After flying north from KL to Bangkok we caught a much cheaper flight back down across KL to Melbourne. Thanks to on-demand movies the 10 hours went quite quickly and we arrived to a warm climate but much less oppressive that the Asian heat. Our flat is fantastic and it feels like home already, especially since we added some Christmas decorations and stocked the fridge full of good food and booze. While all the locals feasted on seafood and BBQs they thought us nuts for roasting a bird and having all the traditional English trimmings. It was delicious though and a real taste of home. The TV is rubbish here in comparison to the UK but we got to watch the queen’s speech and National Lampoons so with the AC cranked up to cold it felt very familiar.
A Melbourne tradition is to go to the Boxing Day test at the MCG (cricket for those of you like us who didn’t know what that meant). We got tickets mainly to turn Jacq and dad a shade of green and went along although we knew non of the rules, deciding we’d just cheer and boo in line with the locals. It was actually a really great day with superb atmosphere and the highest beer glass towers we’ve ever seen, until the police came and confiscated them (boo!)
We’re really enjoying having the bags unpacked for a while and recharging our batteries for the next leg of our trip, planned for March.
We wish you all a Happy New Year and thanks for all the comments during our trip, please keep them coming.
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5 comments so far
January 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Cricket,crimbo and cooking….looks like you have gone native!
Happy New Year,
M & D
January 1st, 2009 at 5:38 pm
We’re so proud of you for keeping the “Pork Pie for Xmas breakfast” tradition going even when you are far away from home, Mark, but are a little concerned about the ‘pinny’ you’re wearing. Is it M & S (or do I mean
S & M)???
Happy New Year and lots of love
Mum and Tom xxx
PS. No Sprouts?
January 1st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Hooray!!! you finally made it to OZ…….the flat looks lovely even better than the Skype tour, the sofa is huge, love the ‘apple’ Xmas tree & Xmas dinner looks scrummy & is that REAL milk you got their Helen………great pinny Mark, did you wear that to eat the p/pie?
That’s a very impressive cricket stadium, hope Rod Laver arena is as good
Love Mum,Dad & Granny xxx
PS Had a ‘wild’ night at Higham barn dance,involving a lot of unexpected dancing by ‘revellers’????
January 4th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Hi Helen and Mark,
Glad to see that you are well and truely having an amazing time (Helen am very jealous of the colour of your skin!). Just wanted to wish you both a Happy New Year, i’m pretty sure you won’t forget 2009 in a hurry!
Warning teacher talk!: Helen thought you would like to know that AD08 is still standing…my first term has been a baptism of fire to say the least…but thanks to your guidance last year i’ve managed to survive, and am really enjoying myself!!!
Enjoy the remainder of your travels, and I hope we can catch up upon your return.
All the best
Hannah xxx
January 8th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
hi Both
Just looked at blog and glad to see you have finally arrived in Melbourne where you can put down roots for a wee while. Your Mum and Dad have put us in the picture as to where abouts you are Helen and to where they will be. Keep your news and photos coming and take care both.
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