Picked up the Great Ocean Road following the twists stopping occasionally to video "Surf Coast Shire" then finally in Lorne. Lunch at Andrew's Chicken Joint - better chicken and chips Brian said, fish and chips for me. Brian managed an ice cream as well of course. Then back along the road at 15:00 and a humid 30 degrees to hit the West Gate bridge traffic around 17:30 Managed ok though. Showered and wandered round Docklands and the Yarra river side in search of a supermarket unsuccessfully. Went to bed for a 'power nap' at around 20:00.... read more

Didn't get much sleep after 03:30 because it was humid in the apartment and was full of anticipation for the next part of the holiday. Got up around 06:30 and pottered around getting ready. Brian got ready around 07:30 We decided to risk getting bacon, egg and fried tomato breakfast below the apartments in Casina This was the same people as previous holiday we found that had moved up to revovated cafe from where the new Pie Face is. Suitably full, we checked out at 08:30. Walked to Museum station for the Domestic Airport train and figured out the ticket machine. Luckily there was an attendant that could be bothered and helped Brian prise the case from the barriers that had sandwiched it. Got onto the first train on platform 2, but then after 3 stops ... read more

Woke at 06:30 - unheard of! Another a sunny but windy St Patrick's Day. Went to Scruffy Murphy's for 10:00 as couldn't wait for sunday dinner we'd seen whilst walking around. The music was an Irish ear bashing - good and certainly wakes you up. Most of the town centre was closed for the Parade from George street. Just had to call in for coffee and carrot cake whilst we decided what to do. Went down Pitt Street again with the aim of getting to the harbour bridge, with a detour via the cider tents in Hyde Park and through the botanic gardens. Found an old style pub under the bridge and whiled away a few hours with a couple of pints and local chat outside. Then back home through The Rocks area and up Phillip ... read more

Fabulous! arrived in Sydney virtually on time at around 07:00, got through security and eventually found the new (?) shuttle train station. Bit pricey AUS$ 33 to go 5 stops, but easier and probably cheaper than a taxi. Got to Museum / Hyde Park / Elizabeth Street ok and walked to hotel - cloudy, warm 23 and occasional spots of rain, but didn't care. Got to the corner near the hotel, and found that where we'd had breakfast on previous holiday had been renovated to - guess what? a Pie Face! Fab, can see us using that often. As expected our room wasn't ready on the 54th floor until 14:00, but they had one ready on the 24th, which we viewed and decided to take. Glad we did, because whilst having a toastie and coffee in ... read more

Got to Heathrow at 20:00, we had only what I thought was 30 mins to get to our Qantas check-in before it closed. Time to get skates on. Luckily I was sat next to an experienced BA flight service manager and he told us where to go to when we got off to transfer terminals from T5 to T3. After what seemed a 2 mile walk, we found where to get the transfer bus. Buses for other terminals came and went, before ours came. The queue of 8 got on the bus, when the driver decided to let us on. Then he was being far too accomodating, waiting for other passengers before departing. At a crawl of 20 miles an hour, we got to T3 eventually and rushed to get past through the shopping area No ... read more