I finally made my way down to Melbourne to visit Emma... it's only been 3 and a half years since I last saw her!
In fact the last time I saw her we had the memorable If You Can Still Say This Tongue Twister Then You're Not Drunk night. The same night in which the fatal words "I don't want to persuade you to move to Australia because it has to be something you want to do but I really think you should move over here, I think you would love it!" were spoken... albeit a little slurred after copious amounts of wine (turns out Emma can still say tongue twisters no matter how much alcohol she has had!)
Ooga Ooga Ooga Chaka Ooga Ooga Ooga Chaka ---> just come on iTunes... that's for you Skip! :)
Anyway... where was I???
So off I toddled to Melbourne... arriving at Avalon airport. Now usually I would not bore you with my Airport Tales but I think Avalon deserves a mention. Basically, Avalon airport consists of a big shed, some port-a-loos, a runway and it's in the middle of no where. My tip... don't fly in there if you don't have anyone to pick you up! :o)
Anyway... Emma, Campbell and a sleeping Oliver were there to pick me up and in true Jane and Emma style Emma and I proceeded to stay up until the wee hours gossiping and drinking wine (ok so it was only me who was doing the wine drinking but I reckon I drank Emma's share as well)
Saturday was a big day... in true Jane style I tried to buy friends by giving Oliver some matchbox cars. Despite being a bit shy I reckon Oliver was suitably impressed and I reckon the deal was in the bag! But I was bidding my time...
So we all piled in the car (us and the kitchen sink :) ) and off we set for Phillip Island.
We stopped at San Remo (not a very Australian sounding name... very puzzling) for a bit of lunch and to look at the pelicans. Do you realise how big pelicans are?? they're huge!!!
Anyway, after a steak pie and a muffin for pud (yes the diet has gone out the window!) we headed over the bridge onto Phillip Island, first stop the Koala Conservation Centre. Koalas are SO cute, although ever so slightly evil too. You just know they would kill you as soon as look at you! In fact one decided to look straight at me just as I was taking his photo... he looked none too happy at my presence. All he needed as red eyes and for his head to rotate 360 degrees.
It was while we were at the Koala Conservation Centre that Oliver decided that actually I was OK and safe to talk to... after that we wereafter inseparable... to the point where Emma got relegated from sitting next to him in the back of the car to the front seat... SORRY EM!!! :)
After lots of cute and cuddly demonic creatures we headed off to The Nobbies. Ahhhhh, Australian names, can't beat 'em! Just say what you see... Blue Mountains, Snowy Mountains, Great Barrier Reef, Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert... love it!
We were particularly enamoured with Nobbies Blowhole, as you can imagine :)
The scenery was amazing and it was fantastic to think that looking out to sea the next land mass was Antarctica (I WILL get there, I WILL!!). Took some nice pics, hope you all like them.
After that was the piece de resistance... the penguin parade!!!! We'd been told that it was a good year for the parade because we'd been having a cold snap there were more penguins. We even got great seats... right at the front of everyone sitting on the beach. All I can say is that the penguin parade was amazing and well worth the visit, they're the cutest (and funniest) things ever. Unfortunately there aren't any photos cos you're not allowed to take any because some people don't turn off their flashes and it scares the penguins. So I guess you will all just have to come to Australia and go to Phillip Island :)
After the parade (and pondering what penguin would taste like, how you would cook it and what wine would go well with it) we headed for dinner. Penguin wasn't on the menu but a nice big juicy steak was... yum!
And that was us done for the day... Emma and Campbell drove us back, Oliver fell asleep, and I had a little snooze. Needless to say, we all headed straight to bed when we got home.
Which brings us to Sunday... and meeting up with my mate Kam, who I hadn't seen for 8 years!!! Was amazing to see her and she's as beautiful as ever. I meant to take a photo of us (after having been told off for my lack of photos of myself) but I forgot, as per usual. Too much gossiping and eating was going on... much more important! :)
In the end we had to rush off to the airport for me to get my flight so seeing Kam wasn't for as long as it should have been after 8 years! But there will be other times... especially now that Kam has sponsorship over here now and will be living in Melbourne for a while.
And that was my melbourne weekend. Loved it. Now seriously considering moving to Melbourne after my contract finishes... watch this space.
BYYEEEEEEEEEE xxxxxx
P.S. Jane's Penguin Recipe:
diced penguin with assorted seafood (prawns, muscles etc) with a slightly spicy white wine sauce served with a glass of chilled white wine
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