Neil Sun 17 Jan 10

NEIL: The Dandenongs
It was a bit of a rush at this end of Neil's visit with us ... a case of too little time left and still so many things to do.

The Great Ocean Rd is always one of those places you want to take visitors. It's so impressive and we had great hopes of taking Neil there. But in the end we decided on the Dandenongs as the last place to visit: Neil had seen the ocean and bay a couple of times so we figured he got we lived by the water, but he hadn't seen any Australian animals during his 3 week visit.

That definitely clinched it ... we had to go to Healesville Sanctuary, and in getting there call into Grant's Picnic Ground to feed the birds.

Grant's Picnic Ground.
We were lucky to spot the picnic ground as we drove past ... I knew generally where it was and it was really fortunate we saw it in time to call in.


Neil with one of the birds ... he really seemed to enjoy this.


And the birds are so friendly they come to feed almost immediately you put your hand out.


The downside is the cockatoos ... they bite and bite Neil they did. This one bit Neil twice!


The birds also seemed to have this tag team system ... only one of them would feed at a time and one that wanted to feed would attack the one feeding. And it would all happen so fast you could barely see it happening.

Healesville Sanctuary.
We spent a few, slightly wet, hours wandering around the Sanctuary ... another place in Victoria I haven't been. You have to love overseas visitors for helping you to get to know your own home better. And the Sanctuary is absolutely the best place to see native animals.


The first thing we was was an Eagle presentation ... four eagles of differing sizes including one that was probably hand reared and very tame. This eagle was the most trained of all of them.

We also saw a presentation about didgeridoos and boomerang throwing from a local Aboriginal. Unfortunately this time, the boomerang didn't quite come back.


Horace and Neil walking along one of the trails.


The sanctuary had loads of these little information boards everywhere ... so good for understanding more about Aboriginal culture.


This male and female dingo were the stars of the Sanctuary ... it was as though they were posing for the camera.


This koala lived up to its name ... Prickles. There was no way she was going to show her face.


Kangaroos are the laziest animals ... we were lucky to see any with their eyes open let alone upright and looking at the camera like this one!


The Australian version of the ostrich ... the emu. These babies can be vicious, so I was glad it was behind a tall fence.


Looking through a gap in the rocks to see a huge goanna ... or lizard.


Kookaburras make the most amazing noise ... but unfortunately Neil didn't get to hear its call.


We call these guys flying foxes ... a type of bat.


And a sweet wombat before we left. These guys are huge ... but vegetarians and this one was eating his way through a huge pan of vegetables.

Neil Sat 16 Jan 10

NEIL: Sovereign Hill, Ballarat
We wandered down to Ballarat for the day to visit Sovereign Hill and the Gold Museum and to pick up the suitcase we left at my mother's on Christmas Day ... one I kinda left by accident or confusion or post Christmas craziness, I can't exactly say which! LOL

A great day ... such fabulous weather and such great places to visit. And topped by a quick and tasty dinner at my mother's before the long drive home.

Sovereign Hill.
In case you haven't heard of it before ... Sovereign Hill is a recreation of Ballarat during the gold rush during the mid 19th century. And exactly the sort of thing I love to do ... it's just a shame it's been 30 years since the last time I visited in 1979!


Panning for gold ...one of the first things you see as you enter the park.

It shows all sides of the Gold Rush. The influence and role of the Chinese through a Chinese corner, tent homes, a store, temple and more. They were a huge influence in Ballarat and it's so nice to see them so well represented.


A young Chinese girl making origami birds in one of the tents ... a really nice treat and a freebie for Horace.


Neil in one of the tents from the Chinese quarter.

We also saw lots of stuff related to life from those times. A bike of all things; no pedals, no brakes ... just as much foot power as you can muster.


Horace was really curious about this bike and had to have a turn.


There were horse drawn carriage rides going past every couple of minutes.

You can see how the park is built on hills ... which is Ballarat generally. Great for atmosphere, but not so good for Horace's hip which was really giving him gyp (forgive the bad pun!) by the end of the day.


View down Main street ... so realistic.

We also got to participate in a few activities like a short (12 minutes) walk through a mine that showed a recreation of the Cornish miner who found the largest gold ingot, and some very old fashioned bowling.


Neil trying his hand at bowling ... Horace tried next after Neil. It did not look easy.

And Horace got to go back to school and try out his penmanship with an ink pen and inkwell. Alas, a trip down memory lane for Horace and I ... and an insight for Neil how things were done in the "olden days"! LOL


Horace and I both took a turn ... I'd forgotten how few letters you get out of the ink.

And a final shot of Horace and Neil in front of one of the carriages ... they actually make them there.


Horace and Neil.

The park as a whole is extremely well done, so it's no wonder it wins the best tourist spot for Victoria year after year.

Gold Museum.
We had a quick look around the museum because time was marching on and we needed to get to my mother's so we could return home before it got dark.


A beautifully composed miner and dog ... and life sized.

But we don't like to miss out on anything, and took a quick look through.


I guess this is what most of the miners used in the streams around Ballarat ... and even elsewhere.

It's hard sometimes to remember that the gold rush in Australia coincided with California, and that many miners tried their luck in both countries. At its peak, around 2 tonnes per week flowed into the Treasury Building in Melbourne. By contrast at least 125 million ounces of gold were take from the California hills. They're both huge amounts that mess with my head.


I never expected to find examples of embroidery on shirts worn by the Chinese miners and shopkeepers ... and such fabulous examples of blackwork.

If you have a spare day and are anywhere near the park and museum ... drop in and visit. There's plenty to keep kids of all ages entertained; from 8 to 80 as they say.

Neil: Mon 4 Jan 10

NEIL: Mornington Peninsula (again)
We wandered back down to the Mornington Peninsula to visit the spots we missed a few days ago ... and to see the Rennison's at Pt Leo. This time I got to introduce Neil to Meagan and I hope the two of them get the chance to go somewhere together.

Point Nepean National Park.
Our first stop was Point Nepean, primarily because it would give Neil the chance to see how small the Heads really are ... and also because I just love any chance to visit there.


A ship going through the Heads ... the perfect way to see them.

It's so clear and big ... and I love wandering around the old fortifications and scrub. It's just so peaceful and clean.


The beautiful coastline on the Bass Strait side ... this is what makes it so perfect.

The downside to the day was the flies ... brought out by the brilliant sunshine. And they made a beeline to Neil in a way Horace is usually the only one to experience. They absolutely loved him ... and drove Neil crazy!


Neil trying out the Australian salute ... brushing away the flies that were driving him crazy.

There's such a diversity of things to do ... we wandered through the fortifications all over the national park ... including this spot where Horace took a shower in a spot that was once inhabited by army personnel.


Crazy Horace pretending to have a shower ... he's just a big ham!

And just before we left we walked through the bush from the gunner's cottage that wound its way past a cemetary and back around to the road.


My favourite photo of the day ... Horace and Neil wandering through the bush.

Point Leo.
It was nice spending a few hours with the Rennisons ... and Neil and Meagan hit it off really well. Either that, or Neil was pleased to see someone even remotely his own age and just couldn't stop talking! LOL


Neil and Meagan sitting on a random boat on the beach ... just because we could.


Wandering over the rocks at low tide looking for things in the rock pools.


Something slimy found by Neil in the rock pools! Ewk!

Neil: Sat 3 Jan 10

NEIL: Visiting the Art Gallery
The day didn’t start out with such nice weather so a day in order—at the Art Gallery—seemed in order so as not to waste the day.


Neil standing outside the art gallery against the water streaming down the glass wall ... Neil liked the way this was done.

Not really Neil’s thing—spending the day with grandparents and a day at the art gallery—but he was a really good sport wandering around and taking in a little culture. I expect him to wow his mother with talk of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and the broad, sweeping strokes of the early Impressionists. He’s all primed to impress when he gets back … don’t let me down Neil.


Look Mum ... Neil actually looking interested in art!

He was a little naughty as we wandered through the Asian artefacts and snapped a few pics using his flash. When the guard popped his head around to ask that the flash not be used he looked straight at me ... when it definitely wasn't me! Whoops!


And finally Neil with his usual expression towards the camera. Wini and he are definitely related!

It was nice to spend a not so nice day wandering around the art gallery ... but it's so small after the V&A in London and the Met in New York. I'm not sure I'll ever feel the same way about it again.

Neil: Sat 2 Jan 10

NEIL: Red Hill Market & Mornington Peninsula
We--Horace, Neil and I--wandered down to Mornington Peninsula to visit the Red Hill market and then to admire the view from Arthur’s Seat.

Red Hill market.
Horace and I have never visited the market before. I rang Tina and Mick a few days before we went to see if they were able to come as well ... because I had the wild idea of introducing Neil to Meagan, but they were busy with visitors and we didn't get the chance to meet up.


Horace and Neil taste testing locally made cider.

We didn't end up staying at the market for very long ... Neil is not the most patient person for wandering around. The market is absolutely huge, much bigger than any of the others we've visited recently, and I saw the nicest leather and fabric hand bags which I'm definitely going back to look at another time.

Arthur's Seat.
I really enjoyed Arthur's Seat again, especially as Horace and I were there so recently ... only last summer.


What else ... but a seat called "Arthur's Seat"? And waiting to take his turn after Horace and Neil was a little boy called Arthur.

This year the weather was so much nicer. The sky was a glorious blue and the water reflected it back.


You can just see the heads the ships pass through to get into the bay, and Bass Strait beyond.

And we could only just see the city way off in the distance.


If you click on the photo you'll be able to make out the city on the horizon, right in the centre.

We also took a wander along some of the walking tracks and made our way to another lookout to get a better view of the bay.


One of the few photos I managed to get one of Horace and Neil together sitting on the base of a rock cairn. Neil is not a willing victim ... unlike Horace!

Mornington Peninsula National Park.
Our last stop was the Bass Strait side of the Mornington Peninsula National Park ... and what's left of London Bridge, to be exact.

It was blowing a gale … such a change from the calm beauty of the bay, and all of us got a sand blasting from the wind whipping up the sand. But that doesn’t stop us … I always want to explore everything and I have to say Horace is exactly the same.


A short video by Neil of the beach ... and play this with sound. It shows exactly how wild it was.

One of the nicest things there was the wind surfer enjoying himself. And what a wind he got to play with … he was having a ball.


Horace watching the wind surfer ... and the wind surfer was having the best time.

And then we wandered down to London Bridge ... or what's left of it because the bridge has well and truly fallen down! But it was so nice there ... the water especially as it runs under the cliff and into the rock pools behind it.


A picture of Neil in his usual pose ... checking his photos. Most of the time it's the only way I can snap him.

Neil: Fri 1 Jan 10

NEIL: Wandering around Mordi
It seemed to be fitting that the first thing Horace and I did with Neil was to wander around the neighbourhood … really to get him acclimatised to where we live but also to show off a little how nice it is here.

And I think Mordialloc has so many wonderful things to admire:


A boat travelling along the creek ... I loved the ripples.


The marina as we walked towards the pier.


Neil and Horace ... as Neil took a shot of the million dollar plus houses along the bay.


And a few of the million dollar plus houses that took Neil's fancy.


Horace and Neil at the end of the pier.


Neil reading about the bronze statue of a horse ... and their history on the area.

We really are so lucky to live in such a wonderful place.