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Published: August 3rd 2011
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Today was our final full day in both Melbourne and Australia, and I reckon everyone would admit it was a fantastic send off. After a late start (a lot of faffing about and waiting for George to get his hair cut) we eventually set off around midday for a long drive along the coast. We were heading for Ramsey Street, which, as had to be explained to me, is the street where Neighbours is filmed. Much to everyone’s disappointment however, they were in the process of filming when we arrived! So all we could see down the blocked off street was some purple car pulling in and out of a drive way multiple times! The security at the entrance of the road informed us that they should be done in around 45 minutes and to come back later. Unknown to us at the time, the idiot was completely wrong.
Anyway, we decided it was a good time to go and visit one of Pete’s mates we met at the barbeque, Andy, and his ‘Heavenly Pies and Cakes’ shop. There were so many pies to choose from, the one standing out most was the ’Aussie Pie’, which I have to say
was incredible! We all got a tour around the bakery at the back, and nobody could find one bad thing to say about the shop until a lemon slice with Andy’s team written across it was spotted. We never want to see a cake with the words ‘Leeds’ written across it again! After leaving the shop, completely stuffed, we headed to a viewing point at the top of the hills called ‘sky high’. Although the $5 just to get in was rather steep, the view across the entire city of Melbourne was astonishing. You could see everything! Bearing in mind Melbourne has a population of approximately 5 million, you can imagine the views were pretty spectacular! Leaving the ridiculously priced viewing area, we headed to a spot called Grants Picnic Place, an area in the woods on top of the hills where you can apparently feed some birds. Reminding ourselves that we hadn’t been overly lucky with animals before this, we weren’t expecting anything close to what we saw. The place was incredible! Cockatoos everywhere! Literally, everywhere. We cautiously approached the hundreds sat at the other end of the car park with our bag of bird seed, having no idea
what would happen. Once one had spotted the food, the attack happened. Every bloody one of them came flying towards us! Landing on our arms, heads, backs, anywhere they could dig their claws into and stand on us they were there in a second! We’ve never been so scared yet laughing so much at the same time, it was absolutely hilarious. Watching mum and dad get ‘attacked ‘by the birds sent everyone into hysterics, and no matter what we did, we just couldn’t keep the birds off us! After we ran out of bird seed and just couldn’t possibly take more laughing, we eventually made it back to the car. Next to the car was a little kookaburra as well, just to add to the already huge list of birds we’d seen at the park! Oh, and I got poo’d on again. I’m expecting to win the lottery when I come back.
After the fun at Grants Picnic place, we headed back to Ramsey Street, hoping that the street would be open again. Even though we were a good 3 hours after the 45 minutes we were told, the street had still not opened! Although we were disappointed, Mum
and Sophie especially, we gave up the idea of trying to distract security and run into the film set, and got back in the cars as we were booked at a Thai restaurant at half 6. We went with Andy and his wife Meredith, and the food at the restaurant was lovely. It was so nice even George “I won’t eat anything if it isn’t lamb” Salloway had some! To spoil us even more, they told us about an Ice cream shop a short drive away, where you pick any combination of flavours and any combination of toppings and shove it all in a tub. I can’t stress enough how much we need more of these places in Derby! Although the shop was depressingly packed full of young couples and fat kids, it was still a brilliant end to our meals. God knows how anybody could manage any size larger than a regular though! It was reaching the end of the day now, and our time in Australia, so we went back home and chilled for the rest of the evening, although we did fit in another Possum walk! Spotting one hiding in a tree, one walking across the telephone
wires, and the little baby we think we saw on the first night! It was a brilliant end to a brilliant day. I don’t think any of us could have asked for more from Melbourne or any of Australia. So our thanks go to Pete, Shay, Steve, Mel and everyone else we met whilst in this truly amazing country, we have all had some of the best experiences of our lives and I am sure we will come back whenever we possibly can. Thank you for making our holiday so special.
So, it’s goodbye Australia from here. The next morning we were off to catch a flight to Sydney, then immediately to Auckland, New Zealand. And just wait until you read the next blog, you are not going to believe what happened...
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Jean Salloway
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Goodbye Australia
Sounds as if youv'e had a wonderful time and seen some great sights. Thought your mum was scared of birds!! Very hot here at the moment lol xxx