Melbourne

On Monday evening I flew into Melbourne. Sophia arrived about 3 hours later after the long flight from London. A sight for sore eyes! My sister Deborah picked us up.

Before leaving Tasmania I went kayaking from Sandy Bay and then Melanie and I met James for coffee on Battery Point. Then Melanie took me to the Meadowbank Winery for lunch (food as well as wine!).



A fantastic location and venue. As has been my usual experience in Tasmania, good food and wine also. After lunch we visited “historic Richmond” before heading for the airport. Richmond, whilst still beautiful, is a disappointment as it is now full of shops selling tourist tat.

Yesterday, after a lazy start, Deborah took Sophia and me to the Boulevard and Yarra Bend Park for a walk before meeting up with Deborah’s eldest, Michelle, who in the meantime was collecting Melanie from Tullamarine. Yes Melanie! She has flown to Melbourne for 2 days to see Sophia.

We went to Marne Street, where we lived for 5 years. It had not noticeably changed. Then to the Botanical Hotel (“the Bot H”) that used to be a local watering hole of the old fashioned variety, for a pre-lunch drink. Some makeover! I would not have known it was the same place but for its location.

After walking around the Botanic Gardens we arrived at the observatory for lunch. When I lived in Melbourne it was an observatory…

A good lunch in shaded sunshine. Sport was provided by the need to avoid bird droppings from birds resting on the canopy; Melanie received some “good luck”.

After checking out Bridge Road we headed back to Deborah and Harvey’s house for a barbeque.

Today more cruising around the old haunts, to include Tomani Bistro.



Tomani has not changed since we moved from South Yarra...before a meal out tonight to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Tomorrow we head to the Mornington Peninsula for the Easter holiday…