My intended walk around the block this morning turned into a 45-minute affair.

Johnson Ave => Barber Drive => Dowling Ave => Carruthers Drive =>Westmill Drive => Heaths Rd

I said hello to my neighbour down the road, the elderly lady of Macedonian? Polish? Italian? origin who's usually out tending her garden. She made some encouraging remark about me exercising, which was a great way to start my walk.

Today I thought I'd explore the Cambridge Primary School, which funnily enough I've never checked out even though it's so close by.

I was impressed by the school's contemporary and well-maintained buildings. The campus is securely fenced, has a security surveillance system in place, and the staff carpark has an intercom at the gate. For some reason, I had been under the impression that state schools were rundown and badly in need of government funding for infrastructure (re: recent hoo-ha in the media about Werribee SC).

The houses opposite the school are something else.

They're GORGEOUS.

These are the houses you never see at OFIs. Maybe the owners are in for the long haul, and with beautiful homes like these, why would you live anywhere else? I saw magnificent double-storey homes and, unlike the new estates springing up further north, no two homes looked the same.

I was particularly drawn to a Victorian terrace that immediately made me feel like I had been transported to England in ages past. It was ivy-clad, mysterious and at odds with its neighbours - but in a charming way.

At the end of my walk, I met my neighbour again. She was coming from the opposite direction and we chatted about how my walk had gone.

"45 minutes today!" I proudly announced. "I'm happy."

Her reply?

"Po po po po!" she declared.

With a grin, she mimicked someone power walking, and applauded me.