I managed to grab a few hours sleep on the short flight from Christchurch to Melbourne. We had gained two hours due to crossing a few more time lines which was a good thing. We felt tired as you would expect but personally I was feeling pretty relaxed. It was slightly emotional for me coming back to Melbourne after all this time. The last time I was here I was 5yrs old and saying goodbye to the life I had come to know for the previous 3 years and going back to England - a mysterious place referred to as 'home' but of which I had no memory! I was excited today at the prospect of catching up with 2 of my old class mates from my first year in school (luckily they both still live within a short drive of Glen Waverley, which was the suburb we lived in) and also of seeing the house we lived in on Grantley Drive and going back to see my old school - Camelot Rise.

We were going to stay with a family called the Clears for 2 nights; Belinda Clear had been my screaming buddy apparently when we had our first ever week in school and didn't want to leave our mothers! We got a sky bus from the airport to the train station in central Melbourne and before catching a train to Glen Waverley we ventured out into the CBD (central business district) loaded by our back packs to try and find a vodaphone shop where we could by a sim card compatible with our dongle so we'd have internet access on the go. The short walk became a bit of a mammoth one as the first shop we reached was closed for refurbishment. By the time it was all sorted we were exhausted and practically fell into a McDonalds for a refreshment stop (a yummy 99% fat free smoothie for me - amazing for McDonalds!) before boarding a train to the suburb of Glen Waverley. Interestingly the weather was a bit chilly and overcast such that I had to put my fleece back on....really not what I was expecting for Australia in December!

We both fell asleep on the train to Glen Waverley - the effect of having got up that morning at the equivalent of 1am Australian time was starting to take its toll! A short taxi ride took us to Lancelot Crescent and the home of the Clears where Jan (Belinda's Mum) had made us a lovely lunch. We had to succumb to a few hours sleep that afternoon before heading out to Mountain View (the local hotel and bistro) with the Clear family for a lovely dinner. We reminisced on old times and tried to refresh my already very scanty memories of my time in Melbourne. Belinda seemed to remember more than me and told me about a goodbye party we'd all had before the Greggs headed back to the UK. After more chatting and a good cup of tea back home we fell into bed relaxed and contented, and feeling lucky and pleased to be so welcomed and looked after. A Big Thankyou to the Clear Family.