spring time!

Spring has come to Melbourne. It's off to a shaky start but there's a definate change in the air. The nights are warmer. The days are longer and brighter. It's a good feeling.

Australia is funny with it's seasons.  The north just has the two:
"Dry" - April to October
"Wet" - November - March

The rest of australia has the traditional 4 - but being a law unto itself they don't bother splitting it up into anything scientific. Its just determined by the months (and of course back to front) which makes things a lot easier!!!
Sept - Nov is Spring
Dec - Feb is Summer
March - May is Autumn
June - August is Winter

Of course, Melbourne is probably one of the few cities over here that has clear distinctions between these seasons. But that's kinda nice too...! :)

Melbourne got voted the most liveable city recently too (go Melbourne!!) and really it does deserve such a title. Just this past few weeks I have partaken in only a small part of what it has to offer.

Last Sunday i went to an ice hockey match in the Docklands (yes...i know Ice Hockey - in Australia!! - quite ridiculous). It was the Melbourne Mustangs Vs Canberra Knights.  I don't know much (anything!) about Ice Hockey so have no idea if these teams had any skill or were more akin to high school teams....! But we managed to blag ourselves front row seats regardless :) It was only a short game - 3 lots of 15 minutes. Towards the end the action heated up when the players decided to beat the living crap out of each other....! Definate highlight. It all seemed very bizarre but apparently is part of the game.... ??!!! Entertaining anyway. and Melbourne won!!! Not bad for a tenner :P

Fist Fight!!

After the match everyone decided to go for drinks in the city. I wasn't so keen having still been battling a hangover from the alcohol fueled Saturday night before. I decided at the last minute i may as well give it a go, with no intention to drink. We decided on a bar on a laneway (all the best Melbourne bars are in laneways!) in the city called LillyBlack.  It looked pretty fancy and expensive, so my friend Craig asked them their price range.  The response? "$0 - $600!" zero you say?? It turned out it was the bars birthday and certain pints, slushy margaritas and gin n tonics were all....completey free. all night. until the bar was dry.  In disbelief of our good fortune we promptly filled the table full of free drinks and let the alcohol flow...and flow....!

Several hours and a Hungry Jacks (Thats Burger King to those Non - Aussies) Veggie Burger later I was stumbling home wondering if it was at all possible that life could get much better....!

Weekdays have of late mostly been consumed by work. and despite a determined attitude to squeeze in as much fun as possible to the "real life" I am now supposed to be living (however real life can be living in another country) - I have been forced to take a step back to recooporate recently.  Weekends tend to rush on full steam ahead (this weekend has been a blur of vodka, hip hop, rock, soul, aussie stereotypes and shopping!). Tonight i was supposed to go my favourite aussie irish pub in Flemington to watch late night Irish Football (apparentely??) but i have had to admit defeat and stay home.

After all, there is always another weekend around the corner.

Bring on the Spring, Melbourne! We're ready for you!!

xx