Settling In

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It has been a while since the last blog and we have been really busy settling down in Melbourne. We are now both working full time and hopefully the bank account will start to look better soon!!

Trying to remember everything that we have done is going to be a challenge, but hey, here goes……

As the weather has picked up we decided to make the walk from our flat into the city centre. Some of the photos on this blog were taken on this trip as we walked along the south side of the river by the botanical gardens into the city. We decided to visit the immigration museum in the city centre. It was an excellent tour containing lots of personal immigration stories. Most though were a long time ago and we felt that it would have been nice to hear from people who had made the trip recently.

That evening we visited the Chill On Ice Bar, on Russell Street. This is a bar made entirely of ice in which all drinks are served in glasses also made of ice. It was pretty cold but not as bad as Blackpool in the winter! Aly had to be leant a pair of Ugg Boots as she was not wearing suitable footwear! It cost a small fortune for a small cocktail but was worth it for the experience. Coming out of the bar, the Melbourne evening actually felt quite tropical! The evening ended with dinner at Hungry Jacks (Burger King). The bacon double cheeseburger was a real letdown - served with wafer thin ham rather than bacon!!

We are slowly working our way through our Melbourne bar crawl Card deck and have now visited 12 of the 52 city centre bars. We also have a deck for the suburbs to work through so it looks as though we could have some busy evenings planned!!

This week was Alyson’s birthday. After work I took her to the Atrium Bar on the 35th floor of the Sofitel Hotel for cocktails. The view of the city was amazing (from the toilets) and the drinks weren’t bad either. We will definitely return!

During the week, we visited another local cinema. We were feeling homesick so booked to see ‘This is England’, we are now glad we left!!! The Como has been described as the ‘arty’ cinema since it does not screen the big commercial blockbusters. It was very upmarket and the customers brought their champagne into the cinema with them!

Today was the day that we have been looking forward to since 1985, when it all began. Can you guess what it is yet?!? Neighbours tour day!!!!! We were up early and boarded the neighbours bus for the trip to Erinsborough High School and Ramsay Street and we even got to visit the funeral home were Stingray’s funeral was held as well as the prison Sky was in! The trip was extremely naff but thoroughly enjoyable. Unfortunately we could not get on set as it was all locked up. I was looking forward to a burger at grease monkeys, but alas it was not to be! Storylines coming soon include Libby and Darren returning to look after Susan (who has MS and runs down her new neighbour). Something about Ned’s son and a custody battle (is he in it at home yet?) and Foz from Hollyoaks and Pepper are both leaving. Sky and the whole Timmons clan have already gone to Queensland for a better life! We are able to do Home and Away updates too if anyone is interested! We took lots of pictures of the street and even got to meet Janelle. Alyson looks a bit start struck on the photo!

Anyway back to real life….. I cannot imagine we will be so busy sightseeing in the next few weeks as we will both be working. Alyson has a job as a filing clerk in the city. She has her own office (well a room full of filing cabinets) and is well located for Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren. I have been working in an interesting mix of schools. An all boys grammar, a Christian brothers college and a suburban state secondary school.

Keep the comments and e mails coming, it is always good to hear from you all.

Until next time………….

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Photos

South Bank
View from the Yarra

Melbourne CBD
Aly's office is here!

Chill On
Us in the ice bar

James in Ice Bar
Under Attack

Erinsborough High School
The sign was from the bus!

Comments

[Ralph]

Flinders Street Station
I just hope you got there at 1034!