Back to Oz for Xmas

Off we headed back to Australia .  Cordelia will be flying home from London, so for the first time for many years the whole family will be together for Xmas.

After a trouble free flight on Ethiad, Miranda picked us up at the airport and took us back to her flat in the middle of Melbourne. To make sure we were comfy she bought a lovely new bed for us in her second bedroom.   Being right in the heart of the city it has spectacular views.

 Day and night views from the living room window...not a canal in sight.

Much of our stay was catching up with friends and eating!

We had a lovely outing with Michael and Margy Love up to Riverstone winery in the Yarra Valley.  Unfortunately Laurel  had become used to French wine and was not impressed by the local variety. 

Melbourne is a very pretty city and being in its centre we spent lots of time browsing the shops, eating at the thousands of restaurants, and generally sigthseeing.

Docklands

Myers in the Bourke Street Mall

Swanston Street Trams

One of the many wonderful Asian restaurants

 The streets are quiet because it is early in the morning.

Mirandas apartment building is behind the old police headquarters, a noted melbourne landmark. Her apartment is on the 10th floor..which means NO FLIES or MOSQUITOES...who knew that bugs don't go very high! Loads of birds though with nests on all sorts of odd ledges and rooftops.

Royal Arcade

Docklands - moorings at $45 a day

Of course the other person who welcomed us to Mirandas flat was Elfie her gorgeous Yorkshire terrior. She was the source of much fun and many walks.

 

Carlton Gardens

 Miranda was not impressed with Bramleighs launch of the
"Flying Yorkie"

 We enjoyed many walks in the parks and gardens of Melbourne, especially seeing native birds.

Bram introduced us to the Arcadia Hotel in Toorak.  Wednesday is steak night a 400g Aberdeen Angus steak, cooked to perfection for only $14.  We managed to make a trip there a few times, and even visited on Tuesday for schnitzel night!

The Hewitts siblings...doing what they do best.....enjoying themselves!

 Tale of two sisters...the veggo and the carnivore...both happy with their dinner!

 Miranda and Millicent....wiating, waiting,waiting.  Brams has just spotted his steak on it's way,

We did a trip down to Anglesea to stay with Wendy and Gary

 The view from their balcony.....sea glimpses ,but hard to see against the sky. We hope to see Wendy and Gary aboard during this years cruising.

Then Xmas was upon us and we had a traditional Xmas feast at Mirandas.

 City street lights plus a sound and light show against the old Town Hall building

 Very clever use of shapes and colours turned the building into a colourful gift.

 The city was still packed with people at midnight on Christmas Eve.

 And let the celebrations begin with an early morning walk for Elfie and Cordelia


The candelabra that was Miranda's birthday gift, no wonder our bags were heavy.  Elfie in her Santa costume for the big day.

 Decorated tree...check!. Gifts behind dog proof fence....check!. Delicious turkey and vego lunch...check!  Party hats...check. Christmas crackers...check!. Oven breaking down the next day...yup! We suspect that the meat courses upset its vegetarian sensibilities.

We spent New Years eve down at Inverloch. We stayed with Arlene and Mark and Bev and had our New Years eve celebrations around at David and Heathers, who were joined by Frances and Iain and Suzy and Geoff Parkes..  Fresh grilled fish only caught that morning by Jeff and David!  And of course lots of wonderful Australian wine!

 And these are their happy faces!!!!! It was fun, honest.

 Lots of deep and meaningful discussions....world problems sorted in minutes!

We organised a great family BBQ in the park with Laurels brother and his growing family

 Spot the brother and sister combo......colour matching happens automatically \!

 The Hewitts added just 5 people to this happy family photograph. Rachel added baby Kya a few weeks later.

 Sisters, sisters....until packing day! Some things never change.

Then of course the ladies had to have a final lunch, whilst the gentlemen golfed. We were sorry that Wendy couldn't make it that day.

Millicent, Brams girl friend, had given him a webber BBQ for Xmas.  Bram made the most of this and treated us all to some wonderful roast pork and lamb lunches.  It worked even better as Millie is a vegeterian like Miranda, so all were beautifully looked after!

The chef at work!

Before Cordelia went back we celebrated her Birthday, culminating with dinner at a massive outdoor event at Victoria market, where we had a chance to catch up with all her friends - both the Australian ones and all the London ones who had moved home!

 Birthday breakfast cupcakes..and delicious fruity drinks, well done Miranda.

The old team breakfast....Macca.s courtesy of Nomes.

 Just a few melbournians getting together to enjoy a fine summers evening.

 Cordelia left Australia the next morning...no sleep taken of course.

Bram did his annual Portsea swim, which used to be from from Pier to pub, but has now moved down the coast a bit.  He did very well coming around the middle of a large field.

Following a great pub lunch in Richmond with Peter and Sandra we visited the vietnamese Lunar festival before catching the tram home.

We also visited the Sunday craft market on St Kilda esplanade

 And checked out some old favs....Luna Park, the classic Acland Street cake shops

 We visited Michael and Margie Love for a delightful lunch in their garden

Every Friday night for many years with Liz and Bob we visted this lovely little family run chinese retaurant, that did the best BBQ pork in town.We managed to get back there one Friday, followed up with a curry the next week.  Then before we left over to their house for a lovely dinner.

 Then all too quickly it was time to head home to Roanne - trying to avoid a stowaway!