After Sydney we had a weekend where we hired a people carrier and did some day trips together. Steve was our driver and I was the DJ playing the tracks whilst we cruised around! The minivan was great and I liked it much more than our car! But sadly Steve said we weren't allowed to keep it.

Our first road trip was to Phillip Island. We set off at around lunchtime and had plans to go the the Maru wildlife park to pet some kangaroos en route to the Island but as we drove past, we discovered that it was very busy with bouncy castles and other kids stuff so we decided to give it a miss and headed to the Koala Conservation Centre instead. We saw some koalas but they seemed to be hiding and also sleeping so they weren't too interesting.

Stopped for lunch at a nice restaurant in Cowes and then we headed to the Nobbies to have a coastal walk. Unlike our day at the Great Ocean Road, the weather was lovely with blue skies. We were also lucky enough to spot a little penguin who was enjoying the sunshine. There aren't usually opportunities to take pictures of these cute little creatures because it's banned on the actual Penguin Experience because of those that don't abide by the rules of no flash photography.

We put on some extra layers whilst at the Nobbies in preparation for our Penguins Experience. I remember the first time Steve and I did this and I was in my shorts and a hoodie and oh so very cold so not this time! I even donned my penguin socks for the occasion. This time round we'd upgraded our tickets to the Ultimate Tour which meant that a group of ten of us were taken to the other side of the beach with a ranger to sit on the beach where the penguins come in so it was a very intimate and exclusive experience. We had night vision goggles and also were given navy blue overcoats to wear to blend in. It was very different to the previous time and just so interesting. We were lucky enough to see about 250 little creatures come in. Our ranger counted them; no way I could have done that!

Our second road trip was to the Yarra Valley where we went to Healesville Sanctuary. It was another sunny day and all the animals were out in force so we got up, close and personal with emus, kangaroos, koalas, all sorts. Mum Barley's flash went off at a sleeping Tasmanian Devil waking him up so we watched him leave his bedroom, go for a wee and then lie down in the sun. The only animals that were far away were the dingoes and the wombat which was in the same position and place as last time we were there.

After Healesville, we had a quick photo stop at Domaine Chandon. It's always so gorgeous and picturesque there. The drive up to the buildings was also gorgeous as the trees were just turning red. A late lunch was at the Herb Garden in Lilydale before it was time to return home.

The family left the Wednesday after our weekend of road trips. We'd had a lot of fun over their three week stay. It was really weird after they left. I was in the apartment alone as Steve had taken them to the airport and it felt so big and empty. Admittedly having 6 people in the apartment for 3 weeks was exhausting but we wouldn't have it any other way and are so glad they came to see what our lives are like here in Melbourne. We're so pleased we could share a little bit of the fun we're having with them.

Steve and I decided to go away for Easter. We get 3 public holidays here; Good Friday, Easter Monday and ANZAC Day and because the last two both fall on Monday, we get the Tuesday off too. So with 5 days off in a row it seemed to make good sense to take advantage and get out of the city and explore somewhere new.

After all the activity of the last 3 weeks, a relaxing weekend was what we needed. Plus I was beginning to feel very run down; stressed about work, mouthful of ulcers, headachey and sore throat. We'd booked 3 nights at a B&B called Balconies in Daylesford which is a bout a 90 minute drive North of Melbourne and it's renowned for being a spa town.

The B&B was gorgeous run by a British couple. Our room had a huge bed with crisp white linen, DVD player and big TV, mini bar with complimentary chocolates and bubbly and there was also a pool and jacuzzi on site.

We arrived in the afternoon of the Friday and decided to do nothing except catch up on sleep and rest before dinner at the two hatted Lake House. Saturday we went for a walk around the lake, picked up the car we'd left behind at the restaurant and explored the town before settling down for the afternoon in a local bar / cafe / bistro called Breakfast and Beer.

Daylesford is a cute market town that is by a lake. People say it is like England and I guess it is similar to a small town in the Lake District. The weather had cooled down and it felt autumnal although the skies were blue. We received a few comments from friendly shopkeepers and locals regarding our attire as Steve is still in his shorts and flip flops and I am going out without a coat or jacket. Temperatures are around 20, a few degrees less in the morning and at night but we're certainly no cold yet the Australians we see are all in coats, hats and scarves!

There are also some good restaurants in the town and although we'd booked the Lake House in advance, we were very lucky to get into the other ones as the town's population tripled during this long weekend.

Sunday was not much more strenuous as we started off with a spa session in the morning; 4 hours of massage and scrub and facial and the rest of the day was spent doing very little. I think we watched a DVD or maybe we napped some more...

We had planned to go to Ballarat and the gold mining museum (like Beamish) on the Monday but after another great Balconies breakfast, Steve suggested we head home as he wanted to watch the ANZAC Day football game and we'd become so used to doing nothing that a day out would have just been too exertig for us!

So this Easter break, we pretty much ate and slept but it was very restoring for us and we now feel re energised. Well I still have a sore throat that is turning into a cough but we no longer feel physically tired.

We couldn't resist the $80 Tiger Airways return flights to Sydney and Mum Barley had expressed an interest in seeing those iconic Australian sights so off we all went early one Tuesday morning. We left dreary and rainy Melbourne in a maxi taxi and got snarled up in traffic before arriving at the Tiger Airways terminal which is basically a tin shack.

I soon discovered why the flights were cheap...gates are labelled with velcro flashcards as opposed to an electronic screen and we were delayed! But holiday cheer is not easily eradicated so we waited in the tin shack.

We arrived in Sydney and the sun was shining. We had decided to stay at the YHA at The Rocks as had been advised it was a good base in a great location and we were very pleased with it. Simple but clean and hotel accommodation is so pricey in Sydney.  We had private en suite rooms with views of the Opera House. The hostel itself is not too backpackery with lots of families and guests of all ages. It has a great rooftop terrace with a great view of the Opera House.

We had a great time in Sydney and the weather was beautiful. Day 1 consisted of a tour of the Opera House, lunch at Pancake on the Rocks which was yum and dinner was at the Lowenbrau brewery where we entertained by an energetic oompah band, feasted on a huge platter of meat and watch a little Chinese girl win a beer drinking competition and then tackle a litre more at her seat!

On day 2 we had breakfast at the YHA ($6 for toast, cereal and a drink) and then headed over to Manly where we enjoyed the beach and walked to Shelly Beach too. Lunch was at a local microbrewery, 4 Pines, and we also had a walk round the Botanical Gardens watching the cockatoos and peering at the flying foxes hanging upside down in the trees. It was beginning to turn to dusk so a few were flexing their wings and beginning to rouse from sleep. The evening was spent at the Opera Bar.

Our last day in Sydney was spent at the fish market where we enjoyed very fresh sashimi and some time in the Chinese Garden where we dressed up in traditional costume. I wasn't keen on Steve's facial hair although we agreed that his natural squinty eyes added to the overall look! The rest of the day was spent relaxing at Darling Harbour enjoing the warmth before Tiger Airways jetted us back to Melbourne with a two hour delay and no apology.

On the Tiger Airways subject, I don't think we'd choose to travel with them again although admittedly their prices are always appealing but the inconvenience with a higher potential of delays and cancelled flights just don't make it worthwhile. The flight itself was fine although the lack of apology for the delays (both ways) was noted and didn't sit well with me. In addition, the arrivals part of the airport in Melbourne is literally a shack with a corrugated tin roof and concrete floor. Hold luggage is just thrown on this metal stand which doesn't have a conveyor belt, for people to collect and the exit is through one of those tall, vertical turnstiles which you see in movie scenes at prison entrances or some 60s factory!

Whilst in Sydney, I met up with some former Hays Yorkshire colleagues and we had a great evening at the Opera Bar and the Opera Kitchen catching up and toasting our time in Australia. I'd seen Kat recently when she came to see us in Melbourne and we went to the Grand Prix together but it had probably been a few years since I'd last seen John and Craig who moved to Sydney in January.

It was great to see them at home in Sydney and loving their lives here and to talk about life in Australia. Even better to hear some good ole Yorkshire accents! I'm looking forward to the next reunion and that next time there will be even more of us.  We hope to see them in Melbourne perhaps for Melbourne Cup and hopefully, we'll get to see them all in Sydney again.

In summary, we had a great time in Sydney. It's a fun place to visit and Steve and I found some great bars and restaurants we'd definitely like to spend more time in. Having said that, it is a lot more sprawling  and busier than Melbourne which is easier to navigate so for now, I'm glad our Australia home is Melbourne. The more I get used to Sydney though may tip that balance so we shall see!

Our visitors have been with us for just over a week now and it's been a whirlwind of activity. Steve and I have taken some leave across the three weeks they're here so we can join in the fun, and indeed, fun has been had with more to come.

I believe body clocks and bodily functions have just about been reset to Australia mode. Although as I type this at 6pm on a Sunday evening, cousin Rich is napping but then again, Sunday afternoon naps are commonplace whether we are in the Northern or Southern hemisphere.

After arriving on the Friday, we did a familiarisation tour led by Steve and former fellow travellers will be surprised to hear it doesn't include any back passage explorations! We also had a lovely sunny day in St Kilda and filled up on burgers from Greasy Joe's. The culinary highlight was probably lunch at Nobu where we indulged on all our favourites and found a few more - mushroom salad and roasted veggies - simple but oh so delicious.

Work beckoned for Steve and I for the remainder of the week and the visitors saw more of Melbourne and enjoyed some sunny Autumn days with temperatures in the mid - high 20s. Friday evening we went to see a magician / illusionist cousin Rich follows on Twitter who was doing a show as part of Melbourne Comedy Festival. Entertaining individual - former Accenture management consultant turned performer with a Chinese backstage crew.

Yesterday we all piled into a green minibus at 7am, made some friends with other people booked on the tour and headed to the Great Ocean Road. The day started off bright but after lunch turned grey and wet. Going onto a beach in the rain with an umbrella is more fun than it sounds! Our tour guide was very chatty and his voice lulled me to nap constantly when on the bus. I've been informed however that his commentary was interesting. We made several stops to admire the coastal scenery, take photos, paddle in the sea, spot koalas, feed birds and eat and 540km later we arrived home!

I think Steve and I would like to do Great Ocean Road again in better weather and probably drive ourselves over a weekend with an overnight stop or two. It was definitely a good idea to do this one day trip as a guided tour though so no one was tasked with the long drive and we could all enjoy it.

So next week we have a trip to Sydney planned, the boys are off to an AFL game, Phillip Island and a day out in the hire car.

When arriving in Melbourne there are some key decisions that everyone has to make in their first couple of weeks in the City - but pretty much the key decision (in the eyes of the majority of Melburnians) is which footy team you are going to support, despite my insistence that it isn't really proper football.

Anyway the decision for me was a relatively straightforward one having studied the 17 teams, of which 12 are based in Melbourne. There is a team of perennial underachievers who finished bottom but one in the league last year, play in black and gold, are nicknamed the Tigers and have a badge very similar to that of the proper tigers (Hull City). Job done - Richmond it is.

The season starts at the end of March and as luck would have it the opening game of the entire season was RIchmond against Carlton at the MCG on a Thursday night. What to say about the night - there were just over 60,000 fans there; you can buy beer and take it to your seat; the game lasts about 2 and a half hours from first bounce to final hooter; if the ball hits the floor it becomes something of a pile-on (which as a general rule I have no problem with); the pitch is absolutely huge; and I am yet to be convinced of the split between genuine skill and the bounce of an oval ball in determining the outcome of the game.

The outcome of this one - Richmond were battered in the first quarter but fought back bravely to have a 15 point lead going into the final quarter. In true Tigers style they managed to score no points at all in the final quarter to lose by 20.

I think it is going to be a long season.

Minda has decided to support Collingwood who won the title last year. I am led to believe this is like arriving in the UK and declaring yourself a die-hard Man Utd fan but she insists she has followed my logic in selecting the Magpies with its black and white strip as her team (glory-hunter!).

So from the AFL on the Thursday night we moved into Grand Prix weekend and having never been to a grand prix before there is one overriding memory - the noise.

Practice on Friday afternoon I could hear from the office, practice on qualifying on Saturday I could hear from the apartment and from the pub by the river and when actually at the race itself, had it not been for a natty pair of earplugs (see photo) I think I could easily have done some permanent damage to my ears.

Given that it was our first year we decided to buy just general admission ground passes for race day and given that we are not great racing fans we didn't turn up ridiculously early arriving at about 2.30 for a 5pm race. A couple of colleagues who are racing fans had staked their claim to a spot at 11am.

Our arrival time limited the available viewing points but we were able to secure a spot about 5 people back from the from just after turn 2 of the circuit and only a short walk from the beer tent. It is amazing the sound of a car can have on race goers. Everyone is happily sitting around reading papers, drinking beer and chatting until the vaguest hint of an engine at which point the entire crowd rises as one and waits for the car.

Not that you get to see a great deal to be fair, particularly if you are on a bit of a straight as we were. As you might expect, the cars move pretty quickly!. Interesting though about half way through the race people started to disperse or look for other viewing areas and the crowds thinned out. This meant that you could wander down to the barrier and watch the cars flying past no more that 10 yards in front of you.

Anyway it was not the most exciting of races and Vettel lead from start to finish. At the end of the race we performed the obligatory track invasion and wandered down the main straight to the start/finish line. We then managed to get a bit lost walking through the site and inadvertently arrived at the entrance to a VIP party where we saw - and I'll leave it to you to decide which is more exciting - Ron Dennis and Leo Sayer.

All in all though it was certainly worth experiencing the noise and seeing how fast the cars actually do travel. The speed does make it quite tricky to get a good photo with anything approaching a normal camera so the below Force India shot was about the best I managed to get.

So defeat for the Tigers was followed by victory by a (Red) Bull.