Mega March

Where to start. March is always a busy month in Melbourne and it seems that this year it has been even busier than usual. Moomba started the ball rolling and even though it was washed out by the storm there were still plenty of things to see and do. Following hot on the heels of the famous parade was the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival with events happening all over the city. If you didn't rate an invite to the main event, and really, who does, there was still plenty of opportunity for you to see a fashion parade at many of the 'pop-up' catwalks at the City Square, Fed Square or in the Bourke St Mall. We came across one at Fed Square on the last day of the event.

The Melbourne Food & Wine Fair followed, showcasing wares from all over Victoria. We tasted our way along Southgate where we found the fair in full swing on Sat morning. As we wandered along the riverfornt at Crown we found a rather unusual display with a live cow & calf out the front of Rockpool. As people gathered round we were to discover that it was a rather unusual way to promote the Wagyu Beef that the restaurant is known for. Not sure the animals would have been too happy if they knew what their future was to be. Still at the time they were quite contented. A bit further along we followed the music and came to a Billabong Skateboarding competition and back at Federation Square we found a Break Dancing Competition. And all this on the one Saturday morning. Later on we met Susie, Bryce & Denise and we went the to see the Soccer Grand Final between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC. We drowned our sorrows (Melbourne lost) with dinner & drinks at Docklands.

The next day we took a break from the hustle & bustle of the city and spent a few quiet hours with the birds at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee. We saw a lot of birds we had not previously seen and it was almost as if some of them were posing for the camera. Hopefully some good shots for future use.

With the food and clothes all packed away there was still time to play in March and in rolled the big guns, well cars. The F1's started to arrive and the road around Albert Park Lake was once again transformed into the Grand Prix track. It was all happening last week and I walked home each day to the squeal of the tyres as they performed their time trials and pre race checks. Over the weekend while we didn't venture down to the track we could hear all the excitement and of course had front row seats for the Roulettes & Fighter Planes flybuys.

What did we do instead? We had a great afternoon catching up with our cousins from the UK. Gwenda, Nick, Jasper & Paige had arrived earlier that morning and we caught up on all their news over lunch and a walk to the gardens and the Shrine. We arrived home just in time to watch the last Hornet doing a flypast right in front of our balcony. Jasper was thrilled as we are each time we see it. The power and the noise of the aircraft are just amazing. They have now continued on to NZ were they will spend 2 weeks with their sister, Sue and her family. I know they will all have a wonderful time together.


But still there was more. At the other end of town there was a much quiter event happening. The Melbourne International Flower & Garden show was in full swing at the Royal Exhibition Buildings. With no garden to tend to we did not rush out but I thought it rated a mention regardless. Maybe one year we will have a look.

And with only one week of this Mega month left the doors have now opened on The Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The ticket box is busy, the venues have queues out the door and the city is buzzing still.

So with the month flying by just like the final flypast on Sunday it's time to take a break, catch our breath and get ready for April.

until next time..........

Hell hath no fury....

like a Melbourne storm. That's the weather, not the NRL team. As you no doubt have all seen or heard Melbourne had a monster storm the weekend before last. It hit here at 3.00pm and we were very grateful that we had decided to stay home for the afternoon. The hailstones hitting the front windows were the size of golfballs and the noise was horrendous. We did think for a short while that the windows might actually break. Thankfully they didn't. Our street was just one of many that did the flood thing, though not nearly as deep as some in town where the many people who got caught out where wading thigh deep across roads. It was a real adventure for some. I don't think anyone who suffered during the event was having too much fun though. I sure have never seen anything like it before. The video below was taken by Bryce at Flemington Racecourse. The last few years this undercroft area is where everyone tries to shelter from the sun. Unbelievable!

With more of the same forecast again on Sunday it was a relief just to get the rain. Hopefully falling in catchment areas as well. We did venture out into the city during the afternoon and the CBD streets and surrounding areas looked like they had done 10 rounds with a cyclone with all the debris in the gutters and shopfronts. Moomba took a bit of a battering as well with lots of events being cancelled.

Come Monday morning, which was a Public Holiday here, it was still cool & wet and we were heading off to the Yarra Valley to spend the afternoon & evening at Rochford Winery for A Day on the Green. Diana Krall was performing and after waiting so long to see her we were disappointed to think it might be cancelled. Well the weather Gods must have had a rethink and decided that they had played mean for long enough and during the afternoon the rain slowed to spasmodic showers. We joined Astrid & Hans at the vineyard and along with many other poncho clad people enjoyed a great show. Seeing & hearing Diana Krall live was great and the girls that were her support acts were great too. A bit chilly though once the sun went down.

We stayed overnight at Healesville Sancurary House and after a good sleep in the warm bed we set off for home & work for Bill. I had more ironing waiting for me. Not my idea of fun but someone has to do it.

Last weekend couldn't have been more different with blue skies and sunshine as we joined Faye & Debbie for brunch at Mordialloc. Afterwards Bill & I checked out the Mordialloc Food & Wine fair but only for a quick look as without a hat his head was feeling the heat. Who knew. Dinner at Ants in Chinatown with Mandy & Peter finished off a great day and Bill tried out the BBQ for breakie the next morning.

So with next weekend approaching fast and the sun still shining its time to go

until next time.........

It's hard to find the words

to say Goodbye, especially when it's for the last time. Bill's brother, Russell, passed away on the 26th Feb after a short but devastating battle with cancer. As the family came together in Brisbane we cried and laughed together as we remembered all the good times we had shared with him.

Our hearts go out to Brenda and to Bradley & Shanae who now face life without their Dad. We will be there for you always.

While there will be many people saddened by his passing we are all so happy to know that he is now at peace and will never suffer again.

For all of us left behind we are much better people for having had Russell in our lives.

We love you and will miss you Russell.

until next time.........