Holiday: October 2010

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Day Three Sunday 31st October 2010

Lazzzzzzzzzyyyyyy Sunday. With only 3 hours sleep and waking up to it still raining. Alan is begging that it clear up. The rain finally stopped about mid morning and a slight breeze to help dry the place up. It is cold the temperature for today is only 17 degrees.
With catching up on emails and friends from facebook we have struggled to find some time to sit down and write in this blog.
Once the rain cleared we were able to go for a walk and see some of the scenery here in Bacchus Marsh.
After 3 days we are not sick of each others company YET PML..........and are enjoying our time together talking about many different things as we have done so in the last few months but without the frustration of lost internet connections and video calls freezing and of course the most important thing the difference in TIME ZONES.
After our walk we had some take away KFC for dinner and then came back to the B & B to a chilled bottle of white wine we had in the fridge.
Alan has struggled to get use to the change in the time zone but finally crashed and burned tonight and he slept for 8 hours.
Not much else to say to say as we just relaxed for the day.

Thinking of our friends and family

written by Beverly

Day two Saturday 30th October 2010

Pissed down all day just like being at home......PML Although it was raining it wasn't cold. It did get cooler and cold later in the evening.
We didn't have any plans for this day and just as well.
At lunch time we went down to an Irish pub called "Flanningans". I went and met Beverly's oldest son Matthew and his partner Laura. We had a few ale's and some lunch and enjoyed watching it rain outside while we stayed dry but wet on the inside.
Later that evening we went out for dinner with Beverly's friends Shelley and Michael.....and later listened to a two piece band.
Trying to find a beer that tastes like carling is proving to be an interesting exercise. The first beer I had was a carlton draught and that had a horrible aftertaste. The next beer was Heineken which was the same as at home and I continued to drink this for the rest of the evening. Beverly was drinking VB which is bitter and has a bite. I just hope she doesn't BITE. Last night we drank crown lagers, which is passable as lager by British standards.
I am surprised that in most of the pubs and clubs here there are pokies (slot machines) and people just sitting for hours pushing a button.
Melbourne reminds me of home and the USA, Aussies drive on the same side of the road as us but the roads are wide with median strips in the centre to separate the flow of traffic.
I haven't seen any kangaroos hopping down the streets or any koalas up in them gum trees. @;-)
The mosquitoes are biting the shit out of me.
The money is confusing I have to get Beverly to accompany me when I make some purchases.
Beverly gave me change for $10 dollars....which was a $5 bill and 3 gold coins, upon looking at the coins and being confused I asked her if she had given me the right change. The $2 coin looks like the £1 coin and the $1 coin looks like the £2 coin. She had given me 2 x $2 coins and 1x $1 coin. I was thinking she had short changed me by $2. I have also seen a $100 dollar note as I went and cashed in some travellers cheques at the bank. The notes here are plastic which makes them waterproof and harder to tear.

Alan practising to be an Aussie with his shorts on with a jacket cos he was cold PML

Written by Alan and Beverly

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Day one, 29th October 2010

After a sleepless night I arised at 6am. Nervous and excited I prepared and gathered myself for the day ahead. The weather for the day was to be sunny and warm with a high of 28 degrees Celsius. Alan's flight was due at 7.30am. Alan had mentioned not to be at the Airport too early as he didn't want me to wait too long waiting while he came through customs. It is only a 15 to 20 minute drive for me. I arrived at 7.45. I had just parked my car when Alan rings. I am late lol. He has already passed through customs and he is panicking because he has no idea where he is and how to get out. I have never been through the International Airport before (Alan does not know this). I find my way to International arrivals and a sea of people......... what the? I have no idea where to start to look. Thank goodness for modern technology and mobile phones. Alan is outside catching up on all the smokes he has missed in the last 24 hours. He spots me before I can see him due to I am standing alone and looking in every other direction other than Alan's. When I am finally facing in the right direction due to Alan's instuctions I see his head bop up (he used his suitcase to look over the crowd) and I dropped my phone (which was fortunately hanging around my neck) and I run and just grab him so tightly he can't breath.

Alan opening champagne and my first live photo yipeeeeee

At 9.30am we went to a park and had a champagne breakfast and ........?????? The lawn mowers went round us (get your minds out of the gutter).

After breakfast we made our way to our first place of stay the Ellerslie B&B ...... ahemmm will leave the rest to your own imaginations................................................

Our room at the B & B is very nice with it's own bathroom. We have a nice veranda area with seating to sit out at night and enjoy the mild or cold nights whatever melbourne decides to do.

In the evening we went to watch the harness racing at tabcorp park ....Alan picked 2 winners but didn't bet then he bet on last race and lost PML UNBELIEVABLE.................

Photo taken by Jenson

All in all a very nice first day and night.

Written by Beverly

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Around Melbourne and the MCG

I hope you all enjoy these Pictures for those of you who can't be here.
For Alan's friends especially.
Maybe it will give you a little bit of a feel of this wonderful state.