Melbourne for three days.

Hi all, well we have just returned to Balnarring to our little house on wheels after three fab days in Melbourne, staying at the Crown Casino, and no we didn't double our money... We did try..... I had quite a busy time. On Monday I visited Carlier Makigawa. She grew up down the street and we were at school together. She has lives in a warehouse in Melbourne for 30 years where she and her husband Akio made a careers in art. Unfortunately Akio passes away a few years ago. He was a sculpture and his work can be seen outside the Alexander Library in Perth. He has other installations in Melbourne. Carlier is a jewellery maker. You will have seen a piece in one of the photos I sent. They are brushed silver and she has a particular style of sort of cages. .. Boxes...the big pieces she did are light fitting s at the Westin Hotel. It was so nice to see her. The warehouse in Fitzroy is the workshop as well.
She then drove me in her black Porsche to visit cousin Margie Cowling an artist, mostly water colours. She did the beautiful portraits of Tony that i have in the study.She lives with husband Ray right next to the Queen Vic Markets. She had just returned from Italy where her daughter Maggie (also an artist) is staying with her husband and two little ones for a couple of months. Worth googling to see the work they do etc. I saw Ray briefly as he was off to collect grandchildren ( peters children) from school . Margie is always so enthusiastic and happy to see family. I have her the rundown of everyone and sends love all round. They are so close to the city it was an easy walk back to the hotel which is on Southbank.
Tuesday we met Sam Riley for lunch. Sam and Chinese wife Wobo now settled in Melbourne with their dear little boy Ji. They have another little boy due in Jan. They are very happy here. Woos dad is here from China and her mother will be soon.
Tuesday night we had fun. On our trip to Mt Augustus with Viv and Jude two years ago we met 8 blokes who were riding motor bikes from Darwin to Perth on dirt roads. We had the funniest night with them so much laughter our sides were aching. Anyway I have kept in touch with one of them and we met up for dinner. He had gathered some of the boys so there was six for dinner. Many laughs again. They go on there bike trips each year for,two weeks. Different professions...cattle farmer, electrician, commercial real estate, magazine publisher, farmer.
Wednesday I met Nona Rogers for lunch. She is the daughter of a great pal of mine Marg Rogers who I worked with at Bethesda for years. Marg died a few years ago.Nona and partner Sam have been here for three years now. She is establishing her personal training business, and she is looking extremely for and well.
Today Thursday we went to meet Paul Foster in Essendon. He is Chris Hurley brother in law. Paul and Reece have been emailing each other but never met. Paul has a new caravan so they have been swapping information etc. we had a very pleasant time having lunch and chatting for hours at his place. His wife Kay has a few weeks to work before she retires.
A now home at caravan.... Weather today glorious and sunny. I will pop down to the beach for a short stroll.
Will catch up with Vance and Annie later tomorrow. The plan is we will leave Balnarring on Sunday. Get the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliffe then drive the Great Ocean Road. Not sure how long we will do that, the head towards Sydney. We are booked for babysitting duties on Dec 5 and 6. We will then leave Sydney on 9 dec and head for Brisbane on our way to Tewantin for Xmas. We need to get some things checked on the caravan and that will be done in Brisbane.
I saw Jane Cocks last week. She is now the designated carer for her Mum Meg Austin.. I drove to Mt Eliza to Megs house to visit last week. Meg looks really well, just very forgetful etc etc. Jane much the same, looking well and does some volunteer palliative care work. Lives with Meg.
I have walked the park looking for koalas but no such luck but I have heard the, at night they make an odd sort of roar sound.
Time to get off my bum ....Love pen