Marvellous (Melting) Melbourne

28th January - 43.3°c
The room wasn’t overly dark, so I awoke about 7.30 feeling very average (yet again!). Stayed in bed until about 8.30 when I got up for a shower and Kel and I headed down for breaky just after 9am. Not a huge selection but better than nothing! Back up to pack up and sort out photos and we left right on 11am, only to find that someone had parked behind my car – which had a good and bad ramifications. Good because I was going to ask if I could leave my car there while we headed into Melbourne, but bad if they were still there when we got back. Anyway, we walked (in the searing heat – 43.4°c I found out the next day) down past the Crown and along Flinders Street until we came across an internet cafe - $4 for an iced coffee (couldn’t contemplate a hot one) and 30 minutes of internet – bargain! So Kel sorted out her boarding pass and I messed around. Headed off via Southern Cross Station for lunch and the Krispy Kremes for Kel to take home. Back to the car at 1.30pm and with the Carlton United Brewery tour booked for 2pm we needed a good run – and unfortunately we still had a car parked behind us. Luckily it was a staff members, so it was moved relatively quickly and we were on our way. We donned our closed in shoes (as Kel said we were old hats at this by now) and headed in, to find out we were the only ones on tour – bonus!!! So Ros took us into the tv room and we donned our safety vests and heard all about the history of Carlton, Vic Bitter, Fosters and how they all came to be a part of the one organisation. We then headed outside and onto the bus for the site tour, and we saw some of the tanks on a bigger scale than we had in Tassie. 49°c 4 stories up though! It was good to see the grain coming in and going out, and once the yeast has been used about 8 times it goes off to Kraft to make .... Vegemite! We saw the bottle of VB and Carlton Cold zooming around the conveyer belt, from the glasses being washed to filled, lidded, cleaned, labelled and packaged. The most important part then – the tasting! We had 4 to sample, Carlton Mid, Blonde, Fosters and their Black Ale, with Ros throwing in a bonus one of Stella. They were all passable, although Stella was definitely the most flavoursome, except for the Black Ale, which tasted like coffee (Kel thought it tasted like dirty tea dishwater – how would she have known that though???). Ros then asked if we’d like to learn how to pour beer – ummm yes please! So we got up behind the counter and were given instructions – tilt the glass, don’t handle it at the top, flick the handle straight down and back up again. Easy right? Wrong. They fill up really quickly, but I managed to get mine with a good head just sitting above the rim. Kel had a bit more trouble, pouring a frothy one first up, but had it by her second. As we were told we could drink them, the next problem was finding a local cinema so I wouldn’t have to drive in a hurry – just two blocks away. So we drank our blondes, looked through the merch and thanked Ros before leaving. Down the road to the shopping complex, and decided on Role models (I really didn’t care, as long as we were in air-conditioning). Downstairs for a Maccas sundae and cookies for the movie before it started. It was pretty silly, but had some funny bits and was better than sitting in the heat. We left just before 7pm and arrived at George 10 minutes later headed for the airport. We said our goodbyes and Kel headed off to the terminal (as I driven past it – got it wrong both times!). Then it was time to find accommodation. Big 4 would be $45, most other caravan parks were full so I tried the backpackers again –yep all good. Arrived at 9pm, still light and definitely still hot. Checked in and went to check out the room – I’m not sure what I was hit with first, the ridiculous heat or the absolute mess on the floor! The air-con wasn’t working, so with a fan going and the window open, and crap everywhere I thought perhaps I should have checked out the rooms before I left this morning. One of the guys came in, saying the air-con was broken, sorry bout the mess, he was sleeping next door with his girlfriend for the night. Back to the car for some gear and to reception to find out about a change of room – no problem! Up to the 3rd floor and into the room – ice cold and really clean. And a bottom bunk – perfect!!!!! Threw my stuff into the cupboard and headed to the bar for a drink – Madori and lemonade, and back to the 1st floor to watch the tennis. Once Nadal had won I headed back to the room for a shower and bed after some reading and typing. Didn’t hear another thing all night!

29th January – 44.3°c
8am my phone went off (on silent) with a message from Kel. I dozed again and again and again, sacrificing free breakfast for more sleep. Got up just before 10 and once ready headed for a walk (in the stifling heat) to Safeway for fruit, salad and yoghurt. With my basket loaded up I came back and had salad for breakfast – or more likely brunch – at 11.30am. Yummo!! Messed around in the room, on the internet, in the car, writing postcards, had lunch (salad and turkey) about 3pm. More messing around, down to the bar (only because there were chairs and it was a bit more lively) to blog it up and laugh at the pool games. More internet, upstairs for the cool of the room before heading back down for pizza at 6.30pm – yes I know, though I was supposed to be being good.... but at $6 and not having to cook could I really go past it??? After that I decided it was time to do some exercise, so went out to the car (revolting inside) grabbed my bathers got changed (in the backpackers) and went for a walk to the beach. Still 32 degrees at 7.45pm. The walk took over half an hour, and the water wasn’t nearly as appealing as I had hoped at Port Melbourne, but it was still jam packed!!! With the sun setting nicely behind the Spirit of Tasmania I found a free square foot of sand (and that took a while) and headed out for a swim, to a marker (into the swell) and back again. The water was a tad cold but lovely once you were in. Felt like I’d been going for ever, but the return trip took just under 5 minutes – out of practice obviously! Back up the beach (didn’t particularly want to be in the water after the sun had set) and showered before putting my shoes back on and walking home, and was still hot by the time I’d arrived! Upstairs for a shower and then back down on the internet until I was told that the tennis was good (Federer and Roddick) so went off in search for a tv to find out it had finished. That was enough for the night, back to the room for some reading before sleep about 11.30pm.

30th January – 45.1°c
Ok this really was slack. So much for going to the gym... or free breakfast... I got up at 9.45am and headed to the kitchen for another fruit breaky – only for them to kick me out at 10am – whoops! Ate and read, internet and messing around, stuff out of the car (like the chocolate I’d forgotten about in the fridge...which stuck (the fridge that is, not the chocolate) that was liquid!) lunch and deciding to head to the tennis. With games starting at 3pm (but it still being extremely hot) I decided a quick nap before heading off might be a go, but had far too many things to think about running through my head, so got up and ready, heading off about 4pm. Waited for a tram (which were free, given the problems over the past few days, yet another Connex PR exercise) that was hotter inside than out and got off and walked up Flinders St, stopping for a gaterade and spray on deodorant (yes it was that hot I was going to need regular refreshers!). On the number 70 tram arrived at Rod Laver just before 5pm with the temperate not too bad (although I had completely skulled the Gatorade before I arrived!), but to find play suspended so no games until later! Back on a tram and to the internet cafe for another iced chocolate (with cream, which I specifically said no to, but the guy couldn’t help himself) and a muffin (intended to be dinner). Back to Rod Laver just after 6 where play had recommenced, I saw the semi finals of the girls and two semi of the wheelchair tennis before the moment I’d been waiting for – Black Sorrows! I wandered over and checked out the bad – new drummer, that wasn’t Tony Floyd!!! How rude. The drummer was wearing a straw cowboy hat and sunnies, with greying goatee and reminded me of Lee from Bathurst. 5 minutes later I looked back at the drummer – it was Tony, without the hat and sunnies! I laughed! I worked my way up to the grass at the front, sending messages to the girls I had last seen the Black Sorrows with. They finished and I headed off to see if the Legends match was on... past the Garnier tent with a relatively small line, and security about to close it off! So I jumped in and got a mini facial and a whole bag of their products (worth well over the $19 entry I’d paid for the tennis – what a bargain!). The boys were still going on Margaret Court Arena so I headed back to the general area to watch Nadal and Verdasco fight out the semi final...... and a fight it was! Verdasco should have been 3-1 up in the first set, but stuffed up an overhead to make it 2-2. Then it was even right through to the tiebreaker, which he won. The whole crowd seemed to be cheering for Verdasco. Into the second set, and with the news the legends match would follow on centre court I was in for a long night... little did I know! Nadal won the second 6-4, and then the third in another tiebreaker. Fourth set (and it’s getting on a bit now) and about halfway through Verdasco starts getting treatment – that’s not good! I need a red wine to warm me up a bit by this stage, and by the time I’m back the tiebreaker for the 4th set it underway, with Verdasco almost taking a clean sweep 7-1. What a game! Nadal served the first game of the fifth set (it’s now after midnight) and I thought we were going to be there all night (would the legends even still be up?). Another glass of wine and a phone call from Aaron with Verdasco serving to stay in the match 15-40 down. He had a bet on with Kel’s Nan, so I talked him through the points – Verdasco won, 30-40, ooop, fault, oh no! Double Fault – Nadal Game Set and Match 6-4. Not a good way to end what was the longest game in Australian Open history 5 hours and 14 minutes!!! Chatted to Aaron some more as I then battled the mobs to get out and walk home, a nice 45 minute stroll, whilst texting Adam who was just getting up to start work. Arrived back just after 2pm, by the time I’d had a shower and was in bed it was 2.30pm... and my new room-mate was snoring......

31st January – 30.5°c
Where the hell did January go? Woke up at 8 when someone’s alarm went off, and again at 10, but stayed in bed until 10.45 (love rooms with no windows!). How slack, although everyone in my room was also still in bed!!! Time to head to the gym I got changed and had a banana and yoghurt before trecking down the road – with an absolutely beautiful day outside (probably still mid 30’s though!). Nice facilities, really nice! On the stepper and then some weights (always interesting when you are using new machines) before a cool down and stretches – yes I probably had gone too hard, yes I was going to hurt later!). Over to the South Melbourne markets for more fresh fruit and veg before coming home and making salad and turkey for lunch and reading more about Gilly. Upstairs for a shower and some blog before taking off just before 4pm, mainly heading back to the tennis for Taxiride and another go through the Garnier tent! I was walking today (no free public transport, and the walk would do me good) and decided to head down Southbank instead of along Flinders St, which turned out great, as Crown were celebrating Chinese New Year, and there were markets, food and displays along the waterfront. I surveyed the food, deciding to go for some Chicken stir fry (which wasn’t bad) as dinner (4.30pm) and sat down to eat it while watching a Chinese man make noodles – quite amazing!!! Fans and parasols were going like hotcakes (and it wasn’t even a really warm day!). I continued on, stopping briefly in Fed Square before making Rod Laver just after 5pm. Went in and watched the a set of the wheelchair final before going for another look, in the Jacob’s Creek Wine Tent (with an amazing view over the Yarra) and other marquees. There seemed to be some attention through the gates to Margaret Court Arena, so I went for a peep figuring it was one of the ladies warming up, but it was the main man, Roger Federer, practicing, and doing it seemingly easily. Time for a drink, and after quite a bit of searching found the daiquiris and headed outside for Taxiride. Sat on the grass at the front of the seating when a group came over and sat next to and infront of me. Enjoying the music one asked where I’d gotten the drink from, so I gave them directions and they offered to buy me one – sweet I thought! They were gone for over half an hour (there goes my glass...) but the rest of their group was still hanging around, so I just enjoyed the rest of the band, with everyone getting up to dance to their last song. By this stage I’m thinking that a free drink wouldn’t have been worth it, and I should have just said no. Eventually they came back (I was contemplating leaving) and asked who I was with and as so often happens then invited me to their group – so many names to remember! So we got chatting and then everyone sorta seemed to disperse, with James, Nikki and I going back for a refill. We stopped for some photos (to prove that Nikki had actually been at the tennis) and on our way saw a couple of the boys heading off so followed them, eventually finding them again in the Spiegelball, with DJ John Course... and more daiquiris! The tennis was all over (Serena had kicked asse) so we sat and drunk and danced and talked (and they smoked). Last drinks were called and we took our glowing cocktail glasses and headed out, back to Nick and Pete’s place in Richmond... via a garden along the way. Detour to a servo (for the all important smokes) and we arrived – with me kinda wondering what the hell I was doing. We drank for a bit before deciding a party not far away was the place to go, so we packed up (cask included) and headed off, via some entertainment with shopping trolleys along the way. Arrived at this nice apartment block and after almost getting locked in the emergency stairwell we got in, and the view from the 8th floor was quite amazing, over the ‘G, Rod Laver (both with lights still on, and birds still flying around). Balmy 21 degrees. We talked some more before leaving about 2.30pm. Now one of the guys had started taking my fancy, and I was doing all I could (politely) to ignore it, but didn’t seem to be getting the message. So when my phone rang just after 3am (what the?) and it was someone else I knew in Melbourne offering to pick me up I only hesitated for a second before saying yes. Ok, now I had an escape route. So I waited and waited, and realised nearly 45 minutes had gone so rang him back to find a change of plans and he’d gone home. Crap. Now I wasn’t drunk, or even really tipsy, but I then did something that would make mum cringe.. decided to walk home. So I said goodbye, and my ‘new mate’ walked me outside and asked where my ride was – ‘at the BP, I’ll meet them there’. No worries, bye, oh and BP is up on the right (the servo we’d stopped at earlier was Shell, and that was what I had intended, so bloody lucky there was a BP nearby aswell.) So just after 4am I set off, knowing it was probably going to take the best part of a hour to get home. Now whilst those light on the sporting grounds seemed to be a waste of money, it was fantastic to light up the area and give me really good bearings, although I am pretty sure I could have found my way without them (the river is obviously a really good marker too). So I headed across the river to South Yarra and along (where Issy and I had run) back to Southbank and along the waterfront, eating an apple I had taken with me (it was sooo good!), with only one proposition along the way (‘would you like a tie, for your boyfriend’ ‘i don’t have a boyfriend’ ‘you can be my boyfriend’ ‘what about your girlfriend’ ‘I don’t have a girlfriend’ never mind... too drunk to comprehend obviously). There was something going on as I neared the Cas main entry, so I stopped and waited for it to clear, and the 10 or so guys turned and walked off, followed by about 10 security, when there was a loud noise and security followed the guys (now past where I was), calling for reinforcements.... another 18 of em! Amazing! My second last turn and seeing the Golden Arches across from the backpackers was like a godsend, arriving home on 5am. There was really loud music playing (too late for the bar surely??) and someone had hooked up a computer and speakers in the dining area. Up to bed, not even worried about my teeth, shattered!

1 February – holy crap!
Alarm going off at 8am, more noise later, could I really be bothered.... got my sorry asse outa bed at... wait for it... 11.45am! How disgusting! Shower and breaky – err lunch? – with more fruit I was feeling remarkably well. Used up the rest of my internet time before heading upstairs to blog before heading back to the tennis, and the Garnier tent I’d missed yesterday!!! Left about 4, taking my camera (was so glad I hadn’t taken it yesterday, kinda regretted buying the program and having to carry that around!). Walked in past the festivities that were still happening for Chinese New Year (avoiding the food) and bought a fan. Arrived around 5pm and with no tennis on I headed straight for the Garnier tent... which is where I stood for an hour and a half for a massage (that was actually pretty average) and my free bag, which had different stuff to the other day. Awesome. Jon Stevens was on and was able to listen to him whilst I waited, and then saw his last couple of songs, pretty impressive! Time for some food in Rod Laver Arena I was very envious of the people with tickets! Found a tiny space on a slab in the middle of the grounds and watched most of the first set, deciding to try my luck at the Garnier tent again, and managed to get a second go before heading down to Spiegelball and their show Absinth. It was the best $20 I have spent all trip I reckon – the show was absolutely fantastic. About a 100 people sit in a very intimate big top and watch the most amazing performers (and Borat lookalike presenter). I cannot possibly do the show justice with what I write, other than to say I would have paid a whole lot more and would have gone to see it again! Plus the guys (and girls for that matter) were seriously ripped and drop dead gorgeous! Leaving the show and back out for the tennis to watch Federer loose the 3rd and win the 4th sets, before Nadal got the upper hand and as I headed back to the front garden for the finale and Nadal taking his first Australian Open Championship – oh and we’d also lost the cricket, to the Kiwis. I bolted to miss the crowd, got on a tram and made it to Flinders St Station, probably saving me 20 minutes of walking. Arrived back home around 1am, the last one in bed yet again, with the tennis done and dusted!

2 February
It’s funny what you can think of first thing in the morning. My first thought today (other than I was still going to be the last out of bed) was whether or not the two hot girls in their underwear would be in the bathroom when I got in there, as they seemed to have been every other morning I’d gotten up! Not normally something I would pay attention to, I laughed, and wondered how much the boys would pay for a peek! However the girls weren’t there when I got up at 10am (missed breakfast yet again) to go for a run before the forecast weather came through. Headed down the river and wished for the dry heat back instead of the humidity that had rolled in. Down to Fed Square to check out the tennis merch, but still at full price I passed. Down to check out the bike tour info (and stop out of the rain) before heading back along the river, stopping to check out the clean-up of a traffic accident that had 13 trams stopped in one direction. Back home for a shower and fruit for breaky... lunch... I headed upstairs and continued reading (I was getting close to finishing) before deciding to get out and about - first stop the blood bank to do my good deed for society. No appointment but with my book I was happy to wait, and wasn’t long before I was in. End of the Super Bowl was on, with Australia’s eyes on Ben Graham, ex Geelong captain. Knowing nothing about the game I know he lost, in the dying minutes, but that’s about all. Finished my donation and headed over to the refreshments, where you get choices of milkshakes and pies and sausage rolls!!!! Left and headed to the post office, ringing Clarky and catching up with her, before heading back to the room and blogging for a bit... until my new roommates started giggling on the top bunk and I decided to give them some space. 5pm was meet and greet in the bar, so I headed to that (mainly for the free drink – sad!) and met a few of the other residents. So Gwyn, Ali and I chatted and drank, grabbing dinner (in bowls as they were out of plates) and made it through happy hour on $2.50 wines. Quiz night at 9pm and we were joined by another couple who’d been at the meet and greet, and joined forces to answer what is possibly the most shambolic (which I didn’t even think was a word... apparently it is) quiz night ever... but we did win the best name – Nofolk and Chance - and got a jug of beer for our efforts. I pulled on my ‘contacts’ to make our score slightly more respectable (thanks Tyler and Mr Google) and we drunk our beer until deciding we should head out – Casino it would be. Had 15 minutes to get changed, do hair, makeup etc etc, and managed to be back in reception at 12.15. We walked down and in, finding the karaoke bar and having a good sing and dance... and yet another beer (or 3). Picked up two guys along the way (Tim and Nick) and sat in the other bar drinking more beer and talking... until Nick and I were cut off! I wasn’t drinking any more anyway, but the fact that I then spilt a beer all over Gwyn meant we were all cut off. Left about 4.30am, saying goodbye to Nick and Gwyn and heading to my room, via a 2 hour conversation with someone in our study area about cricket and soccer.... errr football. Exchanging numbers so we could go and probably get a shellacking on Friday I went to bed, not even able to make it back to brush my teeth, at 7am!