Today was a trip down memory lane having spent the morning going round Glen Waverley to see the house I used to live in and my old school. Seeing the house was strange - it didn't match any of my memories as it had been extended and repainted outside so it looked completely different! I took some photos and video footage to show my parents at least - I'm sure they'll be interested. The school still looked similar to my memories and the original photos from back in 1985 despite more development and building work.

Scott was excited about going to see Ramsay Street - it's actually a real street in Melbourne with real residents who have to vacate their homes for filming (apparently they get paid handsomely for the inconvenience)! Because it was a weekend they weren't filming and to our disappointment the Ramsay Street sign wasn't there as a result!! The street looked so much smaller than you imagine from the Neighbours series - it's actually just a small close. We got the obligatory photos next to the Kennedy's house.

After that Belinda drove us up to the Dandenong hills east of Melbourne where they had horrendous and tragic bush fires a few years previously. It was sad to hear the stories about how fast and unpredictably the fires swept through whole villages and towns, not giving residents chance to escape. Apparently the fire came to within 30km of Melbourne and firefighters battled endlessly for weeks with no respite. We took Belinda's nan in her wheelchair up to a view point on Mt Dandenong and looked down over Melbourne as we had our picnic lunch. We saw loads of gum trees typical of Australia but I've not spied any koalas and kookaburras yet...not to worry there is still time.

Back in Glen Waverley Scott and I said our thankyou's and goodbyes to The Clears; and were picked up by Jessica (my other school friend from prep year here in Aus in 1985) and her husband Mark and very cute 16 month old daughter Maggie. Jess had plans to take us in the evening to the famous Philip Island a couple of hours drive out of central Melbourne, where we could see the 'Fairy Penguin Parade'. They are the smallest breed of penguins in existence and as a result really cute. We were privileged to see hundreds of them make their way out of the ocean onto the beach and waddle up the sanddunes towards their nests. We could stand on the boardwalk and watch them waddle by only metres away. The fluffy baby chicks made their way out of the nests to meet their parents and receive their fill of regurgitated fish dinner! We couldn't take any photos to show you guys back home because the flash disturbs the penguins so you'll just have to take my word for it. It was a long day by the time we got back to Aston Vale, an eastern suburb of Melbourne 6km from the CBD, and Jess and Mark's home. By 1am we collapsed into bed and feel asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillows.