Melbourne

Melbourne - the World's most livable city....

I can definitely see why it got this title although it's been pretty cold (around 18 oC) and raining most days. Having come down from up North I've now got pretty high standards as to what I regard as good weather. Currently Melbourne isn't hitting these standards!

I know, I know, what right have I got to moan about the weather after just coming from Bolton. The thing is I can't help it, I've been socialling trained through long years in Britain that when talking about a new place the first thing to be discussed is the weather.

Anyway, apart from that Melbournes a pretty cool place. We got here last Sunday and then went down to Federation Square on the Monday where the World XI and Australian one day teams (uh.. cricket for any who don't know!) were being introduced to the public. Having pushed right to the front I ended up on page two of the Herald Sun Newspapers stood in the background in between Ricky Ponting and Shawn Pollock as they held aloft the trophy - brilliant.

The tram system here is great, for $5.70 you can travel to anywhere inthe city all day. It's one up on the London Underground as you're outside whizzing past all the cars feeling superior.

We've been to a couple of Galleries and Museums... all that kind of stuff. Went into the National Library where they have an area set aside just for playing Chess. We played a quick game, checkmate to Sadler in 15 moves - I rule!

Went to the cricket on Friday where it was lucky they had the roof of the Telstra Dome shut as it rained all day (enough of weather, sorry), and we're off to watch the final match today.

Oh and I met a guy I used to go to School with, 15 years ago in Bairnsdale, last night, Ben McCombe. Back then we were both super geeks who used to count how many A's we got at the end of the year and read books all the time. He's now got long hair, big sideburns a pirates moustache and is big into the music scene - unbelievable. Amazingly we both ended up with the same favourite band - the mighty Led Zep!

Take care all - I'm off now to prepare some sandwiches and a flask of tea for the cricket.