A Glimpse of Ellen

I don't know how it happened, but our Melbourne itinerary somehow collided with Ellen DeGeneres when she was in Australia.  The girls and I had a whole day to spare in the city and it just happened to be the day Ellen was making an appearance for her show!  

We had planned a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria but alas, the gallery is closed on a Tuesday (I swear it used to always be closed on a Monday!) so we thought we might head on down to Birrarung Marr, behind Federation Square, to see (if we could) perhaps catch a glimpse, or at least hear the Talk Show Legend.  But when we approached the corner of Federation Square and the Yarra River our hearts slumped.  

The que was unbelievable....  I sent this pic to MrL who was on the other side of Australia, probably with the caption "look at this line!!!"

Thousands of people.

I suggested to the girls we take a seat outside near an outside stage and screen as it was pretty obvious that there was no way we would make it inside the the formal stage where things were going to happen.

The crowd kept building up with a lot of people having the same idea and the formal line being told that the stage area was now closed.

It wasn't too long before the Queen arrived.  There was a big buzz in the air.  And she acknowledged the people who couldn't/didn't get into the main arena.

Can you see her there waving?  And that's her mum across from her and wife Portia climbing the stairs ahead in a pretty red dress.  (She too did turn around and wave - she is a Melbourne girl after all!)

Monet and I were particularly thrilled.  Lily?  Nah.  She had no idea.

After watching a bit of the recording on the big screen ahead of us I was faced with two hungry and restless daughters.

But I soon put a stop to that.

My Ploughman's lunch went down a certain treat and the girls enjoyed their meals too.

A fantastic day.

Melbourne

MrL started a new job, which is interstate.  Since he was going to be absent over the Easter Break, we decided that the girls and I should spend some time in Melbourne City and then go to country Victoria to stay and visit with family.

I pulled Monet out of school for a few days so she began her Easter School Holidays a good four days before the rest of her classmates.  (Lucky her!)  The girls were very excited to be getting back into a plane again and heading to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights, let alone to be seeing their Grandparents and Cousins.  

Melbourne greeted us with beautiful Autumn weather.  

Flinders Street Station

We had a lovely time, strolling around.

And I had two, well, one especially, child/ren get very excited to see outside the art gallery an upcoming exhibition...  But unfortunately for us, the Gallery is closed on a Tuesday.

The girls had great fun touching the huge pane of water glass.  I remember doing this when I was a young girl.

We did a little shopping and I forgot where we were when we hit Myer.  It has changed a lot over the years.

We ate out for the two nights we were there and we all sat and watched the world go by.

The sun setting behind The Rialto

Puppy-arazzi at Federation Square

Tea Rooms in The Block Arcade

We loved our two days, two nights in Melbourne town ; it's been too long since I enjoyed the great city.  And as a bonus we saw Ellen!  But that's another post.

Want A Slice?

As my home city of Melbourne sweats at 43 degrees today, we are experiencing some lovely winter days here in the UAE.  

Yesterday I sat in our little backyard flicking through cookbooks whilst I let Monet loose with the hose.  We can do that here.  Be free with a hose and use as much water as we like.  (It is not uncommon to water out one's carport for example.)  The villas here have their own desalination plant, so I am lead to believe, so yeah Monet, go for your life...

She cleaned her cubby, sorry, I mean her 'shed' (trying to be like her Poppy and his shed!) then proceeded to wash her trike...

(It is a pity the kids in Melbourne can't be doing that today, without being 'dobbed in' by a neighbour!)

As I flicked through the cookbooks I found a sudden urge to bake a Pavlova so inside I went and whipped up one.  

Now, I grew up with a mother who always insisted that she could not bake a Pav.  She always blamed her oven.  She has had a few ovens over the years and never once did I see her even attempt to make a Pav, so I know it had nothing to do with one's oven.  When I stayed at my parent's back in November I made them a Pavlova to indulge in, in her year old oven, and it turned out lovely.  I wanted to show her that her oven could bake one .  

So I have this thing about baking a Pavlova to test out your oven.  All I can say is my new oven works a treat....

(I used this recipe)

401

Very typical of me, but my last post was actually my 400th post on this version of biglittlesister.  I also forgot to wish my sister's partner a Happy Birthday for the week just past.  I hope I am excused - I have had a lot going on. (As if *you* all didn't know!)

We spent last weekend in Melbourne.  It was nice to do a spot of shopping in some half decent shops, but since when has Melbourne become so blue, tight jean orientated?  *blah* Living in Cairns I swear you can get away with wearing anything, anywhere, but since Melbourne is so fashion savvy it was a good excuse for us to buy a few new threads each.  We really liked the new(ish) DFO at Spencer Street.  (We liked it soooo much better than the Morrabbin Airport one we used to visit when we lived in Melbourne three years ago.)

Much to our delight, the weather was 'pleasant', even though the skies weren't blue.

  

It was nice to wander along Southbank again and meet up with friends at the Riverland Bar, down below Federation Square along the Yarra.   We like that outdoor bar so much, we visited it both on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

We met up with even more friends at a pub in Richmond and enjoyed a dinner out in a Beer Garden.  Monet and I didn't stick around too late as the Cox Plate had been run and there were too many horrible drunk people around, otherwise we had a rather good time.  

All up it was nice to spend a couple of nights in the town we once called home.  We stayed at Oaks on Market which we had stayed at once before.  It is in a good position, is reasonably priced (including buffet breakfast) and we will stay there again down the track.  We also had this view from our hotel room.

As much as we love Melbourne and as much as we tell people how much we are Melbourne people at heart, we know we're not ready to move back there.  Obviously there are other roads for us to travel at the present and according to this article in today's The Age, we've made the right decision.  (You have no idea how many people have asked Lyndon to 'take my business card with you' and asked to pass on their resume.  It is making us think the past 10 months have honestly been worth it and we got in at the right time.)

Today, Lyndon arrived safely in Abu Dhabi.  He is currently amazed by it all (the shops, the compound we'll be living in, the city, the palm trees, the current beautiful heat).  He has already told me how much he thinks Monet and I will love it.  I know he is right.  And I can't wait to get over there too now!

Monet and I are now at my parents.  I'm keen to have a drink in honour of all the good things life has in store for my little family at present and to celebrate over 400 posts!  (Any excuse, I know!)

End of an Era

Before we moved up here, the three of us lived in South Melbourne and *loved* it. It was a great suburb and had everything we wanted. Our apartment was close to Lyndon's work place at the time, a 15 minute walk into the city center, opposite the Royal Botanical Gardens, The Shrine, park lands, close to a local shopping strip and the fabulous and famous South Melbourne Market.

It was also close to numerous fabulous pubs.

One of our favourite places to meet our good friends on a Sunday afternoon, was the famous 'Bell Hotel'. I read with sadness today that Billy Bell, the owner, is pouring his last beer tomorrow. I know Lyndon and his mate John will be sad to read of this and want to be there.

(Photo courtesy of The Age website)

They used to brew a few of their own beers on site, but now only one is home brewed. We had some good meals there and downed some refreshing ales. Monet also read a lot of books at this pub, in fact, I think this was one of the first places I had given Monet a 'scrapbook' of collected postcards/photos/pictures i had put together, where it occupied her no end.

Another of the hotels frequented by us in South Melbourne was 'The Railway Hotel' which has been a location for the new Steven Spielberg epic mini-series, which has been filmed both here (Mossman mainly) and Melbourne. It will be a great mini series to watch as we know both locations pretty well. (It won't be shown until 2009 in Australia however...)

South Melbourne is a terrific old suburb, but is only one of many of Melbourne's great suburbs. For me, it rates alongside St. Kilda and Malvern, two suburbs I lived in over the years and loved for my own special reasons.

I remember crying, probably bawling in fact, when we packed up and cleaned our South Melbourne apartment, headed for Cairns. I wasn't crying for the fact that we were moving 'away' to a strange new place and leaving behind family and friends, I think I was crying as we were leaving our life as we knew it, in that great city apartment with the fabulous city views in a terrific suburb.

Do you 'like' where you live?

Hard Rubbish

When we first moved to Melbourne, over 10 years ago, we lived in a lovely little 'Grove' in East St. Kilda. But one thing that still haunts us to this very day, is the fact that we missed out on something and regretted it. It was a piece of hard rubbish. We still talk about that hat/coat stand we spied out in the street one afternoon. It was perfect. It was what Lyndon had always wanted (apparently).

We had spied it after returning from somewhere, went inside to pluck up courage to go back out to the street to collect it and when we did, it was gone. In a matter of minutes someone had spied it, liked it and grabbed it. If only we had grabbed it when we first saw it.

Each Hard Rubbish collection date we'd go walking the streets of East St. Kilda to find, maybe, a real treasure. I don't think we ever did.

We moved a suburb north after a year in East St. Kilda, but then returned to our favourite suburb a year later. (Yeah, we liked moving around - one of the pleasures of renting I guess!) This time we lived in the lovely Alma Road, right next door to the Swim/Fitness Center. It was a lovely apartment, all art deco style with wooden floorboards. (I have many a great memory of this place.) Even though we lived right next door to a Gym, I decided it would be a great idea to go and buy an exercise bike. Against better advice, I went out and bought one. And never rode it. It cramped our apartment space (it wasn't very big) and I wanted it out of the apartment.

Can you guess what we did with it?

Lyndon took it out onto the street and left it there, knowing someone would spy it and take it.

It was gone within minutes of it being placed on the nature strip.

Living in an apartment complex now, with another 30 odd apartments, we share a general rubbish area, which sometimes people put their old stuff they don't want.

Since living here we have collected an old wooden water ski (Lyndon had/has plans of doing it up - sanding etc., and making it into a wall feature - smirk if you must), a 1-2 chair cover (complete with bows!), never taken out of it's packaging (I know, we could have saved money using green and yellow checked cover instead of a new lounge suite) and an office chair. It's what I am sitting on at the moment.

Have you ever collected another person's rubbish and claimed it as your own?

Where Mel was Born...

...Melbourne. (geddit?)

I was born in Melbourne, well, on the outskirts and then grew up a good 140 kilometres away. All I ever wanted to do after secondary school, was move to where I felt I belonged. Melbourne. And I did. I moved back to the country after university to save money so I could travel to the UK, which I did. And when I returned I lived back in the country to save money to return to Melbourne. Which I did. And I never thought I would ever move away again. But I did. And I have no regrets.

Melbourne is a wonderful diverse city, one that is welcoming, even when it is like 9 degrees Celsius, and one that still feels right. But after 18 months away, it feels too busy, too big. And too cold. And I felt so small. I guess that is what living in Cairns does to you. But I still feel as if the city still welcomed me back with open arms.

Melbourne's culture is wonderful and the city skyline is picturesque. I guess that is part of the reason why I love it.


And there is always new places to explore and discover. Like the new(ish) bar nestled under Federation Square which is on the banks of the Yarra.


It felt 'so Melbourne', sitting outside, rugged up, underneath those large gas heaters drinking icy cold beer. And dressed in black. Black is 'very Melbourne', I don't care what anyone else says. And Melbourne is also 'oh-so-fashionable'. I felt a bit daggy sitting with my cardy, skirt, woollen tights and Mary Jane's (all black mind-you, so I was half-way there) and knitted scarf. And Monet too was dressed in fashionable black (long sleeved top, pinafore, leggings) and poncho. Once you leave Melbourne it is easy to reflect on how easy it is to get out of 'the loop'. I'm prattling on aren't I?

I guess the purpose of this post was for me to say that I do still love Melbourne but I can't imagine living back there again. It is a wonderful place to visit, to shop and to drink. It is a great city, one I am still tied to and who knows, maybe we might return one day. But I ain't in no hurry. Not yet...

We're Back...

..and we're exhausted.

After 12 days away from home, it was so lovely to get back to our apartment last night. Monet spent a good couple of hours going from room to room, pointing things out and showing us all her toys. For her, it must have felt like months we had been away, rather than a fortnight.

We had a great time away all up, visiting family and friends in Victoria and then meeting Lyndon in Brisbane on Sunday, where we stayed for three nights. For everyone we met, for everyone who were welcoming to us and to our friends and family, we thank you.

I have posted here a few photos, giving you loyal readers, a taste of what we saw and did. I'll be posting about our adventures in the next few days.

Until next time, enjoy...

From top to bottom, Monet and my mother in the garden, Melbourne city skyline at night, Boule balls which Monet enjoyed playing with, the Belgian Beer Cafe in Brisbane city and the enterance to Wiggles World at Dreamworld at the Gold Coast...)

Update...

It is nice not having an agenda this afternoon. I feel as if Monet and I have been going 'flat-chat' since last Wednesday. For me to be tapping away on my father's computer and Monet to be lying on her Granddad's big comfortable armchair watching some children's programs is a good thing. Trust me.

Don't get me wrong, we've had a terrific time seeing familiar faces.

Early Sunday afternoon, I drove us down to Melbourne. We stayed at our good friends, who lived literally up the road from where we lived 18 months ago in South Melbourne, so we were in old territory. And it was lovely. But I don't miss it. Not at all in fact.

John and Suzy were very happy to see us and welcomed us into their quaint little townhouse, like it was only yesterday that we lived down the road. John made sure I sampled some of his home made brew (very 'hoppy') and he is becoming quite the expert on brewing his own beer. It was quite nice and it was a pity that Lyndon was not there. (He and John are good mates!)

Monet was quite excited on the prospect of caching a tram into the city center, so we did. We ventured in, rugged up against Melbourne's cool winter weather. We went to a new bar which had recently been opened on the Yarra River, just under Federation Square. I have no idea what the bar is called but when I say it was very Melbourne, I mean just that. We sat outside under big black umbrellas with gs heaters pumping warmth onto our faces. We met a few other old friends there (Heidi, Pat, Anna and Trav) which was really nice. But we all missed Lyndon of course but he was there in spirit (and Monet is so much like a mini-Lyndon it's not funny!)

Monet honestly had a terrific time being pampered by everyone else as we sat and downed our glasses of beers (water for Monet of course!) When the gas ran out of the heaters (the bar had about 20-odd of these gas heaters and because they were literally on 'full-bore' they slowly began to run out of gas bottles!), we ventured up to (another) bar in Federation Square. Yes, we enjoy our drink and enjoy the company of one another. And Monet is so 'bar-savvy' there was no complaining or whinging or crying or grumpiness. She was a model-child. Everyone said so. *heehee*

When we finally left the city at 9pm, to return to John and Suzy's, Monet fell asleep in the taxi and never woke until 7:30 the next morning. It is hard work entertaining everyone and being that model child.

Monday morning saw Monet and I bid goodbye you our friends and ventured over to the other side of the city to my girlfriend and her two daughters. I met Kristen through my South Melbourne Mother's Group and her and her husband recently built a home in Point Cook where they now live. It was lovely to see her there, out of the confines of the small apartment they once lived in, in inner city. (My old apartment block was opposite that of hers.) Her daughter, Eden, who is Monet's age greeted us with such excitement it was wonderful to see. Our two little girls are growing up so quickly it was good to see them playing (and eating) together, like they did 18 months ago when we lived close by.

Monet and I drove back to my parents place on Monday afternoon, exhausted. Simply exhausted. It took a big sleep in yesterday and a day of doing nothing to recover from our 'catching-up'.

The next few days will be basically unplanned, popping in to see Lyndon's parents most days but basically spending time here with my parents.

It is bloody hard work having a holiday like this. Trying to divide your time between people who all say "we want to see you!" and having a relaxing holiday is not easy. And being away from Lyndon, whom Monet and I are both missing. Sometimes I have to take a step back and 'enjoy the moment'.

I have taken many photos of our 'holiday' so far and will be sure to post some for you loyal readers next week, when we are back home... But we still have another holiday to be had before then, as we are meeting Lyndon in Brisbane city on Sunday for 4 days, and we're looking forward to that! (And for all you folk not living in Australia, Brisbane is basically halfway between Melbourne and Cairns. A 2-hour plane journey from each city.)

Chilly Toes

Melbourne greeted Monet and I with a chilly 12 degrees and an icy Arctic wind on Wednesday afternoon. And the weather hasn't changed since. It is still cold and icy and currently about 8 degrees Celsius (if that) outside, but that is okay. I wasn't expecting it to be warm and we kinda came prepared.

My mother and Monet have just made a cake together and Monet's Grandad is doing a fine job of putting Monet to sleep in the evening, by reading books to her in front of the fire. Yes, we are having a fine time away from Cairns and it's current 27 degrees and sunshine. But without Lyndon of course, (that's the downside).

We've been busy visiting family members and spent yesterday lunch at Lyndon's parents place (Hi Marianne!) where we tuckered into 'soul-warming' soup and then to Lyndon's sister's place for dinner. (Hi Sarah!) Sarah cooked a delicious dinner of a cauliflower pasta, followed by Lemon Tart. Yum-oh! Do you know how nice it is to have dinner cooked for you? (And lunch too for that matter!) This morning we visited an old work girlfriend of mine (Hi Kate!) so to say that in the 48 hours into landing in Victoria that we've been on our toes is an understatement. But I do enjoy being busy.

This afternoon it is raining, but its nice and cosy in here and socks to wonders to warm the tootsies! (Who would have thought?)

The next few days are pretty busy too with visiting friends to say G'Day to, Lyndon's parents to stay at, an overnight trip to Melbourne (I'm currently in country Victoria, about 1 1/2 hours out of Melbourne) to visit numerous friends and family too. But come Tuesday when I am back at my parents for a few more relaxing and unplanned days, before we head off back to Queensland where the sun is shining and there is no Arctic breeze!!

I'm sitting back this afternoon and relaxing and letting my parents enjoy their one and only grandchild who loves all her grandparents dearly. I have time to sit down and think about, not what to cook for dinner, but what beer I should go and buy and share with my father and enjoy a slice of the freshly baked Vanilla cake made by my mother and my daughter. *Heehee*

My 200th Post on melody-biglittlesister.blogspot!

I'm sitting here outside with the warmth of the sunshine on my back, as I celebrate in writing my 200th blogspot post. I love blogging, I really do and have found a great array of people through this blog. Like you. *smile*

You might see on the side bar that I began this blog in October last year. But I have been blogging longer than 10 months, its actually been about 3 years now. I was pregnant with Monet and my sister suggested I begin a blog. As she had 3 accounts with 'typepad', she organised and set up a blog of my very own. And it was she who thought of the name biglittlesister. I'm taller than my sister, but younger than my sister. Hence, the name.

Last year I decided I should probably give the space I was using, back to my sister and set up my own account, so melody-biglittlesister began. And here I am, 200 posts in with 4 bloody blogs to maintain. Here, here and here. But I love it. Blogging gives me an opportunity to share with you, with my friends and with my family what we get up to!

I'm not sure when post number 201 will be posted as Monet and I are hitting the skies tomorrow morning (early) to visit family and friends in Melbourne and country Victoria. I've already checked in and have my boarding passes printed. We'll be gone until Sunday week when we fly back up to Brisbane and be reunited with Lyndon and spend a few days exploring that city and visiting Dreamworld. It is going to be a busy couple of weeks, but I'll try and keep you posted.

Sorry in advance if I don't come around to your place and visit but I will try and do so when time permits.

Up, up and away!!!! (I took this photo from our balcony a few weeks back. We see most planes fly into Cairns from our place and I still love watching them.)

Small World

Last night we headed up to Port Douglas (again) for dinner with some friends, who are up this way from down in Victoria for a bit of work. We didn't stay the night, I drove home after our meal and a 'catch-up'.

Our friends were staying out of town. (In Mossman in case you were wondering, which is about 10 kilometers north of Port Douglas! They are helping put up tents in a secret location - but I can now tell you where - as Steven Spielberg is filming a big mini-series up here with Tom Hanks in the leading role. All outdoor scenes are being shot up this way and all indoor shoots are going to take place in Melbourne.) They were still some time away when we arrived so we stopped in at a 'bottle shop' to buy a '6-pack' (of Stella Artios in case you were wondering!) Monet and I waited patiently in the car whilst Lyndon went into the store.

When Lyndon returned to the car he brought along someone with him. The guy we used to rent a house from in Rye (on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsular) back when I was 4 months pregnant with Monet. Lyndon worked with 'Jason' for a number of months when he was doing his carpentry apprenticeship. 'Jason' had this grand plan on renting out his lovely beach side house and travel up the coast to 'maybe' work in Port Douglas. Over three years later he is still there. Small world.

We only rented his house for about 7 months before we moved back to Melbourne, as we missed the city-life too much. But we still talk about how much we loved that Rye house.

And we wonder each time we visit Port Douglas if 'Jason' still is up here. Well, we found out the answer last night. And funnily enough, 'Jason' works for a building company that is currently working at Lyndon's work site.

Speaking of small worlds, I remember when I was backpacking around the UK (alone) in 1996/97 I was staying at a little hostel in Edinburgh, off the lovely Royal Mile. One of the girls who was in the dorm with me was taught by my father at one of the schools my dad taught at during his career. Small world.

Have you had any 'small world' experiences, like mine?

Warm to Cold...

So we've figured it is about time that Monet and I went south for a holiday, to visit family and friends. We've had both lots of parents up here numerous times and it's only fair that we go down and repay their visits. Part of me is really looking forward to it, but the other part is dreading the cold weather. Bone-chilling cold.

Even this morning Monet went out on our back balcony (which catches the sun all day) and said "It's cold out here Mum!" She was right. It was. But it was 19 degrees Celsius. How ridiculous is that? We're complaining that it is 19 degrees!! (That's about in 66 Fahrenheit). I have jeans on today and it is currently about 25 degrees (77F). If we were still living in Melbourne I wouldn't be complaining how cool it was at night at 19C but rather boasting about how hot it was! I'm still shaking my head at myself.

We are flying to Melbourne on August the 1st with a 2 hour stop-over in Sydney. So our plane trip is going to take like 6 hours, but the tickets were cheap so I am not whinging over that. It might be nice for Monet and I to stretch our legs! We fly back out on the 12th, but we are going to Brisbane for 3 nights and meeting Lyndon down there. 2 holidays in 1, we are having. How lucky are we?

Now, because we get around in t-shirts and skirts/shorts/mid-calf pants for most of the year (except today when I am wearing a pair of jeans but I am starting to feel warm so I might have to change), we don't have winter clothes. I have a big winter coat stored at my parents which I will be wearing, but Monet really has nothing. She does not know what flannelette pyjamas are, let alone own any.

That is why the local Department Stores are loving us today.

I have lay-byed for Monet the following; (and you can only imagine how cute and gorgeous the following are) - a pair of Dora the Explorer flannie pjs, a pair of denium jeans, a black pinafore with matching funky top, a fleecy Dora the Explorer tracksuit, a green zip-up fleecy jacket, woollen tights, a pair of Dunlop slip-on shoes and a pair of Gumboots. For myself, a pair of new jeans and a black woollen jumper/cardigan over top thingy (you understand that don't you?) I will need to get myself some shoes that cover my toes. I don't have any.

I love shopping for clothes for an impending holiday. Always have. It is a rule Lyndon and I have. Holiday = new clothes.

Do you ever buy new clothes for impending holidays?

(Sorry, Blogger not liking paragraphs today. Again!!)

Just For The Record...

...tonight was the first night, for the first time this year since I have put on a long-sleeved jacket. Yes, I am feeling rather cool. In fact, I think it is the first time I have worn a jacket since my visit to Melbourne in early Novemeber.

True.

Keep On Moving...

We are like a couple of professionals in the moving stakes, Lyndon and I. Look, we even went out and bought one of those packing tape dispensers...

...And we write on the tape, not on the box, in case we have to use those boxes again.

I've been packing at least one big box a day and we are slowly getting through it all... I can see ourselves this time next week eating off paper plates and using plastic cutlery because I would have packed up the whole kitchen!! And we'd still have a week to go before we move!!

Since going out with Lyndon, coming up to 11 years in June, this will be our 10th move together and Monet's third (and she's not even 3 yet!).

I think that Packing tape dispenser will probably get a fair bit of work out in years to come as I know what we are like. But then things may change, considering we are moving into our 'own' place this time and not renting!! (Yippee!! We still can't believe it.) And if we do happen to move, the company Lyndon works for will be paying for removalists to pack and move our stuff anyway (like they did with our Melbourne to Cairns move), so maybe we don't need to hold onto that tape dispenser after all. Heehee...

Over the past 10 years, how many house moves have you made?

Not Feeling 'So Melbourne'

I'm not feeling 'so Melbourne' anymore and for me, that's a good thing. I have never felt so content in my life as of current. Maybe too content. Who knows. I'm happy, I'm healthy and I'm content. That dawned on me a few weeks back. I didn't think I would feel like that up here but I proved myself wrong.

A few months ago I think we were ready to 'move on'. We had 'done' Cairns. Not that we were bored or unhappy, just ready for a new adventure I think. Not so anymore. We're prepared to stay on for a while longer. We haven't talked about Melbourne and returning there at some point for a long time now. That's a good thing.

I realised last night that I hadn't worn any black all week. Me? I'm a black wearing girl aren't I? Aren't I? Maybe not. Melbourne people wear black. I always did. It's a black wearing city. If I wasn't wearing a black top, I was wearing black skirt/pants. I now find myself wearing colours. Yep, colours. Coloured tops with skirts/shorts that aren't black.

I wasn't too keen either on Monet being educated in this part of the world either. There are a few things that Queensland don't do in their education system that Victoria do. (3-year old kindergarten for one.) But I'm over that now. As long as Monet turns out to be a well rounded individual then my job is done. If we support her and show her what the world has to offer her then there is no need for me to worry. Is there?

The only down part of this contentment is the fact that I feel sorry for two particular people. You know who you are, don't you dad. *grin* Its the fact that their only grandchild is over 3000 kilometers away and she is growing so quickly into a gorgeous little being, besides the current 'tantrum phase'. With one daughter living in Cairns and the other in London, I can't imagine what it is like. But this is what happens when you bring up two well-rounded individuals, hey? *smirk*

Need Normality

Oh! What a busy few days we've had so far and I'm looking forward to getting some normality back in our lives...

Thursday - Three and a half hour flight south to Melbourne from warm and humid Cairns. Greeted by terrible weather, cold and rainy which made us miserable and tired. Monet travelled extremely well on the plane but believe me when I say that three and a half hours on a plane with a two year old is long enough! We picked up our hire car and drove two hours south to our families in Gippsland. It was a very long day but was wonderful to see our immediate families who gathered in one place for a lovely big dinner! It honestly felt like Christmas...

Friday - Weather? Cold.

Drove back to Melbourne in the morning and checked into our lovely apartment for a 4 night stay. If you're going to visit Melbourne, it's good to stay in the city center, like we did. We were a short 5 minute walk from everything... Monet and I went and visited our friend from Mother's Group which was soooo lovely. Monet had a wonderful time playing with her old play mate. That evening we caught up with a few friends for one too many drinks. Monet went to bed at MIDNIGHT!!! (Poor girl!)

Saturday - Weather? Cold.

Shopped a little in the city center and wandered around exploring the city which we called home over seven months ago. Met up with friends that evening at a lovely pub roof top garden for (more) drinks. Monet went to bed at ELEVEN PM!!! (Poor girl!)

Sunday - Weather? Cold.

Wandered around again, through the streets of Melbourne town. We ended up walking to our old shopping strip after Monet's nap and meeting up for (more) drinks with our friends. Monet went to bed at TEN PM!! (Poor girl!)

Monday - Weather? Cold.

Went to our friends for a BBQ lunch which was delicious. That evening I took the option of staying at the apartment rather than going out with Monet and celebrating a friends birthday. Monet actually went to bed at her normal time. So did I. Phew. Can't say that about Lyndon though...

Tuesday - Melbourne Cup - Weather? Freezing. (Felt freezing anyway.)

Packed up our gear and waited for a friends to pick us up so we could stay at their place in our old suburb. Had another BBQ lunch and Lyndon went and placed bets. My horse came second, Lyndon's came first. We made $80 profit. Yippee! Lyndon left for the airport in the early evening...and yes, it was a teary goodbye... Monet went to bed at her normal time.

Normality is returning... and my bones need to thaw out... and yes, I have discovered I am now a wuss with cooler weather! You don't need to tell me that. *smile*

Q & A

Flights booked? Yes.

Hire car booked? Yes.

Hotel booked? Yes.

Friends and relatives know? Yes.

Bags packed? No.

Do you know what you're taking? Not really. Melbourne/Victoria's weather too unpredictable!

Monet's stuff organized? Getting there.

Presents for everyone? What presents? No. (gee, I hope no one is expecting any!)

U2 ticket packed? No. I mustn't forget that!

Where are you going? Ahh...lovely four-seasons-in-one-day Melbourne....and relative visiting in Gippsland....

Will posting be light when you are away? More than likely but I will have use of a computer so maybe not. Who knows...

When are you leaving? Thursday. Morning.

Returning? Two and a half weeks later.

Looking forward to it? You betcha!!

Please pretend to miss me when I'm gone...