A Magical Wine Flight - Part Two

At the Chateau, perched on the end of every bed is a floppy, fluffy toy cat. He is called Privacy Cat and he does just as his name suggests, pop him outside your door and peace and tranquility is yours.

He did a good job, we didn't stir till 9.30am. Now had it been a cuddly dog, Hubster remarked that it is highly unlikely he would have been left outside the door at all! What do you reckon?


After a huge and indulgent breakfast we left Chateau Yering.

Other guest left too, in quite some style!

Another day in the wine region beckoned but with a boot full already and the car clinking like a  milk float, we decided to discover some other delights of the Yarra.

We came across a wonderful Farmers Market. Thank goodness we were still so replete from breakfast otherwise I am sure we would have gone even crazier than we did.

I was particularly thrilled with the Rhubarb!

After a delicious cappuccino back at the Yarra Valley Dairy, we headed out to a place called Healesville or more importantly Healesville Animal Sanctuary.

Kangaroos, Wallaby's, Dingo's, Wombats, Platypus, Possums just to name a few of the beautiful indigineous Australian animals we saw that day.

The Tasmanian Devils are so inappropriately named. Far from being devils they are the cutest and now, sadly the most endangered of all animals in the southern hemisphere due to an awful disease causing facial tumours, for which there is no cure.

Tana the Dingo

Tasmanian Devil's enjoying strokes and cuddles from their keeper

The highlight for us both however was this little chap.

Let me introduce you to Benny!

He was every inch as cute and adorable as he looks!

Benny is 3 years old, a fully grown Koala and has just become the proud Father to a 3 year old little bundle. We were so lucky to be at the right place at the right time to enjoy a magic moment with him.

Boy talk!

The keeper would not allow us to touch Benny which required huge restraint on my part. Every ounce of you wants to give him a cuddle because he is clearly very gentle and very affectionate.

Benny must have sensed this and just before the photo below was snapped, he leaned right over and licked my arm several times. It brought tears to my eyes, it was truly magical to experience an exchange like that with him.

I couldnt touch Benny, but no-one said Benny couldnt touch me! An unforgettable moment.

All too soon it was time to leave, the lights of the big city and home were calling.

After a late afternoon platter of local cheeses, marinated baby figs, glaced qumcuats and toffee apple chutney, we turned our sights to home...................

.....................with one mission in mind.

To get back to Brighton, our new home town, just in time to catch the sunset on the marina.

accompanied by a final flourish of Melbourne Bay oysters and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, (from the Yarra of course!)

What a magical Wine Flight, what a ride we had!

A Magical Wine Flight - Part One

Two and a half weeks since touchdown Melbourne and neither of us felt that we had come up for air and thats because we havent!

Time for R&R so we decided to head out to the Yarra Valley. A beautiful wine growing region just an hours drive away, where the undulating vine laden hills and lush meadows, all painted with autumn, stretch out for as far as the eye can see.

Vineyards of the Yarra

"Take an overnight bag" he said

"You never know, lets be spontaneous"

Except, I should have known, there was nothing spontaneous about the stop over. My wonderful Hubster had it all wrapped up and we were to stay at the amazing Chateau Yering.

We checked into a beautiful suite with french doors that opened out onto a spotlessly manicured lawn.

The weather was stunning, bright blue skies and about 28 degrees with a pleasant breeze.
Serenity washed over me, I could physically feel the stress seeping out of my body and out through the tips of my toes, it really needed to.

Our "wine flight" began. (That's what they call wine tastings and I think that's pretty cool).

First stop Yering Station, lets be frank, the sparkling here was absolutely awful, so bitter! They give you the tiniest amounts to taste and of course, you drink some off the list and then choose to spit out others, those little tots can soon mount up.

"Wine Flight" room at Yering Station

Then we took a short drive up the valley and onto Domain Chandon. An absolutely stunning estate partnered by the famous champagne house of Moet & Chandon. The sparkling, the Sauv Blanc and the Chardonnay were sublime.

Eye closing stuff. We burnt some dollars here.

We had lunch at Helen's Hill vineyard in the Vines restaurant. We opted for a "natter platter", like a savoury afternoon tea with with tiers of nibble sized balsamic drenched mushrooms, stuffed bell peppers, charcuterie, chicken terrine etc and wafer thin crackers ................... a glass of reserve Chardonnay for me!






I was told I was NOT the designated driver but I think that was more to do with the fact that Hubster was checking out my new wheels!


We went to more vineyards, Tarra Warra, St Huberts, Yering Farm, Allinda and De Bortoli. Most  have restaurants, delis and/or coffee shops too, so a platter of something tasty is on hand to cleanse your palate and keep you fuelled up for the next "flight".

Ready for take off on my Chardonnay Wine Flight at Tarra Warra

We bought some fabulous whites and Hubster was frothing at the mouth with some of the Pinot Noirs that he tried, the boot was getting full and I began to think we'd got a problem!


We also bought lots of wonderful cheeses and fresh produce en route. The Yarra Valley Dairy was an Aladdin's cave, a mecca and a wonderland for any foodie. It had a tremendous coffee shop serving delicious little cakes.

I stood back and watched the Hubster work that cheese counter, it was an impressive little display!

It was such a lovely day, we didn't have a care in the world for the first time in as long as.....................well we cant remember. So good to feel in the moment again.

We dined that night at Eleonore's restaurant at Chateau Yering. Suffice to say it was truly fabulous.

Sometimes even your own camera can be an intrusion of privacy and memories are just as alive and vivid, so we decided no pictures, just us.

Part Two tomorrow and look out for the introduction of a very special little man.................. here's a sneak preview!

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Some things I have learnt Part One

Some things I have learnt.

Opportunity Shops are Charity Shops.

Antique shops are known as collectibles.

Take away is also known as pick ups.

Breakfast menu is available everywhere all day at the weekend.

No matter the salad or sandwich filling, it will have avocado.

Milk Bars don't serve milk nor are they a bar. They are delis or general stores.

A BLAT is a BLT except it will also have lashings of hollandaise, often cheese and of course avocado!

Mangoes and avocados are food of the gods, impossible to buy a bad one here.

Fresh fish shops are also fish n chip/fish restaurants. Buy your fish and then they will cook it for you there and then. Fab idea.

The Pom/Aussie sporting rivalry is ten times fiercer here, pom bashing is the norm, get used to it.

Pubs are also turf accountants and gaming arcades.

The man still wears the trousers, chauvinism is alive and well. One guy talking to Gareth referred to me as "his woman" n front of me. Well cant argue with that really.

They tell it as it is!

A pot is half and a schooner is a pint.

Everyone generally is super friendly, the service in stores and restaurants is excellent and when buying new goods you always barter on the price.

oh and Marmite is Our Mate!

There is no other day like it!

Wherever in the world, whether it be 2 minutes up the road or a bonkers 11,000 miles away like us - moving in day is always the same.

You function on a modus operandi that is unique to moving in day and that day only. There's none other like it.

Hair is scraped back, the makeup bag is by-passed and you opt for comfy practical clothing and sensible shoes.

First job always is to put the fridge on.

Second job, whilst you are waiting for that huge white lorry to arrive, that will most certainly block the street and annoy the hell out of your neighbours, is to pop that bottle in to chill.

.........cos you know the hell you are going to need it later.

Never at any other time have you needed alcohol more than on moving in day.

The Gobi Desert could have frozen over and polar bears could be walking the streets of Hull.

You are oblivious. Moving in day is all about doing and nothing about being and the outside world is a blur.

It's you and the boxes, the boxes and you and mountains of stuff!

Without any verbal confirmation, the unwritten rule is adhered to.

You sort the kitchen and he deals with anything that has a wire, plug, internet connection or needs programming.

No-one wants to tackle clothes or linen.

You forget to eat and when you do, its junk, you don't taste it, its just belly-filler.

You take turns to stub your toes, trap your fingers and wrestle stubbornly with masking tape.

Thoughts frequently turn to the bottle in the fridge.

You catch your reflection in the bathroom mirror and reel back in horror! That ashen, spotty, blotchy, "moving in day" face.



"Hello there! Yes we are looking for the bottle opener, any ideas which box its in?"

"Don't worry, leave it to me I'll find it!"

"Erm no Hubster, leave the finer detail to me, there's a washing machine to plumb in"

You always overdo it.

Over that longed for glass of wine, you admit to one another, that you've overdone it.

...............and sometimes the only solution that works at that point, is to bury your head deep into his chest and have a good, hearty cry.

And that my dear friends is moving in day isn't it?

Love you but dont like you!

It is absolutely possible to experience joy and heartache simultaneously.

In a years time when I look back at this entry, I will know 100% that this hellish process, for him and for us, will have been totally worth it.

As I see him romp on the beach, splash through the water and charge at me with tail wagging wildly, I will remind him and me "told you so!"

 Spotswood Quarantine, Melbourne is spotless however and kept beautifully.

Pen no. 34 - Our Radder

He saw us and didn't react straight away, he must have been so shocked.

"What the hell are you doing here? Where the bloody hell have you been?"

Then the leaping, waggy tailed welcome that we all know and love kicked in big time. I was all over the place, didn't know if I wanted to jump for joy or cry my heart out and apologise profusely.

We were allowed to take him to the grassy "yard" for playtime for an hour.

Physically he is in really good nick but he was clearly bemused by our presence. He played a little but not like the Radder we know, he kept moving away from us to be on his own.

If he could talk he would have said "I love you momma and poppa but I don't like you right now"

I am going again tomorrow, this time I can have 2 hours, 2 very precious hours, I will be there to the very last second.

...............as I said in a years time, this entry will hopefully be a distant memory because we will be having too much fun, trust us Radder.

Mission "Des Res" Accomplished

Finally the T-J's have a home.

5 minutes from Bay St shops

5 minutes from Brighton Beach

Que sera, sera

Move date 5th April 2012

......................and breath