Visiting friends.......

After our big week of visitors it was time for us to become the guests and we were looking forward to a few days away at St Leonard's with Cheryl and Shane.

Leaving home on the Thursday morning we hitched up the van, not to stay in but to drop off at JB Campbellfield, to get some warranty work done.  Nothing serious but it's better to get the little niggles sorted out before they become major issues.

Once that was done we braved the traffic, crossed the Westgate Bridge and were soon on our way to the Bellaraine Peninsula.  Arriving mid afternoon gave us lots of time to eat, drink and make merry catching up on each other's trips since saying farewell in Port MacQuarie.

We enjoyed a barbecue tea, expertly cooked by Shane with Bill supervising outside while Cheryl and I took care of the salads inside.  Sounds suitably Aussie doesn't it!

The boys braved the spa after dinner but Cheryl and I stayed inside and continued to chat.  So much to catch up on!

After a leisurely breakfast the next morning it was decided we should get some exercise and so the activity chosen was Ten Pin Bowling.  We drove across to Geelong and enjoyed a fun hour in the Bowling Alley where I discovered just how out of practice I was.  First from the wrong end is OK isn't it?

Thinking that we had done enough of the physical activities for the day our next port of call was Tuckerberry Hill were we stopped for a coffee and a light lunch before heading home to chill out for the afternoon.  Though I must say Shane and Bill must have felt more energetic as they opted for playing golf on the Wii.

Later on we were dressed up and on our way back to Geelong where we enjoyed a lovely meal at one of Cheryl and Shane's favorite Indian Restaurants.

After breakfast the next morning it was time for us to say goodbye again and head for home once more.  We had enjoyed another lovely couple of days with good friends and look forward to seeing you both again soon.

We decided that we would take a different road home and avoid the freeways and so began our magical mystery tour of Victoria's country roads.

We stopped at a little town called Meredith for coffee and found a lovely little cafe called The Back Creek Cafe.  This is run by students of a local grammar school who right from pre school to Year 12 grow the produce, tend it, prepare it and the older ones get work experience working here.  Such a clever idea.

We zig zagged across the state stopping next at Trentham where we found one of our favorite little shops had a closing down sale.  Two Fat Wombats was closing so the owners could retire so of course we had to contribute to their retirement fund didn't we.  I found a fabulous marble rolling pin and at 30% off an absolute bargain which I just had to have.  Now I just have to learn to make pastry eh!

From there we enjoyed the drive across country to Puckapunyal and back to the Hume for the short run home.  Certainly a slower way home but a lovely meander through part of Victoria.  It was fish and chips for dinner that night and early to bed after our big adventure.

Back at home we had a slow start to Sunday morning, walked to the shop to get dinner sorted that night and then Bill decided it was time to get started on laying some of his newly acquired paving bricks.  He was going to widen the driveway from the front gate to the back of the carport.  

The next morning it was back in the car and another trip down the Hume as we returned to pick up the van.  All finished they said.  As we checked it out we discovered our rogue door lock was no different and after much discussion with a few of the guys it was decided they would replace the door.  This seemingly simple task took a couple of hours and it was well after 3.00pm when we finally headed for home again.  At least now our shower leaks no more and our door locks properly.  Fingers crossed it stays that way!  

Our next big adventure was on Wednesday when Bill had a dentist appointment in Dandenong.  Not wanting to drive again we caught the train from Seymour to Southern Cross where we changed platforms and caught the next train to Dandenong.  We had lunch in a nice little cafe before Bill kept his appointment and I looked around the shops.  Then it was back on the trains for the return journey.  A long day but no more appointments till September next year.

Since returning home we had noticed lots of signs advertising country shows as we drove around and this weekend it was Euroa's turn.  We walked over on Saturday to have a look and really enjoyed the afternoon taste of the country.  The sheep shearing looked like hard work and the sheep dog trials were fun to watch, especially when the role of the dogs were taken by fathers and sons in a quirky display for the shows 25th anniversary.  We had lunch in the hall prepared by the ladies of St Lukes and then finished our big day out with a look at the arts and crafts hall.  All in all a fun day out.

After our big weekend it seemed like a good idea to take the van out for a few days to see that everything had been fixed so it's off we go again.

Until next time.......