Bendigo and Start of The Great Ocean Road

Well now been in Australia for 2 weeks from leaving UK.

Wednesday 30th

Kiasa picked me up about 10am. We noticed three of the chickens had escaped from the pen. We managed to catch 2 of them and put them back in the yard.  

We then went to her place we had coffee then Ivan took us down town to first see the lovely cathedral in Bendigo.

 Then onto the town centre had a wander to The Metropol pub and had a lunchtime drink. After walked up to the Art Gallery and had a good look round. Ivan picked us up from the Gallery we returned back home where Ivan prepared a roast leg of lamb for dinner and Kiasa and I sat in the garden with a glass of vino.

Lovely dinner and watched some TV, Troy the magician was on quite unbelievable.

Staying over here tonight, as we are going back into Bendigo again tomorrow.

Thursday 1st October

Kiasa and I went to Kangaroo Flat shopping  mall I brought a new top with my birthday money, thanks Mum and Dad. Lovely Mall, not too big. But everything there. Came back for coffee we had decided to go to The Great Stupa a Buddhist temple being built just outside Bendigo. Quite an engineering feat and a huge amount of finance to be raised and invested. Anyway very interesting we spun the prayer wheels and offered a few words of wisdom.! 

On the way home asked Ivan to stop the car to take a photo of a flower called.??????  Which grow like weeds on the side of the road. So pretty and what a splash of colour. We had chicken, salad  and bread for a yummy lunch.

Friday 2nd October

Left home about 8 am to travel down to Port Fairy. We stopped off at Skipton for coffee and cake stop,I brought a little bracelet there. Then we travelled on to see The Twelve Apostles in Port Cambell a spectacular rock formation.

Many many Chinese tourist there clicking away. 

A further 1hour 30 mins and we were at our destination. Matilda cottage in Port Fairy.

A beautiful little seaside port. We checked into our cottage and went for a walk around. My room in our three bedroom cottage fab!

Much to our dismay all the restaurants were closed because of the football tomorrow, so they have made today a Public holiday. Even the fish and chip shop was closed. Melbourne aren't playing footie till tomorrow. So popped in super market and brought supplies. Lasagne and garlic bread.

Saturday 3rd

A lovely little farmers market round the corner so went for a look around. Brought some room scented wax jars,different!  Then went just along the cost to watch the surfers then to a beautiful bay,  not unlike Cornwall, cold sea, big waves but 28degrees sat for a while. Decided to go check out town shops have lunch ,then I went back to beach for a couple of hours, second selfie!

Came back had a quick shower then walked to the lighthouse before having the best fish and chips ever in the port.

Really great relaxing day and we have another big drive tomorrow. Day light saving starts tonight so will lose an hour so now 10 hours in front of U K till end of October.

Sunday 4th 

Drove away from Port Fairy about 10am making a stop at a Sink Hole in Umpherson which had been turned into lovely gardens. Bees where buzzing around making honeycomb within the rock formation.

Then stopped at Mount Gambier to see the blue lake, which wasn't as blue as it will be in another month, cemicals in the rock here when the sun is at its hottest appear to turn water bright blue. Had lunch in town centre. 

On to Robe now where we checked into a Best Western Motel for the night. Went up to the cliff point here to see the obelisk.  Had to let Elli win one game of Canasta else she'll get like her hubby all grumpy!!

Week 2

Wednesday 23rd

Elli's mum Kaisa came round to pick me up and I spent a lovely day with her and her partner Ivan in their lovely bungalow just outside Bendigo. We had a fab BBQ lunch, steak and salad a a few glasses of red wine, brought me back for 6pm.

Thursday 24th

Had a nice lie in, as I had a day to chill out! Sorted my stuff out and decided to explore the surrounding area by foot. Had a good walk up to a reservoir and walked around. Came back and sat in the sunshine having a read.

 

Friday 25th

Elli and I went to see her sister and three nieces at Elli's mums place in Bendigo. After went into Castlemaine, and had lunch out. Weather much nicer now and warming up. May not wear my boats again!  Cooked nice dinner and played Canasta with Elli she beat me again.

Saturday 26th 

Meet up with Elli's family again at a beautiful lake where they have BBQ areas for you to use.

Had a great lunch , Ivan is a wonderful host and we had all sorts on the grill. Lamb chops yummy. On the way we stopped off at a For Sale house as they where having an open day. Very nice 3bedrooms, big kitchen/dinner and huge lounge with 4 acreas land only $475,000 (£235,000) not bad.

After BBQ and taking Klara swimming we left. 

Sat in the sun with me book but fell asleep. Elli had to take photo!!!  Then popped up to see their neighbours house and have a cuppa again really huge so much land. Geoff a joiner by trade and works with Mick has done so much himself and it really something special. And of corse has an enormous shed with all his gear in.

Back home for a wine and another game of Canasta which I won ! Hurray.

Sunday 27th

Took Klara to her dog social club where we meet many other dog lovers who walk their dogs all together. Klara had fun. Then we went to a lovely butterfly garden centre for my pre birthday lunch as Mick want be able to join us Tuesday as he will be at work. Lovely meal and brought some butterflies for my boat.

Outside the garden centre this new car was parked,one for you Ryan , it's called a ute (short for utility)

Mick says its a Wankers Holden! Tradesman don't have them all tarted and shinny like that,a sort of boy racer truck!

Then Elli and I went for a drive, ended up at Sutton Grange winery. We sampled about 8 different red wines and chatted for ages to the nice using man! The view over the wine yards was spectacular.

Then went to Henry's Cider distillery and sampled some ciders. Lovely lady who had actually been to UK and holidayed on a narrow boat. Brought some cider.

Back home we had coffee, cheese and biscuits then sat in the sunshine for a read. Fab day.

Monday 28th

Decided to catch the train to Melbourne, Elli dropped me off at Bendigo station as she had to take car in for service. The train operator announced there was a car short on on the 9.24 so they put on an express coach straight through to Melbourne. Great I got in hour hour before the train! City was big and and much like New York all girded out with some lovely old building dwarfed by high sky scrapers.

Walked around getting some idea of the layout. There are freedom knitters all over the state decorating trees and trams. Very pretty

Got up to State Library of Victoria, then went  for a fab lunch on a corner cafe $13 busy and good for people watching. After caught the free City Circle tram, Route 35, back down to the Sea Life Centre, then walked back up to Southern Cross station to get the last off peak train back to Casltemaine. The cost of train travel for us seniors was only $16 for my return trip. Got back about 5pm. 

Had lovely dinner , Moroccan savoury mince, I've got the recipe down so defiantly going to be cooking that at home. Then we went over to Tammy's. Elli's sewing friend. She spins, knits, crochets and so many other crafty things, and has an enormous shed for her sewing room. Very interesting evening. Ginny you would be in 7th heaven.

Got home about 10.30. Another good day.

Tuesday 29th

My birthday. Opened all my cards, thanks so much it was quite emotional but I have them all over my bedroom. Mick thinks I sent them to myself.  Fabulous Pashmena girls thanks wore it this morning.

Elli cooked a lovely breakfast, eggs and cereal with fresh fruit. Then Kaisa (Elli's mum) came round and we all went off to a Lavender farm for lunch. Brought some lavender face and neck cream suppose to make me look 20 years younger!!!! Smells good but will wait and see!

Selfie at 6??????? Years young!

The weather has gone cool again but due to go up to 24/26 by weekend.

Thanks again for all birthday wishes.

Australia!

Friday 18th

Well arrived at Melbourne airport at 7.35am after a long journey from Birmingham. Stopped over at Dubai for two hours and meet up with Jodi on her way to Perth. Then flew on to Singapore just for a fuel stop although we had to get off plane,then back on within the hour.

Then onto Melbourne and it was so good to see Elli waving and smiling to greet me. 

We stopped off at a McDonald's for a coffee then onto where Mick and Elli live.

Well to say I was gobsmacked is an understatement.  The house is in working progress and we are living in a huge corrigrated shed! I have my own bedroom and M &. E are sleeping in a tent! 

Within a couple of hours we had taken Klara (their lovely black lab)  to Tracy home. A beautiful rustic three bedroom house which M & E used to own and Mick had done a superb job in renovating it. Then Elli and I stopped off in Maldon fo a quick lunch. Back home picked up Mick and set off to Echuca to spend my first night in Australia on a Houseboat called The Mayflower on the river Murray. Popped to the shops for supplies had pizza for dinner. Early to bed slept till 8am.

Saturday 19th after a good cooked breakfast went for a walk around Echuca before Leanne and Antony  (Elli's brother and his wife) arrived to join us for two days on the Murray. After a chicken lunch we headed off,Mick had his lesson in steering the boat but had no problems. We went down stream for about 3 hours and moored up in a lovely spot. I made fairy sand castles until a speedboat went passed and the bow wave washed them all out. So sad.

Had a fab BBQ then played Canasta with Elli till midnight and she beat me by 45 points.

Sunday 20th I was last up! Had breakie then cruised off back up the Murray arriving back about lunch time. Went round the Echuca Discovery centre excellent guide and enjoyable tour. Paddle steamers, not unlike the canal boats, where the first form of transporting wool, and cattle from Melbourne to Sydney. And was the largest inland port in the 1870's . I then went round town brought a lovely top and skirt and ended up in a bar listening to a band and having my first beer in Australia! Dinner on the boat then said our goodbyes to Leanne and Antony. I won Canasta tonight!

Monday 21st 

Left Echuca about 10am and drove back to M & E weather has turned cool. Had a better look around the shed and the new house it will look quite impressive when it's built.  Went down to Castllemain for some food shopping and an adaptor for camera. 

Tuesday 22nd

Got up early 6.30am  (for me anyway) and went into work with Elli to Kynchya. A typical small country town. Walked round shops and brought some jeans and boots as it is much colder than I thought and haven't really brought enough warmer clothes. Elli did warn me it was still cold but I guess I chose to ignore her thinking I knew better.....wrong!

Booked my flight to Sydney for a week and a hotel very near the harbour for October. 

Off tomorrow

Well had a really busy weekend. 

Left nice and early Thursday and got to Burgess Hill by 12.45 good journey. Went to lunch at Red Lion in Lindfield then sat out in Gill's lovely garden for tea an chat. So lucky to have such a great friend. Love you both.

Friday 12th went over to Worthing to have lunch with Mum, Dad, Anne,John and Faye.at The Fish a Factory, excellent meal, and lovely company.  Stopped at Shoreham old Toll Bridge to see all the flowers left after the Air Disaster. Very moving.

After tea with Mum and Dad called into to see other friends before arring at my B & B in Sompting! Kay your a star, love staying with you and Simon the biscuits were lovely. Went out in the evening with all my old pals from Guild Care. Great to see you all.

Saturday meet up with my lovely brother and his delightful wife in Lewes and had a fab lunch together.

Called into see Friends on my way to East Preston everyone seems to be selling their homes! What's going on!  Good meal,one of my favourites Mick, good luck in France.

Sunday 13th up early to go up to Hyde Park. Excellent day Rod Stewart was just great,but Brain Adam did a fab set along with The Coors, Will Young, Leona Lewes and many more.  Got back to Burgess Hill just after midnight knackered!!

 Drove back to the boat Monday, had tea with Ginny on her boat in dry dock. Very strange dark and no movement. Dinner with Kate and family.

Now today I must pack and get the boat sorted for Winter!

Next blog in Australia!