30,000 odd feet

No, not caterpillars. Flight TT424 to Melbourne. 1 am in the morning Perth time. I've given it a red hot go at sleeping (l even bought a neck pillow) but I think I'll just concede defeat now and scribble random thoughts until I either get bored or fall asleep midsentence.
As per usual, I have two sleeping beauties next to me (lucky things) and I swear the seats get smaller every time. Thank God it's only a 3 hour flight!

Just about to reach cruising altitude on the flight home. I copped a window seat again and one sleeper so I guess I'm stuck again. l believe they're expecting turbulence on the way home as the Seatbelt sign is still on. It's a slightly longer flight home but it should be more tolerable as it's afternoon not late night (more people awake).

The next post or two will be about my 'Mummy freedom' trip to Melbourne ...

Melbourne / Healesville

Arriving in Melbourne with Tiger airways is interesting. They're currently building a new terminal, so arrival consists of a small tarmac walk, and a long freight container tunnel stroll to baggage collection. This is in a large ex-hayshed (air-conditioned though!). l met up with Mum and dad at the hotel there, rental car pickup after that, and then off to Healesville.

Healesville is a very pretty, small town approximately 1 hour's drive from Melbourne. If you go, please drop in to Mocha and Lime cafe, as their food and drink is amazing! Healesville is part of the Yarra Valley wine region and just a few k's from the wedding location that was hosting the wedding we were attending.
Oakridge Estate is massive but very well run as a function venue, so kudos to the staff there!
The wedding day was very warm but bearable and of course the bride was beautiful.
The estate doesn't provide accommodation, so we all stayed at Healesville apartments. These consisted of several small apartments/cottages that were decorated in varying styled themes. Ours was French provincial I think. The bed was a little hard but it was intended for children so I just hauled the mattress onto the foldout bed for extra support, problem solved!

The bed I had in my Melbourne hotel was much better, however the room had no bedside lamp, towel rails on the opposite side of the bathroom to the shower, and no window except on the door. I left the door window ajar for 'natural light' as the hotel hallways were open to stairwells and the elements. For one night it was just fine though.

This morning l caught up with my brother for coffee and a wander. l rarely see him of course so it was wonderful to spend some casual time with him. We went for coffee at a place l can't quite remember the name of; something to do with manchester and bedding. Definitely a good coffee shop and very popular. I'll label it to this post when l can find the name. After that I was able to check out the Princess Theatre and the Royal Exhibition Building, two beautiful iconic buildings in Melbourne, among others. l love wandering a city's CBD and snapping photos of their beautiful or infamous places and structures.
Hopefully l can get into my own city again soon and snap away there, as there have been quite a few changes in the past few months, with more promised to come.