We have returned to Melbourne for a few days and I won’t be having blood tests until later in the week which I will report on next week.
I have been feeling really well over the last couple of weeks and gaining strength every day. At long last it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Last week we saw the Sound of Music performance in Launceston. It was an awesome show performed by locals, including Bronte Kendell, daughter of Miles who is a new friend in Launie. (Miles owns the Super Cub that I went flying in a few months ago and happens to be the son of the late Don Kendell, from Wagga).
I enjoyed another bike ride with Ross Williams last Thursday heading off around the base of Ben Lomond and then making the trip up Jacobs Ladder to the ski resort. It was a beautiful day for a ride which we both thoroughly enjoyed (despite Rossco taking me off road into some logging country!)
We flew over to Melbourne to join a group of our Wagga friends at Daylesford for the weekend. We enjoyed some great company and lovely food and wine. We also visited Paul Bangay’s Stonefields garden at Daylesford on the Sunday. It certainly was impressive if not a little over crowded with on-lookers.
The sites/sights of Melbourne
I have been asked by a few people to list some of the ‘out of the way’ places we have visited over the past 14 months during my extended stay in Melbourne (mostly Alice Tallis).
For those of you who don’t know Melbourne so well you might find the odd cafe/restaurant or gallery worth checking out from my pick list below.
Lindsay Fox Car Museum – Docklands. A collection of 60 or more cars that Lindsay Fox has collected over the years housed in an historic warehouse in Docklands. Good for an hour or so.
Mission to Seafarers – a heritage listed building in Docklands that still serves as a meeting point for seamen today. Loaded with historical information.
Gallery DAX at Melbourne University (just off Royal Parade). This collection of art has been presented by mentally disabled artists – it looked like a normal modern art collection to me!
Graffiti lane – just off Flinders street opposite Federation Square. Very popular with the tourists these days and always changing as each new artist leaves their mark.
Buxton Gallery of contemporary art – Just off St Kilda Road on Southbank, behind the NGV. This is a private collection of art and sculpture.
The Immigration Museum – Flinders Street. Certainly worth a visit.
Flinders Lane Gallery – a lovely (very much out of the way) boutique jewellery shop where artists sell their wares on commission. A must for the boys if they’d like to impress!
Port Phillip Ferries – leaves from Docklands and heads over to the Bellarine Peninsula – worth a day trip to check out Port Arlington and the surrounding area – take a bike.
Melbourne Boat hire – one of our favourites. These little boats are electric powered (by golf buggy running gear) and make for a great afternoon out putting up the Yarra with a few friends. North Quay in Docklands.
Cafes and Restaurants
Sosta in North Melbourne – a lovely spot with fabulous modern Italian cuisine.
Sargon in Gratton Street at the base of Peter Mac – best coffee in the building! And I’ve spent some time there over the months comparing.
Masani in Drummond Street just behind Woolies at Carlton. Great old fashioned service and Italian food.
Longrain in Little Bourke Street (China Town) a perennial favourite for Asian Fusion although I must admit far too spicy for me on our last visit.
Shark Fin Inn Restaurant – great for authentic Yum Cha.
Chin Chin (Coda and Tonka) all tucked away off Collins or Flinders Lane on the east end. Very popular (and mostly pretty noisy) but trendy food and worth going if you can get a seat.
It Solito Posto – a famous Italian restaurant just off Collins Street in George Parade.
Sake – Japanese restaurant just below the arts centre, Southbank. Great food and ideal if you are seeing a show nearby.
Pure South Dining – Southbank. One of our favourites as they specialise in serving wine and food from Tasmania! Lovely views over the Yarra if you get a window seat upstairs.
Saluministi in Docklands. Great coffee and pork panini for lunch. End of the tram line down Collins Street and certainly worth a visit if you haven’t been into Docklands.
And lastly the Squires Loft – a meat lovers haven, in Docklands on Victoria Harbour Promenade. A favourite with Jan’s parents, Helen and Allen, (mostly because it is just two minutes walk from our apartment). The steak and lamb chops are certainly something to look out for!
Geoff Beats Leukemia 