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DANDENONG RANGES

Cold, moist, grey winters Sunday in Melbourne. We're waiting for Mick and Mel, or 'MIlk' as they are reluctantly referred to as from time to time. Salt of the earth as they are, they've driven over from the foothills of the mountains to save our weary simple minds from the utter confusion of Sunday public transport. For a days driving in the Dandenong mountains, old stomping ground, close to where they both grew up east of the city.

So refreshing to finally see some mountains on the horizon, getting out for coffee and tasting for a first time in too long fresh country air, filled with wood smoke from the hillside chalet homes, reminding both of us instantly of Holtsfield in the winter. The mountains are scattered with Sunday tourist hotspots, tea and scone rooms selling Devonshire tea and cream, rustic single glazed cafes, condensation covering windows that provide a view to a lake in the basin of the valley. Beautiful, helping us feel closer to home than we have in the past four months.

Getting back to nature with some local inhabitants . .

I have never lost so many games of pool, still good beer, log fire and views of the mountains compensated somewhat for the shame . .

And back to our beloved Pinacle, the first Pub we ever came to back in February on Jaimie's birthday, recommended and invited by Milk, now our local, not two minutes form our house, and the best veggie burgers ever!

Awesome day!!!

A DAY OUT DOWN THE DOCKLANDS

The day began with a singular intention, to see some big ships, I knew Melbourne had some, I'd caught a glimpse of the docklands when driving into Melbourne. So with the sun shining brighter than it had in weeks, we set out.

Believe it or not, not the most accessible area in Melbourne, "What you want to see boats, theres tonnes of boats over there", thank you mr builder man but they are not boats, they are floating Ferraris except far less interesting. I want to see big stinking, monstrous, enormous ships!! Anyhoo, no ships but we did find an awesome abandoned warehouse at the feet of the city, completely abandoned (probably). Well course we had to have a look, looks like there was some mental party's in here at some point, this place is almost couple of hundred meters long, floating above the harbour, in-fact some of it now resides within the harbour . . We notice some familiar party give-aways, half rotten, psychadelic flower decorations and such.

Perfect location to shoot either a gangster scene, that or a post-apocalyptic zombie short!

Always nice to find some space in such a large city, even the suburbs can feel a little claustrophobic so to find such a large empty space is a god send and provides some well needed head space.

OH COUSIN, WHERE ART THOU?

So I'd come to Australia some ten odd years previously, stayed with my grandma's sister, and her children who are my age. But that was up in Canberra and for some reason I never thought to question whether they would still be there or not, until I got a message from Ketura, my younger cousin. "Are you in Melbourne?!". I instantly felt a little stupid for not considering that a 23 yr old may have made the move out of Canberra by now, in fact she moved out here when she was 18, but of course!

Strange to see each other so far down the line, really nice though as we got on great. We've since met up a couple of times, at a house party she invited us to, met alot of her friends, lovely people. Nice to have a relation here when we're so far from home. Even better that we get on!

And last weekend her older brother Caleb came to visit, well, I say visit he made time between football games to come and catch up with his sister and us. Fair play, sounds like he works hard, 80 hour weeks arn't uncommon for him. He manages a large bar and poker machine venue up in Canberra, he says he might not have another weekend off for year! So were lucky to catch him, luckier still he's happy to spend his hard earned dosh and treats us all to lunch, beyond all seems like a really lovely chap. Both Jaimie and I are lucky to have such a good bunch out here!

WINTER OR ENGLISH SUMMER?

Winters setting into Melbourne hard, revealingly though that means lows of about 10.c Not exactly freezing. But its turning us into absolute wimps, adorned with scarfs, hats, gloves and thick socks we hit the streets, remembering partying in Huddersfield when it was -15! Funny how quickly you become accustomed to your location and its climate, but more how you seem to instantly attune to their mindset. Embarrassing really for a Yorkshireman and a Welsh girl.

Still the drop in weather has been nice in ways, reminding us of our beloved homelands, encouraging locked away evenings, winter cuisine with the fire on. Really begins to mess with your body clocks though, coming from summer, a little English winter before some Australian summer and now winter again! We keep thinking Christmas is around the corner!

A week back it rained non-stop for a couple of days, good excuse to whip out the full water proofs we brought over, we spent a day stomping around abandoned streets looking like trainspotters on speed. Love the rain when you have the equipment to stay dry. Anyway we're told it was the coldest and rainiest day in Melbourne for 17 years, shame cos it was great fun.

MELBOURNIANS

Sticking to the suburbs is easy when you live in one like Fitzroy, a beautiful medley of colour and bohemianism, with Brunswick street at its centre, imitating uncannily at times our beloved Gloucester road. More awesome bars than is probably sensible on one long street, loads of galleries, pop-up markets, arts, craft, cinema, graffiti . . oh and food, OH THE FOOD!!!

Mick and Mel, friends from Bristol and local to the area have taken us under the proverbial wing, introducing us to they're favourite spots, on and off the beaten tourist track and also to they're friends which has been awesome, nice to have even just a couple of familiar faces around now and then, slowly getting a little network going!

So we've begun job hunting, not employed yet but not yet worried, because there's work everywhere! Coming from the UK its a bit of a shock, there actually adds in windows, people accept your c.v's and ask you questions and arrange trials for you! Ok so its the hospitality industry, but still, theres so much work! enough to play the field a while, make sure we both get the kind of work and place we want.

Great as the suburbs are, they're also a bit of a trap so were glad, if a little anxious when Chris another friend from the 'Clanteen' tempts us into what had almost become an unreal movie back-drop on the horizon, the city of Melbourne!


First stop, the Aquarium!

Storms new found love . . The Leafy Sea Dragon!


Having lived in Melbourne before, Chris gives us the royal tour, liquid italian chocolate, a rooftop bar adorned with animal head plaques, the city's old lead shot tower consumed beneath an epic dome roofed shopping centre, dumplings in china town . . Real good fun over a few days, and perfect timing as Jaimie hadn't been feeling too cracking, so thanks Chris for boosting our spirits when they were low and opening our eyes to the city! :-)

Unfortunately Chris can't stick around as he used his golden ticket for working here previously, so he's of to NewZealand, hopefully we'll see him at christmas for the Bristol - Melbourne expats fiesta!!