Hey guys,
It's been a while so let me attempt to give you a brief overview of Melbourne highlights from the last 3-4 months. Could end up being a little epic in length but will try my bestest to keep it brief.

So, I arrive back in the Melbournia to be greeted by a very excited Vickmeister from the land of kiwi birds. We go for breakfast and she breaks the awesome news that we have to flat viewing appointments for accommodation available at the end of the week - yay!!!
The first one wasn't great but the second, you've probably seen the pics - flashpackers are us!!! woohoooo 26th floor apartment with both city and sea views from our balcony, access to swimming pool, gym and bbq area. We had an ensuite room with walk in wardrobe - amazing!!!

Vickie and I spent many an evening in married bliss watching movies in bed with wine and chocolate. The casino piano bar was also a regular haunt and of course dancing when the boys were out!!! We were occassionally also joined by Claire...

I was on my way to work at the restaurant one afternoon and running a bit late (sounds like a UK insurance add!) when the wrong tram arrived. Well, knowing my luck this probably wasn't going to my stop so I thought I'd better take the risk and ask a random - seriously is a risk with Melbourne tram, catman anyone?!!!! haha.
Well thankfully, the random was the lovely Claire. She wanted the same stop but having only been in Oz a week didn't know where it was so, not alot of help there but I demanded her number and have stalked her ever since!! lol

There was a lovely week in October where I got to hangout loads with a much loved housemate from a previous Aussie address, Jenni. We shared the wonderful experience of getting thoroughly sunburnt down one side!! Doh Sadly jenni had to leave Oz but not without giving me a new friend first...

I met Kat at jenni's leaving do and along with Claire and Vickie had some great fun going for dinner, the beach, cinema. One evening we decided that Melbourne was in great need of a slice of panto and we were the ones to give it to them in the form of PMS at the PMT - Panto Melbourne Society at Panto Melbourne Theatre!!! This kind of stuck and we have also recruited Gill, Natasha and Susan although not alot of panto gets done.

At the start of December, PMS decided an early Christmas dinner was in order. Claire was on mulled wine duty and didn't let us down - twas really good mulled wine! I somehow became head cook which of course resulted in everything being cooked at different times and therefore microwave required by the end and possibly a few flames in the form of an oven glove and bottle of oil!!!! ARGH!!! Luuucccyyyyyyyyy heeeelllllllpppppp!! Haha, thank god for the mulled wine! Was an awesome evening of festivities though and watched Love Actually to top it all off.

One of the chef's at the London has done his pilot training so he took me up and over Melbourne in a tiny 4 seater plane - had to wear earphones and everything!!! haha he practised engine failure and stalling - very exciting!

I started work at T2 which I think is my favourite store in the world, I have a beautiful teaset working it's way home right now - yay!!

It did make the festive season fairly manic though as I was working 60+hours over 7 days in 3 jobs over 5 locations and I moved house twice!!! (thanks Mary!)
All good though, thankfully I didn't resent any of the jobs and made some brill or should say 'rad' friends!
I did a brief, 1 week long, stint living in a shed at the back of a house with 15 people and 1 bathroom - argh. It was kind of fun but only for the short time.

I then moved into my final melbourne residence with Elise who I lived with in the first place and Hannah, an Aussie student.
I did ask these 2 if they got many spiders to which, they reply no.... ASIF!! I came home on my own to find the mahoosive spider from hell with a yellow belly and yellow fangs that was totally gonna kill me in my sleep. Anyway I managed to get it under a glass and then Hannah and Elise glued it to death - by accident trying to glue the glass to the paper so the spider wouldn't get out when they picked it up!!

Christmas in Melbourne was strange but turned out to be really fun - I worked at the restaurant in my Christmas Tree costume that everyone loved and then we all stayed for drinks and giggles then I went over to Selga's house to spend the evening eating and drinking and watching a movie with her family who were great!!

The 28th December saw an awesome night out with the London Tavern Crew who I'm missing already and only left yesterday. we had pre drinks at Sues then went out in Brighton where various antics occurred that I'm not entirely sure I should share although that makes it all sound worse!!! hahaha Great night anyway.

For New Year PMS, although without Vickie sadly, did Bollywood on Southbank, we got Henna tattoos and indian snacks, free cocktails and learnt to dance Bollywood style - awesome!!

Work got a bit busy again then which is good but didn't leave alot of playtime although Marina, japanese chef from the London, came to hang out with us alot and did get a few post works drinks in with Crystina, Ting, Kim and Sue (London Tavern) which is always great fun. Last thursday was brilliant as had a day off, as did Hannah and her friend jackie so we went on a bike ride around Fitzroy and had a picnic and later, joined by Susan, Marina, Elise and ouana (sp) watched Whipit at the botanical gardens' moonlight cinema - such a good day.

I had my leaving drinks at the elephant and wheelbarrow, home of neighbours night, on friday and got kicked out for being too drunk - asif!!! I only did the splits and a few backbends - they should've paid me!! hahaha marina also got kicked out but not before we'd all had a great time.

On Sunday, my restaurant maties came over to help me out with the delicious baileys cheescake Marina had made me and they gave me a booklet of photos and messages from all the restaurant staff, so so lovely - everything's lovely!! haha

Monday day was no highlight - I hate packing!!! But monday night saw leaving drinks for Raysen - chef and so a very last london tavern get together before Vajira, chef, and Marina drove me to the airport for the next adventure.

I've missed so much stuff out I know, was hard to figure out where to start and what to include!! There was netball in there n stuff as well but would go on forever.

There have been highs and lows in melbourne but I'm really gonna miss lots of people and have some very fond memories.

To the next step!!! (Haha that's for Shaynefield if they're reading!)

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