Messing About in Melbourne

The past couple of weeks have been filled with familiar faces and drunken nights. Mark had already been here a number of weeks before us and stayed in Melbourne for a further week once we had arrived. Then Stef arrived, on holiday with family. Hurrah!!

After investigating a number of the city's bars we ended up in this joint...can't remember the name. Safe to say that we were enjoying ourselves though.

Too soon it was timet to say goodbye to Mark. What a better way to say farewell than have a house (match box) warming party.

Since arriving in Australia I have been desperate to cuddle a koala, so we headed off to Ballarat where a cuddle was guaranteed. Or so we thought! After driving 100 + km we reached the wildlife centre only to be told that photos with the animals were off. Had to make do with a cuddle from this great lump of a koala instead.

It is safe to say that the animals were hardly inspiring and it seem they were not particularly impressed with our visit either!

The cuddle wasn't the only thing that was off. We tried to go to the Neighbours night...fully booked. We tried to get to the theatre...fully booked. We wanted to go up to the observation deck...it was too cloudy. Despite the set backs we had a wonderful time checking out a number of boutiques, going out for dinner, taking a trip down the Yarra and drinking more wine.

The best night though must have been at a place called Dracula's. The most bizarre place I think any of us had visited. A bar/restaurant/cabaret/comedy club where everyone is dressed as vampires and other eerie stuff. The evening begins with cocktails being drunk out of plastic syringes followed by a trip to the restaurant/stage area by ghost train. After that the cast begin their act. Whilst we were there it was the 'Beasts of Burlesque'.

We were positioned on one of the front tables which always means trouble and Ed was continually picked on, winked at and generally flirted with. Mainly with this comedian, Julie.

The show's general idea was to shock, with most of the content being filthy. It was hysterically funny and great fun.

On Stef's final day in Australia we went to the river for breakfast and took an hour long boat ride. The river trip was not that great but a street performer provided some humiliating entertainment.

The familiar faces have now left us. We've drunk far too much, eaten even more but had a wonderful, wonderful time. It is however, time to start the 'real' Melbourne life, get those waist lines back, cut out the alcohol and get some money! Registering as a teacher is turning out to be a nightmare so whilst waiting I am going to be telemarketing for 'Creative Fitness' or 'The Rotary Club'. Ed has an interview tomorrow, so fingers crossed all will continue to go to plan.

Oh yeah...just in case you think we are totally lacking in culture, Ed and I headed over to the Sidney Myer ground for a night of music with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. What a wonderful way to spend an evening.

Telephone

We have a landline number that you can call...

00610394194883

(Haven't tried it, so if it doesn't work leave a comment and I will check!)

I DON'T THINK THAT WILL WORK RELLA!!!!!

TRY 0061394194883

Melbourne

A great start to our stay in Melbourne was a night at the MCG watching the cricket. Even better was that we won!!!

The MCG

Look closely and you will see the bloke from the 'Barmy Army'

The MCG was a fantastic ground and even with the stadium only a third full (40,000 people) the atmosphere was electric.

Melbourne is considered to be the sporting capital of Australia, so much is going on what with the cricket this month, the swimming world championship, grand prix and some sort of athletics championships next month we are going to have a lot of sporting events marked on the calender! Even I am starting to get the sport bug...if you can't beat'em, join'em!

The weekend was topped off with a visit to St Kilda festival on the Sunday, a free event filled with wake boarding, dirt biking and kite boarding competitions and at least eight different stages playing world music, soul, new music, latin, rock...the list goes on (Ed wants me to mention the girls singing in bikinis - an obvious favourite!). A fun day out, especially when all you had to pay for were deep fried hot dogs (???!!!!).

One of the stages at St Kilda

The biggest event of this week however, was us finding a flat and moving in. We thought you might like to have a look around...

The Balcony

The Dining Room

The Kitchen

The Bedroom/lounge!

The bathroom...complete with new surf board

The whole look - cosy!

Well, we're signed up for the next 6 months, where we will get to see a bit more of this incredible city and hopefully save enough cash for the return trip! Guessing we'll probably be away another year...but we'll see how it goes.

Missing you all - if you fancy dropping us a line or dropping by, our new address is;

27/98 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria 3065

Melbourne

Well, we've arrived in the city that will be our home for the next 6 months. Less than 5 hours after arriving we headed for the 'bohemian', Fitzroy, an area sitting just outside of the centre. A place littered with funky shops, organic cafes, asian cheap grub and loads of bars. Less than 5 1/2 hours later and we were looking around a cute matchbox flat. Today we signed the contract and Monday we move in!! How's that for quick moving?!

Ed has lined up a couple of interviews for Monday and I will be checking out some bar/waitressing vacancies whilst I wait for my teacher registration to complete (I know I said I would never step into a classroom again...actually quite missing it!). So all is looking good for the near future.

Now off to the MCG to see England thrash Australia (one can but hope!). This city is filled with loads of entertainment, much of it free, so we've got a busy weekend lined up. Will report shortly.

Leaving Adelaide and along the Great Ocean Road

First port of call before setting off in the Bongo (and then sleeping in it) has got to be a bottle shop. This time it was slightly more upmarket, as we dropped in on the cellar door of Penfolds. After sampling a few wines and buying one nice bottle of red, we headed to the hills hiccuping and clinking (well I did, Rella was drives!)

Our Tasting Range

One Vineyard is never enough so whilst in the Hills we stopped at this pleasant little winery for some more tasting - the sparkling pinot noir was simply divine, so, we bought one and quaffed it later!

Same name as our North Curry local in Somerset

It was then on to Victoria, and straight to the Great Ocean Road. Our first stop was Port Campbell, a pleasant enough little town right by the sea. It was bloody freezing too, and was the start of the fluctuating temperatures that Victoria endures.

On the plus side it was also the start of our most extravagant part of our Aussie experience yet. On leaving Port Campbell we bought a dozen scallops which were later drunk with bird in hand bubbles.

Close to Port Campbell on Great Ocean Road

Next day we checked out the most photographed, and famous stretch of the Great Ocean Road, but instead of just driving along, we took a ride in a chopper!!!! Amazing experience in our little 4 seater bubble.

Chopper Ted (better than a photo of Ted's Chopper!)

Views from the sky

Post ride grins

Views from the road (or near to it)

But that wasn't enough, oh no. Our next stop was Apollo Bay which apparently is famous for its crays, so I bought one - 2.2kgs of one!! If Rella had zoomed in on the photo below you would have probably seen some dribble.

This old fella fed us for 2 meals (probably should have done a bit more)

Post Cray work out, but was still too full to get up so mostly wallowed and groaned

On our way to a lighthouse, which was closed when we got there we spotted a couple of these cute critters in the trees. The one below didn't even wake up when Rella threw rocks at it!!!

After paying the bail money to release Rella from jail for animal cruelty she posed smugly on the beach at Lorne, another beautiful spot on the Great Ocean Road.

Sporting the latest surf fashion