Am now in NZ and have some catching up to do. Am not able to connect my pc to the house wireless so have borrowed Richards PC to do thisbut can't send any pictures. Will continue from where I left off last time. Our first full day in Melbourne we arranged to meet Jeff M for lunch. Wendy drove us into the city and gave us a conducted tour of all the places of interest. She has worked for the Herald Sun (a Murdoch tabloid) for 28 years but now only works two days a week as PA for one of the country's leading business/economics journalists so has her fingure well on the pulse of what's going on. The girls can't resist a spot of retail therapy which results in the purchase of a hat for M. I am dragged to the jewellers' windows where some very un-subtle hints are dropped in front of a diamond and ruby necklace. I had a bad attack of misted glasses at the time coupled with a profound deafness. Jeff's office is on the 45th floor from which there is a fantastic view accross the city but M cannot bring herself to stand close to the window to enjoy it.Had a good chat with Jeff over lunch and caught up with the news. Life in the finnancial world at a time when markets accross the globe are in free fall can be quite hectic. He sends all his best wishes to all his friends in England. Very sorry to hear of Ronald's problems. Supper back at the ranch - throw anothger shrimp on the BarB Bruce.
Saturday morning I went to the farm with Ernie first thing to help do the horse. First we fed the horses with mixture of oats, maze, pellets, chopped lucern, chaff, crushed barley, carrots, apple vinigar and god knows what else (I'm not allowed to disclose the secret ingredient). Then they are given a bit of a work out around the track, a jockey comes in to ride each one and on the days he is not able to come in (riding in a race somewhere) the horses are exercised in a splendid cage that is towed behind the yellow peril (anchient ford cortina). After exercise they are given a swim in the special tank and then returned to their seperate paddocks where they finish their feed. If you want to know anything about training a race horse just call me!! Next we collected Ernie's parents (in their mid 90's) for lunch at a newly opened Golf Club House in the middle of what is to be a new development built around the homestaed of what was once a 100,000 acre cattle station to the west of the city. Maybe the present financial climate will put a damper on the sale of the houses. In the evening we drive out to the north east outskirts of the city to have a BBQ at Chris and Kay K's house. They have a very flash BBQ set up in the back garden overlooking a very smart Clay Tennis Court where Chris is able to give coaching lessons although he does not have much time for that now that he has been appointd national coach to the Chinese. It's sad to hear that Australian tennis is in such decline since the days when Ernie and Chris were playing at their peak at Wimbldon. There are not nearly so many young players now. Kay is a very talented artist and I was delighted to see a picture she had painted of an alpine meadow in Austria at Axarm Litzum over which I skied with the boys twenty eight years ago. We stay the night with Chris and Kaybecause we have been invited to sunday lunch with Maureen and Tony (Maureen worked for Larcomes nearly thirty years ago). They live just a few miles from C & K. It is our 40th wedding anniversary. M & T's house stands in a 20 acre plot at the end of a dirt road. The ground slopes down to a creek and they keep sheep goats and a horse. A wedge tailed eagle has it's nest in a tree beside the creek. M & T have five children (we meet three) all doiung well - one daughter is a Vet. They have been in OZ for 27 years now. It turns out that their daughter lives next door at the end of the garden to Chris and Kay but they have never met. What a small world. Lovely lunch with champers for a pipe opener. Walk around the estate after lunch and drive home to E & W in his car (1991 V8 Holden) at Gin o'clock.
Monday. Today we have a 175 KM drive to Bendigo - a town built on Gold mining which has left a legacy of very fine civic buildings but when the gold ran out it fell into decline since when there has been a revival. Now grows apples and vines for wine production. Met up with Neil Clark in town and follow him to his house a mile or so from the centre of town. Original house is 19th century built in three acre plot but rebuilt in the 20's - single storey of course with tin roof. Lots of Art Deco. Very grand. Great fun to meet again after 38 years. Found my name in their visitors book - entry dated 1967 the occasion being a party when clearly I was pissed as I gave my address as "No fixed abode" Neil has not changed a bit. Still has a clear Scotts accent and just the same mannerisms. Now has a very successful Agricultural Consultancy business. Is also a member of the bag club like me so we have much to compare notes about. After lunch Neil has to fly to Adelaide on business so M and I have a brouse about town before driving back to Melbourne (me to the Art gallery M to the park). Lovely day. Interesting drive and no problems with the navigation so we are still talking!! Time for bed now so will try to catch up in the morning. Cheers.