Unbelievable!

Welcome!

This site is now complete! Hooray! (although no doubt spelling mistakes and other nuggets from my memory will get added from time to time!)
It's bascially about my trip down under, lots of photos and in no small way a BIG focus on my brother's bucks day and his wedding to Emma.
Hope you all enjoy it! Please feel free to comment on any of the entries especially if you have been named checked!
(I recommend you pick a date from the right hand menu and see where that takes you!)

Tuesday 3rd October - Planes and Automobiles

Taxis - my cabbie had had a shunt with some one before I even got out of Merton!
Planes - Qantas Boeing 747
Bars - Wetherspoons Heathrow
Food - plane food - soe frequently the hours just fly by!
Wine - Scrubby Rise Shiraz by Wirra Wirra
Hong Kong - mountains and organisation
Films - on the plane 'Poseidon' always good to watch a disaster movie when flying I find

My carriage at Hong Kong Airport. Stretched the legs. Found the smokers room. Watched as the sun came up and saw the mountains and the sea.

Wednesday 4th October - Happy Landings

Melbourne in the dark.. warm temperature and my family. Lively and loud at Southern Cross-Spencer Street station. My family that is!

We dipped into my hotel, dumped off my bags, washed and changed - my tights, boots and bodywarmer were far too over the top. Once fresher and cooler we headed straight for the Young and Jacksons pub for a well earned pint of Dogbolter. Though I suspect it was not the first one my brother or dad had had that afternoon!

Thursday 5th October - Not quite a BBQ!

Melbourne in the daylight...the view of the Southbank and the Yarra River from my hotel window.

And for the observant amongst you - a train station! Flinders Street to be exact.

And the river by night... I did wonder how many lights on in the offices opposite my window actually had people in them!!

Friday 6th October - Walks and Talks

(This map maybe of use of the next few entries - my walks around the city of Melbourne!)

For some weird reason (jet lag, beer, excitement etc) I woke really early this morning. In time to see the sun rising beyond Flinders Street and the MCG...

Look at the filthy windows my hotel has provided.. and they are moaning it hasn't rained in weeks - so why the dirty windows?!

In a fit of enthusaism and wishing to take full advantage of the gorgeous weatehr I got up and went to the restaurant for breakfast - first one up! First one in the dining area! Very nice it was too - fruit, cereals and a wholesome plate of bacon, scrambled egg, mushrooms and tomatoes... and some very tasty bread. Set me up a treat. So a walk was in order before family managed to heave into town! I have never really ventured further than Southbank so decided to wander into the docklands part of Melbourne.....

The Aquaruim

The Melbourne Exhibition Centre - blue skies!
The Rialto Tower

Then the walk became something of a bridge spot!!! And believe me there are quite a few over the Yarra as today and Sunday's walk will prove!

Yes this is a bridge!!

Docklands

Polly Woodside!

ME!

My hotel is the grey building towards the left - over looking the railway!

The mecca - not a bingo hall but the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Well best finish where I started this blog entry!

After my walk I headed back to the north side of the river and met Stu n Em and Ma & Pa, fresh off the bus! We were in search of cuff links. Oh deep deep joy! Emma made a smart move by going to have her haired dyed which excused her nicely from the Fairbrass shopping experience. Melbourne is based on a grid system - but by the time Stu had finsihed with us I felt like I had been in a maze!! Round and round. Melbourne Central. Melbourne Central. La Trobe Street for some tops sushi rolls! Absolutely gorgeous!! 5 dollars gets you three almost 4 inch long sushi rolls filled with lots of delicious fresh stuff... rockin! dad was not so impressed so we found a cafe across the road for him to have a massive sarnie. At this point Stuart introduced us to the down and out dogs who roam this end of town. Sure enought the two dogs came trotting round the corner with their owner not far behind.

We finally wandered back towards Swanston, and I continued on to the Young and Jacksons. Emma and I were going to have a girlie afternoon - just getting to know each other and erm you guessed it - drinking beer!

Saturday 7th October - The Bucks Do!

It all started so quietly and brightly! Stu, Matt & Michael

Fergusson's Winery - Yarra Valley... aah the sun, the vines and the cement trucks! ??

Steve and Dad carry 'the heavy stuff' to the Yarra Glen BBQ site!

Then Dad, Colin and James talk about heavy stuff at the BBQ site....

Some give up listening!!!

These guys mean business ... Stu, Steve and Colin

Men - Australia... gassing round the Barbie... Adam, Stu...rogue bbq user, Steve and Colin and a woman. (?!)

Men.. BBQ's. Steve. Stu. Colin. Michael and Matt. They are discussing tactics and wondering where the next stubbie is...

It's a 'banger' of a day!

Sod this thinks Stu - I'm having another Carlton Black.. neigh worries - Colin has things in hand!

Weetabix? Lamb Chops? Doctor Doolittle? All answers on a postcard - either way Stu looks in fine form and is wearing his protective hat!

Ooooh! NO! Stop right there Mr F and Mr F!

At this point Stuart had decided he had had enough wine and that he just wanted to walk around Yering Station and enjoy the weather and view.... pah! We all know that did not happen!

Colin on the other hand wanted to hide in a barrel....

Time to leave the beautiful and tranquil Yarra Valley for some hardcore partying.. on the bus!

Cheesy grin.. and safety hat still in tact!

By now Stuart has consumed his body weight in Beer. Wine. Whiskey. But look he is still standing!

From l-r Malcolm, Pete, Bobby - Stuart and his Pops. We are by now at the Royal - Stu's local - nice drop of Toohey's Old. Stu is on a health warning - one 2 one - ie for every beer the barman serves he has to make sure Stu also drinks a water. Mm. Some of us had some food here...

Some of us didn't.......

For those of you who don't already know this - drinking is bad for you. I am just glad that my brother's trip to the hospital was just for a short patch up stay. They glued his head wound and helped him sober up... sure it was a night he won't forget - nor will Emma, my mum or dad or Steve. Hopefully these pictures will remind him of the fun bits of the day!

Cheers lads for a great day and making me feel welcome... as they say what goes on tour stays on tour!

Sunday 8th October - Hangovers!

Awoke feeling fine - had a pint of water and waited for news of the buck and his father's various hang overs. As it was Mum rang me at the hotel and told me the full horror of the night as it unfolded after I had left them. Needless to say the buck and pop were sleeping and Mum and Emma were tired and also in need of sleep. After Bernie called for a possible beer I decided it best to leave the guys slumbering peacefully in Barkly Street. Which meant I had a Sunday to myself and for a change no shopping or washing to worry about. First up dress and find breakfast! I was starving!

Following my breakfast of a foot long subway and coffee n cakes went to the Internet Cafe to update my blog and see what was new in the world and catch up with some footie news!

After this I went back to the hotel changed into some much warmer clothes and took a long walk along the Yarra - out towards the MCG and beyond. It was a gorgeous and peaceful Sunday afternoon/evening. Here are some of the pictures I took...