Big Chunk

Sasha the puppy gets a pat from Michael at a park in Elsternwick

Sunday was a family day. Visiting St Judes church in Carlton allowed us to meet up with church family and later we drove to Elsternwick to see my cousin and her new puppy.

By virtue of it its location, St Judes has an interesting mix of people - students, housing estate residents, inner city dwellers. We were welcomed warmly. Susannah headed off to 'Diggers' for games while Michael and I stayed in church. Ross Green spoke from Luke 13:1-5. Here, Jesus makes it clear you can't tell how 'good' someone is by how well their life is going, something his hearers just assumed. This echoes themes in Ecclesiastes which I've been listening to in the car (Kirk Patson's excellent talks from Katoomba Easter Convention).

The afternoon saw us visiting my cousin in leafy Elsternwick. She has a 14-week old border collie called Sasha, who's a bundle of energy. The kids loved playing with Sasha and taking her for a walk. My cousin told us about how smart sheep dogs are and how destructive they are when bored. Apparently Sasha's been eating the Gyprock.

Face at Luna Park entrance

People are obviously very comfortable with neighbours looking into their apartments. The floor to ceiling windows seldom have blinds drawn. We were waved to by some friendly 20-somethings this morning from the apartment across the alleyway. We waved back as if that was what you did! Love the astroturfed balconies too. They are only a few square metres, but one balcony near us is a mini-backyard: green plastic grass, a red outdoor furniture setting and a Weber. Very clever. Am I sounding like Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs?

Our first full day in Melbourne involved walking across Fitzroy Gardens, stopping at Captain Cook's Cottage, tramming it to Southgate, then catching a ferry to Scienceworks under the bridges across the Yarra. In the afternoon, we went to Luna Park at St Kilda 'just for fun'. Here are a few photos from there. Hope you're having fun too.

Mosaic at Luna Park

Susie says: Mount Hotham in VIC is a marvellous place to visit. Sadly I left my friend snowman Snowy to die at the top of Mount Hotham.
I almost decided to crush Snowy but as I picked up my awesome smashing rock I realised that Snowy's life had just begun and would end quite soon anyway. The photo shows Michael making shapes in the snow.

Friends keep you honest and my good friend Christine (Hi Chrisso!) reminded me to say in our blog that I had to stop at Yass and get my car rego checked. That's what happens when you find out on the morning you leave for your big trip, that your car rego falls due when you're along way from home.

The vehicle safety check suddenly needed doing while in NSW, so Yass got some unexpected business. The place that did the rego check was also a funeral directors' - I hoped they weren't drumming up work for their other business.

After a long drive down the Hume (now dual carriageway) and a bit of a wiggle through NE Vic, we got to Bright. Autumn leaves were turning in readiness for the autumn festival later this month. We spent yesterday morning exploring town. In the afternoon we drove up Mt Buffalo which was shrouded in mist and v cold. Then we got lost in the maze at Wandiligong.

The rowing machines at the AIS get a workout

Freddie Mercury - what a legend. Who'd have thought the 'Glee' producers would reprise Freddie's famous 'Somebody to Love'? Glee was our CD of choice driving out to Tidbinbilla yesterday to the Deep Space Tracking Station run by CSIRO on behalf of NASA.

The 45 minute drive from Canberra was lovely, roadworks notwithstanding. Out along the Cotter River into the countryside. Just as the astronomers at Parkes played cricket in the dish in 'The Dish', we tossed a frisbee near the satellite dishes. Apparently the dishes at Tidbinbilla are listening into satellites orbiting Mars right now.

Earlier we visited AIS, the Australian Institute of Sport. That's where we got our frisbee. There we also saw the shortest AIS athletes (gymnasts) and the tallest (volleyballers) in training. Felt v unfit.

Edwina guided us back to our accomm without a hitch. She knows Canberra streets like the back of her hand. Lets hope Bright doesn't cause her stress.