Photo time .................

Just hanging around on a rainy day in the Dandenongs

Then it was onto Phillip Island...

Did that - but there were no signs warning of pengins that like to dash out in front of moving cars - just as well Dad is a careful driver..........

Floating around on Puzzle Island .

Oh No - Now I've lost my body...

Please don't put me on the menu today.

Time for more fun outside in the beautiful sunshine....

Getting lost again in a giant maze on Phillip Island

We thought this was the way out...........

Are we ever going to get out of here?

What a fun way to spend 2 hours getting lost...

A trip down memory lane - the Toolangi sign not the other one.......

The drive through the forest took us to Ballarat and Sovereign Hill.

Back to school already - but we thought that it was still holidays.

1852 - a fun year of school   ?

Always hard decisions to be made in a lolly shop

A lively character at Sovereign Hill

Searching for that elusive gold nugget......

If I just keep looking - just maybe...

No joke - this is serious business

And we are not leaving until ......

All dressed up in our Sunday best

Then it was time to leave Victoria and head home but not before some great adventures with  Qantas - thanks Hannah...

My first flying lesson.

The best end to a great holiday.

THE  END......

(until next time)

The Best Day Ever by Georgia

Tuesday

After our drive yesterday, we arrived in Healesville.    We stayed in a  little one bedroom place on Monday night  -  it was fun sleeping there.   There were lots of beds to choose from.

A beautiful sunny day was spent at Healesville Sanctuary.  We saw some platypus, echidnas, baby koalas,  lots of birds, huge goannas and the awesome birds of prey show.     The animal hospital was very educational - although Mum was  a tad disappointed that no surgery was scheduled for that day to watch.  

Leaving Healesville,   Mum and Dad decided  to take the scenic route to Ballarat via Kinglake - the evidence of the fires 3 summers ago were very evident.  Dad is a good driver and he missed the koala that was sitting in the middle of the road - so cute.  I think that he was just sitting and not even thinking.   We also saw 3 wombats along the way - although they were upside down on their backs.

Day One - Matthew in Phillip Island

On Sunday night we took fish and chips down to share them with our penguin friends (just joking - everyone knows that penguins don't like the batter on fish).   The seagulls flocked around eating every scrap of the muffins that the Japanese tourists were throwing  to them - very naughty.   They are terrible Muriel.   We waited and waited and waited and finally they came - 784 of them - little penguins aka fairy penguins in our books.  So cute with bellies full of fish.   When we were watching on the boardwalk , suddenly a big boomer jumped under us and vanished into the bush.   

When walking back to the car park the ranger on duty  had just pushed a little penguin off the road  - he was apparently making a nuisance of himself.  We had to check under our car for furry creatures - there were none - but nobody expected one to run out in front of our car when we were driving out.  Daddy missed him by a whisker - phew!!

Amy's Amazing Things (part 2).

Monday

Today we went to  'A Maze n Things'.    First of all we went into the optical illusions part. The illusions were very confusing.   My two favourite parts were the 45 degrees house and the dreadful mirror maze.  The 45 degrees house made me feel very dizzy and the mirror maze was SO diffucult to try and find the end.   I eventually found the end of the maze.   Then we went to the BIG, BIG, BIG, BIG vertical slide.   We had to put on some overalls to prevent friction burns.   Mum and I went up to the slide but chickened out.  Then my VERY VERY VERY brave dad went up to the BIG BIG BIG BIG vertical slide and went down laughing.   Then we went to the 2km maze.   We had to find the following flag colours- blue, yellow, green and red.   We only found the blue, yellow and red - the green flag proved elusive.   It was very fun.  Then we brought a backwards clock.   Then we went to the chocolate factory and had VERY VERY small samples -  Margaret Chocolate factory still rules......    Next we drove down to Healsville.   Monday was VERY exciting.

Catch Up Time

A busy few days have seen these travel bugs still having fun albeit a little weary.    So much to tell, however I shall leave the children to fill in the details soon.  

Friday night saw us visiting the Krispy Kreme donut factory at Fountain Gate - or Fountain Lakes if you are of the Kath and Kim ilk - and no we did not see them shopping that night.      

The donut store is open 24/7 - unbelievable to our WA way of life - we have only just got Sunday trading approved.   And the shopping centre is just slightly overwhelming in its size.     

Saturday came with more  rain and  a drive through the Dandenong hills - so very picturesque and green.   We joined the queue just  to get to the front counter at Miss Marples , booked in and then waited for an hour or so - guess what we did to fill in time ?
Of course, we found another place to eat - well it was very cold and rainy and little children get hungry.  Apparently according to one of them - 3pm is bordering on  an acceptable time for lunch.
And went out to dinner that night...  Such fun!!

Sunday we attended church with our lovely hosts  who just happen to also be the ministers of the church - so it was extra special.  Thanks guys for a great time and may tomorrow be a special day to a special friend -HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  - hope it is warm and sunny one.

The afternoon landed us down in  Phillip Island   and on to see the penguins.....  I shall leave the rest to the children to write........

PS  I just have to tell Charlie Brown that today we sat on the same bench as we did 12 years ago  and heard those small words of   "I can't thee"    .  Memories of old and then some new ones.

Stay tuned....

.

Time for a Few Photos

 

This is your captain speaking.....

 

 

 

 

More food - all gone

 

 

 

 

 

Just a typical visit to the markets

 

 

 

 

 

Just hanging around

 

 

 

 

 

What type of elephants are these?

 

 

 

 

 

 

A moment without rain

 

 

 

 

 

Having fun following the leader

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you guess where we where?

 

 

 

 

It was very yummy......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The one and only........Miss Marples

 

The sun shone for just a minute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                     

 

 

Georgia's Great Day

Today we went to the zoo. We had lots of fun.  I got very wet.  Because it was raining we all went to the zoo gift shop and brought green waterproof ponchos that kept us very warm and dry.  My favourite animals were the seals because they did cool tricks and flips.  Also the baby elephants were soooooo cute.  It was fantastic to have so much room and space at the zoo with absolutely no queues!!!  Funny that......

After colleting a car ,  we zoomed up to the Dandenongs in the rain  - oh what fun!!!!
Spending the night with some friends.

Amy's amazing things.

Today we went to the Queen Vic markets.  First we looked at all of the meats and things like that. Mum wanted to try and spot either a lambs head or a pigs head and other animals heads.  We found a pigs head and it was SO gross!!!* then we went to the toys and clothes section.  I wanted to buy- a backpack, a zipped jumper, a watch and something else but I can't remember what it was.   So in the end I brought a lolly jube packet and a backpack**.  Then we went out for dinner at an Italian restaurant  in Lygon St  with our Auntie who lives in Melbourne.  On the way home we stopped  at IGA and brought an ice-cream each . Tomorrow we are planning to  go to the zoo and it's my little sisters  turn to write next in this blog.

* we will download a pic when we have a computer.
** I didn't get the backpack from the Queen Vic markets.

Day One - Matthew in Melbourne

We were waiting for breakfast  we had to hunt and gather to forage for sustenance. Wandering around the city centre we found a shop called Pie Face at about 11 am and had pies there.  Next we comsumed some sushi and muffins and pizza and mini mars bars and icy poles and for tea Dad cooked yummy chicken and healthy salad.

P.S
About the cockpit last night, it was awesome to sit in the cockpit!                                                
I got to move the seat aroud that I was sitting on and move the joystick around and the planes sound box spoke to me. And I think I heard the engine start.                                                                                                              

We have landed......

Here we are in chilly Melbourne.   Everyone gave a thumbs up to Qantas with lots of yummy food, fun kids packs and  those great touch screen babysitting tools - even I loved them , except I just could not squeeze the last 8 mins of Hunger Games in - sigh...    The best part was being invited to sit in the cockpit and fly the plane - just ask Matthew.  

Hoping to have some photos up by the weekend when we can access a computer.

Up , Up and Away

Only six weeks to go before we fly up, up and away - on our  holiday adventure to Melbourne and country Victoria.   We have been counting down the weeks since January.....  A long wait.
Now the time has come to start writing those lists of things to do , dusting off the suitcases (although they are still new) and psyching the cat up to warn her of our impending departure.