HEY THERE EVERYONE!!!

I must apologise for the lack of posts of late, this year is winding up so fast! Mia has had here orientation for school next year, the school book list has gone in to the office for all four of the children for next year and ...the year has not even finished!

And....before Christmas arrives it is my birthday soon and I just keep thinking....where ARE the days going?

I know I am not the busiest person on the planet but it is silly season after all!

Last night hubby and I went on a dinner cruise along the Yarra River and out under our Westgate Bridge, over to lovely Williamstown and back to the Docklands again. It was so much fun, I danced ALL night! It was for the first of many work Christmas Parties.

I have been working full time again now also and so, with that, life is hectic. I am loving the work and life is good! Everyone is healthy and that is the main thing. I will take more pics when we go out to the next few functions and keep everyone up to date as to what has been going on.

I hope you all stay safe over this busy time :)

FRIDAY'S HISTORY POST: OCEAN GROVE

This is one of the oldest buildings in Ocean Grove. This photograph taken in 1977.[Photograph from the Ocean Grove Album compiled by Bob Irving, courtesy of John Irving, Ocean Grove]

Map of where Ocean Grove is situated to the CBD.

I thought it apt to speak of the History surrounding the lovely place we go to so often to share in fun family times, and sucha relaxing place it is. Approximately 50 minutes drive away from our house you will find yourself entering this wonderful place. Just crossing the bridge from Barwon Heads to Ocean Grove is the most magical sight...second for myself to that of the sun setting into the Ocean (it would seem) when in W.A. at Freemantle.

So... Ocean Grove, it is named after a place in New Jersey, USA. During the 1870s the American Methodist church started a religious camp near New Jersey, it was such a successful idea they decided to spread there camps overseas. Soon they got together with the Victorian Methodists and set up a camp near Point Lonsdale ( a lovely place near Ocean Grove).
By 1882 the need arose for the church to acquire a large area of land so they could set up their "Australian Ocean Grove".

Ocean Grove State School in 1910 showing Mr. Hugh Clark and pupils. Hugh Clark taught at the school for almost 30 years and was Head Teacher from 1911 until 1925.
[Photograph from the Ocean Grove Album compiled by Bob Irving, courtesy of John Irving, Ocean Grove]

The place the Methodists chose was was situated on the east side of the mouth of the Barwon River overlooking Bass Strait. The town was later linked by a bridge to Barwon Heads on the other side of the river. Many street names take on the names of important people in the old Methodist community, while the local youth camp was run by the Methodist church from the 1920s up until 1996. Down Main Street Ocean Grove.
Now the largest town on the Bellarine Peninsula it has one of the largest shopping centres of any of the Bellarine towns only a few blocks from the beach making it popular with tourists and locals alike. There are groovy little cafes and some awesome clothes shops in Ocean Grove. Yet, the major draw card is, of course, the beach.

Ocean Grove Beach Victoria...

Mia shows some sea weed.
Our sun tent.
A seaweed guy??
A surfer..guy!

Sarah showing some wet sand :)
Mia and I :)
Tom and Nick building a sand wall around our sun tent.
A rainbow on Saturday evening over the Ocean.
Happy Sunny Sunday at the beach.

FRIDAYS HISTORY POST: Phar Lap: Australia's wonder horse

He triumphed during the Great Depression of the early 1930s, when a hero was most needed by the people of Australia.
He conquered the local racing scene—36 wins from his last 41 starts—and then won North America's richest race, the Agua Caliente Handicap, in 1932.
A fortnight later he went to the great equine heaven in the skies, struck down by a mystery illness that many suspected was the work of gangsters. The horse traveled with security guards to protect his safety. Gunshots were allegedly fired at the champion after one morning gallop.

For the history of Pharlap, click THIS LINK, complete with 1930's music, you will see the amazing horse that once stopped a nation.

His heart has been on display for many years in a museum. Why, I hear you ask? Because a normal horses' heart weights approximately 4 kilograms and Pharlap's was 6.2 kilograms. So amazing!
For a look at the film starring Pharlap, you can watch this clip also, accompanied again by wonderful music.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!!
Sarah overlooking the bay.
Sandringham Beach.
Sandringham Beach, view from The Sandy Hotel.

Gahhhh!!!

I have been trying all morning to upload some pics for everyone to see, more things we have been doing as a family...but alas, Blogger is not being accommodating, perhaps Blogger also does not do mornings!! Will try again a little later :)

Busy Times Keep Rollin' On...

My cousin's Wedding up in Dayelsford last Friday, what a gorgeous day it was. Everyone had a fantastic time and what better setting than in the Botanical Gardens in Dayelsford!

All of the above photos sre of the time we spent at the Botanical Gardens last week, it was lovely.

HISTORY OF THE MELBOURNE CUP!

Australian certainly love their leisure. They also worship sport . Though renowned for their egalitarianism , they are fond of "the sport of kings ." One race every year stops the entire nation from working . Even if they are not actually present - instead glued to their telvevision sceens or their radios - "Australiana" all over the country , of every age and from every walk of life , follow the horse running in the Melbourne Cup .
Melbourne Cup Day is fixed for the first Tuesday in November . The race is recognized as one of the World 's greatest handicap races. It is held at Flemington , a Melbourne suburb which is called after a butcher who once lived there.
The first Cup was run in 1861 . There were 17 starters and , paradoxically , the prize - apart from the money (170 pounds ) - was not a cup at all , but a hand - beaten gold watch . Archer, the Winning horse , had walked to Melbourne from its stable in Nowra ,New South Wales , a distance of 500 miles (800km)

Flemington race track, home of Australia's famous Melbourne Cup and belongs tothe Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne Victoria. The course has a circumference of2,312 metres and a home straight of 450 metres.

Two contestants from 2006 Fashion Comp.
The lovely Megan Gale.

Apart from the race itself bringing in the crowds of people, the Fashions on the Field Contest every year also are a sure winner. Top models and every day people present themselves to show off their wears and of course, their fascinators. It makes the crowd certainly stand out..even if they are sometimes half tanked from all the champagne after the big day!!

This year the Equine Influenza has been a massive worry for everyone in the know of racing. Making history itself, we even had the pre Cup Day Parade with the jockeys but no horses! First time ever! Yet, the day is going ahead, much to the relief of many people, and for that, I am sure it will be a wonderful day!

FRIDAYS HISTORY LESSON: Collins Street Melbourne.

Collins Street in the early 1900's (courtesy of Rail Page)

Collins Street is a major street in the Melbourne central business district and runs approximately east to west.
It is notable as Melbourne's best known street, with some of the country's finest Victorian era buildings.
Known as The 'Paris end' of Collins Street, the Eastern end is a part of Marvellous Melbourne mythology. Although modern development has destroyed some of the European flavour of the top-end of Collins Street it still retains designer boutiques and cafes. The length of Collins Street between Elizabeth and King Streets has long been the financial heart of Melbourne and is home to banks and insurance companies.

One of the most breath taking buildings in Melbourne, if not on the outside, is probably 333 Collins Street Melbourne. The Atrium is one place you have got to see to believe. And, for your viewing pleasure, click HERE for a taste of it virtually. See...it does not disappoint.

Collins Street is named after Lieutenant-Governor David Collins who led a group of settlers in establishing a short-lived settlement at Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne in the early 1800s. He subsequently became the first governor of the colony of Van Diemens Land, later to be renamed Tasmania.

Festive time at The Block Arcade.

Around the turn of the century "doing the Block" became a pastime for shoppers at the Block Arcade area in the retail heart of the street between Elizabeth and Swanston Streets.
The Bank of New South Wales Melbourne office earned architect Joseph Reed a first prize in architecture. When the building was demolished in 1935, the facade was transferred to the University of Melbourne to become the Commerce building, (now administration for the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning)
During the 1950s and 1960s, the street became subject to extensive redevelopment and many historic buildings were demolished by Whelan the Wrecker, despite the efforts of the National Trust and the "Save Collins Street" group. While some examples of boom style architecture survive, the grandest examples were lost to the wrecker's ball. Of the major losses, the most significant were the large Victorian buildings including the Federal Coffee Palace, Colonial Mutual Life building, Robb's buildings, Queen Victoria Buildings, City of Melbourne Bank, Scott's Hotel, Melbourne Mansions and APA building.
Between 2003-2005, Collins Street was extended west beyond Spencer Street, and currently ends in plastic barriers and a T intersection with Stadium Drive. It is expected to extend further west in the future, as part of the new Docklands redevelopment. This will create an intersection between Bourke Street and Collins Streets, two of Melbourne's most important streets.

One of our top tourist attractions is the Rialto Towers pictured above. Standing at 251 m (824 ft), this allows visitors to have a birds eye view of Melbourne, our Port Phillip Bay and, if it is a clear day, you can see as far as The Dandenong Ranges.

There are also many gorgeous churches along the street, and if you take some time out to walk along and really look at each building you may find some treasures there..even if you have lived here for ages, sometimes things can go unnoticed. Oh, and if your feet get weary, don't fret, you can just hop on board a tram!