The End of the "All Aussie Adventure" :(

Well, we took J to the airport tonight - it was a sad occassion, even sadder that she got lost at the airport - but that is a whole other story :)

We had a fantastic time with J - she really was the most wonderful guest, and will be welcomed back at any time with open arms and much enthausiasm !

Many beverages were consumed, and much laughter prevailed - we saw alot of sights and really hope that J had an unforgettable "All Aussie Adventure".

The house seems strange without her - the back seat of the car, empty :(

We miss her already - thank you J for visiting us and we hope you enjoyed your visit as much as we did.

At the risk of "flogging a dead horse" - I will leave you with some pics that will hopefully make J laff :)

Our "top loader" washing machine - a much marvelled appliance in J's eyes :)

Power points in the bathroom - unheard of ! :)

What kind of tree is that ???? :)

Oh, that's a nice roof ! :)



J, we love you - hope your trip home was smooth and safe - come back ANYTIME to visit !

Thanks to everyone who followed our adventure here on the blog - and maybe next time we will have an "All Scottish Adventure" :)

B&G, C&O too
xoxo

PS - thanks also to K for keeping her on track and giving her the push she needed to get out here :)

Healesville Sanctuary...

Yesterday we took J to Healesville Sanctuary to see some more Aussie wildlife - she had yet to see koala's, so we just had to do that before she left !

We set off about 11am, and arrived there around 12 - initially there was not too many people there, and it was wonderful. By the afternoon though, the place had really started to fill up - lots of feral children racing around the place, and lots of parents who just didn't give a crap that their kids were annoying others ! Grrrrr - made me very gruff !!! Control your kids people - it really isn't that hard !!!!! Okay - off my "high horse" now :)

The "Birds of Prey" show was awesome - and I still believe the Wedge Tailed Eagle to be one of the most magestic birds in the world.

We had a lovely afternoon, and on our return home drank some wonderful "fizzy red" from the Chandon Winery - and reflected on the fact that it was J's last night here - she leaves later on today :( More on that later....

B


J enjoying a "roadie" on the long drive back from Merry Beach to Melbourne -

Mr Dingo - also known as "Ernie" - (only Aussie's will probably get that joke :)

Wedge Tailed Eagle - magnificent !


Black cockatoo - a little blurry, but still wonderful -

Three pelican's :)

What a lovely atmosphere to be walking through -

Two birds on a bridge :)


Sleeeeepppy koala -
Mr Falcon - what a fantastic photo ! (Thanks G !)

Chandon Winery

Yesterday we ventured out to the Chandon Winery - about an hours drive from here, to purchase - yep, you guessed it - MORE WINE :)

I had only ever driven past there before - so I was quite surprised to see how beautiful it was inside the grounds, it was just lovely. J & I tasted some very delicious wines - and felt it was the right thing to do to buy some - I mean, you can't not buy some after you have a comprehensive tasting, right ???? ;)

J was very pleased as she was able to get some packaged up and sent back to Scotland - so that will be a nice treat for when she gets home - which, by the way, is coming far too soon for my liking ! :(

Here are some pictures of the day out -









We are heading out to the Healesville Sanctuary today to see some more Aussie Wildlife - J has yet to see a koala, so we will tick that off the list today. Should be fun :)

B

Merry Beach Mega Post !!!

Well, we are back - great to be home again, but missing our time away already. We all had a fantastic time away - Merry Beach was just wonderful, as usual. We saw so much Aussie wildlife - kangaroos, possums, birds (that we handfed), frilled neck lizards, kookaburra's etc etc. It was so much fun. There was many beverages consumed - so many that we found ourselves all going to bed by 9pm on the first night, and 8.30pm on the second night ! Party animals that we are !!!! :)

We had an 8 hour drive back to Melbourne today, it was such a long drive - but good for J, as she got to see alot of the Aussie countryside - we also introduced J to the great Aussie concept of the "roadie" :)

Didn't get back in time to pick up Charlie & Opy - so am looking forward to going to get them first thing in the morning. Opy will be having a very stern talking to with regards to her behaviour this week when she gets home - she has been a very naughty gruffpuppy !!!

Here are a whole heap of pictures, a few night ones from Sydney thrown in there as well - hope you enjoy them :) Once again, the order may not be the best - too much wine consumed :)

G checking out the washing machine -

J and her best friend - who needs glasses ?

J marvelling at the fact that we have "top loader" washing machines still out here in Oz !








We stopped !!!!













Sydney Harbour bridge people must have forgotten to pay part of their electricity bill - hence the blacked out portion of the bridge :(




Merry Beach - mmmmm prawns !


Kanga's love apples !


"Give us a kiss" - says J :)





Big fella - not to be messed with !


J's first steps into the Pacific Ocean -



B's Croc's lonely on the beach -





Don't ask :)

Mmmmm - refreshing beverages !


All this relaxing sure is hard work :)

B

Leuradales & Sydney Harbour - it doesn't get any better than this !

Yesterday we went and visited D & B and the wonderful Leuradales - the weather wasn't the best for viewing the Three Sisters, they must have nicked off to the pub - as we couldn't see them ! We had a great time with our hosts and we order everyone who visits Australia to go see them at their gorgeous B&B - thank you D & B for having us - we had a fantastic time.

Oh - and J said to please note that she is wearing a different top in these photoes :)

This morning we ventured off into Sydney. The weather was a little dodgy to start with - but by the time we got to the apartment and set off on the Harbour, the sun came out - and it was just magical. J was very impressed, and we all agreed that it was much better than the stupid Yarra River !

Hope you all enjoy these photoes, they are not in any particular order as we have consumed 3 bottles of wine and are having lots of fun :)

Oh, and we almost went 24hrs without the Vet ringing us - seems Opy decided that she didn't want to be at the Vet's any longer, and tried to break out of her cage. The Vet said in the 10 years that she has had the surgery NO dog had ever broken out of the cages - Opy fixed that ! Stainless steel cage - and she demolished it, got her head stuck and everything ! Naughty gruffpuppy ! So, now she is being sedated each night so she doesn't get into any mischief.

We are off to Merry Beach tomorrow - we may not have reception down there, so check back and we will update when we can. Having a great time !

B,G & J


















Croc Man on the ferry - Croc's spotted in the wild of Sydney Harbour !





'Specially for Joey & Tanner - HBO words building !


Can't you see we are enjoying ourselves ???

Off on a big adventure tomorrow...

Well, we dropped Charlie & Opy off to the Vet's today for their little retreat whilst we are away. They were fine, but G & I were alittle sad - it is the first time since we have moved down here (and since Charlie had his pacemaker fitted) that we have left them - so, fingers crossed - it all goes well.We are all off to NSW tomorrow - it's going to be great. We are staying with D & B and the Leuradales tomorrow night, before heading down to Sydney on Sunday - then Merry Beach on Monday and Tuesday and driving back to Melbourne on Wednesday. We are going to have so much fun. I can't wait for J to meet the dales - I am sure they will give her a warm welcome !

Stay tuned for lots of fun, frivolity and beverages :)

B

Another special day...

Today we had TinTin's mum come to visit all the way from South Australia - we went out and had a nice lunch - and then we went to "my happy place" - Dan Murphy's - J was very impressed, I think it became "her happy place" as well - it was much better than the Yarra River :)

After obtaining some very essential supplies - we headed back for a relaxing afternoon. We thought we had better do an update on the blog before the night became too silly :)

Some of the refreshments for the evening :)

J and J relaxing with Charlie -

G & an ungruff Opy -


Queenie J with the royal wave, and a look at my hair :)

Stay tuned for the hangover's in the morning :)

B

PS - A note from J - I did bring more than one top, and I did have a different one on this morning !

**UPDATE - 10.33pm - need I say more ??? It's getting fruity !

J & her wee Scottish fella -

G defurring his wee sporran -

G the "Dancing McQueen" aye - I ate a baby !

J having a laff -

J & G "in da house" -


Will there be a later update ??? ohhh aye !!!!