I really recommend time outs for mummies, it makes such a difference to our hearts and mindsets. I really missed all the other children after only a few days. I did enjoy searching out little gifts for each of them to bring home, and thinking of them without being aggravated by them. A bit like kissing them while they're sleeping, hehe.
It is 29 years since I left Melbourne last, and a lot has changed over the years. However, it was shortly after I arrived, that I realized I needed to do and see things that were a special/good memory from my childhood. I have not travelled since we left Melbourne, and flying with Tiger Airways is something I hope I NEVER have to do again! I thought my head would explode as we were landing, it was so painful! Thankfully Gretel slept the whole way which I had hoped for as it was the midnight horror.
We arrived in the wee, small hours of the morning, while it was still dark. All the other passengers had long since left by the time we disembarked and we got a little lost on the way from the plane to the terminal. Some kind ladies pointed me in the direction of the shuttle bus and we made our way to Southern Cross Station.
Once there, I experienced that same feeling of dread, that I had no clue where to go and that this adventure was quite possibly just a bit too big for me! I wandered about for a while, dragging our luggage and carrying the back pack and Gretel in a sling in front, and another bag too. As we stepped out into early grey light, I looked left and right to see Hungry Jacks on one side and a pie shop on the other. Neither looked attractive for breakfast, and I was starving!
Across the road was a little bakery/cafe and we headed inside to it's warmth and delicious aromas. I ordered scrambled eggs on toast and a large black coffee, thinking to share the food with Gretel.
That was when I realized I had to do a Bucket List!
One of the first meals in a restaurant that I ordered when I was a child just moved over to Melbourne, was scrambled eggs on toast! pretty exciting, huh!?! I had to chuckle. It was really good and I wish I had thought to take a picture of it. The coffee was excellent also and I poured it into my travel cup to make it last longer. It also had the advantage of not being a danger to Gretel while we walked about.
Gretel turned her nose up at the eggs, but managed two bites of the thick toast before she succumbed to sleep once more.
We found our way through the station once more and ended up on the right train to Blackburn Station to meet Melissa. I did manage to lose my thermos, but went back and found it in time, whew! Melissa picked us up as arranged and took us back to her house to await the other travellers coming from Adelaide and Queensland. We had all met online about 6 years earlier in a chat forum and had become firm friends.
This trip was organized to celebrate Nicole's 30th birthday and Melissa was hosting us at her holiday home in Rye for the weekend. I planned to stay for another week to catch up with relatives and friends and to see the parts of Melbourne that I remembered from my childhood.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, and some pictures of our fabulous weekend in the next post!
