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Published: January 10th 2008
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Hey guys,
You would think we were busy or something! Again apologies for the massive amount of time between blogs.
As you can imagine lots has happened since last time and I'll probably have forgotten half of it. But here goes.
So the run up to xmas was pretty smooth. Normal work stuff and what have you. We couldn't really decide what to do for xmas day and then we got invited round to a bbq where we were subsequently invited, by the hosts, to join them for xmas down at Torquay (which is at the start of the Great Ocean Road, about 100km South West of Melbourne). So we booked a hotel in Torquay with the plan of staying there for a few days and travelling down the Ocean Road during the days. We headed down on xmas eve - really funny as there were people dressed as santa's etc in sunshine singing carols etc etc. All v weird but funny. The guys were only joining for a BBQ on the beach on xmas day so we were by ourselves on xmas eve - which was fine albeit that we were staring to miss home a bit. This carried on
into xmas morning when we didn't really know what to do with ourselves! We took a trip down to Bells Beach (where appartently they filmed Point Break but Kel's not so sure) and it was really cool which cheered us up. Totally started to get the surfing bug. We met up with the guys about 12 and started a BBQ with the intention of going surfing in the avo. I had visions of surfing with a santa hat on and then posting the pics on here.....alas to say it didn't happen. I was singularly sh!te at it. The only thing of any note I managed was to get a rope burn from the cord attaching the board to my leg. It is alot more difficult that it looks and really tiring (I had had about 5 beers by that point). Want to try it again but defo with a suit on and probably with a professional instructor! Overall a great day in Aussie tradition on the beach.
Boxing day we headed down the Great Ocean Road which goes from Torquay west for a few hundred K's towards South Australia. It is bigged up in all the guidebooks and lived up
Surfs up!
I was shocking! to its billing - truely awesome drive. Great day for it aswell which makes it all the better. The weather running up to xmas had been a bit rainy and cloudy but from xmas onwards it just got better and better. The day after we headed back to Melbourne...but did it via the East side of Port Philip bay by crossing over the "rip" on the Queenscliff ferry. Melbourne is essentially at the North end of Port Philip bay and the bay runs out in a circular shape about 100km south to where both coasts come back towards each other at the entrance to the bay. The ferry goes across at this point - which is called the rip due to history of bad currents and shipwrecking - to sorrento and portsea - both great little seaside towns.
The East side of the bay is the Mornington Peninsula where many Melburnians go on hols. Great spot, beaches are much nicer than the city beaches of Melbourne. Judging by the amount of property, everyone and their dog has a holiday home down here. Again it is beautiful, particularly on the day of blue skys that we went. So we spent the
day having a look, enjoying the sun and getting back to Melbourne.
We headed up to Sydney on 30th. Phil, mogsy, woo and Grant were all there for the 4 days. It was excellent to see them, although everytime I go on holiday this year Phil seems to be there!
New year was wicked - Lee had booked a boat and he hadn't ever actually managed to see the boat. As the evening got closer it was clear that he was a wee bit worried about whether it would actually turn up or not so when they phoned at 5.00 to say the boat was leaving from somewhere else Lee was positively shitting himself!!! In the end it did turn up and he outdid himself by booking a great night. The boat was right infront of the habour bridge and the food and drink was non-stop. It was an amazing night - something which you only imagine doing and see on TV every year. Slight blip - I managed to loose our camera overboard. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. The the night ended with a small tet a tet between Mr and Mrs S. Nevermind - I imaging noone really wants to see 400
St Andrews...
...I got slightly carried away at the sign photos of fireworks! (i'll add some photos once someone else sends me them!).
Since we came back to Melbourne it has been back to work. But plenty of plans coming up.....this week Lee and Tracey r here tomorrow and we're going swimming with dolphins at Sorrento.....going to Hobart (tasmania) 1st Feb for the weekend ($40 flights with Tiger!)....Aussie Millions poker starts on Monday so will be taking a look at that and we have a burns night organised as well as country races in Aussie day (28th Jan). Kel is up to Sydney a few times in Jan and then Mo and Al are here before we know it in March.
Missing home but life ain't all bad.
Speak to all soon.
Ri, Rister, Blondie, Ridog, Ryan xxx
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Phil Smart
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Surfing
Mate nice to see you haven't forgotten your roots. Surfing sponsored by Tennents Lager!! Nice touch.