Brrrr

Checked out more bits in Melbourne on Friday, there's just so many places that are interesting for whatever reason. Couple of art galleries, where I was stalked by a few security guards, on account of being a thuggish yoof. Fortunately I was able to shake them off by walking backwards. Seeing arty things again made me want to get drawing again, but absent minded doodles will have to do for now.

Went up one of the tallest skyscrappers in the CBD, the Rialto Tower, which was quite a sight at the top. It reminded me of how big Melbourne and other cities really are! Coming down the 55 story elevator, I was shunned into 'Rialtovision' - a short cinematic experience which was basically advertising melbourne through exciting imagery, orchestral sounds and sweeping titles despite all of the occupants of the room being in melbourne already.

Coming out, there were 5/6 great big fire trucks outside the building opposite with the building's occupants standing outside. With absolutely no smoke, crying women or urgency in anyone's eyes (apart from the flashing lights on the trucks), this was an unsatisfying spectactle! A 12ft high Super Mario figure seemed to be enjoying it though, from the Museum of Moving Images. Annoyingly though, that games specific exhibition mario was advertising was yet to open! Spent a good few hours watching videos past and present, clever and stupid from students of Victoria's various art universities and colleges. One that I remember well was a cell animated (individual frames drawn) love story between a tape player and a CD player. The tape player couldn't talk to the CD player, because he couldn't find the right words on tapes, went to a wise old gramophone. Together they made a mix tape of the right words from vinyls and the story ended happily ever after, with lots on suggestive headphone jacks being used.

I got the wrong bus on the way home, because I couldn't decipher properly the heavy Oz accent of the driver... hey ho, adventuring I go! Well, Nina and Keith rescued me.

Saturday, and it was actually starting to warm up properly! Got the shorts on without feeling like I had to use British determination. Went adventuring around a few Melbourne suburbs with Nina over a 4km bridge and had a Jaffa Cake flavoured Ice Cream at a shop called You Scream! in a nice relaxed Italianesque town called Williamstown. Being sunny, seaside and breezy, it reminded me of Cowes in the Isle of White (sp?). Drove round a section of the Melbourne Formula 1 racing track, which is used as a public road out of race season. Naturally I made racing car sounds as we cruised round at 25mph.

Phoned home today (Sunday 2 Mar) at 8am, which is 9pm Pome time, which was good. Totally forgot it was mother's day, though luckily it wasn't Mothers Day in the UK, so I wasn't technically a bad son.

Them we visited a wildlife sanctuary 80km away, saw a load of Ozzie animals, including the wierd hodgeheg relation, the Echinda which walks around like a fat tiny bear and the koala, which only moves an hour a day!! Good life. Fed and stroked a very soft and docile wallaby, which satisfied the child in me asking 'what does it feel like' and 'will it bite me if I poke it'?

Some beautiful scenery on the way and some monster vinyards next to huge cow ranches, though edging on too hot in direct light. Hope I acclimatise soon, before I start working and sweating buckets...

Trying to put pics up here, but its being wierd, so more pix later...