Dougblog !

Off to visit Lynne and Jez at Geelong (J'long), Lynne is originally from Cairntrodlie! (Peterhead), but met Jez 21 years ago and has been an Oz citizen for 10 years. They have always - and still do - travel the world; they work for a while then set off for a few months. They are about to do it again, they are coming to the UK in a few weeks then off to explore China and Japan for a few months!!!
It was great to see them - last time was when they visited us in Crichie about 3 years ago. We had a great meal with them at their beautifully extended and decorated house.

---------------------
Thursday 29th March - Geelong and area
We borrowed Jez's car (leaving him to cycle to work for the first time in 5 years; HE GOT A PUNCTURE on the way...).
We went for a drive to Queenscliffe, Ocean Grove - stopped off for a while in a ghost town called INDENTED HEAD. Not really scary!
Later on stopped at a Winery which, despite the 'open' signs was Mari Celeste-ishly deserted. Which was odd.
Had another good chat with Lynne & Jez over Pizza, wine etc. Hope to see them in Stuartfield next month.
---------------------
Friday 30st March - Back to Melbourne
Train back to the city, met Christeen and Kris then went to Aussie Rules fitba - very entertaining and OUR TEAM WON! (St Kilda 93 : Melbourne 62)

pics so far...
Calum at the aquarium (he's the one without the fin!)

Calum in the pool at Singapore hotel

Lilian & Elspeth at the pool

Dragon boat racing - Lilian on the drum, Christeen + Kris front rowers

The race - in the lead

Brighton beach huts

Calum at St Kilda beach

Aussie rules footie

Aussie rules footie

Melbourne

Lynne Jez + Calum at their house in Geelong

Lilian & Calum at INDENTED HEAD!!

Maritime museum

Elspeth at Melbourne Art Gallery waterwall

Melbourne Garden Exhibition

Melbourne sunset

Mwlbourne at night

Me Elsp and the kids borrowed Christeen & Kris's bikes then set off walking, then train, then walking again, to hire bikes for Lilian and Calum. We then cycled to the beach, had a picnic lunch (it was about 29 degree C), then Elspeth and the kids went to the beach while I went off for an extended cycle exploration along the beach front; loads of funcy hooses wi big gairdens and posh plunts - apparently worth millions of dollars each.
Tuesday evening - we went to see the FINA international swimming competitions in Melboune. This was a proper night of competitions, with no less the THREE new world records being set; ,uch excitement but too much playing of the american national anthem (for my liking).
There were some UK swimmers for us to cheer along, including Kaitlin McLatchy the Scottish swimmer who one a medal (or two) at the Commenwealth games last year (it was last year wasn't it?).

Kris off to work, Chisteen, Elspeth, Lilian and Calum all off to the beach, while I stayed at the house and did some work!!!
They had a great time with Lilian and Calum burying each other in sand.
In the evening, me and Elspeth went out for a Vietnamese meal ON OUR OWN! while the rest played board games.

Christeen & Kris off early to compete in Dragon boat racing; last competition of the season. Kris phoned to say that they were short of people and asked if Lilian would like to take part as the boat drummer! I went along too and was invited to take part also - good fun but very hard work! The boats are only about 2 ft wide and have (up to) 20 rowers a drummer and a sweep (stands at the back steering). They race 3 boats at a time a straight 200metre sprint. We came 3rd overall in the days tournament out of 11 teams, with me taking part in 3 of the races and Lilian in them ALL!

Later we went for shark and chips, then took tram to shopping centre then the train home to Christeen and Kris's.

All off to the city - visited the Aquarium then had a walk along beside the river, where Calum got involved in a street theatre escapology performance! He actually go paid for it too - but then donated it back in the collection which ensued.

Melbourne airport - nearly got arrested by customs for smuggling undeclared tinned haggis! Thought about telling them it had been planted in our luggage by unscrupulous trafficers but decided against it.
Airport had dozens of people welcoming travellers, but only Christeen and Kris had flags, baloons and an inflatable kangaroo!
Kris went off to work, Christeen drove us to the house before going off to work and leaving us to catch up on sleep - despite the 39 deg C heat!
In the evening, Elspeth and Christeen went out for a meal while me, Kris and the kids went to Calder park to see the drag racing.

After breakfast at the hotel (vegetable curry again!), Elspeth and the kids went to the hotel's outdoor pool. We then checked out of the hotel and went to the harbour-front. On the way I asked the taxi driver what was imported and exported from the huge container port, to which he thought a minute and then answered "containers". Ho hum.
Lunch was Calum's choice - a sushi restaurant. We then got the monorail across to nearby Sentosa island where we went up a viewing tower lift for a brilliant view of Singapore and the surrounding coast. Me and the kids went on a luge thing which is a downhill track on plastic cart contraptions - very fast and good fun, we overtook a group of about 12 frightened looking Japanese tourists on the way down.
We collected our luggage from the hotel which almost fitted into the taxi to the airport, where we caught the Melbourne flight.
On the flight, Elspeth kept us a running time commentary... "only 5 hours and 40 minutes to go" ALL NIGHT!

...well it did yesterday for a while. Still, it's warm rain :-)

Flight was good, although none of us slept much. We arrived 5pm ish at the hotel, walked zombyish to get some food (including Calum's vindaloo fish soup!) then we all slept well.

Wednesday - went shopping (spending money allways makes me feel dizzy - so I didn't enjoy the experience). Lots of posh shops like Gucci and stuff, but a good mix down Orchard Street (or road or avenue???)

Afternoon went to Wild Wild Wet waterpark, great fun with flumes and slides (and the kids enjoyed it too!). Then a sudden megga thunderstorm arrived when Lilian and I were at the top of a huge slide - we were last down before they closed the park for safety reasons. Got dried / ate more food / taxi back to hotel / slept all night again! Jet lag? not us!!
Over and out.

Good evening viewer.

Well - this is a test blog entry to check it's all working before next week, when I may, or I may not update it more regularly. Like you care.