22 - 27 November 2017
A slightly strange feeling to be in a big city after two weeks in NZ, but we were being hosted in style. Lucinda Marrtens collected us from the airport and whisked us back to their beautiful town house in the leafy suburb of Malvern; swim, laundry and supper with Cin, Nikki, Ella & Sam Maartens.
Saturday we headed off to the Mornington Peninsular to spend the weekend chillaxing in Blairgowrie, with Nikki’s “surf skis” strapped to the roof of the Land Cruiser.
The afternoon’s entertainment was provided by Nikki and I on the surf skis. Nikki is a pro and just paddled smoothly around the calm waters. I, however, didn’t quite master the art of staying upright on these ridiculously narrow and unstable kayaks, much to Jess and Cin’s amusement!
A slightly strange feeling to be in a big city after two weeks in NZ, but we were being hosted in style. Lucinda Marrtens collected us from the airport and whisked us back to their beautiful town house in the leafy suburb of Malvern; swim, laundry and supper with Cin, Nikki, Ella & Sam Maartens.
Thursday was a relaxed day. Jess and I popped down to St Kilda’s in the afternoon to check out the kitesurfing rental.No wind of course, except for the squall circling ominously around Port Phillip Bay - which is best avoided if over 50 and attached to a large kite!
Friday was equally relaxed. Cin, Ella, Jess and I went to the foodie-heaven South Melbourne Market, with a carefully selected coffee break (Melburnians take their coffee very seriously indeed) and a pre-lunch steamed pork bun from the Dumpling stall.
We headed home via the Shrine of Remebrance - opened in 1934 to honour the men and women of Victoria who served in WWI.
We headed home via the Shrine of Remebrance - opened in 1934 to honour the men and women of Victoria who served in WWI.
That evening we visited Jenny & Stephen Charles at home in Manning Road, where we stayed on our last visit to Melbourne 16 years ago. We had a gorgeous dinner joined by Lucy Hamilton (Stu was otherwise engaged in Brisbane watching the Ashes!), and Patrick & Catherine Charles and their three adorable kids.
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| Front row: Catherine, Archie, Molly, George, and Jenny doing the dab! Back row: Stephen & Patrick |
Saturday we headed off to the Mornington Peninsular to spend the weekend chillaxing in Blairgowrie, with Nikki’s “surf skis” strapped to the roof of the Land Cruiser.
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| Coffee in Sorrento: Nikki, Chris, Cin & Jess |
The afternoon’s entertainment was provided by Nikki and I on the surf skis. Nikki is a pro and just paddled smoothly around the calm waters. I, however, didn’t quite master the art of staying upright on these ridiculously narrow and unstable kayaks, much to Jess and Cin’s amusement!
Cin and I snatched a quick walk to the “back beach” (i.e. on the ocean side of the peninsula) just ahead of the incoming rain storm that shortened our Sunday plans. We retuned to Melbourne, which of course was basking in sunshine a mere 60km away as the crow flies - so Nikki and I had a hot game of tennis on clay courts and a civilised drink in the Kooyong clubhouse.
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