Hey! I'm in Perth now - 31/7/10

Well, here I am in Perth. Staying with Rhonda and family. Lovely welcome. Super to be in a real house, and with a family. Shane, aged 14, made the most wonderful Lemon Delicious Pudding, using lemons from the garden here. It was simply delicious! I tried to persuade him to enter for Master Chef when comes of age.

Yesterday, I went by tram to Glenelg, a beach on outskirts of Adelaide. Nice bracing walk in the wind, although the wind was lovely and warm. Saw round a church called St Andrews Uniting Church - uniting Methodist, Congregational and 1 more. Lots of outreach going on. Picked up leaflet to bring back.

Then on to the botanical gardens in Adelaide. Sunny and peaceful.

So many things to enjoy and see. Travel has been so easy. Bit tired as up at 5.30am to catch flight to Perth, added to which time here is another hour and half behind Adelaide. Second time change since Melbourne. Now 8.40pm which means I've been on the go for about 17 hrs. We have been out for a walk in the park with the 2 dogs - 1 golden retriever and 1 Kelpie (Australian sheepdog). The Kelpie is a rescue dog.

Tomorow, we are set to go out for the day. We shall begoing to Freemantle, and then on to Hillarys Boat Harbour.

Signing off now. Very contented girl. Gday.

Explaining the photos: (from the top)

1. Adelaide Town Hall

2. Great ocean road
3. Brenda's Leaving party

4. Champagne send off.

5. Safely back from the helicopter ride.

6. Bollards at Geelong.

7. Brenda in Melbourne.

Hi all, First a big thank you to my friend, Sheila - yes that is a real friend, not an imaginary Aussie one! - for creating my blogspot.
28/7/10
Here I am in Adelaide, safe and sound, in a superb hostel. Central, modern and clean. For tonight, I'm on a top bunk being last in the room. Thought it was a good idea to begin with, but after making up the bed, I think I'll grab a lower bunk tomorrow when two of the girls depart.
Melbourne is a lovely city, and I enjoyed all I saw and walked around. Art gallery, botanic gardens, hopping around on the trams. Went to Mary Poppins at theatre on Sat night. Fantastic performance, and the stage management and scenery alone were mesmerising.
Have journeyed along the Great Ocean Road. Mon and Tues, did lots of sightseeing along the way. That resulted inme driving from 9 - 6 today. Stopped a couple of times, as quite a boring drive along extremely straight and flat roads.
Managed to negotiate my way out of Mebourne on Mon morn at 8-45 only losing my way once. The scenery along the way has been fantastic. Lots of stopping places to get a view from. Not unlike Scotland, with the ocean on one side and blasted rock along the other. Roads not busy at this time of year, so no hassles. Visited a couple of rain forests - the first just a mini area, which was magical to walk through. So quiet. The next was much larger, with a treetop walk experience. At its highest, I was 47 metres up. Awesome. I went on a helicopter ride to view the 12 Apostles - rock formations created by the action of the ocean over many years. I was to be in the front seat on a very short excursion, but was upgraded to a slightly larger helicopter, but in a back seat. Result, photos more difficult to get! Great views for lme though-unforgettable - and saw a whale to boot! Will post photos when I learn how to. Motels have been very comfy. Luckily I asked garage attendant last night if the road to Mt Gambier was straight as wanted to continue driving until 8pm to make today's drive shorter. This was 6pm when I enquired. Lucky I asked as she said very bad road at night for kangaroos jumping out! Stopped over instead. Must go time up.X

In Aussie land

Hey everyone, I,ve managed to have time to connect to my blog at last. Singapore was lovely and I enjoyed a fab bus tour - saw lots and met interesting people on the bus and in hotel. Now in Melbourne. Amazing buildings. Been to tourist info and got all the gen. Off to Cook's Cottage; Royal Botanic Gardens; art gallery etc today (Friday). Here for 3 nights then off to Adelaide by car. Weather a bit like home - 15 degrees and threatening showers. Never mind - I've got all the gear, and am raring to go.
Sorry to say - not missing you already, as so much to see and do.
Brenda

Leaving on Tuesday

I'm all packed and ready to go!

Leave Edinburgh on Tuesday for Singapore arrive 08.00 and stay for one night.