Sunday, 28th October

It's been a very mixed week.Rumour has it that Melbourne can have five different weather patterns a day - this week has demonstrated that perfectly.Decided on Monday to tour Melbourne.Big mistake as the heavens opened.However found a free bus service that takes visitors around the city stopping at all the places of interest on the way.Stayed on it for the hour tour and decided where I would go when the weather decided to clear.Spent the rest of the day buying a new camera - mine failed big time, not helped by the fact that I tripped when taking some photos and damaged the lens.Such is life.Visited Melbourne again to sort out trip to Whitsunday Islands, bought some new swimwear and found another free trip on a tram that went in a different direction to the free bus.I like this idea of everything being free.Can't imagine it happening in London.

On Thursday Sue with whom I am staying was rushed into hospital but is hopefully going to be allowed home today.After Steve and I visited her on Friday evening we went out for a quick meal.Got back to their house to find they had been burgled.Had a real feeling of de ja vue when I went into my bedroom and saw the wide-open window and then realised it had been forced.Theory is that we disturbed the culprits as my cameras, my credit cards, Steve's camera, jewellery etc. had not been touched.The only thing taken was the PC and also my camera card that was in the PC as Steve and I were going to upload my photos onto the site when we came back.Just have to go out and take some more.All in all not a good week for my hosts.

On a brighter note, yesterday (Saturday) Steve took me up into the Dandanong Ranges.A beautiful area of hills above Melbourne with far-reaching views and quaint little towns - very much like Switzerland.In fact we went past a restaurant built like a Swiss Chalet called the Cuckoo Clock Restaurant.Had late lunch in Miss Marple's Tea Rooms, could have been any English teashop anywhere in the UK.Beams, copper kettles and cosy seating - good food too.Then went on to William Ricketts sanctuary.He was an Australian born in the late 1890s who tried to get Australians to embrace the culture of Australia's indigenous people.He spent his life sculpting and had three attempts to get to know the Aboriginal people through his sculptures.He managed to gain their interest on the third visit.Eventually the state appreciated him and his works and took over the Sanctuary.It was quite a magical place.

Drove back via Mount Dandanong with further fabulous views of Melbourne.Another good day.