A few days in the bush and more........

The next week it was time to hit the road again and we joined Cheryl and Shane free camping at Teddington Reservoir in Kara Kara NP.  We enjoyed two days here in the bush on our own and with a camp fire each night to keep us warm I think we all enjoyed the experience.  

While here we drove in to St Arnaud one day to have a look at The Bible Museum.  I had read about this in a travel magazine and just had to see it.  

The first of its kind in Australia the museum opened in 2009 and is home to over 1200 bibles as well as many other items that relate to bibles.  Vellum scrolls, wax tablets, papyrus codex, coins and stamps are among some of the items on display.  The oldest bibles are over 400 years old and the newest are USB keys.  It really is an interesting place to visit no matter what your feelings on religion.  The array of champagne bottles and their names were very interesting too.

After two nights in the bush we decided to move on and relocated our vans to Lake Bolac where we spent two more nights beside the lake.  A little colder and windier here we spent the nights inside after dinner.  We walked into 'town' the next day and enjoyed coffee in the old bluestone pub/cafe before walking across the road and checking out the information centre.

Driving home a couple days later we stopped at Skipton to find our favourite coffee shop had been sold and was closed for renovation.  With no other options in town we said farewell to Cheryl and Shane and drove on home.

With the Euroa Show over it was time for Wool Week and while we had missed most of it we were able to check out the final day.  The weather had been dreadful but the little market went on regardless, there were rides for the kids and entertainment from musical groups in the area.  We came across the Ukulele Ladies performing outside the museum and sat down to watch for a while before we headed home out of the rain again.  Timing it to perfection we were safely inside when a huge storm hit.  I do hope that everyone had packed up by then.

The next week was a quiet one culminating with a trip to the city on Friday.  Both Bill and I had appointments and so once the car was parked we went our separate ways to each place.  Afterwards we met up and caught the tram to South Melbourne where we had lunch at Panettes, always a favourite spot and a quick trip across to the market for their muesli before returning to the car and heading out of town.  A couple of quick stops along the way and then we said goodbye to the horrible city traffic and were on our way back home.

With more time at home, Bill has finished the driveway, tidied the garden and generally made the house looked lived in.  While still a work in progress it is slowly coming together.  Not all our time is spent inside as we both get out and have started to join in activities in the local area.  Bill has joined the local photography group and enjoys the meeting once a month.  I decided I needed to be more active and have joined an exercise group, line dancing and a Feldenkrais class.  All good fun and hopefully will keep me a little bit fit.  I also decided to take advantage of a free 5 week golf clinic and have enjoyed the weekly lessons and met some lovely ladies.

We enjoy the country markets and drove to Violet Town on Saturday coming back with lots of fresh produce and some presents for the kids.  The following Saturday it was our Euroa market and again we came home with more fruit and vegetables straight from the farms.  The cherries were delicious as well.  

On Sunday we walked across to the Butter Factory and shared a lovely platter of local produce for lunch.  On the way home we walked past The Swaggie Tree.  This local landmark is fenced off and signposted but I can't find any other information about it at all.

There have been a few shopping trips to Shepparton, we have checked out Mooroopna and of course Bunnings is still being visited on a regular basis.  I'm sure we will have all we need one day!  

The next week was busy as I headed off to Clayton on the train for the last Jazz lunch for the year with Mum.  On the way home I stopped in the Bourke Street Mall to look at the Myer Christmas Windows.  

This is the 60th year and is the story of a little dog looking for its master in the busy pre Christmas Melbourne streets.  With lots of famous landmarks on show it is very popular and cute.

On Friday Astrid and Hans came to visit and we had a very nice lunch at Alberts in the Main Street.  There was plenty to talk about as we caught up on each others travels over winter.

Euroa has a lovely old cinema and on Saturday night we joined Judy and Geoff together with four of their friends to see The Dressmaker.  We all enjoyed dinner at their place and then after the movie returned for the delicious Baklava that Judy had made that afternoon all washed down with coffee and wine.  Thank you for a lovely night.

The Dressmaker has had very good reviews and most of us enjoyed it.  A truly quirky Australian movie some think it may become another classic like Muriel's Wedding and The Castle.  We'll have to wait and see.  Certainly people here liked it and the three sessions were full houses and it will be returning in the New Year.

So with Christmas fast approaching we decided we would fly over to Perth to see the kids, big and little, before the big day. All we need to do now is pack the bags and don't forget the presents!

until next time........