Goodbye Melbourne:-(

Well there is not a great deal to say since I last updated you guys but I wanted to get upto date before my tour starts on Wednesday!!

So since you last heard I have done alot of relaxing.......a bit of work.......little drinking and maybe the odd outing!

I went to the Yarra Valley with a few people from the hostel...Rebecca, John, Dermot and Kate to be precise. Rebecca drove which was handy and we checked out a few wineries where we had a bit of a taste!! You don't beleive it I know......!! It was really beautiful up there and pretty peaceful!! Lovely. We had a nice lunch/dinner in a cafe called Mad Hatters, where the owner entertained us with a few cards tricks - very appropriate. We also tasted cheese at one of the wineries which was yummy - well most of it anyway! I had fun

I have had a few stressful days at work which in turn required a few enjoyable drinks after work.... Joss and Paul have been great with supplying me with the required workmates for such events and we had a laugh until the dream team were split up!!!

I have seen Babel and Music and Lyrica at the cinema. Babel was ok, a bit odd but quite good. Music and Lyrics was really funny - just what I needed!!

I went to Rod and Tracey's for dinner, which in actual fact due to being rubbish at organising a time to meet ended up being a goodbye dinner - it was really good.

I have been out.....yes you heard correctly I did leave the hostel on a couple of evenings!! Firstly I went out with Linda, Dermot, Emma and Kate to an Irish bar which was not bad, the band could've been better. The entertainment ended up being Kate falling over and knocking herself out (nothing to do with drink she says!!), all appears to be well now with her which is good.

I then went to the St Kilda Festival with Joss and a couple of her mates then Paul joined us later, watched a couple of bands I've never heard of, got really pissed, danced all night and after walking home I got in around 3.30-4am!! What a great time I had!!!

I have also had a couple of afternoon sessions in the pub with Jono, who is clearly a bad influence because when has anyone ever known me to drink in the afternoon!!! Anyway I can't complain because I enjoyed every minute of it - even listening to him ramble on!! Ha ha, just kidding. We did talk alot and drink alot...... We ended up back at the hostel with a more drink each. Which only encouraged everyone else to drink too.......he he he

Oh I have also been to the Melbourne Museum which was pretty good, but on my way ther Ned from neighbours was in front of me!! Not as good looking as Stu but still not bad.

My last day/night at the hostel consisted of me being very hungover and so just relaxing and eating extremely greasy food!! Good stuff....

I am now in Adelaide and although it was quite sad leaving everyone I am pretty positive I'll meet up with some of them again in the future - don't get rid of me that easily guys!!!!

Well I have been to the shops here, the few there are, and today I checked out the Adelaide Gaol which was ok and cheap so I enjoyed it although it was a boiling day and most of the gaol is outdoors. I then walked along the river to the north of Adelaide where I checked out a church (it is the city of churches!!). I heard some music when I was walking back along the river and discovered it was Adelaide Universities Orientation week so I wandered through there where I was very tempted by the beer tent and another unknown random band but I managed to resist - mainly because it was so hot and I couldn't stand to be outside drinking!! I returned to my air conditioned, thats right guys!!, room to read and relax some more!!

I have confirmed my tour and the last payment has been taken off my credit card and so I will be picked up at 6.45am on Wednesday to begin my adventure to Perth!!

Hope you are all having fun wherever you are!!

Love

Dawn

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Photos - A few

Hey Guys
I have uploaded a few photos, will have to apologise as there is a gap between Christmas and about a week ago.... I had alot of problems uploading those pictures, I have managed a few so now they are just out of order!!
Anyway I hope you enjoy what I have put up - Lots of people for a change!!
Have Fun
Dawnie
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Melbourne - Again but drunker!!!

Ok I am sorry for keeping you all waiting so long..........
I am still alive and well in Melbourne. I left you guys off on New Years Day so I give you a quick run down of what has happened since...
Ok so on the 2nd, still in Sydney, after saying goodbye to Emma I walked upto the Government House to have a walk around, assuming I could go inside, and walked up to the door trying to get in - well it was locked so I looked a bit of a twat!! Anyway I looked around the beautiful gardens. I then made use of a present Emma gave me, free entry to walk up one of the pylons of the bridge.
So off I went along the bridge to the pylon and walked up to the top. Really fantastic views over Sydney and the opera house and so more pictures!! I read all the info on the bridge which was quite interesting, I'll tell you a few bits.........you know you wanna know! It took 7 years and 356days to build, started in 1924 and finished in 1932 and 16 men died during construction, only 2 fell from the arch. I won't go on too much although I do have more! Anyway after spending quite a bit of time there as they had a visitor centre and a video to watch I jumped on a ferry back to Manly and walked up the hill to our castle! Oh I also heard from Kerry on this day to let me know she'd had a baby girl on the 1st, actually I still don't know what she has named her!!! So congratulations Kerry and Stewart.
On the 3rd I had to catch my flight to Melbourne, arriving at 4.25pm. Oh and this is exciting, more famous people!! I was waiting for my baggage when this guy picked up this pink bag which I thought was funny so I watched him and who should he give it to but Danni Minogue (sp?)!! Oh my god she is so beautiful, really tiny with soft features. So that was cool standing right next to her although I did feel like a giant minger!!!
So I have been here since then staying at Central Melbourne Accommodation, I think thats its name, in Richmond. Its a nice small hostel so I have made quite a few friends, its like a little family. I have also taking up drinking, quite often, again!!!
Melbourne has had really odd weather while I have been here. From really hot 40's where I can't sleep to cold and miserable raining. The hot days are too hot although it is quite pleasant today.
I do have a job although not full time hours as it has been too quiet but I am now getting a little cash in. I have been working at Computershare dealing with inbound calls about shares. We are just starting to work on APA takeover of Qantas so I will be doing that from Monday, although I only have 2 weeks left in Melbourne before I hit the road again so I can't wait!!
I have visited Rod and Tracey a couple of times, normally when the cricket is on (although I am kinda on strike from watching us lose!!) and also had a BBQ there which was really good so thanks to them!!!
So a few of the people from the hostel are Moira (Scottish), Dermot (Irish), Jono (Kiwi), Annabel (Irish), Linda (Aussie), Taran (American), Nicola (Irish), Mark - Jockeyboy (Irish), Aaron (English), Emma (English), Gabriel (German), Oli (German), Young (Korean), Kate (Engliah), Rebecca (Scottish) and quite a few more but I can't think!! Some have left now Jockeyboy has gone home and Aaron is now in New Zealand, Nicola will be joining him tomorrow........ Steve and Prue own it and are really nice. Prue works in promotions for the Australian Open so we got free tickets to that which was cool.
So while I have been here I have been to the cinema a few times and by far the best film I have seen is Blood Diamond, just fantastic but also sad - def think everyone should see it! I have also been to the night market a few times again for food and to people watch!
We have also been to the tennis, first the qualifiers which are free anyway and then we went to the first day of the open, thanks to Prue, but just on a Ground Pass so couldn't see anyone too big. It was a good day, although we waited in the garnier queue for like an hour and a half for a free goodie bag!!! Then lucky for us we got to go to the Womans Final on Saturday which was really cool - I don't even like tennis!!! It was great though. Would've been great to see the Mens, that was a good match.
We have been to watch a TV show being recorded!!! Steve was very enthusiastic about us going and how great it was. The show is called Temptation and the show wasn't too bad but the guy entertaining, and I use that word loosely, the audience between takes was just terrible - I felt braindead after a couple of hours in there - although it was one of those 40degree days so the air con was good!!
I have been to a few gym classes Body Pump and Body Jam!! Highly entertaining....
Drink has played a big part of hostel life and I have had many a drunken night here, including last night - not good. I have also been out with Joce and Paul from work for a couple of drinks.....very social I am now!!! I can manage another couple of weeks!!!
Oh yeah and another thing we have done is go and see A Midsummer Nights Dream at the Botanic Gardens one night. Dermot, Young, Nicola, Aaron, Taran and I went along with a picnic, rug and some wine. It was a really good show, so funny and a fantastic night - enjoyed it alot!!
Australia Day was a great day. I jumped on the train early to go to Rod and Tracey's as we, Emma as well, were having a day out. After a little faffing we headed off in the car. Our first stop was Hanging Rock, there is a book called Picnic at Hanging Rock or something where people went missing there, and we headed up the walk to the summit. There were fantastic views and funnily enough we did get a bit lost and couldn't find the path down. There wasn't a flat summit but a load of rocks sticking up out of the ground so we were walking between them.
After a little while we headed back down and jumped in the car again and went to Kyneton Races. We got our tickets, Rod, Tracey and Emma placed their bets, we grabbed some lunch and found a spot for the picnic rug. We relaxed, watched the races, watched the streakers and they all won something although Rod did best!! After a great day at the races we headed back in the car at 6ish and Rod treated us to an Indian Takeaway which was so yummy!!! I said goodbye, last time I'll see Emma in a while, and headed back to the hostel.
Anyway I think that just about covers everything I have done. I am having a great time here and will be a little sad to leave but really looking forward to my Perth tour as well, plus Mum and Dad arrive in 5 weeks!!!! Crazy.....
Hope you are all happy and healthy!!!! Take care
Dawnie
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