Saturday 31 December 2011

Friday 30 December 2011

The Great Ocean Road and Geelong

After Christmas we hired a car and drove the Great Ocean Road, voted the greatest driving road in the world. 

As you can see from this picture, the road curves between the sea and the cliffs... 


Just round the corner from the Twelve Apostles are another set of rock formations.


Sarah decides to have an impromptu dip...


Rock climbing...


Another stunning coastal view...


The twelve apostles (well 8... and there were only ever 9!)


This formation 'was' called London Bridge as a bridge linked this formation. It collapsed in the eighties on a day when people were on the 'island' and had to be rescued by helicopter!


The Eskine Falls outside of Lorne...


Lorne...


Split Point lighthouse at Airey's Inlet 


One of the many amazing surf beaches...


I met some of the local girls on the beach in Geelong...

Boxing Day Test - Day 1 - Australia vs India

The only way to spend Boxing Day in Melbourne is at the MCG for the first day of the Boxing Day test. The crowd swelled to over 70,000 by the afternoon. 


Advance Australia Fair was sang and Australia won the toss, electing to bat first...


All eyes were on one man, the man India worship, possibly the best batsman of all time, aiming to get 100 hundreds on Australian soil... Sachin Tendulkar.


Cowan and Warner get Australia off to a good start. Warner gets of to a great start, smashing the ball for the only six of the day, but goes a few overs later...


I promise I've got my England shirt on underneath (Barmy Army!)...


The sun comes out in the afternoon and all 90 overs are bowled. Play ends after 6:30pm.

Australia go on to win the match on Thursday inside four days.


Sunday 25 December 2011

Christmas Dinner!

Christmas dinner... Terence is resting and about to be carved...


Let's eat! If you find a better looking plate of food, let me know. Sarah rightly living up to the Gill family name! Eat your heart out Gordon and Nigella...



And for afters... Not sure if the box refers to Sarah or the chocolate??...

Christmas Day - The Melbourne Way!

Christmas Day is definitely best spent on the St Kilda beach. This was as close as I needed to get to the water though!


Sarah decided to dip her toes in before considering any swimming! 


The water was warm enough and Sarah dived straight in whilst I remained on the beach (on shark watch!)


Enjoying the Christmas sunshine...


Then we saw this family getting in the real Xmas spirit and decided we should head home for dinner!! Not sure who the lucky people are who will get sent this picture... the only way is Essex?


Christmas Eve - The Melbourne Way!

Basking in the afternoon sun in the Royal Botanic Gardens, and then a chocolate milkshake to cool off at the Terrace cafe.

 


Personalised Coke...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/cokes-5m-summer-marketing-blitz-gets-personal/story-e6frg996-1226152315313


"Cans and bottles will swap Coke branding for one of 150 of Australia's most popular names in a world-first that will allow people to drink their own brand of Coke"






Melbourne Stars T20 Big Bash @ the MCG: The Return of Warney!

Last Saturday the Melbourne Stars began their T20 Big Bash campaign vs Sydney at the MCG. 

Melbourne take a Sydney wicket and the fireworks are launched!


The match marked the return of Shane Warne to competitive cricket for the first time in nearly 5 years. Arguably the greatest spin bowler of all time bowls his first ball...




... bowling Warney!

Suzuki Night Market @ Queen Victoria Market

Last Wednesday we went to the night market held every Wednesday over the summer. There were opportunities to try food and drink from all over the world including burritos from Mexico, sangria from Spain, curry from Senegal and Kangaroo from Oz!


Sarah and Roshi battle the crowds for a quick pic!


Gingerbread Melbourne!

Gingerbread Village by Epicure (award-wining pastry chefs)...

The MCG...


Melbourne Town Hall...


Flinders Street Station... with a vist from someone special... 


Saturday 24 December 2011

Merry Christmas!



Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute (Vauxall Truck)
Kicking up the dust
Esky (ice box) in the boot
Kelpie (dog) by my side
Singing Christmas songs
Its summer time and I am in
My singlet (vest), shorts and thongs (flip flops!)

Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way
Christmas in Australia
On a scorching summer's day
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Christmas time is beaut
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a rusty Holden Ute

Engine's getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy (underclass transient temporary worker) climbs aboard
He is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbecue!

Come the afternoon
Grandpa has a doze
The kids and Uncle Bruce
Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap
Then pack the car and all shoot through (depart quickly)
Before the washing up

Saturday 17 December 2011

Australia's second city

I have been working in Sydney for the last couple of weeks and Sarah came to visit last weekend.


The 'standard' tourists photo from the Botanic Gardens. You might recognise a couple of landmarks in the background.


A view from Sydney Habour including Fort Denison.


Fireworks at Darling Habour on Saturday night. Not quite New Years Eve though! 

More Sydney pictures as promised...


Sarah sat on Mrs Macquarie's Chair...


Sarah, the bridge and the opera house...


Coffee break with a view...


The beach at Manly, Sydney's 'second most famous' beach...


A surfer at Manly...


Sydney Habour...


A view of the city and Circular Quay from the bridge... 


Sydney Harbour...


View of the city across Darling Harbour...


Sydney Town Hall lit up with projected Christmas lights...