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We have safely returned home after a long weekend in Melbourne. Melb unusely put on nice weather - no rain - wahoo! Although Saturday was a maximum of 12 which is the same as the minimums in Perth so we were cold....but all is good.

We stayed at the Mantra on Jolimont and i would guess it is about 3.5/4 star. We had a 2 bed apartment which was huge and they are currently refurbishing the bathrooms so it was all very newish and clean which was great. Best thing was it was very soundproof...we could not hear the trains below and couldnt even hear the kids calling out if the bedroom door was shut. Location is probably the only bad thing as it was a 10 min walk to the restaraunts in jolimont and 15 min to southbank. Not that bad really but when you know there are heaps right in central CBD it is probably the only downside.

We where busy busy busy though! On Friday we walked through the Fitzroy Gardens although the Midgit didnt really care for Captain Cooks cottage. Then up to the Firetruck museum which in itself wasnt that exciting but on Fridays at 10.30am the firemen at the main station next door put on a display for over an hour! It was fantastic!!!! They drove in with lights and sirens going, saved a lady from the 2nd story of a fake house, used fire extinguishes and their hoses and ripped off the side of a car with the jaws of life. The kids could dress up in little fireman costumes and go in all the different trucks and press the sirens buttons. The midgit absolutly loved it! We also went up to the main museum which had some great dinasour and animal exhibits. I never get why they have stuffed dead or pinned animals though...hard to explain to a 3.5 yo.

Friday night we headed to Docklands for an AFL game. We forgot to bring something to keep the midgit entertained so he was bored after 1 minute - doh! We made it to half time though and really loved the closed roof stadium.

Saturday we went to the sports museum under the MCG which is pretty impressive. Melb is definitly the cornerstone of all things sport in Oz. And better still it was 1/3rd the normal price as it closed early due to a footy game in the afternoon. Saturday night we strolled over the bridge from the 'G to southbank for dinner and it is so great the atmostphere of melb with soooo many people out and about for so many different reasons.

Sunday was dimsum with the grandparents then home again just me and the kids. It is definitly worth trying to book A330's with their own tv screens...but i'll leave plane travel for another thread.

I'm just attempting to add some photos so we shall see if it will work. I am always so bad with a camera so sorry if most of the trips dont have them. We have an entire adventure to the Great Wall of china missing!

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