Catching our breath.....

After our very busy but sensational September it was time to slow down and recharge the batteries. The caravan & camping show beckoned and with a wintry day forecast for the Sunday we decided after a lazy morning at home that we should go and have a look on the Saturday afternoon. We took the train down to Sandown Park and spent the next few hours wandering around and dreaming of life on the road. We found a great little camper trailer that ticked almost every box but before we could do too much damage to the bank account the announcement was made that the show was closing and could we make our way to the gates. I think Bill breathed a big sigh of relief.

We took the train home again and had just 30 mins to get ready for our night out at the theatre. We were going to see Love Never Dies at the Regent. We shared a little pizza downstairs, jumped on the tram and made it to the theatre with 15 mins to spare. Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to the Phantom of the Opera was just wonderful. A spectacular musical full of colour and drama and very entertaining. Sequels can be scary but I think he can call this one a great success. Certainly worth a look if you get the opportunity.

Sundays rain didn't happen and after hours of chit chat about what we had seen at the camping show we decided that we would like to take a second look at the camper trailers we had seen the day before. Yep, we went back but in the car this time. We took a closer look at the trailers we had liked yesterday before taking a walk around the other ones on offer. No competition really. The Quest RV's had won our heart and two hours later we left the show again, this time the proud owners of a brand new camper trailer. We pick it up in a couple of weeks. I guess we have found a mattress Bianca! Now all we need is a destination for our first trip away. Time to get the maps out as we prepare for many new adventures. So much for a quiet weekend eh.

The next week saw Bill away for most of it not returning until Saturday afternoon. This time we were determined to have a rest so after a walk to the Malthouse for coffee we came home and spent the evening with James Bond on the TV. It was nice to do nothing for a moment. Bill had decided that it was time to get the camera into action again so we got up early on Sunday morning for a trip to the You Yangs. We had a lovely morning walking the Big Rock track, one of the many walks in this area. After our walk we did the 12km Great Circle Dve around the park and saw the many different areas on the way. The park is popular with walkers, runners & mountain bike riders and on Sunday there were a couple of events taking place. We saw a large group doing a fun run and a mountain bike competition taking place. Looked like fun but the ride/walk back up the hill looked like hard work. Glad I was in the car. The weather deteriorated during our drive and so we headed for home early in the afternoon.

A couple hours rest at home and then it was time to head back into town where we were going to meet John & Deb for a drink in Chloe's bar at Young & Jackson's. They were visiting from Perth and we were looking forward to seeing them both again. Beers, Bubbles and lots of news made for a fun afternoon before we said goodbye again and headed back to our respective homes. Will see you again in a few weeks. Your town next time.

On the way to meet them we passed Melbourne's newest attraction along St Kilda Rd. The Melbourne Festival is on and one of the features this year is the Angel-Demon Parade. Seven very large black Angelic Demons or Demonic Angels, if you like, are placed along St Kilda Rd outside the Arts Centre, Federation Square, St Pauls Cathederal, the City Square and the Town Hall. The parade is the handiwork of subversive Russian art collective AES+F and the striking six-metre-tall sculptures, cherub like jet-black infants sporting bat-like wings and reptilian tails are looking very comfortable in their newest home. Another 'star' of the festival has been the light show projected onto the Arts Centre Hamer Hall each night. No photo's here but it has been beautiful and a joy to watch as you wander past in the dark.

Monday morning brought a fine start to the week. A nice change from the chilly weather of the last couple of weeks. Bill was off to Tasmania for a couple of days and once home we only had a few more sleeps until we leave again on a new adventure.

We are off to Bali tomorrow where we will join Josie & Nolan from Darwin for a week of much needed rest & recreation. We are staying in Sanur this time so it will be a very new adventure. No idea what to expect but looking forward to putting last years memories to rest and creating some happier ones. I'll let you know how it goes.

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

The Power & The Passion

of the AFL Grand Final just has to be experienced to be believed. That one day in September this year became that one day in October. Didn't really have the same ring about it but not for one moment did it detract from all the excitement leading up to the big game. The weather did try to throw a spanner in the works with a week long return to deepest winter. The two teams trained for the week in the bitter cold and wet weather but for the duration of the Grand Parade on Friday the sun shone down on all the people who had trekked into the city for the big event. Perhaps there was hope for tomorrow.

Saturday morning dawned colder and wetter than the previous days and with a top temperature of 15 deg forecast we wondered if the mighty MCG would be less than full. We were lucky, with tickets in the Legends Room and our ticketed seats were under cover but many 1000's of people would have to be seated in the rain. Would they still come. A silly question really, this was the AFL Grand Final and I'm sure there would be no shortage of Collingwood and Geelong fans who would have sat through any weather to see their teams play for the ultimate prize.

Bill & I got the glad rags on and made our way to the MCG for the biggest day on the AFL calender. It was cold and wet but we stayed dry under the large umbrellas we carried. Even at 10.30am there was a constant stream of people dressed in team colours making their way either to the MCG or other venues to watch the game. We joined the procession and crossed the William Barak Bridge to the MCG where we had to wait in the rain for 15 mins until they sorted out the entry gates. Once inside we found the Legends Room, our allotted table and joined our other guests for a day of fun. Being greeted at the door with a glass of Champagne was a great start and it continued in fine style from there. We enjoyed a lovely 3 course lunch together with some pre match chatter from some other AFL players before we headed out to our seats to see the pre match ceremony.

A Parade of Cups from previous years, the team songs performed by the Victorian Youth Choir accompanied by the MSO & the arrival of this years AFL Cup. And of course the teams breaking through their banners for the final time this year was all very exciting. While all this was going on the ground was filling up and by the time the National Anthem was sung there was not an empty seat to be seen. Advance Australia Fair sung by more than 99,500 people sends a tingle down your spine and the cheer from the crowd when the siren went was just mind blowing. Let the game begin.

I'm sure that you will all have seen the game by now or at least seen the highlights. You will know that the rain held off for most of the time and only a couple of light showers took place during the afternoon. I had decided to join forces with our friend Bianca & our nephews, Jarrod & Aaron and support Collingwood for the day. As you can imagine this was met with disdain from most of the people I spoke to on the day including Bill who was going for Geelong. I did my job well and stayed true to the end but it was not enough and Geelong ran out victorious on the day. It was a great game and kept everyone enthralled until that final quarter when Geelong took control. We had four very passionate Geelong supporters in our party so it was good to see them happy at the end.

A final drink after the game as the crowds made their way out of the ground and then it was time for the fairytale to end. Back outside the rain had started again. The tram ride home was another event in itself with people from both sides in fine voice, singing both team songs with gusto and good humour. Not sure how late into the night the good humour would last but we would be home safe and sound by that time. Federation Square was packed with people waiting in the rain for the players to be presented at 8.30pm. It was only 7.00pm as we passed and this morning the papers said that there were 35,000 waiting to see them. Now is that dedication - or madness!?

And so ends footy season for another year. I can't tell you what a privilege it was to be able to attend the games over the last 2 weeks. And to do it in such style was wonderful, thank you Bailey Ladders.

And then this morning a new era dawns as Daylight Savings starts again for the next 6 months. The rain has stopped and the sun is shining once more. We had a slow start to the day watching the Post game wrap ups in the morning, yummy pancakes for lunch at Panettes in South Melbourne and in from there we went to the cinema at Crown to see Red Dog. What a lovely movie it was. Very funny & heartbreaking at times but well worth seeing. Another little Aussie gem. And the North West WA scenery just spectacular.

So another week over and we head back to work tomorrow. Bill is off again this week to warmer places and who knows what next weekend will bring. We'll have to see.

until next time.......