After a couple of long weeks, including weekends and public holidays soaked up by work, it was time to get some well deserved rest. Not that I got a lot of rest with work. It seems like I cannot turn off or be left alone. Anyway, one of the days i went into work to pick my new work laptop up, a nice shiny new HP all singing and dancing machine, that actually shares a similar spec to the HP laptop I am using now. The only difference is that this Laptop uses Vista, whilst the work machine uses XP Pro. Setting the new laptop up was my priority for when I return to work, so I can jump straight in. All my updates are done and software needed installed.
I still have a lot of work to do upon my return, but it can wait now till Monday. A trip had been planned to go to Melbourne to see the Essendon Bombers play Carlton. The flight was at 2.0pm from Sydney to Melbourne and the flight was fairly decent, small plane but nothing to complain about. We landed on time and left the airport to make our way to the Hotel. It was quite a walk from the Sky-Bus terminal, especially as I still have a bad back, which has now progressed to a trapped nerve. Pain is bearable but makes life difficult walking. We arrived (eventually) at the hotel and signed in, settled in. The room was odd. The Bathroom facilities were encased in what can only be described as a Glass Cabinet, yes Shower, sink and the Throne of Doom. The shower was ordinary, it was just a piece of shiny tubing with a nozzle on the end which allowed water to drip out of, not really what I would call a shower.
We had plans to meet up with some of Sam and Karen’s work colleagues at their Melbourne Office and go for Drinks after work, as one of the men who work there was playing in a bar, just across the street. So off we trundled dressed up in Essendon Supporters gear and had a few drinks. The ‘Bar’ was not one of those places Jeans and tee shirts reside and If you could spot a ‘normal’ phone in there you were either dreaming or on drugs. The Blackberry brigade were out in force that night and probably every other night too.
We probably had one too many drinks before the game and stayed longer than planned, so the Hike to the MCG was a quick and painful one. Someone decided to get a taxi, that was a bad plan, as a Tram ride would have been quicker – which it was. The part which caused me some grief was trying to walk across Williams Street quickly, the plan was to get to the other side, however, my left leg decided it didn’t want to play anymore and gave way. Yep, Splat face first on the Tarmac and Tram Lines. I uttered two words, Oh Shit and scrambled up and limped to the other side, only to discover Sam and Karen in tears of laughter at my expense.
MCG at Night
We arrived at The G and watched a really good game of Footy (AFL to you non believers). essendon beat Carlton 136 – 67. It was nice to see Essendon play as a team. Why did I choose Essendon, I didn’t. The whols familly are supporters, so I get to go. My Team is Geelong and not just because they have been unstoppable for the past two seasons, it was a scientific aproach called eenie meenie minie mo. The walk home from the game was interesting, we took an extended walk – note too self – take control of Map in future. It seemed that the way we came in was not to be the way we left. Great, another marathon wlak I could have done without. We bought drinks to take back to the hotel room and upon arrival consumend a good portion of them, the alchohol eased the pain.
Saturday we had planned to go to St Kilda Beach, which is a very nice area in Melbourne to live.
A Shot of St Kilda Beach
As you can see a well used beach by all local and non local inhabitants. As you walk further up to the top of the picture it brings you to a Pier, which in turn brings you to a marina and a reserve for some cute critters which are native to this neck of the woods so to speak.
The Pier at St Kilda Beach
