including a Kmart.

This post is part of the Geometric Friday meme,
and also part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

AT THE EPPING PLAZA SHOPPING CENTRE

Epping is an outer suburb in Melbourne's North. It is proudly working class and multicultural. It has a large range of shopping strips, shopping malls adn centres and the houses are neat, orderly and well-looked after. Here is a shot from the Epping Plaza where we found ourselves this morning. The Christmas craze has already started!