Bullarook

Carole had arranged for us to meet some of her friends starting with breakfast at Eclectic Tastes Cafe & Pantry. The three girlfriends were Jules, Kimmy and ... all of whom Carole has worked with at various schools.

We then dropped Carole off at her Gym while we went to RAC Victoria and back to Telstra.

RACV was great, they found my old account, signed me up for the highest level of recovery anywhere in Oz and then reduced the very reasonable $24 PCM to $12 PCM because the MH is new - a good result.

Telstra ... required another wait before someone came to correct the telephone number on my account. On my first visit, I had been told that I didn't have an account, but when I logged in they were sending validation messages to my old (no longer working) Oz mobile number. Well, thank goodness that was sorted.

Early afternoon we went and visited Sheila & Jim, some old friends of Caroles, both in their late 80s and very frail. Carole had given us a brief background but omitted one important fact - they were brother and sister, not husband and wife. They both come from Devon, so we started on that topic and I learnt that they both went to the same school so I asked if they met at school ... that's when it became clear they were related. It was a good hour chatting about their travels around the world that separately bought them Oz and then living together.

It's springtime here and so much is in bloom. The UK chronology of trees, bushes and flowers blooming in a certain order doesn't appear to be the same as here where tulips, daffodils, cherry trees, magnolia, wisteria, daisies bluebells and fresias are all in flower.

In the evening we joined Marilyn, Philip & their daughter Arva at Carboni's Italian Kitchen. It was a lovely evening with great food and good company. I was invited out sailing the next day, but we are having a family party so I thought it best to decline.Read more