Friday 23rd June

Well, the day started in a leisurely enough manner. The Builder got up at about ten to seven too make us a nice cup of tea. I was momentarily surprised to realise that Lindsey and Ian were up and watching television, until I remembered that this was the day of the Big Soccer match which Australia needed to draw if they were to advance into the next level of the World Cup. Fortunately, they did draw! Everyone retired back to bed.

We left the apartment at around half past nine and wandered into Cowes for breakfast. The people at the sandwich shop had devised a cunning plan for getting around the restaurant licensing laws. They didn’t have their restaurant licence yet, so they were operating as a take away outfit. Our egg, bacon, tomato and cheese toasties (and Ian’s fruit toast) came in take away boxes, and we were invited to sit at their outside tables while we ate them! Was very pleasant, sat outside munching our sandwiches. Then Lindsey and Ian took themselves off to Melbourne and The Builder and I mooched about and explored the food shops.

Right. We’ve got plenty of time, and The Builder hasn’t been to Phillip Island before. We made our way to The Nobbies and had a lovely walk along the boardwalks. It was still a beautiful morning, if a bit on the chilly side. We could see penguin burrows, and some of the artificial ones the rangers have put in. We could see the penguin tracks up the cliff side (it’s amazing how steep some of those tracks are; they’re only little birds). We could certainly smell penguin presence! As we came back, we found that the visitor centre was just opening. So, a quick trip to the loo, a meander in the gift shop and then it was more than time for tea. We drank or tea, looking out over Bass Strait, then started to make our way back to the car. I patted my pocket. What’s that? It’s the camera case. But where’s the camera? Bugger! I haven’t got it. Went back into the loo. Not there. Not in the gift shop or the café either. Where can it be? I don’t remember putting it down at all – and the first place I went into was the loo. What’s that over your tummy, enquired The Builder. Patted my tummy. It’s the camera! Ah yes. I remember. I had put it, and my icy, chilly hands, into the pouch in my new wind cheater to warm my hands up and entirely forgotten about the camera. Sigh! Have now put the camera back in its case and Put Them Away!!!

Time to head back to Melbourne. We stopped in San Remo, just over the bridge, for a mushroom pie each (strangely garlicky for an Aussie pie from an Aussie bakery) and then made our way to East Ivanhoe, where we were supposed to be meeting Karen and Simon at about half past three. We were nearly an hour early. I had assumed that the roads would be quite busy and allowed extra time for going along Burke Road. The roads were really quite clear and Burke Road was an absolute dream. Must be the school holiday effect. Simon and Karen had asked The Builder to go and inspect a house they were thinking of buying. It’s quite a nice house. 1950s, backs onto the golf course. Quite spacious. You could almost strata title it, there being bathrooms, living room, bedrooms and, if not a kitchen, at least the possibility of a kitchen on both levels. There are a few things that need doing. to it, but it would suit me virtually as it is. It’s up for auction tomorrow.

A Thai green curry at Simon and Karen’s then back to Ballarat, where we found Matthew and Belinda, together with Lindsey and Ian, drinking wine and chatting. I want to drink wine and chat too. I seem to be strangely sober!!!!! So I did. As did The Builder, though he was not strangely sober, having had wine and scotch at East Ivanhoe And so to bed.

Rain threatened at many points during the day, but didn’t really materialise in any significant way. Was quite foggy coming back along the back roads from the freeway, though. And The Builder was asleep for quite a bit of the way. I was reduced to listening to the football on the radio!!!!!!! (Actually, it was quite an exciting match between North Melbourne and Carlton. And the commentators didn’t shriek)