2 weeks with Sarah - part one

Well - I am as always behind, I guess that the problem is when I'm doing things I can't blog about it as I don't have time. When I'm not doing anything I don't really see the point in blogging, lets face it there is nothing more boring than reading about nothing!

The last two weeks have been busy, and today Friday 24th is a sad old day, Sarah has just left on the Sky Bus for Melbourne Airport and I have made my way back across the city in floods of tears. It is horrible having to say goodbye to people you love - again and again, sometimes I burst into tears when I put the phone down ( don't stop calling ! ) It's just for a second I forget the distance.

Well after a coffee I am stowed in El's shop whilst she deals with a chap who is quizzing her relentlessly on tax back ( twice I've nearly struck him over the back of his head and told him to piss off and leave her alone ) They really do ask her the most silly questions. She does so well, she smiles, and politely tells them the answers. I don't think I'd do half as well.
I thought I should catch you up on the last few weeks, you're up to speed with our camping adventure, but the lamp got a second outing ( oh yes we're gonna make him worth his $47 ) and Sarah and I took a drive down the Great Ocean Road. - let's start at the beginning - as Julie Andrews says in the sound of music " it's a very good place to start"

On Easter Monday up we got up at the break of dawn in order to meet Sa at Southern Cross and before I was even ready to leave she called to say she was getting on the sky bus. I ran to the tram stop in order to beat her there and despite leaving my house keys on the tram and having to chase the driver down the tracks screaming 'stop stop you have my keys' I arrived in time to watch Miss Bailey step of the bus. We went straight from Southern Cross to the Grocery Bar, it's a lovely little coffee shop in St Kilda and had a nice breakfast before dumping the suitcase at home and setting off for the Southbank - it was a nice day but Sa was sleepy - I know the feeling it's like being asleep on your feet it's not really being tired it's just like your head is stuffed with cotton wool ! Anyway, we took her to the Casino - it's the best way to start any stay in Melbourne. Sarah was cautious she took $20 and promptly lost it all I won $150 a great return on my $20 and El won $100 so all in all a great success.
We came back to the flat and then tried to keep Sarah awake till 9pm. El cooked a roast and we put on a silly film. soon enough Sarah was asleep so El and I sat upstairs and read.

The next day we had to work so Sarah pottered about Melbourne, her blog is linked to mine so you will be able to read about her exploits.

The week passed with out any major dramas, we had some nice dinners and made use of our evenings, a beer here a film there, just having her in the same hemisphere made me happy.

Finally Friday came.

Now we had decided that camping was the way forward, it really is the most cost effective way of having fun. Now as you know we have the one tent, it is perfect for the two of us we fit in quite nicely and there is just about room for us to chuck all our stuff in the tent as well. There is no way that 3 of us would comfortably fit in the tent. I had asked the week before if anyone at work had a tent, Rhonda, a lovely lady I work with advised that her brother had one we could borrow and she kindly delivered it to Rupert on Thursday evening, the fabric part was in a large Australia post bag, the poles in another large sack and the ropes in a crate, Rhonda asked me if I wanted the ropes, I asked if I needed them and she advised that she didn't think we did. I thought no more about it and on Friday night we loaded the tents the bags the towels and everything else one could ever need for a weekend away into the rental car and set out.

Now it gets dark at 6pm at the moment and the drive to Philip Island is at least 2 hours so we had set ourselves a 8.30 pm arrival time. obviously we didn't leave till late and ended up getting to the camp site just passed 9pm. we got the little dome tent up in about 4 minutes, but when we came to the pole tent - Oh dear. It is fair to say that the tent was from the early 1800's and although perfectly functional was not within our grasp. With no instructions and very little light ( we had the headlights on full beam ) we set about trying to work out what we were to do. two passers by took pity on us and between the 5 of us we tried several scenarios with no success. by 10.30pm we had the poles in he right holes and the tent looked like a tent. then came the question I was dreading Don - the chap who had stopped to help us asked " OK ladies where are the ropes" Quietly and slightly embarrassed I replied with the sad truth " they're in Melbourne.

A lively debate followed, the end result was for us all to let go of the bit we were holding, watch as the tent collapsed in a heap and follow Don and his wife Corrina back to their static home for a coffee ( for me ) a Baileys for Bailey and a beer for El. We spent an hour chatting to them and they kindly gave us all their contact info so we can stay in their static caravan when ever we liked for just $9 a night. Obviously we still had the problem of where Sarah was going to sleep. Luckily the guy who actually owned the camp site came along and heard of our plight, 20 mins later he was back with a small dome tent in hand and gave it to Sarah for the weekend.

30 minutes later we were all tucked up in bed and ready for the coming adventures.


Well I need a little break now before I continue, I may take El out for lunch.
The weather if not good, it is raining today and cold, it's pretty much like being in England, just without all you lovely people.

I'll finish up later

xx