07/05/2026
Well this is a hi everyone and we are still alive been busy and also been interstate. So it started on the 27th April when Aunty Heather Castledine and I flew to Melbourne thanks Bree May Plath for doing our return booking and last night away motel booking thanks also to Michael Pickle for being our taxi to Brisbane and also for our return home today. So this is how it started rain on our Brisbane departure but we had a great flight with Jetstar arriving in Melbourne safe and sound then taxi to cruising Tullamarine to pick up the motorhome and wow that’s where the adventure started. Just the heads up so you can understand I have not driven in Melbourne for almost 40 years ok so Aunty Heather was the satnav lol. We left Tullamarine our first stop was at somewhere between West Ballan and Beaufort for a well needed cuppa and fill up we went onto pulled up at Green lake Horsham for the night then filled up at border town our next stop was for the night on the 28th at Murray Bridge we caught up with Uncle Graham and Aunty Gabriel for breakfast on the 29th we then drove through the Adelaide Hills on our way to Paradise to see Hannah and the family stayed the night after a lovely home cooked real Italian dinner we went for brunch and a little stock up of essentials oh and yes I did bring back a bottle of homemade sauce which was carried like gold for me thank you so much Rob. We then drove to McLaren Vale where we stopped for 2 night as Aunty Heather was there for her nephews wedding we left there on the 2nd May and drove to Mount Gambier where Aunty visited her Friend Wendy where we stayed the night and headed back on the 3rd we drove the Great Ocean Road such a beautiful drive then we stopped for a amazing surprise just before sunset Aunty Heather sent me up in a helicopter over The Twelve Apostles which I will remember for the rest of my life oh and yes there never was 12 Apostles there were only 8 and now there are only 7 the pilot informed us Aunty said it was worth it just to see the smile and amazement on my face we pulled up for the night at Lavers Hill and yer it was getting cold on the 4th we drove to Lilydale where we spent 2 nights while there I went to pay my respects to my Mother in-law Peggy, my Brother in-law Barry and my ex husband Marek we just spent the 5th resting and getting packed and the van ready to hand back on the 6th we drove from Lilydale through Bayswater through Boronia to Ferntree Gully  . drove past the old Ferntree Gully hotel then past Saint Josephs boys College which was located next to the old Tupperware warehouse. Then I saw a friend’s home got emotional remembered other people‘s places drove down to the farm. I used to live on at Lysterfield Road to Lysterfield out to Stud Road where I saw the old Stamford Hotel that my mum was head chef at we then drove back to Tullamarine via Dandenong to hand back the motorhome from there. We got a taxi to the motel at the airport and stayed the night where I was surprised by Anthony and Roger who came to say g’day before we left which was lovely my niece Sher tried to visit also but could not find us so the catch up will happen soon fingers crossed. Woke up really early today and walked to the airport checked in flew home and was so great full to be home. I didn’t get many photos because the photographer was also the satnav LOL.
