Melbourne and a washing machine.....and the dentist!

A long 17 years ago in a city that lies at the foot of Africa, a very dear and old family friend, more like a beloved long last aunt, and her family left South Africa for the distant shores of the lands Down Under. Another immigrant for far shores and distant lands. Roll the clocks forward and Ing's name sake, Ingrid (is this a sign, more than coincidence, that Melbourne may be home somewhere in the future?), that immigrating aunt was welcoming us into her home!Warm comfy beds, hot showers, home cooked food, litres of red wine and tons of home cooking!

But the cherry on the top was the washing machine and the promise of really clean clothes! Weeks of trekking in Annapurna and days in Hong Kong and Tasrainia meant that clothes saw just a little more than usual wear between washes.....if you get my smelly drift!

With full bellies and brimming red wine, dental woes were explained, and bits of tooth examined, Ingrid promptly organised an emergency dental appointment with her dentist, Sandy (Sandy and Ing meet Sandy and Ingrid? Hmmm...more than just coincidence, I think!).

Thankfully, emergency in Melbourne is emergency and dental appointments are quickly made! But then again, Ingrid is a big mover and shaker in the Australian medical world and appointments seem to just materialise for her...and me, thankfully!

With tooth fixed and enough anaesthetic in my jaw to leave me speaking like a drunk (Ed: nothing new there then?!!) I was happy to have a full set of functioning teeth again!

Hoorah! And the wide open road was ours once again (Ed: with giant size cake portions to help us along the way !)

It was with great sadness that we left our home from home, who wouldn't miss home cooking and washing machines and all the good things that an aunt does for you?), but should we ever get to Oz and decide that Melbourne is the place for us, then we left with a fantastic offer that might just swing it...."If you EVER need a baby-sitter, you know who to call!"

With an offer like that, we might just well be back sometime soon!