CR's on Collins was a very nice restaurant build in the basement of the Rialto Tower, the tallest building in Melbourne, and the Clunies Ross' treating us to gorgeous food and wine in a great atmosphere.

The next day we took a stroll around the South Bank in Melbourne (nowhere near as good as Brisbane's!) before meeting up with Wendy for lunch. She took us up to Brunswick Street (like where we used to live) where all the streetside cafes are and we chose a very busy Vegetarian restaurant which was nice and chilled. As we arrived back to St Kilda we bumped into Jen and Alex newly arrived and caught up with them until tea time, when we all wandered down to St Kilda beach where we found a good BYO Chinese restaurant. We then went up to the rocks at the end of pier for the best piece of advice we have been given this trip (thanks Alex and Laura!) to view the pengiuns hopping on the rocks. Saved us a lot of money on a trip to Phillip Island!

Neighbours Tour day was met with two excited girls and two less than eager men. Nonetheless we all paid our fee (and were paying a higher rate for a guarenteed "star meeting" apparently) hopped in our minibus' and were off to erinsburgh high watching an episode - Jim's death. Mel made us all act in her own episode which was cutting edge obviously. Our star was Janelle - who was nice enough and chatted about plot lines etc. but who was no Karl! - at Greasey Monkeys in the studio, and then there was a brief glimpse of Karl as we left. Final stop - Ramsey Street, aka Pin Oak Close where the residents all have contracts which mean they have to notify before making renovations so it can be put in scripts.

We decided to end our trip at the Melbourne museum, which as well as the old neighbours set had lots of up to date displays, including a human body section with real human organs - yuk - and a very modern virtual reality cinema.

Our last day in Melbourne was for our Christmas Party on the beach. Needlesstosay the weather did not play its part so we were fairly chilly. We managed to have a fun day though, trading presents, having a bbq - and Stu got to "put another shrimp on the barbie!

When we flew out the next morning for gorgeously sunny Perth we were leaving Jen, Alex and the rest of Melbourne in the coldest christmas on record... ah well

Lots of love from the place that truly does have 4 seasons every day.

Stu and Mel

x