Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly, Tra La La La La La La La La La La

Our main aim of our stay in Melbourne was to earn some dollars so we signed up to an agency and due to the pre-Christmas rush have been working non-stop ever since. Due to work commitments in the city center we moved into a share house on Drummond Street. It proved to be basically like a massive student house, full of 26 backpackers and run by a 38 year old landlord “Twang” who from 10am onwards may always be found clutching a red wine bottle in one hand and beer can in the other.

Australian creatures we see on our way home from work

Our work has taken us to bars, gentlemen’s clubs, private homes and posh hotels across the city. The monotony of work has been slightly relieved by the meeting of such new friends as Jen from Canada, Daniel from Mexico and Manu from France. Recently we worked at the Telstra Dome for the Robbie Williams concert.

Robbie Williams only good in concert if its free

Whilst the fans had paid $100+ for the privilege of being there we saw the entire concert for free and despite being sceptical beforehand we found it surprisingly enjoyable. We are now officially over waitressing and never want to serve food and drink again.

Erin, Tay, Levi, Trej and Murph at the RAF base

Melbourne provided the opportunity to catch up with some old friends as we journeyed out to the RAF base to cheer on Levi and Trej from Sydney in their touch footy final. We met these boys on the legendary trip to Prague celebrating Murph’s 21st birthday and the subsequent weekend in Oxford, and have looked forward to meeting them again in Australia ever since. It was a real treat to catch up with the boys again and we enjoyed reliving the abundance of private jokes from Prague ‘bbbbbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyy the way’. The post-footy barbeque bash wasn’t exactly “The Biggest Club in Middle Europe” or “Pleasuredome” but we still had a thoroughly lovely time.

Out on Chapel Street

We rendezvoused yet again with Sash and Naiby from the Whitsundays and Kurty Wurty Flurty from Fraser Island and enjoyed a couple of nights pre-drinking in new recruit Alex’s swanky flat before heading to trendy Chapel Street and then “Honky Tonks” a renowned Melbourne club.

The girls with their arch rival Ollie Johnson

After having already met (Veg)Tibbles in Brisbane it was time for more Blogabond fusion as we met up with Ollie Johnson of “A Man from Cockshutt” fame who replaced us as the featured traveller on the Blogabond Homepage (not that we’re bitter about it). Hope you have a good Christmas in Canada Ollie. Colly also had the pleasure of enjoying a meal with some old Australian friends of her parents in their Melbourne home.

Alison, Jim, Colly and Annita

A bonus of living in Melbourne has been the chance to spend time with Murph’s relatives Uncle Peter, Auntie Lai sie, Sian and the very smelly Rosie. Their hospitality was particularly appreciated by Murph as she recuperated from an operation to extract a troublesome wisdom tooth.

Rosie, Murph and Erin enjoying some sunshine at the Beach House

This was followed by a very smug respite from work as we visited their beach house on the Mornington Peninsula. There we enjoyed two lazy days with plenty of wine and a couple of fantastic meals out. Thanks very much again guys!

We’re finding it hard to feel Christmassy here in Australia. The decorations look all wrong and they don’t seem to embrace the carols or the cheesy seasonal TV as much as we do in England. However as work is winding down we’re trying our best to find the Christmas Spirit by playing East 17’s “Stay Another Day” on repeat and hiring Christmas films. We’re going to miss you all lots during the festive season and hope our absence doesn’t leave too big a hole in your Christmas fun! Happy holidays x x x

written by

Murph, Tay, Colly and Erin on December 21, 2006 from Melbourne, Australia

from the travel blog: The Smug Adventures Down Under

Send a Compliment

One thing I don't understand...Why is Phil Tuffnell singing at the Robbie Williams concert?

written by Roberto Riccardo Perma Rausa on December 22, 2006

Great to see normal blogging service has been resumed and although being 'waitressed' out you are atill managing to have a bit of fun. Looking forward to some Xmas Aus style photos.

Mummy G

written by Debe Gillham on December 22, 2006

Just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and don't go too barmy with the army!

Lots of love Helly.
Poo.
xxxxx

written by Susan Tibbits aka Poo. on December 23, 2006

Welcome back bloggers - we have missed you!! Glad that things are well and hope that you enjoy your Christmas and new year festivities in Melbourne and Sydney. Home and Christmas are not the same without you!!! Keep blogging girls!!
mummy murphyxxxxxxx

written by iiz murphy on December 25, 2006

i was about to appologise for not reading your blog but it appears you are not keeping it up to date anyway. i am currently wishing that i was back in Australia. this is the weakest canadian winter ever with ABSOLUTLY NO SNOW!!! how am i supposed to Snowmobile??? im moving to the Arctic Circle.
happy new year
kurto worto flirto peurto rico (new one. made it up now)

written by Dr Wordyflurdy on January 5, 2007

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