Chick chick chick is here!!!!!!!

07/08/11.

Chicken has landed. Chicken has landed. He survived the flight with the aid of a full bottle of bach recue remady and 6 double gin and tonics. Amazing he arrive the hotel looking referehed and composed. His arriveal was the cue to catch up about events at home incuding

Alice’s britheday night out- private cinema for 20 people- jealous!
Chicks 30th incuding the CSI type scene created by Alice lacerating her foot
Claire moving to jersey- tax free haven… how do they fund public services??
Chick’s promotion- 2nd in command for science… thinks he needs epaulets for that
The weather- well we are British
The price of fuel, food and everything else- more expensive

Chicken was also the bearer of Brits abroad essentials. A newspaper (bliss), James offer letter from NZ (took the long way to get here), more medication for me (project planning skills coming to the fore again). That said he did not bring any cheddar cheese and having experienced Australian customs probably a wise decision.

After fortifying ourselves with the cheapest food available at Big W Chicken and I headed off for a walk around a fabulous Melbourne. All modem, shiny clean and new. We also encountered what appears to be the Victorians (that’s the state we are in) obsession. SPORT and exercise. At 5pm at the end of the working day the river filled with people rowing the paths with people running and the roads with cyclists. We even saw a new mum running along with baby in pushchair. We now know why Australians at fit and fabulous at sport. Not sure I will be taking my top off at the beach with all these buff locals to show me up. That said at least I am not like all the other Brits as I have a sun tan. James on the other hand has got into the Melbourne spirit and has joined a gym for a week. And guess what he is actually going although he is currently limping and moaning instantly about how much he hurts. Me thinks I will stick to walking.

The evening contained another pilgrimage to Big W, a chicken salad for tea and the colonisation of the best corner of the communal living room. It was here with the free Wi-Fi we planned what we would do for the rest of the week. Just now we are on designated guardian reading time…