After almost 2 years of being away, I went home for 3 weeks in December. Took the mister for his first ever sunny Christmas downunder. We celebrated the silly season, 2 weddings, dinners after lunches... catch up after catch up. It was manic.
Upon leaving Australia, I misplaced my SD card out of my camera. Big chunk of photos.. lost. Whingey and devastated, I've been procrastinating this post. It's been weeks now since I arrived back n the land of grey. In fact this time 2 months ago, we'd just landed in Melbourne!
Nuff's enough, with the help of my family and Wez, photos on hand, here goes...
I thought about blogging my trip in separate posts as it was such a full, hectic, busy time. But, as it all happened one thing after another, so I'ma spill all out in one post. Hoping the blog can cope!
Right. Ready? Steady... 'straya!
Dubai and dessert
After 2 stop overs, and 32 hours, we got off the plane and passed through Aussie customs unexpectedly quickly.
I gave an excitable Eliza a massive hug at the gate. We were through that quick, Mum wasn't looking. I crept up on her in the coffee shop. Big hugs, big breath! We then met her fella John and headed down Southbank for breaky. Was a perfect, high 20's, Melbourne morning.
Post breakfast it was back home to reunite with my rabbit and the rest of
the Brady bunch whilst near inhaling some 'real' Strongbow. Perfect first day!
A day by day play by play could sit us here for hours.. I'll try to be a little more fluent.
Lunch with the lot and cocktail catch-ups..
Cold Rock fix and a Library reunion
Dandy Drive-in
(Anchorman 2 was shite!)
Xmas eve comradery.
(Anchorman 2 was shite!)
Christmas day.
Family, tasty food, funky presents, champers and Balderdash
Moccacins On Everyone
Boxing day.
We spent it with Mum's side of the family in the park.
Met new editions, caught up, and learnt how to throw boomerangs in the sun.
Dad got married to Julie in the backyard a few days after Christmas.
They embraced the fact me and my sisters were all home at the same time.
Wedding eve feast.. Potato cakes, dimsims and a cheeky cocktail in my belly whilst sorting some tunes for the big day.
36 degree day! Was lovely.
The very next day, we followed the wedding buzz and went to Melbourne for round 2. Big weekend!
My mate Dave married a bubbly kiwi named Kate. Lucky for me I used to work with Dave so I was able to catch up with a bunch of old workmates as well as witness a beautiful wedding.
Earlier in December, Wez's fun loving Irish mate Darren moved to Melbourne with his lovely g/f. Being that we were already in Melbourne, we seized the opportunity to catch up! Called a fellow dreaded mate and dove into a pub crawl in the sun.
And theeen.. Back to the valley for new years.
Backyarder, good mates, happy day.
New years day, $90 worth of Maccas!!
SO ashamed. So hungover. So good.
Hangovers in tact, and breakfast in our bellies, off went to
Noojee to see Mum's fella John serenade the pub.
I don't know how I did that drive. Was a lovely afternoon with
Pizzas n pints despite the rain! Typical Vic.
FYI.. we're only halfway through!!
Myself and Wez both have mates interstate. So, post new years, for 3 days, he went to Radelaide and soaked up some beaches, beer and wine.
Whilst I flew up to Brissy to catch up with Rhee.
the temp reached 42 degrees. Didn't go out that day!
During my time there, we hit up a vintage museum, had a nosey at the man made beach, made jam, went antique shopping, watched the cricket, ate chocolate bananas and I got to know her brand new beautiful family. So very glad I went. Was awesome!
Aussies love their cricket so much they made
a bunch of KFCs across the country green and gold.
The whole damn building!? Bonkers.
70's man! Hell yes!
Didn't work.. can't imagine why!?.....
To keep it, I had to post my 'weapons' home and run to catch my plane.
I couldn't find the post box, then I did, outside the building,
but I needed more stamps.
Up, down, back forth. THREE times through the stupid security gates.
In an already muggy airport, you can imagine that went well for me.
Luckily, I made my flight and my weapons of choice arrived safely 3 days later. Worth my fellow passengers looking at my scary, sweaty mess with a
strong sense of uncertainty!
Back in Melb, I was reunited with the slightly sun-kissed wife..
We did a mini tourist stroll through the city.
Stayed the night and embraced the last chance to hang with our lil Melb crew.
Parmas, cocktails, winning!
Back to the valley then... a few splendid dinners, a scenic tour of Mo-town and surrounds, and yet more visits with cheese and smiles.
Something that warrants it's own special mention is our day at the Island.
Got all the family on board. Epic day!
Morning with Dad on the boat, soaking up All the sun possible!
Sun, sand n surf.
had to be done!
Then back for a tasty feast with more family!
Just what we needed. We were all sun burnt, pooped and delighted!
Before we knew it, we only had 4 days left?!
Shit.
I still had to visit mates, spend more time with family, see my cars, eat a wog lunch, get the girls to dye my hair, take Eliza driving, sus my shite in strorage (and lock dads keys in the car boot), visit the library, see a movie (for the satisfying salty fix of' 'proper' popcorn), go to the lake ... be in 10 places at once!?
Impossible.
We totally did all of it!
Our last night in town we went out. I wanted to show Wez my old stomping grounds.
I have no photographic evidence of the night.
It was a boozy mess of fun and mates.
Felt like an appropriate way to farewell the valley.
The next morning, (quite potentially still a wee bit boozy) we bailed down to the airport.
Family.. watching, waiting as we check in.
Saying goodbye and walking through the boarding gates was much harder than the first time I did it 2 years ago.
Leaving day came all too fast.
Looking back on all my photos now, it was an incredible trip.
Very happy we did it. Feels a bit surreal.
Now, the tan is gone. I'm back to an relentless work, sleep, drink, hangover, work, sleep, pattern. Head is fried. Only reason I'm able to spend time posting today is 'cause my body decided to take a leaf from my brain's book and has bowed out with with a sweaty, snotty flu.
Definitely time to plan our next escape !
