Wednesday 22 June 2011

Melbourne - Last Days Part 2

Yay, the last of my Melbourne photos and then I can get on and tell you all about the craft I have been up to.

Obviously this is continued on from yesterday, and the photos of Werribee Mansion are technically from the beginning of the day rather than the end (don't ask, it makes sense to me).


As you walk in the front gates this is the sign you see. At that point, all you can see are trees lining the drive an not much free land that you can sit on without sitting under a tree. Gave me giggle.


This just shows you the view along the drive, hence my point about the trees.


Only a small portion of the mansion


This was my favourite room. It was also the ladies room. The colour was so bright and cheerful compared to the gloomy dark rooms for the men that had stuffed animals they had hunted everywhere.


This beautiful creature is Ruby. her fur is so soft and silky. I would have hugged her all day if she let me, but she's a cat ... need I say more.


This is George and he has the most gorgeous green eyes


And here is little Sammy


Lets just chew on Aunty Kerin's camera strap!


My cousin has her hands full if this is his reaction after I take the strap out of his mouth. And he's only 4 months here!!!!

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Melbourne - last few days Part 1

I have titled this as part 1 only because my internet connection is currently rubbish and is not allowing anymore photos to upload. Technically the photos start at the last day, so tomorow you will get the photo's that actually come before these ones. If that makes sense.

After returning from Warnambool and staring the night at my cousin Tina's (on a blow up mattress that had a small hole - I awoke in the morning to find my back and bum on the floor and my feet, arms and head up in the air), I was picked up by my cousin Alida and taken to her house for the evening. That is where mum had been staying as well. We went shopping as one of the local centres had a VIP day with an extra 15% off on the already end of financial year sales. Got some nice things there. Yep, more luggage to worry about.

That evening I had to share a double bed with mum (yes a double). Between my mask deciding to whistle when air escaped it, and mum snoring like she was a horse going pfffft, not much sleep was had.

The next day we went across Melbourne to my cousin Kitty. We were staying two nights here. She has a 4 month old little boy (well he was in May anyway) who is just gorgeous.

On the Saturday, Kitty and her husband Lucas took us to Werribee Mansion. My God are those grounds huge, not to mention the Mansion itself. Being a Saturday, you could dress up in costume for free and take your own photos. There was a lady there, dressed as a maid to help you choose your costume. Unfortunately I was a little too well endowed in the chest area so I took up the position of photographer. Mum and Kitty found clothes that fitted ... well sort of. Kitty's top was huge on her.


Love this photo of mum. Both in colour and in sepia

This is the Mansion

Their first family photo



Mum



Proof I was there too.

I bought Sammy a jolly jumper - he loves it. (So did the cat while it was being set up and swinging around).Mum and Sammy

Our final days were spent with Tina and Rowan. We all came together for a family breakfast due to there being 3 birthdays amongst us in May and because we were there. :)


Little Mycah ate all of that huge breakfast

His older sister couldn't manage it.



Another family shot but not very good

My only photo with Sammy and he was grumpy.

Mark and Alida with the two kids

Graffiti in Melbourne is gorgeous. If only people in Perth could do this. Saw this on the way back from the "Handmade Markets" (Yeah bought some more - hey I was on holidays).



This little girl is throwing cards. Literally there are cards glued to the wall and footpath. Not sure how long they will last in the rain.


Old Melbourne homes and yes I confess, I played with photoshop to bring out more autumn colours in the trees. The original photo is yellow and green leaves still.


Mum helping Tina and Rowan lower the airmatress. Can't believe it is the only photo I have of the two of them and it's blurred. Note to self ... never give Rowan too much chocolate unless I am prepared to put up with the consequences of a sugar high. He is funny!


Monday 20 June 2011

Melbourne/Warrnambool Days 6-8

This post is mainly about photo's. Nicole was a great tour guide for the 3 days I was there and I had a blast. Though at times she must have thought I was a real strange one with some of the things I photographed. One of which is a circle of rocks at Port Pirie. The photo's don't do it justice.

DAY 6 - Port Pirie
This is a lovely place with a beautiful inlet that is protected from the ocean. We didn't get all the way around the inlet but what we saw was lovely. The water was crystal clear. For lunch, we found a lovely cafe where I had the yummiest irish lamb stew, and not far down the road there was a real old fashioned lollie shop. Cursing myself I didn't get photo's now. Eveything was in jars and stacked around the shop. It was great.


This ship is docked at the warf. It looks a bit stubby.



My circle of rocks with it's clear water. Not sure if it is a natural or a manmade structure but it was pretty non the less.


Saw this in the water. I played with photo shop to get it this clear. Compared to the original photo you wouldn't thinkg it was the same one.

We had to get back early to watch one of her daughters run in their first cross country race. We reminiced about ours and how much we hated them. I did take photos but have chosen not to put them on here as I am not sure if Nicole would like her children to be shown on the web for all to see.

That evening I sat down with the two girls and we made a robot out of toilet rolls. This is the robot. Each girl had a go at colouring in different areas. I think it's just perfect.
DAY 7 - Ocean Reef Road
If there is one thing we learnt about country Victoria in the off season, not all the shops are open on certain days. Today was one of those days. It was a good thing really considering all the natural beauty we took in. I had to warn Nicole that if we had to get home by a certain time then I needed time limits at each spot, otherwise I would just photograph the same place all day.


Not sure what this place was called, but it was my favourite

Bay of Islands

Port Campbell - OMG do I love watching the waves. I could have stayed here all day.


The 12 Apostles (though I think there are only 6-7 left)

Me and Nicole



DAY 8 - Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museaum

This was my last day so we stayed around Warrnambool. Nicole took me the Flagstaff Hill. It is a replica old time town.


This is Pat. She makes a lot of the costumes that the volunteers wear. Yes that is an old treddle singer sewing machine. Pat also lets you dress up and takes photos. We did that but I scanned the image to big and it won't load onto blogger.

That was my stay in Warrnambool with my dear friend Nicole. I am sure we will be friends forever. :) Time to hop on the train and head back to Melbourne.