Australia - The Return - The Wilde Family

Adelaide Zoo

The Wilde Family — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The kids decided that they wanted to go to the zoo today so we headed back to the city again. We had hoped to see Panda's but it seems their enclosure won't be finished until the end of 2009. Chris and Sally got to feed kangaroos in the children's zoo, and enjoyed looking at all the animals. The zoo wasn't that big but is undergoing a large revamp so will be really great once that is finished.

We headed out of the city to Port Adelaide and encountered a rather strange Aboriginal woman who was less than amusing! The town itself is also undergoing a lot of development and will probably look totally different in 5-10 years. We drove along the coast back to Glenelg and passed some really nice areas along the way. Henley and Waterside were really pretty with lake or ocean views. We stopped at The Buffalo restaurant which is a replica of one of the first migrant ships from England, after a huge dinner we were allowed to explore the rest of the ship which had been turned into a museum.

Adelaide shopping

The Wilde Family — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We went back to Adelaide city to have a look at what it had to offer for the retail therapists in the family. We failed miserably to find Rundle Mall only stumbling upon it at 4.30pm, Karen believes that Shaun was deliberately directing the family to the wrong side of town until it was too late to do any damage to the credit card! The weather warmed up a bit today and is back in the twenties, still need a cardie in the evenings though. We found a nice store which sells Aborigininal prints and the children both picked up a small print each (makes a nice change from cuddly animals say Mum and Dad). We headed back to Sarah's house and they all came over for a Barbie - the barramundi was delicious! The children have been getting along really well (most of the time!), and it has definitely helped having Sarah's children around. Sarah, Andrew and the kids left at around 9pm, and Shaun and Karen sat down to an old episode of the Bill.

Glenelg beach and town

The Wilde Family — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We woke up and sorted ourselves out, did some washing as we were fast running out of clothes. In the early afternoon we headed off to Glenelg and walked along the seafront, the kids built sandcastles whilst Shaun and Karen shivered on a seafront bench (the weather was decidedly chilly as approximately 15 degrees). We went for some lunch at a local chinese and then walked around the town to check out what was there. We came across Haigh's chocolate shop and bought Easter eggs for everyone. We then returned to the beach where Chris and Sally continued to work on their castles. In the evening the Agers came over for a quick drink and Lauren stayed for a sleepover because Auntie Helen's house was full! Sophie was going to stay but didn't settle. Another fairly early night was had by all.

Adelaide 7's rugby

The Wilde Family — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We crawled out of bed a bit worse for wear and caught the train into the city to watch the Adelaide Rugby 7's - loads of BIG beefy men chasing each other really fast with a ball. England's first match left us really disappointed - they didn't score a single point against Fiji. They then came back to beat New Zealand and (best of all) Australia - although that game went to extra time and sudden death. The locals were not happy when we won, but Karen made sure she was vocal about the win (not to mention visual with her George cross flag and mad hat!) No one else appeared quite as enthusiastic (must have been the hangovers!). The other girls spent most of their time on the bouncy castle and on the army tank computer games, they also got their faces painted.

The matches went from 11am until 7pm and South Africa beat Kenya in the final. After it all ended we went for dinner and then made our way home on the train very tired.An early night was had by all!!

Arrive in Adelaide

The Wilde Family — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Today we arrived in Adelaide on a nice sunny day. After a quick 50 minute flight we breezed through the arrivals lounge, picked up our bags and got in the hire car. Thirty minutes later we arrived at the Agers and had a quick cuppa. We were then invited to Sarah's sister Helens for a Barbie. We met a few other couples who had emigrated from the UK in the last few years. Amongst them was someone who goes by the name of Chris who used to share a house with Steve in Brighton! He also attended a wedding with Karen MANY years ago (Richard and Gill's wedding!). The world seemed quite a lot smaller all of a sudden!!! We drank rather a lot that evening, sang on songstar (badly) and then crashed out at about 11pm.

Melbourne - Last Day

The Wilde Family — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Today it started raining :(. After a late start, hoping it would stop, we headed off to the Melbourne Aquarium as it was close to the hotel and watched the sharks and rays being fed. Sally's favourite bit was when they could touch some of the sealife, and the lady tricked Chris into touching the starfish's bum!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When we came out it was stil raining we went for a Hungry Jack's and decided to abort the Mission to the Old Melbourne Gaol as we had run out of time. We headed back to the hotel and then got tickets for the piccies and watched Monsters vs Aliens in 3D.We went for a chinese meal and then came back to the hotel and attempted to chat to Nanny Chris and Grandad Bill on skype - we had sound but no pictures!!!

Scores

SALLY 10/10
CHRIS 10/10
MUM 9/10
DAD 8/10

Portsea, Mornington Peninsula

The Wilde Family — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Went snorkelling today. We had to get to Portsea for 8am so this meant we had a 6am start from Melbourne (boo hoo!). Everyone had to wear wetsuits and the water was quite cold 18C.

After, Shaun went diving and saw Weedy Sea Dragons and a cuttlefish. Spent the rest of the day on the beach where Chris built a large sandcastle with fortifications to hold back the tide; he failed :). We also saw lots of tiny fish swimming near to the beach. Chris and Sally braved a swim but it was only warm enough for knee height for Karen.

Scores

SALLY 8/10
CHRIS 8/10
MUM 9/10
DAD 10/10

Point Cook

The Wilde Family — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Got the tyre repaired/replaced cost $200 (ouch).

Went to Point Cook to look at a new development on the east side of the city, we came across Sanctuary Lakes (see www.sanctuarylakes.com.au) the Australian version of Cambourne! Although this one had the added features of a completed gym and swimming pool, golf club with Greg Norman golf course, bistro, cafe,and nearby shops - all 20 minutes from the city of Melbourne. Another plus is the views from the houses, either a lake view or out to Point Philip Bay. Not sure whether it measures up to Cambourne standards????? Sally really liked it there and wants to live there!!

Finished the day by going to the Skywalk, tallest building in the southern hemisphere. The lift did 88 floors in 38 seconds and travelled at 9m/s and made our ears pop. Shaun and the kids went on the edge experience, where they put you in a glass box and push you out over the edge.Luckily you don't actually fall but there are sound effects that sound like cracking glass!

St Kilda

The Wilde Family — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the afternoon we took the tram down on the beach at St Kilda. We met an Old German Lady, who was obviously in the employ of the Perth Immigration Department, who told us that all Australians are lazy, Melbourne is corrupt to its very core and if we planning on emigrating we should go to Perth but Adelaide is okay as that was originally settled by Germans.

Philip Island

The Wilde Family — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Got the hire car and took a trip to Philip Island to go and see the Penguin Parade. As we were looking for the information centre to get our tickets we got a flat tyre in the first four hours just as we pulled up to the Chocolate Factory. We are now glad that we got the man from the RACV out as the wheel had in his words ‘rusted on’ and took the use of sledgehammers and long iron bars to prize loose.

Eventually got to the information desk to get our tickets for the Penguin Parade and as we had time we headed over to Nobbies Rocks to see if we could see any seals and Sally saw one through a telescope, but no-one else did. Later as dusk came we headed over to the Penguin Parade location to watch the little penguins come in out of the sea and make a quick dash across the beach to their holes in the ground. Alas we were not allowed to take photos as they wardens didn't want us to scare the little penguins as they scurried across the beach.

MELBOURNE first night

The Wilde Family — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2:

We went for food at Little King Restaurant

ARE SCORES FOR THE RESTAURANT ARE
SALLY 10\10
CHRIS 9\10
DAD 8\10
MUM 10\10

We're back and this time it's personal.

The Wilde Family — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Today we went to ST. kilda! When we got there we went on the pier and got a drink Sally +
Chris had a choclate milkshake Mum + Dad had a coffee!

Later we went to the BEACH and chris thinks he got nipped by a crab! Sally and Chris spotted a JELLYFISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are scores for the beach are
SALLY 10\10
CHRIS 10\10
MUM 9\10
DAD 9\10