The big September 3-0. I celebrated my last day of being a twenty-something last night, apparently drinking some 80% ABV drink in some place in Kingston. I remember a sudden need of fresh air at about one in the morning. So, Saturday morning greeted a flat full of blokes with sore heads, which I was amazed at because I didn’t even hear anyone else come home (there’s a lot to be said for the narcoleptic properties of some 80% drink). I’ve had a suitable quiet day today, though I did make a trip to Manuka and the office and spent some time watching the AFL Grand Final – West Coast winning by one point, so even though I didn’t understand it, I understood enough to get excitable.

I have returned to the beer this evening (well, it is my birthday!) but I think it will be just the one as I have an early start to go to the coast tomorrow.

Catch ya

On yer bike

I have truly joined the Canberra set now with the purchase of a bike.

Here is my new toy.

It’s been a few years since I last rode a bike, but I seemed to get the hang of it on a jaunt along the southern edge of Lake Burley Griffin (with the exception of 2 heavy braking incidents after taking a couple of bends at high speed!) The good thing is I went about 10km without having to cycle on a road. The route takes you past all the government stuff and into Yarralumla, where there are marinas and something approaching a beach (some gravel by the lakeside!). The route changes as you travel through a patch of pine forest and then you reach some fancy government house type thing with kangaroos grazing on the vast grounds. The lake finally ends at a Scrivener Dam, which is really quite rural…farmland and hills rising to the west and Black Mountain across the lake to the North.

The ride back was along the same route (I’m sure there is some circular potential but didn’t want to get lost!) Now I just have to deal with these aching muscles that haven’t been used in a while!

Barton I think

Well hello there! Here some pictures of where I am living. These were taken on a gorgeous saturday morning.

Oh dear!

Today was the hottest September day in Canberra for eight years.

Golden flowers

It was bordering on shorts weather today, if it wasn’t for the chilly starts in Canberra they’d be on first thing. Anyway, the weather was a perfect backdrop to Floriade, a month long festival of Spring, centred around a display of millions of flowers in Commonwealth Park.

So, if you don’t like flowers, look away now!








And what with all these shenanigans going on, the lake was getting a bit excitable...

And behold the city of Melbourne emergeth...

The following five posts all relate to my trip to Melbourne...it might make sense to read from the bottom (the great Friday night Canberra getaway) up! Many thanks to my wonderful hosts for the weekend xx
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Monday started with a fog covering the vast area of Melbourne and it's suburbs, but such was the position of Trevor & Adele's house that we were above it all in the hills.


In the afternoon, I made it into the city - nearly an hour on the train through loads of stations before arriving at the iconic Flinders St Station.


It was amazing how much I had forgotton about city life! It was strange to be walking and having to dodge people and traffic and the trams, but everything was alive and buzzing and noisy. I walked through some of the main thoroughfares and shops, making it upto Carlton Gardens.


From here I hopped on a tram back to Flinders St and Federation Square, an interesting modern development with striking architecture or metal and glass. Next to Federation Square flows the Yarra, with views of the MCG and other sporting arenas downriver. I picked up a massive ice cream on the South Bank, where you can follow a path along the Yarra with views to the city.


Whilst Melbourne may not have the glitz of Sydney, it still beats most British cities hands down! I enjoyed the buzz and the soul of being somewhere with noise and traffic and people going about their business in every direction! All in all a great weekend in a great place with great people and animals and food and wine!

Wining Pom

Sunday afternoon we visited the Yarra Valley, a world class wine region with pretty towns and rolling landscapes. We only managed to make it to 2 wineries, the first being Elmswood Estate.



Here I tasted about 6 different wines, the best being a Cab Sav which I had with a nice lunch with fine views. Here's Haeli and I after lots of food and a little of the vino squinting into the dipping sun!


We visited one more vineyard before time was running out and the sun was dipping down on the city as the Bulldogs beat Collingwood! If you look close enough you'll see a blimp circling over the city and the MCG!


Sunday night, after a roast dinner and more Yarra Valley wine we headed off down the road to a local pub, which housed about 30 pool tables and a Karaoke night of variable standard. The wailing when we first entered improved gradually as the night progressed and didn't get any worse thanks to my decision not to sing!!

Aussie critter show

Sunday 10th Sept

A more leisurely start (apart from walking the dogs!) before a drive through more lush forest and rounded hills of the Yarra Valley and on to Healesville Sanctuary. This is one of those all-Australian animal places, but one of the better ones, with a more natural setting and a wide range of crazy things.

So, here is the animal bit you’ve all been waiting for…

Think you all know what these are:



This is a blue-tongued lizard who didn't want to poke his tongue out.



To the right is an Echidna with his pointy nose





The wombat having a kip




And finally the lyrebird which, apart from having an extravagent tail, can imitate other birds or even other sounds it hears like chainsaws and mobile phones!

Ferns and penguins

Sat 9th Sept

Awoke to a blustery cool Melbourne but the weather still didn’t dampen the view from the house. In the morning, Haeli took me out around the local area – windy roads lined with huge trees and ferns interspersed with pretty villages and gardens. We took a walk in one of the gardens (think we were the only ones there) and then checked out the fantastic sights of Safeway!

The afternoon was spent travelling south to Phillip Island. Crossing the bridge from the mainland to the Island, it was great to be by the coast again. Everything in Phillip Island seems to be based on the Isle of Wight – names such as Cowes, Ryde, Ventnor etc. It’s a bit like the Isle of Wight, apart from more sandy beaches and the presence of the little penguins. We had lunch in the back of the car as it was too windy to eat outside (unless you wanted to see flying crackers and dips!) and then explored the penguin centre.

Waiting for the penguins to come ashore was a testing experience, wrapped in about 4 layers of clothing to try and keep warm from the cold wind, but finally the little things waddled up in a procession lasting nearly an hour, seemingly oblivious of the people sat gawping at them. They seemed to be having fun, apart from the few who were having a few problems remembering where they lived or deliberating on whether they wanted to stop off at the penguin pub on the way home. I haven’t got any photos as you can’t take any as it scares the poor blighters (sorry Mum – fridge magnet is on the way!!).

From the cold to the hot as we stopped off at a Mexican restaurant before the journey home and a good nights sleep.

The great Friday Canberra escape

In the departure lounge again! This time I’m part of the great Canberra Friday night get-away. I think all the pollies have gone already though, probably knocked off at 12 for a boozy lunch and then got the hell out of dodge. As much as I have been an advocate of all things Canberra so far, it’s nice to get away. I didn’t come here just to work and stick around Canberra 24/7. So Melbourne it is…can’t wait.

So Canberra airport isn’t the most major hub in the world. I don’t know how many capital cities have an airport 10 mins drive from the city centre?! There’s one shop and one café (which serves reasonable food nonetheless) and the odd sculpture littering the place.

The flight left 30 minutes late but it was a mere 50 minute hop to a wet and cold Melbourne (6C). I was met at the airport by my amazing hosts, Haeli, Adele and Trevor who took me back past the sparkling city skyline through the flat suburbs before ascending the windy roads to their beautiful home on the edge of the Dandenongs overlooking the city. Million dollar view I think they call it.

pics

Some more Canberra sights...

The Lake and Parliamentary district at night:



Springtime by the lake:



Dusk at the War Memorial:



Catch ya later,
N

This week

I am already getting taunted about the Ashes which is still nearly 3 months away. Anyone would think the Aussies were holding that little urn or something! To make matters worse though I managed to buy ‘warm’ beer on Friday, a faux-pas which will be marked in my “that bloody Pommie b*stard” record.

Saturday arvo what started out as a little walk along the lake turned into a full blown ascent of Mount Ainslie. This hill is the north side of the lake and rises up from the war memorial. I didn’t go in the memorial (save that for another day), but headed into Mount Ainslie, which is another section of this wonderful Canberra Nature Park. The hike up was tougher than you think, especially as it was the hottest day since I’ve been here (I’m guessing 20-21C). It was worth it for the panoramic views however, with the money shot being the view looking straight down to the War Memorial, along Anzac Parade, over the lake to Old and New Parliament Houses.



Good ol' Black Mountain gets everywhere...



Oh, and just to prove I am actually here...



Of course, there’s a road going up there too, so there was no escaping that yank squawking at the birds and those Japanese tourists, who look awfully familiar (think I saw them at the war memorial). There was also a delightfully tacky caravan which sold cuddly koalas and the like.

The sun was dipping as I walked back down the hill and it finally dipped below Black Mountain and set off a nice sky.