Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Melbourne to Adelaide, Australia - 23rd to 27th December 2011
So the backpacking can take a back seat for a while because it's CHRISTMAS! Now anyone who knows me that well will know that I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas, so the above outburst is somewhat out of character. Don't worry, I've not suddenly found god overnight; I'm still the same old cold miserable vacuums' queen that you all know and love. I'm just excited about seeing Chris and Ben, and of course their extended family.
Next morning - Melbourne airport for the first morning Jet Star (aka Jet Slag) flight to Adelaide.
A short bus ride from Adelaide airport and I'm in the city. I'm spending one night at the YHA before meeting Chris and Ben off their flight from Sydney. So once I was checked in there I went for a wonder in the city and took a tram to Glenelg beach, which is about 30 minutes from the city centre.
After 2 hours of sitting on the beach I realised it was way too hot for my fairy white skin, so I headed along the coast for a bit before catching the tram back into the city. On one of interest in the hostel, apart from some crazy guy who must have been in his 50's, looked like Timmy Mallet and far too old to be trying to pull of his outfit. Still he was a little interesting, and it did pass an hour after dinner.
Caught up on my blog with a Jim Beam and headed off to bed…..
With the morning to kill there is just enough time to do a spot of Christmas shopping before I headed off to the Waites and Wildings for Christmas. I've also spent an hour in Coles buying bits for my imaginative hampers for Mr and Mrs Waite, Sunday & Geoff.
With the bit's I bought in Coles I took to making them into a hamper in the hostel common room - which did see me catching a few strange looks from the other guests. Still I'm used to getting strange looks ;-)
Bags packed - again! I wanted patiently in reception for the arrival of Wilding and Waite. Soon enough the boys had landed from Sydney and were heading into the city, courtesy of Sunday and Geoff (Ben's sister and brother in-law).
Whilst waiting in reception I was entertained by the chaps ipod play list, which I personally congratulated him on his choice of music. Some familiar tracks that made me think of home, and some new additions, which I swiftly shazamed as many as I could.
Soon enough the boys arrived and although I've started to warm to the travelling solo thing, it was amazing to see some familiar faces, and of course with the added bonus of them both being Chris and Ben.
So the plan from here - Staying at Sunday and Geoff's tonight, heading to Chris' parents in Brighton (love it) for a spot of lunch, heading to Chris' brothers for Christmas eve, then back to the Waite residence for Christmas morning, before making our way to Ben's sisters for the evening. Simple ha ;-)
Like having a family away from home, I was fed and treated like a king over the next few days, and I almost forgot I was backpacking.
Over lunch myself and Caroline (Chris' sister) have agreed on a platonic relationship, with Chris' dad agreeing to Caroline's hand in marriage. This I believe is the perfect solution to my long term visa issues. The only question now is who will wear the dress and are we forever going to be snatching one another's bit on the side. Suppose I had better let Dad know to get his credit card out as it looks like it'll be a 50/50 split between the Milton's and the Waite's.
Arriving at Sunday and Geoff's there was just enough time to dump the bags and head to the bottle shop for our staple festive supplies. On arriving back at I was giving the guided tour of their new home, and to be honest I don't know how they both pulled this off. After having only been in for a couple of weeks, it was set a prepared for the festive activities.
So with food, wine and a few laughs out the way it was time to call it a night and get ready for the arrival of Santa.
Christmas eve was spent at Michael and Emma's abode, where I discovered that I'm the worst player at Guitar Hero, and not so bad at Beer-Pong.
Up early the Christmas day we're at Mr and Mrs Waite's new pad in Brighton. Now this is a dream house, and one that I could have settled into nicely for a loooooong time. Designed and mastered by Chris' dad, this house is amazing inside and out. Good job XXX & Trish!
After meeting the extended Waite family again, being well fed and watered (on beer and wine more like), we headed over to Sunday and Geoff's for yet another fun filled afternoon and evening with the Wilding extended family.
Thanks guys - I had an awesome week!
With the festive madness over it was back to the Waite's for a final night, and of course a spot of Christmas shopping. One new laptop (to replace the one that Qantas broke), and a new camera (to replace my poor purchase in Bangkok airport).
PS. Lack of photo's can only be put down to having too much fun to even think about taking any ;-)
- comments
Michael Hi David,These are rllaey lovely photos. The one of Zeth standing in the water bought tears to my eyes you have definately captured his gentle and inquisitive nature.Many thanks from Zeth's G'Ma