Everybody needs good Neighbours

Woke early this morning, and off we went to a picnic area, they have a great idea here they have public electric barbeques in most of the open spaces/parks, free, just turn up with the food and away you go!!

After we’d had BBQ brekkie (Paul took over once we'd nearly finished cooking) we went down to the beach, where I sat to write my postcards, hope you all like them, meanwhile Emma rested and Paul and Shannon paddled in the sea. It’s supposed to be autumn here, and here I am sunburnt. We drove by the Dandenongs and headed to Melbourne and………..

RAMSEY STREET !!

Shannon wanted to have her picture taken with her Neighbours hero Harold, but I was hoping to catch Karl…phworrrrr but.....NO SUCH LUCK!!

Today they were filming on the street so there was no access to the public, however from the roadside we were able to watch some filming and see a few of the characters, Ned, Elle, Carmella and Ringo… NO KARL !!
Will be watching now for an episode where a white van has crashed on it’s side on the street and a brown car has a dent in it, with the above characters involved.
My arms and chest are on fire, god help em when its summer here. !!
Not sure what I am doing tomorrow yet, but I am running out of days now and hope to head off on my own into Melbourne at least one day. Still no sign of the baby showing, keep getting emails from the girls at work asking me to let them know when it comes, I will but I bet you it’s when I’ve left here…..

Here's some more pics of the Mornington area.

Can you see Melbourne in the distance.?

Thanks Val

Just a big thanks to Val, for letting me visit her for a couple of days in Brisbane and being kind enough to take me to the Australian zoo, seems funny to think that we didn't really know each other before the trip, the age gap we have of nearly 20yrs meant she was off at uni and getting married when I was born, and then she left to start a new life in Oz.
I really enjoyed my time with her, sharing family memories and swapping family photos as my dad was the last link to the past for us all, we are both very fond of our aunts husband...... dear Uncle Ray...who neither of us write to often enough ..haha something he seems to tell both of us. Anyway I think we had a good time and a fun time, just a few tears for me when she showed me an old cine clip of my Grampy who I adored but died when I was 5 I wasn't expecting to see him and it certainly was a lovely lovely moment

My dad and his brother Tom (Val's dad)

thank you once again for the photo frame, when I look at the photo you gave me of me stroking my kangaroo, I shall always remember a good time... xx

ps ...ironic that we found this picture of Val's Dad and his/my Dad's sister Floss on their visit to Val 20 yrs ago. (they were well into their 70's already)

Tom & Floss

Phillip Island

Went to Phillip Island, unsure how far away it is from Emma's as I snoozed on the way there and again on the way back, thats something I've noticed, as it's sunny in the morn you get up earlier and by the time you go to bed your shattered, I could sleep for England at the moment.

At Phillip Island there are penguins but we didnt see any and the penguin parade was later in the evening so we gave that a miss, however we did go to the Koala sanctuary and saw lots of koalas in natural habitat.

Shannon fell in a rock pool and got wet, and Paul broke his flipflop trying to save her ( they call em thongs in Oz) poor lad continued to walk around as best he could,but we couldnt stop laughing at him. Still no sign of the babys arrival yet, it better get a shift on !!! I leave the state of Victoria in 6 days time. However, at last I have found someone who wears bigger knickers than me hahhah

(fridge pickers wear bigger knickers)

Got a nice email from Jo, apparently she's been shown the blog, so hello you lot and g'day :) Dunno if my brother is reading it? got a lovely text that brought a tear to my eye as I was leaving heathrow, but noting since. The girls at work are, well some anyway cos I've had texts etc, not sure if I'm returing home ....hahah....Emma and Paul want me to stay and claim asylum. I think they mean I need to be committed to one!!

more CRIKEYS

The otters were very cute and very appealing, and very destructive to their habitat. The kookabura sat in its gum and I never heard it laugh at all, miserable thing haha.

I loved the Echidna, a bit like our hedgehog, but boy can it run !!! I can honestly say it was well worth the drive from Vals to the zoo, even if on the roads you take your life in your hands :)

One hint for going to Brisbane is to double the heat that Melbourne has and take lighter clothes, it was sweltering, when I arrived back in Melbourne the temperature was definately much lower Saw the most amazing wooden model of a kangaroo in the zoo shop and could't justify buying it, my regret now is that I didn't :(

Seemed really weird seeing tigers and elephants in the "Australia" zoo, but like Val said I guess thats the Asian part of it. But I had expected insects like the spiders etc. I had a biggish spider in my bedroom and called for Val to get it, but apparently it was harmless....phew !! Just a few of the pictures from the zoo, too many to post them all.

CRIKEY !!

Crikey Strewth !!
Just back from the Australian Zoo, woweeee!! Loads of photos, such a great experience, I can see how Steve Irwin was enthausiastic about his zoo and the crocs and the kangaroos and koalas. A bigger place than I thought it would be thats for sure, even got sunburnt, didn't realise it was going to be so much hotter here than it was down in Melbourne, had to endure the heat in jeans. But that was handy as I lay down beside a kangaroo for a photo, even stroked several of them, boy do they have stern faces.

Stroked my first koala too, neither animal has particularly soft fur which was a dissappointment, and koalas only seem to sleep and look tired. Couldn't believe how close up I could get

I got plopped on by a wild bird, and apparently thats supposedly lucky... yuk so...I better buy a lottery ticket !! saw lizards in natural habitat as we were walking on the paths, birds in the tree. Was there all day and had a thoroughly great time. Valerie or "Val" as she likes to be called and I seem to be getting on fine, believe it or not she likes to talk as much as I do :) I've texted uncle Ray a couple of times to let him know we have met up, but I haven't heard a word back.

Watch this space more photos to be added.... bye for now.... and don't worry bout me I'm having a GREAT TIME....and not even got to the Sydney part of the adventure yet!!

Family

Hi
Just incase anyone is trying to email or text I am offline a bit now as I am at my cousins....
Zoo time in a few hours.... hopefully KANGAROO'S... but so much family catching up, I wont be on here.... have fun see ya soon..

The pox

Arghhhh ...woke this am to a 5yr old with chickenpox.. :) Shannon has a nice sprinkling of spots over the body.
Just about to take a shower and pack an overnight bag I've borrowed, and head on my next adventure. Brisbane here I come !! Not sure if I shall be able to blog whilst away but will take the laptop anyway. I keep getting asked if I have seen any kangaroos yet? No not yet but I should at the zoo on fri. Couple of ozzie facts, the water here is so good girls I havent needed hair conditioner, the water makes your hair and skin so soft, I should bottle it and bring it home and make a fortune. Oh and they drive on the same side as us, but they certainly dont drive like us, crossing the road is an adventure, especially of you can make it to the otherside, and U turns...haha they do them all over the place!! and traffic lights go red green...no amber so be ready to pull away fast :)
Well thats this mornings titbits..or nites if your in the UK..... speak again soon

Gday cobber

Still no kangaroo bollock..haha but did spot a packet of koala doo doo :) Surendered to a whim, found a Brown Sugar shop in Frankston and bought the 2 cardi's I had my eye on, credit card took a bashing but I really liked them and apparently there aren't these shops in Sydney. Now the panic will be trying to get them in the case and keep the weight down ....arghhhh the 20kgs is an obsession now. I dread what I might find to buy in Sydney or even Brisbane cos there will just not be any MORE room. Managed to get the last of the pressies for Mum, A, the nephews and niece and vonnie etc. Even got 36 little kangaroos for the kids back at the preschool.
Emma's had a few different aches and pains today so fingers crossed. She's tired and I'm shattered and not even pregnant !!
Geing used to this independant life, We are about 1 and half hours from Melbourne I think, and I've booked the transport to get myself back to the airport tomorrow to fly to Brisbane. The lady at the place helped too hahah.....first I've got to find my way from Mornington to Franskston at about 10 am then stand at the bus stop on some street at 11 am for the skybus that wll take me to the airport $31...not bad huh... Paul will collect me on Sat if theres no baby being born...if there is then its find a hotel or B&B and find my way to Mornington on Easter Sunday.... I don't think I'll get any easter eggs this year...the Easter bunny wont know where to find me :(
thanks for the emails....its nice to get them... I find it really weird to think that when I am starting to rest for the day... back in UK you are just waking and starting work.
ps I found a shop that had a corner that was England... so we are having Birds Custard and apple pie (once i've taught Emma how to make custard not ready made from a tin)

Tiring day

Hi girls, sounds like you are only reading the first page of the blog, technology huh, anyway Shan sends her love again, been busy today, shopping, lunch and Emmas had an antenatal appt, they are saying she shouldn't be long now, and she's hoping it gets here Easter Sunday. Will post baby pics as soon as it arrives, as long as its not when I am in Brisbane at the weekend. Been the warmest day so far, had to strip off a bit today, found an amazing clothes shop called brown sugar, heading to one again before I leave Oz if I have any dosh left to spend. bought everyones gifts today, still cant find a kangaroo bollock (it's a coin bag....yes made from a kangaroos dangly)
Will gave RD one from Oz, but I continue to search. Off to Frankston tomorrow to sort out how to get from Morningon to Melbourne Airport for this weeks flight, its too far for emma to drive on Thur and Paul is at work. So got to be brave and go on the Skybus, next week I have to use the train to spend the day in Melbourne City... never been so adventurous. I guess its something I have to starting doing for myself now...after sorting Dads funeral and finances etc I know I can do it ..I just hate having to...prefer to be lazy hahah
No photos today cos....I let the camera battery run down. which I can't believe I did, so it's charging thru the night, and on Fri it will get a bashing at the Australia Zoo, I think they buried Steve Irwin there, not sure tho so I must google. Chatted to RM on msn and she seems ok and all is ok at home....and can I get her a particular bikini from Oz.... well I can try but.... the shops are selling autumn ranges now.

well once again its late past midnight...so bedtime for me.... last night I slept right though the night, took an extra blanket and was warm and toasty..

nite all xxx

hisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Today it was snakes...hahah

some "Bruce" was doing a display and a talk in the shopping mall, oh how I wanted to hold one, but darent ask, but they looked ok not that scarey or slimey. Spent the day shopping, and sightseeing at the local town, even went walking, managed to get RM and RD something nice, and treated myself to a handbag. tomorrow emma has an antenatal appt in Rosebud so she is dropping me off and meeting me later, and later we are off to meet Pauls boss.

Valerie emailed and we've made arrangements for thurs, definately off to the Australian Zoo, she going to prebook the tickets. Libby rang here today too and is loking forward to meeting on the 14th and we are defo off to Canberra for a day. Life's looking good here, everything is falling into place, shame about home. Contacted home and the kids are being asked to do chores to keep the place clean, good, cos I'm dreading to return to the mess I faced last time I went away.Anyway....forgetting home for a few weeks..... it's been an ok day, wasnt hot but not too chilly either, only time I feel the cold is in the night I've woken freezing both nights, I need a koala to cuddle upto :)

Right time to vanish, made the lasagne ready for tomorrow, so better take it out before its burnt offerings. No calls or texts from work so thats a good sign...keep it up girls and you may get a reward ;)