Skippy The (cooked) Bush Kangaroo!

Couldn't resist this as our last meal of 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.

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...