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Published: December 11th 2007
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Monday 10th December 2007 Well, it's probably not the most original title for a travelblog, but you have to do it...
Finally. The day I've been waiting for, the reason for the trip to Melbourne... It's cheesy, but it should be fun! This afternoon is to be the Neighbours Tour, followed by the Neighbours night. I've already decided no internet today, so have a bit of a sleep in (my share-ladies don't seem to really get up til 8ish, so that's not too bad!), then read a book most of the morning, only getting up in time to get dressed, eat some lunch, and negotiate the return of my extra $5 for the Neighbours Night, as Karl isn't playing and it shouldn't cost me more even if he is!
Find my pick-up point, not 100%!s(MISSING)ure what I'm looking for but have seen pics of a bright blue van with 'Neighbours' on the side, and sure enough, just after this guy has shame-facedly asked me if I'm on the Neighbours tour, it comes round the corner. After picking up some more people, and dissuading this old lady that 'no, it's not the free shuttle bus', we head to
the office where there's memorabilia and we get our proper tickets for tonight.
Off on the road and first stop is outside Luna Park in St Kilda where we're to meet a star. Ben (?) who plays Fraser turns up - I think we're a bit early so he still has his hands full of a Sub, but surely you can't miss this bus. He's been in the show just over a year so I have seen him before my almost non-TV year, but several others on the trip haven't seen Neighbours for even longer so have no clue... But we dive in for photos/autographs, and as the second bus pulls up we take off, this time with an episode playing on the DVD (previously we've had music by Kylie, etc.), and then this becomes the Behind-the-Scenes which was on the BBC last year - celebrating 21 years of the soap which was only expected to last a few months. Neighbours we think was not set anywhere specific, but recently they are making it more Melbourne/Victoria obvious to encourage more tourism as it's popular in about 65 countries.
We slow to a stop beside a vaguely familiar building...
It's 'the school', and soon a prop completes this. It's actually an English Language school. Shortly after this we stop next to a fairly bare patch of ground which has been used for many outside scenes, near a red brick building in which Prisoner Cell Block H used to be filmed. Out of our view is the Lasseter's set, which I guess is why that's used so often. This is the home of Global TV, and we are allowed onto the backlot and shown where various bits have been reused as hospital/prison/airport entrances, etc. An old car in the parking lot is 'Dylan's Car' (belongs to one of the crew), used as a 'Bogan' car (think that's like a cross between a chav and a boy-racer), a pile of rubble is the season finale, and then we're next to Grease Monkeys; second-hand shop, phone, post box, bus stop and Carpenter's workshop. Bus stop - doesn't matter where you're going, you'll go from there - even though it only says lines 10 and 12.
After plenty of photo ops there, we're onto the real star of the show: Pin Oak Court! Um, shouldn't that be Ramsay Street - one quick
prop later and we can pretend. Is much smaller than expected - only 8 houses on 'the Street' (so why do we have No 32 on Neighbours?!) - the occupants are paid well for the disruption! We talk about Neighbours, take more photos then we're on the way back - and watching the first ever episode. I'm supposed to be dropped off in St Kilda and soon my still unknown sense of direction realises we're nowhere near. Has been a mis-communication but soon have a seat on the returning bus and an hour to find some food. Some cheap places on Swanston Street so I go there, before back to St Paul's Cathedral to pick up the same bus.
Several people from this afternoon on the bus, but a surprising number of people who looked too cool for this! Bus arrives at the 'English Style Pub' - the Elephant and Wheelbarrow - absolutely heaving - mostly with Brits! We're directed to a table, and after quite a long wait and several 'are you ready?'s, the stars come out the door. Tonight we have Libby and Malcolm Kennedy, Bridget Parker, Daniel Fitzgerald and Dylan Timmons... It's all great fun and
they take some questions and Dylan (Damien?) does a great impression of a boy band (and explains that his long nails are because he's in a show where he's an evil magician - it's not his chosen taste!). Soon after they disperse to have their photos taken with us, sign a few autographs whilst we get on with the Trivia quiz... Which we're pretty rubbish at (and there's not that many Neighbours questions). At intervals there are dance-off competitions, etc but just watch those. Is a fun night, and 4 of us share a cab back where I crash out!
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