We arrived Melbourne after quite a bus journey from good old Canberra!! (dont think I'll be going back there in a hurry) We arrived the bus terminal, and it was so nice to see a familiar face and to finally arrive at Uncle Hal's home! The address I'd written to so many times, and never thought I'd make it there! I've settled in very well! and am feeling quite at home! I have been able to empty my clothes from backpack - wash them, iron them and actually put them on a hanger!! It's so nice not to have to rumage around in my backpack when I need something! And always whatever Im looking for is at the very bottom!! So we enjoyed a home cooked meal and a nice clean room had a good nights sleep!!! The first weekend here we took it easy! We were shown the way to the shopping centre!! (bad idea) there are so many nice shops here - I dont even go in now , or Im sure to buy something! Then on Sunday we went for a drive around the Bay, drove through Beaumaris!! ( got a bit confused) and went along the Southbank to the sunday market!(more spending!!) We ventured to the city on our own, and had our first experience of the Trams! and what an experience!! We soon realised that the have the ability of apperaing from no where and that they are quite big!! We went on the City Circle Tram which took us around the edge of the City Centre, and we got to see the sights! Trams are very slow and noisy things, think we'll stick to using the train!! There are loads of things to do in the city, so we decided that our first port of call had to be the Welsh Church!! Unfortunatley it was closed but it was nice to see some Welsh over on this side of the globe! We then went to the Old Melbourne Gaol! Very scary, this was where Ned Kelly was jailed and executed! It was a horrible feeling going into the cells, especially the haunted one!! Didnt stay in there long! We didnt like the feeling of being closed up so we went to the farthest thing from it, the Observation Tower, 253 meters high!! This was amazing, we could see for miles! From there we could even spot the Grand Prix Track weaving it's way through the city buildings! On Friday afternoon we had a date with Harold Bishop, yes, we went to Ramsay Street!! (so much smaller in real life!) It was such a strange feeling standing there, it was as if some one would walk out at any minute!! But, unfortunatley we didnt see any of the cast! We also got to see the school and the park!! SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!! ; ) Over the weekend we went up towards North Victoria to the Wineries, we got to try a few samples and went down to the cellars!! The amount of wine they had there was unbelievable - you could have a good party down there!! We went through the town of GlenRowan - the place where Ned Kelly was captured! The next day we went along the Great Ocean Road, with the spectacular views out over the ocean! We even saw some Koalas as we were driving along, So nice to see them in the wild!! On wednesday we went on a day trip to Phillip Island, where we would see the Penguins come in from the sea! But we also got to see a few other things along the way. Our first stop was The Grundies Winery, where we had our picnic lunch in the gardens and of course a few samples of wine to go with it!! We then set off to The Wildlife Wonderland, there I got to hold a Blue Tounged Lizard, and Wilma the Wombat!! We also got to walk through the Kangaroos' paddock, and because they knew that we had food for them they came bouncing along towards us!! They are quite big animals when the stand up tall! There was one there with a Joey in her pouch, which was very cute!! Then we drove on to Phillip Island where we stopped off at a beach to have a look at the surfers, then went to The Nobbies - two large rocks off the coast of Phillip Island, where we hoped to see some seals, but sadly we didn't as it was getting dark. We watched the sunset behind the Nobbies, then off we went in search of the Penguins!! So we took our seats and waited... then the Fairy Penguins appeared, they were so much smaller than I thought they would be, only 30cm high!!! They come out of the sea in a group of about 10, made sure it was safe and headed off up the beach. They were so cute, some were trying to go so fast they kept on falling over!!Once they got to theyre burrows we were able to walk along side them, and have a close up look!! There were so many of them, very cute!!!! (unfortunatley we werent allowed to take photos). After that busy day we headed home... On sunday night Helen and I went our separate ways!!!! I have stayed in Melbourne, and Helen has gone to Sydney to meet Ems, (so we might hear from her soon?!!) So I have been seeing the sight of the City, I went to the Australian Racing Museum, the Aquarium, the MCG Stadium(the cricket / AFL ground) and the Museum - where I got to stand in The Scullys' Kitchen (neighbours!). There I also saw the famous Phar Lap - it was a bit strange looking at a stuffed horse, thought it was going to walk away at any time! I also went to Healsville Sanctuary with Uncle Hal, who was brave enough to let me loose in his car!! Whiw!!!!!! That was fun!! There we saw some of Australias animals that I hadnt seen - echidnas ( big hedgehogs) and platypus!! So I think Ive managed to see nearly all of Australias wildlife!! Maggie and Hal took me for a drive down Mornington Peninsula where we caught the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff , then drove back home! We were lucky enough to see 2 dolphins as we were crossing the bay!! But I have spent a while here in Melbourne by now and I have to move on (or I'll never leave). So I'm flying to Sydney wednesday morning!! see ya'!!!!! Fi ps. Thank you very much Hal & Maggie - I'll be back!!!!! xx