23 December 2018: Melbourne Australia

Today is our second visit to this port and we decided to hit the beach,so after hubby got the green light to get off ,he went for a nice long run of 13km and I decided to wait on the beach.

Nobody was swimming so that made me a bit nervious and I spent the time picking up seashells and watching people and dogs,everyone seems to have a dog and they were all over the place,defnitely animal lovers,was so good to see them having a good time and the dogs were so excited to get to the beach and water.

When hubby returned we were very lazy and just spent time lying in the sun and even dosed off until a barking dog woke us up.We were lucky for it was not a very hot day and a bit overcast, so perfect weather for the beach and lying around

Then we took a stoll all along the beachfront that went on forever, today I  decided to wear my slipslops and that was not a good idea when taking a very long walk ,for after a while I had a sore foot from chafing.

After our walk it was time to return to our cabin for a quick shower and get dressed for our evening out in Melbourne! Here it also gets dark very late so the sun was up until late think is was about 9 pm before the sun went down.We ended up at a restaurant along dockside just outside our port and had a wonderful evening

Hubby had a huge big beef burger and I had the most delicious pumpkin risotto with asparagus and a bottle of shiraz!!! That went down very well and we had a great meal.Were tempted to buy a bottle of wine and have it along the beach but here no drinking in public areas or at the beach, so that would have meant big trouble.

After our meal we spent time watching the sun go down and seagulls checking things out for any free meal or scraps lying around.On our way back to the ship we passed a wedding reception party and the married couple and photographer on the pier,happy times,happy people,good vibes,the end of a great day in Melbourne.

24 December 2018: Melbourne

Vandag is dit alleen rondloop want liefie werk,so ek is na ontbyt by die skip weg vol planne maar dit het nie lank gehou nie want vandag was dit verskriklik warm en n windstil dag.Het gelukkig gou die winkels in die area ontdek en kon lekker rustig deur hulle beweeg en net alles bekyk,party van hulle het die mooiste goed en natuurlik baie mense wat last minute Kersfees shopping doen.

Het omtrent gesoek na n yskas magneet wat Melbourne se maar niks gekry nie almal se net Australia en dis nou nie wat ek wou he nie, in die uiteinde het ek net een gekry met die beach huts soos hulle dit noem ,wat bekend is in Melbourne amper soos die gekleurde strand huisies in Kalkbaai

Toe is ek die woonbuurte in ,straat op en straat af en weereens besig met die pragtige argitektuur,baie ou huisies met die mooiste gietyster werke op stoepe lyk soos broekieslace,pragtig en hier en daar tuintjies met rose en lavender en roosmaryn.

Teen die tyd sweet ek soos n vark en begin flouerig voel, net toe n vrou en dogtertjie verby kom met n roomys en ek besef ok,hier naby moet n roomys winkel wees !Gelukkig tot my redding kom ek af op Jock,s icecream & Sorbet en net daar kry ek n lekker groot yskoue roomys.

Buite staan only 1 scoop to Christmas en sowaar more is Kersfees.Ook in die winkel is daar toe plum puddings in meelsak  toegedraai en een oop een op display wat ek kon afneem en regtig so lekker gelyk het.

Toe die krag weer inskop is ek weer al langs die strand om eers nog skulpe op te tel oppad terug skip toe.Ek is ook effens bekommerd want net nou word ek voorgekeer by die sekuriteit maar gelukkig is ek deur met my  Melbourne skulpe sonder probleme,hulle gaan in n glas bak by die huis uitgestal word.

Laat middag is ons weg uit Melbourne nou weer oppad na New Zealand.Was nie lank toe ons die hoe deinings van die oop see begin beleef nie! Laas was ons tyd op die see nogal rof en onstuimig.

25 December 2018: @ SEA and Christmas

The ship is in Christmas mode and looks beautiful.Last night it was time for Christmas carols and Father Christmas read stories to the children in the atrium.There are huge cake displays with the Christmas theme all over and they have really gone to so much trouble to make it a special time for everyone.

This morning we went to a church service in the theatre which was very so beautiful ,the minister and his wife are from Melbourne and his sermon was so special , the carols we sang had me wiping away the tears.Took me back to my days at Sevenfountains Methodist Church on Christmas Eve,such special precious memories and the words just all came flowing back.

You do realise that times like these, you just want to be with your familiy and loved ones,no place in the world can come even close to that and that you have to treasure those times and make use of each opportunity you have to get together and enjoy family and friends. NO PLACE LIKE HOME! We miss you and love you all ,thank you for being in our lives.