We must have woken the neighbours as the wheels on the bags echoed through the whole park last Thursday at 5.45am. The taxi was awaiting and soon we were on the early flight to Melbourne from the Gold Coast. Arriving at just after 9am off we went to get a car but suddenly remembered out driving licences had expired. So after some smooth talking and a fax from Vic Roads confirming that we had paid for new ones we were allowed to hire a car and drive home to Ballarat. The rest of the day was taken up with getting Susie's flowers organised then dinner with Kate, Ash and Dad at a local pub. We spent the night at home (which is in good nick despite not having been there for 11 weeks)

The next day off to Geelong to set up at the reception venue and the church's flowers followed by dinner with the bride and groom to be and about 40 others at Moorabool St restaurant. The night finished off in Torquay at Ian and Lleeannes place with a few nightcaps

The Wedding of Sam and Karen took place at 11.30 on Saturday in Geelong followed by a reception at the Hill Winery in Waurn Ponds. Everybody seemed to have a great time and the venue, The Hill Winery, was very good indeed. The weather, as it does in Victoria, did not really excel itself as it blew a gale most of the weekend with cloud and some rain and was pretty cold. The reception finished about 4pm and once again it was back to Torquay where Ian played barman at his place and ensured we sampled his rather extensive selection of scotches until late in the evening

Susie and I left this morning before any of our fellow scotch drinkers arose (I think there could have been a sore head or 2 amongst them) and got a 1pm ish flight back here to Coolangatta where I now sit outside the van writing this on a very still and mild night with a refreshing ale

We head south to Yamba tomorrow. Sam and Karen are off to Italy for a month so have a great time. Many thanks to Ian and Lleeanne for being hosts with the most and we will settle back into our leisurely lifestyle on the road for another 2 weeks after what was a hectic but very pleasant few days