Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi Oi Oi (Aus Day Weekend)

22 January
After waking a couple of times (and not sure how the seat worked to get the foot rest back up again) awake around 6, 6.30 and 7 before the Captain announced we were 45 minutes away from port. After waiting for ages for one of the guys in front to move his car we were finally on our way, and headed to the Dandenong’s – except I programmed in Dandenong instead of Mt Dandenong, so we went a bit out of the way to get there. We stopped in the main street of a town on the way up for a cooked breakfast and then made Olinda about 9am, so the whole town was basically still asleep. Headed up to the lookout (as the bathrooms in Olinda were under repair) and Kel snuck in to use the ones in there. Back down to Olinda for a look through the shops that were now open before going back to the lookout and through the gardens. Over to William Rickets Sanctuary, which I was really looking forward to seeing, but they were closed with the risk of bushfire to extreme due to the weather. What the??? From there we decided to find somewhere to set up for the night, so after ringing a few caravan parks we found one with a pool in Doncaster. We checked in, and upgraded to a site with ensuite – very nice. Bit of a spruce up and we headed out for lunch too TGI Fridays and with my voucher got extraordinary value! Kel had a quick look through Myers while I went to check out the cinemas for times. We headed back to the caravan park and did some washing. Kel jumped on the internet while I had a swim, with the hot winds that were blowing a heap of crap into the pool. Headed into the tv room to sort out some of my scrapbook while Kel was on the net. Back for a shower and we headed off for the movies to see Bride’s War and ate popcorn. Still early when we got back we went for a walk over the road and down a track, stopping when Kel was attacked by the gigantic spider! It was dark on return and I dropped in to get a tennis update and got suck watching Venus Williams go from needing one game to win to loosing the match. Fantastic! Grabbed my computer and headed back to play while I watched the men’s game, heading to bed around midnight when thankfully it had gotten a bit cooler.

23 January
7.30 I was awake, and after rolling over a few times I got up and walked out our door to our ensuite – how good is that! We got up and changed and headed off for a walk along the same track as the night before, but making the full 2.2kms. Back and on the internet (while we still had access) and organised the van and were out by 10.45am, heading for the shops to kill some time before picking up Dan from the airport. A bit of shopping (and two more pairs of shoes) and a coffee before setting Millie for Tullamarine – I was going to be an old hat at getting there by the time the weekend was out. I was driving along praying for Dan to call, and after getting into the departures/arrivals section figured we’d have to do a drive by and come back when my phone rang – he was ready to go. Perfect. Waited about 5 minutes before he came out and gave him a big hug. So good to see him. We took off headed for check-in at the caravan park, paid the bill and headed down to our cabin. Luke was not going to be impressed! I was now rather concerned. Trying to reassure myself we decided to find some food, so headed down Lygon Street until we found a parking bay and liked the menu at the pub – Dan didn’t care as long as it wasn’t burgers or pizza! We had a couple of beers before leaving via the bottle shop and off to buy Dan and Kel tickets to the tennis. What a disaster. Not only was it peak hour traffic, but getting anywhere near Rod Laver was damb near impossible. Mind you, Dan and Kel turned it into a drinking game, so they did ok! I turned around and dropped them off near Fed Square and found parking a couple of streets further up. Unfortunately the booth had closed so they were back and decided they’d sort out tickets the next day. We headed back via shops for food and Australia Day breaky supplies. Back to camp we had a beer and Dan and I headed for the pool, with the cricket not much of a watch. It was a tad chilly so after we had our standard ‘how far can you get underwater’ game we headed for the spa, and got chatting with some of the other holidayers. Time for dinner and Dan and I went back and cooked up chicken kebabs while Kel ate all of the seafood salad (because she wasn’t hungry when we were buying food!). Had a few more drinks and watched Australia loose the cricket before heading to bed.

24 January
Expecting my alarm to go off I hadn’t slept very well, so was awake at 5.15 when Luke sent through a message to say they were on their way. Rolled over before picking up my book and heading to the front reception, past the domestic in the next cabin – great, that would please Luke no end! My phone went off at 5.40am just as they were rolling in, thinking it was Luke calling and it was my alarm. Did the hugs and waited for the explosion, which happened when we got to the chalet – ‘they’re small, where’s the bathroom’ and I pointed across the road to the ablution block. Not Happy Jan!!! Luke was not impressed at all, in fact he was rather peeved. I put it down to him being grumpy – he’d get over it! It was back to bed anyway for at least a couple of hours sleep....

Sleep was a bit hit and miss, with outside noises and another domestic (Luke and I both sat up straight in bed, thinking someone was going to get slapped!) it was 8am when Jody came back in saying she hadn’t slept at all, so offered her some magazines and I grabbed my book. After an hour I decided to head to the van, so started a clean up. 10am and Luke was up, deciding it was time for everyone else to be awake, and still not particularly happy with the accommodation. So I made coffees (after raiding George for some proper mugs) while everyone attempted to wake up. With breakfast and getting ready it was 11.30 before we headed out for our walk to the tram. ‘Are we there yet’, ‘Where the bloody hell are we’, ‘Are we there yet’. Now before the trip that would have given me the shits, however with a bit more patience I was able to just ignore it, with the others giving Luke enough shit back. We got to the tram stop and the boys went and bought tickets from the post office while Jody apologised for Luke. On the tram ‘are we there yet...’ and about 12.30 we were in Fed Square finding out about tickets for Dan and Kel to attend the tennis. Then to Richmond, and with the guys not keen to walk we had to find a tram to get us there, which ended up being about 3 different trams ‘are we there yet’ and some walking in between, but eventually we had a arrived at Bridge and Church Streets. I wasn’t looking at anything, so I went into all the blokes shops with the boys (cos I wasn’t likely to be tempted in there) while the girls did their thing, catching up with each other every few shops or so. When the boys had had enough (or more to the point when Luke decided this wasn’t the street he wanted) we headed to the pub and waited for the girls – and all I had bought was 2 hats (to replace the one that blew off) and top I spotted on a rack on the street (same shop as I’d bought ‘that red dress’ from). Then on the tram down Church to Chapel St, which is where Luke and Jody found their ‘antique’ boutiques they could remember from last time. So up and down there for a bit before heading to St Kilda. It was getting late (4pm) before we got to La Roche, and everyone was starving (wanting to know if it was worth waiting to get to the restaurant or eat somewhere else). Turned out they all agreed it was worth the wait, with cheap beers and good food we were all very happy! Back down Ackland St and over to Luna Park to take Jody on her first roller coaster ride ever. Having done it I became the bag lady while they lined up and Jody kissed me goodbye. Got some great photos, and Jody was absolutely terrified, going weak at the knees and falling out of the carriage at the end. I said goodbye to the crew at it was after 6pm and the tennis was starting at 7.30pm, so caught the tram into town and walked to The Transport, where Dee, Dale, Caz and George were waiting. Finished their drinks and we walked over to Rod Laver – Oh My God it was amazing inside the gates! There were people everywhere, live bands, drinks, merch – amazing! Into the arena and to our seats, where I nearly pushed Caz over the balcany as the chair I was standing on flipped up. Sat down to watch Sam Stoser’s singles match but it wasn’t long before we headed to the bar – for glowing cocktail glasses and daiquiris! Not good because it was a tad chilly but very nice to drink – Strawberry (and later Blue Lagoon). Sam lost the first in a tiebreaker (she hadn’t been serving well at all) and then lost the second in a hardfought match. Then it was time for the big guns – Nadal (undie picker extraordinaire) and Haas. Now I hadn’t seen enough of his tennis to notice before, but Nadal has a really bad habit of adjusting his shorts/undies before every ball – we counted 11 times in the first game alone. I lost count after 30 (the third game) but it did provide some added entertainment. Nadal ended up winning in 3 sets, but the game of the day was outside on Margaret Court, with Gonzales winning the 5th set decider 12-10. Left the tennis after midnight and said goodbye to Dee as they headed off and I followed the Yarra towards the Cas, stopping at 1am to take photos of the flames outside. Found the nightclub they were in – Obeon – which was $20 entry and took photo id before entry – ridiculous!!! Was not impressed, however Dan came to find me and when the band came on for their final set I was less pissed about it, as they played a lot of good classics (and some very random songs – Time of your Life and Spice Girls!!!). We left at 2.30am and jagged a maxi taxi who took us home ($47 ride) and we all collapsed into bed – me opting for George and some space and peace and quiet!!!

25 January
Read and blogged, giving them a sleep in until 10am, having no where particularly to be. Once everyone was moving and sorted we headed for the tram and the Queen Vic Markets. Unfortunately we had a little stop along the way, when the tram driver said there was a burst water main and we couldn’t continue. We looked outside to see a raging river running down the street, and got out to see the biggest water fountain you have ever seen – really quite spectacular! So we walked past the water and down to where the tram restarted. So by the time we got into Melbourne, and then back out to the markets it was 1.30pm (and slight concern that they would be closed!). Maccas was the hangover cure Daniel needed so that became lunch (topped off with an icecream – boy I was going to be working hard over the next few weeks!). 2pm by the time we stepped in to the rows and rows of stalls, and decided to rondeveau at 3pm. For someone who had been very good yesterday I was undoing all my hard work, buying clothes like they were going out of fashion (pardon the pun). We met back up and in search of a store Jody and Luke took off while Kel, Dan and I stopped for a rest and a drink. 3.30pm and we were heading back to the tram, with some Aussie shopping down Collins St along the way. Back on the tram and headed home, we were again stopped by the water main... although there didn’t seem to be the fountain there was before. We decided to leave the bus shuttle for those not quite as able as us, and we tredged up the road and found that the water was still flowing, however had been stifled by the shovel of a bobcat! Ingenious! So with the water still flowing down the street, and the weather slightly warm, when we had to cross the ‘raging current’ we just walked straight through it, with Lukes’ ‘I can’t get these shoes wet, they’re leather’ and we just laughed and continued on... which was about the time the water fights started – it’s surprising how far you can flick water with sandals on! Dan and I had a good ol’ time, kinda like running around under the sprinklers again! Was definitely a highlight of the weekend. Back to the caravan park and time for beers, food and a swim. Dan and I filled up our water bottles with something other than water and the two of us and Luke headed to the pool, where we tried to have underwater breath holding competitions but Luke’s attention span was shorter than his lung capacity, so started making us laugh. Next was a swimming comp, with Dan getting 2 ½ laps, me getting 2 and Luke making 1 and a bit I think. The boys were wusses and headed for the spa where we sat and drank until the girls came and offered to top up our ‘water’. What legends! They didn’t mind staying though, as there were about 4 German blokes also in the spa playing with my midori beach ball – nice for a perv! Dinner became an interesting subject, deciding on bbq with whatever we had – which would be hash browns and eggs for me. I left the boys to it needing the bathroom and when I returned they were talking, sorry ogling, over this French girl – we we – in the spa. I managed to get 1 sentence response from Dan, but Luke didn’t even break eye contact to see me standing there – rather amusing! They left when she did (awwww) and then were given responsibility of the bbq. So it was bangers in bread, leftover salad and beers. Back for the tennis on tv, all ready for a big day tomorrow we headed to bed about midnight.

26 January
Awake by 8.30 it wasn’t until 9am that I did the morning wake up call to the crew, and whilst they weren’t particularly happy about it the round of tea/coffees in bed helped I think. On with the radio – Triple J of course for the all important countdown and after everyone had gotten changed it was time for a cooked breaky. With our flag, champagne in plastic VB cups and vegemite (which Jody couldn’t stand) we enjoyed a beautiful breaky (well brunch actually) in what was a glorious day (you could have even been fooled to think we were in Perth). The food was scrumptious and we all pigged out. Then it was time to take on Melbourne. Showing our colours proudly (although Luke was slightly concerned he looked too much like a budgerigar) we set of on our way to the tram, detouring for the all essential carton of VB along the way – one didn’t quite make the backpack. Onto the tram and we lightened Dan’s bag a bit more. We got off at Swanston St (an unplanned stop, but a good one considering the amount of alcohol we’d consumed) and purchased the all important batteries to get us back on Triple J. Over to Fed Square where we basked in the sun with the crowd (Luke feeling slightly more comfortable now that we weren’t the only ones in Aussie attire) and watched the tennis while having a couple more quiet ones – until security came and Dan and I had to throw our open ones out – punishment for drinking VB I’m sure! We moved on and caught the tram into St Kilda where we headed for La Roche again for lunch (about 4pm) and more drinks. Down to the water, which wasn’t very nice, we sat on the beach and listened to the top 10 songs, with Kings of Leon taking out 1st and 3rd. On another tram which took us to Spencer Street and a walk down the river until we arrived at The Transport (just before dress code restrictions applied) for yet more drinks (and a temporary change to wine) to see Australia get smashed in the cricket (we had switched ABC stations for the cricket along the way) and some more tennis. Had some food before the fireworks at 9.20pm, which weren’t bad but nothing on Perth. Headed off for yet another tram ride, this one packed, we got chatting to a few of the crew on board. Off the tram (and back to VB) we stumbled home (singing, drinking, pole dancing along the way) where Dan packed and I grabbed photos before we all fell into bed about 11.30pm. What a great day!

27 January – Luke & Charlette’s birthday - 35°c
Woke up at 6am – who wakes up this early after Australia Day when they don’t have to – and suddenly thought about whether Dan had made it to the airport. So a quick check of the chalet and he appeared to be gone. Back to bed but unable to sleep I read and blogged for a bit – and boy did I have some catching up to do! About 7am I put the computer away and did drift back off to sleep... until 9am. Crap. Woke everyone up – a bit more gingerly than I had the previous day, and then headed to the front reception to hand in my Big 4 application and find out about extended check-out, which we got until 11am. So it was back and all systems go, having to pack up George and the chalet we were done by 11am, but only enough to drop the keys back to reception while I had a (cold) shower – it was going to be a warm one. So with the van packed and room clean it was time to decided what to do for the day........ and that took a while. In the end we were going to head for the city, however a last minute suggestion to do Ramsey St meant we headed for there. I was around 12.15 and we were about 5kms from location when we decided to stop at a cafe for lunch – and there happened to be one right outside the window (we were stopped at lights at the time). So making a quick change of lanes we found a parking spot and walked back to Rosaria’s – in the dry heat! The cafe was really nice, and cheap, and we all ended up with beautiful lunches. Back in the car and off to Ramsey St – which is actually Pin Oak Crt. Now the girls went wild, and I wouldn’t have been able to tell you which, if any, of the houses are actually on Neighbours. So Luke and I took the photos while the girls posed. The street is actually a really short colder sack, which surprised them all. About 1.30pm and we decided to head to the city to spend the next couple of hours before I had to drop Luke and Jo at the airport, so I tried to find a station to park at, and just before I did Luke saw the sign for the zoo and suggested we go there – so we took Luke to the zoo for his birthday. By the time we got organised and sun creamed up we were only left 2 hours to look though, so it became an express tour. So we ran around and saw the monkeys (they all seemed to love Luke) and apes, elephants, zebras and giraffe, lions and tigers, turtles and platypus, birds and the .... bears (although we saw quite a bit of the ‘birds and the bees’ happening!!! Considering the heat there were quite a few frisky animals, with the shrew being absolutely hilarious). But I think my favourite was the butterflies, and I finally saw a Ulysses, and they are spectacular! None of us had brought water, and Jody nearly melted in a puddle with the heat! So before leaving we all grabbed a Frosty Fruit and took off for the airport, and had a pretty good run too. Arrived and stopped at the wrong terminal and unloaded their bags and said our goodbyes. Kel and I then had to work out some accommodation, so backpackers was the idea and after a few phone calls found a place in Southbank, near the casino. Arrived and got into a parking bay and checked ourselves in – to a double room on the 5th floor with a bathroom all to ourselves. The place was nicer than some hotels I’ve stayed in (and bigger than some of the apartments mum and dad had booked too!) so we were stoked. A couple of beers to quench our thirst before showers and frocking up for the night. We left at 8.30pm with it still very warm outside and our intent was for James Squire, however it was further away than expected so after walking around for a bit we ended up back at the Cas, parading the strip before finding Cervo Cafe and Bar that wasn’t too overpriced on the waterfront. We left at 10pm, just after the fire show and headed inside for a drink – frozen daiquiris. $15 for a large rainbow one we sat and watched the tennis before checking out the tables and explaining some of the rules to Kel. We were just on our way upstairs to see what was going on when someone piped up with ‘Excuse me’ ‘Don’t suppose you ladies would like to come and sit down for a drink – just one – with us’. After a quick glance to Kel we agreed, so headed up and sat down a table with Matt and Lee, from Queensland (although Tasmanian and Victorian to begin with). So we had two more cocktails (kiwi rush, strawberry and blue lagoon) and were about to go for a walk when some of their business associates turned up, and they tried to pretend we were their ‘other halves’. So after that for about 10 minutes (and finding there were no other bars open) we had another drink (cc and lemonade this time) before deciding to head home... although they did try very hard to persuade us otherwise. Said goodbye and Kel de-healed as we left and walked back to the room, with a beautiful view over the casino lights. 1.30am it must have been......