Australian Open!

So I have been very slack in my blog postings lately, and just realized it is now MARCH and I took these photos in JANUARY! Duncs and I got tickets for the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, held every year in Melbourne. It usually is a very hot summer day for this tennis, but it happened to be unseasonably cool and rainy (actually it has been raining pretty much since I moved here--the decade long drought is definitely over). Many of the matches are at the Rod Laver Arena, famous Aussie tennis star.

We didn't see Nadal or Federer, as we had hoped, but did see the eventual champion, Djokovic. He defeated Berdych (see jumbo-tron photo above). And I also learned that the Aussies LOVE Jim Courier--he announced every match on the main court and conducted all the post-match interviews.

Also on the way to Parkes . . .

There are many sites around Victoria and New South Wales dedicated to Ned Kelly--bushranger/criminal/folk hero. The famous Conargo Pub. Outside of Deniliquin, home of the "Ute Muster". A "ute" is a truck, I think a "muster" is when truck owners gather together to celebrate their trucks.

The town of Cowra had a Japanese POW camp during WWII. Over 200 prisoners died during a mass breakout in 1945. They built a beautiful Japanese garden to commemorate the dead.

Stopped in Beechworth for some beers.

On the way to Parkes . . .

Parkes has one of the biggest radio telescopes in the world--known as "the dish".

We drove through a swarm of locusts, and our car paid the price.

Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld, VIC, a small town at the foot of the Grampian Mountains. A pub turned into an upscale restaurant, focused on seasonal ingredients and serving a 10 course degustation menu. We went for our first year anniversary on the way to Parkes. I had been looking forward to it for months . . . . . got a migraine and had to go to bed after 2 courses . . .WAH!

Aussie countryside . . . .

Parkes Elvis Festival

Duncs and I went on a road trip up to Parkes, New South Wales for their annual Elvis Festival. We entered ourselves in the parade, driving our 1969 car!Elvis and Priscilla (see, uh, because I have a veil on).

There were hundreds of "Elvises", including woman on stilts.

I drove in the parade--Duncan waved to his fans.

Pretty good 1970's Elvis impersonator.

Boxing Day Cricket

December 26th is Boxing Day in Australia (and all other commonwealth countries I believe), a national holiday. Boxing Day cricket is a great tradition in Melbourne at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). This year it was the Ashes test match. Every two years England and Australia play and the winner gets to keep some ancient ashes, I'm not sure of the whole story. This was day 1 of 5 (we only went to day 1), and the cricket lasts all day. They do take breaks for lunch and tea (hee, hee).

Me, in front of an Aussie cricket legend outside the MCG.

Christmas lunch

On Christmas we traveled to Duncan's parents' house outside of Melbourne for the day. They had quite a spread for lunch, including a Pavlova for dessert, a traditional Aussie/New Zealand dish, depending on who you ask. Duncan's parents carving the ham--we also had chicken, roast pork, and lots of great veg dishes.

Relaxing outside after lunch.

All the "kids": Warwick (Pru's husband), Penny (sister in from London), Pru (sister), Aaron (brother), Madeleine (Aaron's girlfriend), Duncs and Me. Sitting on Pru's lap is her and Warwick's boy and lone grandchild Gilby--he cleaned up with presents!

Pretty sunset.

A little preview . . .

Some of you may not be familiar with Duncan's penchant for dressing up as Elvis. We will be attending the Parks Elvis Festival in New South Wales in January, and Duncs had a chance to try out the costume at his friend Steve's 70's themed 40th birthday. Steve, Lea, and Duncan. Andy Warhol, Princes Leia, and Elvis, respectively.