AUSTRALIA...PART NINE OF MANY...

29.4.08.
8.10AM...ITS BEEN RAINING AGAIN...LOOKS WELL WET OUTSIDE.
8.20AM...KETTLE ON.
8.35AM...CUPPA TEA.
8.50AM...SHOWER.
9.10AM...BACON/TOMATO SANDWICH...CUPPA TEA.
9.35AM...TRYING TO START VAN.
10.05AM...NU AND TWO OTHERS PUSHING...VAN ROARS INTO LIFE.
10.30AM...DEPARTING CAMPSITE.
10.40AM...CARPARK...CENTRE OF TOWN.
11.00AM...WALKING HIGH STREET.
11.30AM...NU GONE FOR HER APPOINTMENT AT THE DOCTORS.
12.20PM...NU AS HER PERSCRIPTION...THATS A WEIGHT OF THE OLD SHOULDERS.
1.00PM...CAKE SHOP...PASTIE AND CHEESE ROLL.
1.50PM...NU IN INTERNET CAFE...EMAILING...I'M IN THE PUB LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO PLAY POOL WITH.
3.15PM...DRIVING TO DEVONPORT.
3.50PM...BIT EARLY FOR FERRY...WE ARE IN THE QUEUE...START LOADING AT 5.30PM.
4.20PM...NU TIDYING VAN...I'M OFF FOR A WALK...BORED OR WHAT!
5.45PM...THEY'VE OPENED THE GATES.
5.55PM...THEY WANT TO INSPECT THE VAN.
6.05PM...THEY TOOK OUR GAS CANS OFF US...THEY'LL RETURN THEM WHEN WE REACH MELBOURNE.
6.20PM...BACK IN THE QUEUE.
6.45PM...PARKED VAN UP IN FERRY...NEEDA DRINK.
7.15PM...CHEESE/CUCUMBER SANDWICH...WHITE WINE...WATCHING'OZ GOT TALENT' ON TV...NO COMMENT.
9.00PM...FINISHED IUR BOX OF WINE...SO WE'VE SEATED OURSELVES AT THE BAR...NU STILL ON THE WHITE...I'M GONNA HAVE A JACK D.
11.15PM...HAVING CHATTED TO A FEW PASSING FOLK...5 JD LATER...5 WHITE WINE LATER...WE HAVE HAD AN ENJOYABLE EVENING...TIME TO WOBBLE TO OUR PRE-BOOKED RECLINABLE SEATS.
11.35PM...GOOD NIGHT!


30.4.08.
6.00AM...AWAKE...MY RECLINABLE SEAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BIT MORE RECLINABLE!...I THINK I'VE SLEPT...FEEL UNCLEAN.
6.20AM...COFFEE...STILL HOT IN OUR CHEAP FLASK.
6.50AM...LOUDSPEAKER BELLOWS[AND IT IS A BELLOW!]...WIOLL ALL DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS PLEASE RETURN TO THERE VEHICLES.
7.10AM...SITTING IN OUR VAN...WAITING ENTHUSIASTICALLY TO LEAVE FERRY.
7.15AM...OFF WE ROLL.
7.25AM...PICKED UP GAS CANS.
7.45AM...GOING OVER WESTGATE BRIDGE...TRAFFIC GOING SLOW.
8.20AM...CAMPSITE.
8.40AM...CUPPA TEA...ITS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOU REALLY APPRECIATE A CUPPA.
9.10AM...SUPERMARKET...BREAD,BACON,EGGS ETC.
9.50AM...BREAKFAST...WELL DEVOURED...COFFEE.
10.45AM...SHOWER.
11.30AM...JOY...THE FRIEND WE MADE EARLIER ON IN OUR TRIP ARRIVES...SHE'S GONNA TAKE US ON A SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF MELBOURNE.
12.10PM...WEAVING THRU TRAFFIC IN HER TOYOTA ECHO.
1.30PM...AFTER MANY U-TURNS WE ARRIVE IN ST.KILDA...A SUBURB OF MELBOURNE...JOY MAKES MELBOURNE TRAFFIC LOOK EASY...I'M HAPPY BEING A PASSENGER.
2.15PM...JOY AND NU ARE TUCKING INTO A CHICKEN DISH...I THINK THEY HAVE GOT A WHOLE CHICKEN BETWWEN THEM...I'VE GOT DTEAK IN MUSHROOM SAUCE...VERY GENOUROUS HELPINGS.
3.40PM...BOTANICAL GARDENS...ENJOYING THE WALK...CAFE...NU AND JOY TUCKING INTO SCONES...A SLICE OF CHEESE CAKE FOR LITTLE ME!
5.05PM...PARKED IN CITY CENTRE CARPARK.
5.30PM...PUB...CAN'T REMEMBER NAME...GOT PICTURES OF A GIRL CALLED CHLOE EVERYWHERE...NAKED...CORNER TABLE...WONDERFUL VIEWS...BEER,JUST ABOUT PASSABLE.
6.00PM...WALKING THRU CITY...I COULD WALK FOREVER.
6.30PM...EUREKA TOWER...88th FLOOR...EARS POPPED ON THE WAY UP.
7.25PM...BACK IN CAR...OFF TO MEET JOYS DAUGHTER AND HAVE SOME MORE EATS!
8.00PM...MET UP WITH LACEY[DAUGHTER].
8.15PM...SCOFFING PIZZA/BOTLE OF RED TO SHARE.
9.15PM...DEPART RESTAURANT...WELL FAT!
10.00PM...BACK AT CAMPSITE...A WELL PLEASANT DAY...THANKS JOY...IF YOU DO EVER COME TO ENGLAND...WE WILL CERTAINLY REPAY THE COMPLIMENT.


1.5.08.
9.10AM...WAS GONNA HEAD FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAINS TODAY...ITS RAINED ALL NIGHT...SO WE ARE GONNA STAY PUT FOR ANOTHER DAY.
9.35AM...KETTLE ON.
9.50AM...CUPPA TEA.
10.45AM...BACON/EGG/TOMATO/MUSHROOM/TOAST...CUPPA COFFEE...WONDERFUL.
11.55AM...NU IRONING.
12.10PM...MANAGED TO GET ENGLISH NEWSPAPER YESTERDAY...SO I'M HAPPY!
2.00PM...NU ON THE WINE...GUESS I BETTER JOIN HER.
2.30PM...RAINS RETURNED.
3.30PM...SUPERMARKET...NEED EVERYTHING FOR SPAG BOL TONIGHT.
5.00PM...IN CAMP KITCHEN PREPARING ONIONS AND PEPPERS FOR SPAG BOL...CHATTING WITH ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO CHAT TO ME...THINK I'VE HAD ENOUGH WINE!
6.00PM...NU JOINS ME...SOME TIMES I FEEL LOST IF SHE'S NOT THERE.
6.40PM...WONDERFUL,WONDERFUL SPAG...I COULD BE A TOP COOK...I PROBABLY AM...ANY BODY CAN COOK...ITS SUCH AN EASY SILLY THING TO DO.
7.55PM...ITS BEEN A NOTHING DAY...I LIKE NOTHING DAYS.
8.20PM...FANCY A SQUARE OF CHOCALATE...DON'T YOU?


2.5.08.
8.00AM...MY FIRST THOUGHT...LOADSA DRIVING...THINK I'LL STAY IN BED.
8.15AM...KETTLE ON.
8.30AM...CUPPA TEA.
8.50AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.30AM...TWO FRIED EGGS ON TOAST WITH THE LAST OF THE MUSHROOMS...NU HAD A BACON AND EGG SANDWICH...COFFEE.
10.10AM...GOODBYE MELBOURNE.
11.05AM...BALLARAT.
11.50AM...CASTLEMAINE.
12.35PM...BANDIGO.
2.15PM...SHEPPERTON.
2.50PM...LAYBY...CHEESE/CUCUMBER SANDWICH...CUPPA COFFEE FROM OUR FAVOURITE FLASK.
5.00PM...FINLEY AT LAST.
5.15PM...CAMPSITE...NOT SURE...WE ARE THE ONLY ONES STAYING HERE...IT'LL DO.
5.40PM...WARMING SPAG BOL LEFTOVERS...TASES EVEN BETTER THAN YESATERDAYS!
6.30PM...SNUG AS A BUG IN VAN... CUP OF RED WINE.
8.15PM...COVERED SOME GROUND TODAY...SAME AGAIN TOMORROW.
8.25PM...HEAD ON PILLOW.


3.5.08.
7.00AM...ITS COLD...SLEPT WELL.
7.20AM...KETTLE ON.
7.25AM...,CUPPA TEA.
8.00AM...SHOWER...A VERY DIMLY LIT SHOWER BLOCK.
8.30AM...PORRIDGE/CUPPA COFFEE.
9.00AM...STARTED VAN...LET HER WARM THRU.
9.55AM...ON OUR WAY.
11.30AM...NARRANDARA.
11.40AM...SUPERMARKET...NU FANCIES SAUSAGES...ALSO NEED BREAD AND SWEETS...SOMETIMES I JUST FEEL LIKE BUYING A PACKET OF CIGS AND EATING THEM!
2.05PM...WEST WYLONG.
4.00PM...COWRA.
5.30PM...BATHURST.
5.50PM...CHIP SHOP/CAFE...FISH AND CHIPS FOR TWO PLEASE.
6.05PM...SMELLS GOOD...BUT THEY ONLY SUPPLY FORKS...NO KNIVES...THIS IS OZ DON'T FORGET...I WOULD EXPECT THIS IN INDONESIA...BUT HERE IN OZ A CAFE WITH NO KNIVES!...OK,CALM DOWN...I'LL GET OURS FROM THE VAN!
7.00PM...BOOKED ONTO CAMPSITE.
7.20PM...CUPPA TEA...NEEDED!...1100K I'VE DRIVEN IN TWO DAYS...POOR ME?...POOR VAN!
8.10PM...IN CAMPKITCHEN...DOING WASHING UP...FULL OF OZZIES...HAVEN'T THEY GOT HOMES TO GO TOO?...PROBABLY NOT!...THERE IS A GROWING HOMELESS COMMUNITY IN OZ...SAD,BUT TRUE.
9.00PM...NU IN LAUNDRY...SHE'S JUST SPILT A GLASS OF RED WINE ALL OVER THE BED AND ME...ACCIDENTS HAPPEN...OUCH!


4.5.08.
8.00AM...ANOTHER COLD NIGHT.
8.10AM...KETTLE ON.
8.25AM...CUPPA TEA.
8.50AM...SHOWER.
9.20AM...VAN PRETTY MUCH SORTED.
9.30AM...BREAKIE TIME...SAUSAGE AND EGG SANDWICH...WE HAVE TRIED TO FIND DECENT OZ SAUSAGES...BUT I'M AFRAIS OZ DOES NOT TO GOOD BANGERS...BINNED'EM!
10.15AM...HAD TO PUSH VAN...SHE STARTED STRAIGHT AWAY...BLESS!...SHE JUST LIKES BEING A PAIN SOMETIMES!
11.30AM...BLACKHEATH...A SMALLISH VILLAGE IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS...FROM HERE WE CAN TAKE THE TRAIN TO SYDNEY...SAME ME DRIVING.
12.10PM...RENTED A SMALL HUT WITH COOKING FACILITIES FOR FOUR NIGHTS.
1.30PM...WALKED INTO CENTRE OF TOWN.
2.10PM...SUNDAY LUNCH...ROAST BEEF ETC/APPLE PIE AND CREAM.
3.40PM...TRAIN STATION...CHECKING TIMETABLE FOR SYDNEY.
4.00PM...PUB.
4.40PM...PHONED PAULINE/JEANIE.
5.10PM...BOUGHT A BOX OF 4 LITRE WINE...CHARDONNAY.
6.00PM...BACK IN HUT...ITS GONE COLD.
6.30PM...AUSTRALIAN WORLD NEWS.
7.00PM...CHEESE AND BICS/WHITE WINE.
8.00PM...DOCUMENTARY ABOUT NAPOLEON...WHEN YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED TV FOR A WHILE...EVERYTHING SEEMS WORTH WATCHING...ACTUALLY NAPOLEON WAS AN ALRIGHT CHAP!


5.5.08.
7.00AM...ALARM.
710AM...KETTLE ON.
7.20AM...CUPPA TEA.
7.35AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
8.05AM...BACON/EGG SANDWICH...ANOTHER CUPPA.
8.30AM...WE HAVE A TRAIN TO CATCH...NU AND I ARE IN TROT MODE UP THRU PARK.
9.00AM...TRAIN STATION...PHEW!
9.05AM...TICKETS.
9.13AM...ON TRAIN TO SYDNEY CENTRAL.
10.15AM...ITS A LOVELY TRAIN...NOT OVERLY GRAFITTIED.
10.25AM...WOODY AND COUNTRIFIDISH...NO SUCH WORD IS THERE?...THERE IS NOW!...WONDERFUL SCENERY IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY!
10.40AM...PENRITH...OH!
10.45AM...AFTER PENRITH STATION...EVERYTHING IS BUILT UP...FACTORIES AND OLD CRUMBLING GRAFITTED BUILDINGS.
11.32AM...SYDNEY CENTRAL...SPOT THE WHITE MAN!
11.45AM...ON A GREEN AND CREAM COLOURED DINGY TRAIN TO CIRCULAR QUAY.
12.10PM...CIRCULAR QUAY...PURCHASED TICKET FOR HOP ON/HOP OFF TOUR BUS...THERES ONE EVERY 20 MINS.
12.20PM...NEED FOOD...A BIG FAT CHICKEN/TOMATO/LETTUCE COB...HAD ONE EACH.
12.35PM...ON TOUR BUS.
12.50PM...OPERA HOUSE...NOT AS IMPRESSIVE OR AS LARGE AS I THOUGHT.
1.35PM...BACK ON TOUR BUS.
1.55PM...GOING OVER HARBOUR BRIDGE...NU PHOTO-ING AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
3.00PM...DARLING HARBOUR...TIME FOR A BEER.
4.05PM...BACK ON BUS...HEADING FOR BONDI...FANCY A SURF?
5.10PM...BONDI BEACH...DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT...ITS A BEACH!
5.50PM...RUNNING...YES RUNNING!...NU AND I DON'T DO THIS OFTEN...BUT WE HAVE A TRAIN TO CATCH!...ALTHOUGH DID MANAGE TO STOP FOR A COUPLE OF CANS AND A BAG OF TWISTIES...PLUS MADE THE LOO!
6.10PM...RAN THRU BARRIER...GUARD SHOUTING 'COME ON!'.
6.11PM...TRAIN MOVING...ITS PACKED SO WE HAD TO STAND...BUT WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE MADE IT...WE'VE PACKED SO MUCH INTO TODAY!
7.05PM...A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT OFF AT PENRITH...SO WE HAVE A SEAT NOW.
8.24PM...BLACKHEATH...OFF WE GET.
8.35PM...WALKING HIGH STREET...NEED A MEAL...EVERYTHING CLOSED.
9.10PM...BACK AT CABIN.
9.40PM...HIPPY DISH.
10.10PM...WHISKEY!


6.5.08.
9.10AM...NO HURRY...HAVING A REST DAY.
9.20AM...KETTLE ON.
9.35AM...CUPPA TEA.
9.40AM...BACK IN BED...NEED A CUDDLE..DIDN'T GO TO BED TILL 1.00AM...SO BODY STILL TIRED.
10.50AM...BACON/EGG/TOMATO ON TOAST...COFFEE.
12.05PM...WALKED IN TO TOWN CENTRE...NEED A FEW THINGS...PLUS ENGLISH NEWSPAPER.
12.25PM...BLACKHEATH DOESN'T HAVE MUCH APART FROM TRINKET/ANTIQUE SHOPS AND A LOUSY SUPERMARKET WITH LITTLE TO OFFER...SO HAD TO BUY VEG FROM VEG SHOP...AND MEAT FRROM BUTCHERS...WELL EXPENSIVE...BUT WE ARE WORTH IT!...ALSO HAD TO GET NU'S BEER.
1.50PM...BACK AT OUR RENTED CABIN.
2.05PM...READING NEWSPAPER...ENJOYING A BEER...I THINK WE GOT BACK JUST IN TIME...DROP OF RAIN IN THE AIR.
4.00PM...CLEANED VAN...IT NEEDED IT!
5.15PM...PREWPARING VEGGIES.
6.00PM...CABBAGE/CARROTS/SPUDS ON THE BOIL....PORK FRYING.
6.25PM...AWESOME MEAL...YOU CAN'T BEAT COOKING FOR YOURSELF...WE'VE EATEN OUT TO MANY TIMES...AND I'M AFRAID ITS HARD TO FIND DECENT FAIR...THE OZZIES ARE NOT THE BEST OF COOKS.
7.20PM...A GLASS OR THREE OF CHARDONNAY...THAT RUBBISH OZ TALENT SHOW ON TELE AGAIN!


7.5.08.
7.00AM...ALARM.
7.05AM...DO I HAVE TO GET UP?!
7.08AM NO AND YES...MEANT TO BE CATCHING 9.00AM BUS TO KATOOMBA.
7.30AM...KETTLE ON.
7.45AM...CUPPA TEA[STILL IN BED].
8.20AM...NEED THEW LOO.
8.40AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.10AM...BACON/EGG SANDWICH...COFFEE...GONNA TAKE THE 10.40AM BUS NOW.
10.00AM...STARTED WALKING INTO VILLAGE TO CATCH BUS.
10.03AM...100 YARDS COVERED...ITS TO COLD LETS TAKE THE VAN.
10.10AM...IN VAN...SHE STARTS STRAIGHT AWAY...OBVIOUSLY MISSED US.
10.40AM...PARKED UP IN KATOOMBA.
11.10AM...ON TOU BUS.
11.25AM...ON STEEPEST TRAIN IN THE WORLD[WELL...SO THE OZZIES SAY]...GOING DOWN DEEP GAUGE TO BASIN.
11.50AM...RETURNED VIA CABLE CAR...THE EXCITEMENTS TO MUCH!
12.10PM...BACK ON TOUR BUS.
12.30PM...'BYGONE BEAUTIES'...A SHOP IN LEURA SELLING ONLY TEAPOTS...OVER 3,000 OF THEM...PLUS IT AS A LITTLE TEA HOUSE.
12.45PM...SCONES/JAM/CREAM/ENGLISH TEA...WONDERFUL.
1.40PM...BACK ON TOUR BUS...YOU COULD PROBABLY MISTAKE ME FOR A ROCK STAR I'VE BEEN ON SO MANY TOUR BUSES...PLUS I'VE GOT THE HAIR!...MUST BE HARD BEING BALD...I RECKON MEN GO BALD CAUSE THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH SEX...AND START PULLING THERE HAIR OUT IN FRUSTRATION!
2.30PM...BACK IN KATOOMBA TOWN CENTRE.
3.00PM...BOUGHT AC SWEAT SHIRT.
4.00PM...BOUGHT A ESKY[COOL BOX]
4.30PM...ON THE WAY BACK TO OUR CABIN.
5.30PM...SPAG BOL...WILLIS RECIPE...I COULD MARKET IT YOU KNOW!
7.10PM...NU MENDING VAN MATTRESS...I'M READING NEWSPAPER...IN BETWEEN THREADING COTTON!


IF I WAS A TREE,
YOU'D STILL BE IN AWE OF ME!


BYE FOR NOWZ.