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WEDNESDAY 2nd MAY:
Flew with Virgin Blue and they were a great airline to fly with. Domestic flights are so easy. Check in yourself on a little touch screen computer in the terminal and away you go! Only have to be there 40 mins beforehand. Seats had loads of leg room & were very comfortable. Flight there took 2 and a bit hours! (Still hadnt left the country - weird that!) Landed in Melbourne to 15 degrees! we had just left 31 degrees in Brissie! As soon as you walk off the aerobridge into the terminal, Dianne was there waiting for us.Dropped in to Tam and Jons place on the way home from the airport. Went home to their house which is in Iris Street in a suburb called Burwood. Nice place. From the front is an English cottage. Look at the back - typical Aussie house!! Had a cuppa and a sandwich and then we headed out to the Dandenong Ranges to Rickets Park http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=216 - web site address so that you can have a little lookie!
Di stayed home to cook dinner and Mark , me and Gareths girlfriend Laura went there. Peter dropped us off, went to do some work and came back for us.
OK, better to do the family thing here I think: Peter (Mums cousin) married to Dianne (no relation to Mum whatsoever - bloody freaky though as they are TOO ALIKE!). Peter and Di have three kids. Tammara is married to Jon with Baby Alice. Amy has a boyfriend called Carl. Gareth is their youngest and has a girlfriend called Laura - she is from Oxford and has been staying with them for 6 months.
OK, went to RIcketts, a little freaky with all the sculptures everywhere. You turn a corner and see them all over the place. Very quiet place too, no-one talks as they walk round! Came home that night and had dinner with Peter, Di, Gareth, Laura and Amy.
THURSDAY 3RD MAY:
Got up and went out for a drive this morning. Had a drive through the city, past the MCG (Melbourne Cricket ground) , the Telstra Dome, and loads of other places. Ended up out at Williamstown at a rather nice fish and chip shop. Leisurely day and came home for dinner.
FRIDAY 4TH MAY:
Picked Di up from her sewing club at 11.30 and drive to Somers which is on the Mornington Peninsula. In Somers they have a beach house , which is a 70s wooden house, 4 bedrooms, 1 bedroom houses 3 bunk beds. Other three good size doubles. Downstairs bedroom has own ensuite. Laundry, kitchen , lounge etc. Big deck from the lounge. Gum trees at the side of the house where the koalas hang out. Didnt see any though! About a 5 minute walk to the Beach. Tide was in when we went down. Went out to 4 winerys. 6 bottles later......we went back to Somers! 2 of em were mine and non -alcoholic! Went out to Somers Surf Club and had dinner. Mark had sea trout and I had lamb.Came back to a late night of drinking and chatting.
SATURDAY 5TH MAY:
Had cooked brekky this morning and then headed out sightseeing on the peninsula before we headed to Chris and Wendys. (Chris is Peters brother - are you keeping up?) Saw lots of places on the peninsula that family had lived and settled when they first emigrated. Lots of my family history - was nice to see it all. I found out that Grandad Jim (Mums Dad) had got offered a job at Fords in Geelong!! How weird is that???? or would you call it ironic that Mum couldve been here anyway!!! She never would have met Dad though!!!! Thats me out of the equation then!!!!
Chris and Wendy have built a new house for theirselves. its big and beautiful. When we got there we also met.........NOW KEEP UP.....
IRENE ( Nan Phillips niece) and her husband Len. I tell you that was like seeing a reincarnation of Nan and Grandad Phillips there. Len was so like him (and he is only related by marriage!). Len had seen cine film of me and lots of stuff of Nan and Grandad, expecially the days when he used to dress up!!! Stayed there for the afternoon and then headed back to Burwood. We got changed (Mark calls it a splash and dash!) and then headed out to an Italian restaurant, where the mafia eat (apparently!). Mark had his trademark carbonara and i had a pizza. It was kind of a family get together and also to celebrate our anniversary.
SUNDAY 6TH MAY:
Dianne and Laura (refer back to family history if u cant remember who she is!) went off to Noosa this morning which left us 2 and Peter together. We decided that we wanted to go into the city to look around so Peter dropped us off about 10.30am. We jumped on the FREE Circle Tram that "ironically" goes in a circle around the centre of the city - takes about 40-50 mins to get back to where you started from. That gave us a good idea of where things were and how far we had to walk to get there. Gave you a running commentary on what you were seeing, where it was and why it was there. Had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe - which is an all time favourite of mine! We had potato skins to start & chicken strips also to start. Then he had a huge burger and i had a cajun chicken sandwich. Both of us polished it off with an ice cold pint of Cascade Light beer! Then went to Melbourne Observation deck - http://www.melbourne360rialto.com.au/deck.html
Took a few pics and wandered through to the shops. Headed home after that and Peter cooked the best dinner! Sausage and Mash!! Can tell he was born in the UK! He loves the traditional stuff! Suited me!!!
MONDAY 7TH MAY:
Had to get up at.........ARGH 05.30 to get ready to get to the airport. The airport is about 50 mins from Burwood. Got there, checked in , swigged a coffee and away we went! Left Melbourne at about 8am and landed home at 10.00. Margaret was there to collect us so we were home pretty quick. Was funny cos we planned to go food shopping BUT.....being Labour Day bugger all was open. Its amazing how much you can get out of a loaf of bread, 2 packs of crisps and a choc bar! 7-11 was the only thing open!!
Well, that was the week that was! Hectic trying to get everything into 6 days but we got there. All we need now is a holiday to get over that!!! Next trip is Sept 13th for about 10 days to Sydney. We plan to pack the truck and drive. When we get to Sydney we are going to do all the touristy things including "walking the bridge".
FRIDAY 11th MAY:
We have a new addition to the family now . He is OZZY. An 8 week old collie mix puppy that we `rescued` from the RSPCA. He is a placid dog - so far!! Has mastered the art of sitting when told and is getting there with the art of "where to poo!!"
WEEKEND 12/13TH MAY:
Ozzys first weekend here has been great! HE has had 2 accidents in the house and that is it! Not bad for three days here! Hes running after his toys and bringing them back to us, eating well and remains placid and doesnt make too much noise (which is good for the neighbours!).
