Day 59 (Dubai airport/Home) - Wednesday 16th November 2016

Artwork at Dubai airport

My flights are now over, and I've arrived safely home. I'm glad to see I haven't totally missed Autumn, but the early nights will take a bit of getting used to again (#TimeToHibernate).

Day 58 (Perth) - Tuesday 15th November 2016

Presents under tree already

And so my Australian and New Zealand adventures have come to an end. I've had a fantastic couple of months visiting my sister and her family, celebrating birthdays, and exploring new places.

My flight home leaves in a few hours. See you on the other side of the world!

Day 57 (Perth) - Monday 14th November 2016

Sunset at Hillarys Boat Harbour

After a visit to Hillarys Boat Harbour and Karrinyup shopping mall this morning (far too hot to stay outdoors), we popped into Karrinyup Public Library so I could conclude my quest in Australia (quest tally: three out of twelve).

We returned to Hillarys Boat Harbour this evening to meet up with the rellies again for fish and chips and icecream.

Day 56 (Perth) - Sunday 13th November 2016

After yesterday's exertions (#StillNotFullyRecovered), it was great to take it easier today and enjoy my last barbecue of the year.

Day 55 (Perth) - Saturday 12th November 2016

We took the ferry to Rottnest Island today, a 45-minute journey from Hillarys Boat Harbour, and, yes, I still have my sea legs (phew!).

Once there, we cycled to a bay and had a picnic on the beach. The children played on the seashore for a while, then we continued to cycle around the island (#LegsLikeJelly #StillSaddleSore). Along the way, we spotted several quokkas, one of the smallest wallaby species in Australia.

It's hard work this cycling lark

A quokka

Day 54 (Perth) - Friday 11th November 2016

Brotherly love

Ventured out of the house to pick my nephews up from school with my sister and niece.

Sister and brother-in-law are now out enjoying themselves (A.K.A. making the most of me before I head home next week) whilst the kiddiwinks are enthralled by the antics of Kung Fu Panda (2).

Day 53 (Perth) - Thursday 10th November 2016

A bit of a rainy day today, so not much chance to go down to the beach. Still, it meant I made excellent progress on the books I've borrowed from the library.

Day 52 (Perth) - Wednesday 9th November 2016

Posing with my sunhat

Once the children were suitably dispatched to school and daycare, I spent a very lovely day with just my sister. Bought a new sunhat at the mall and tested how well it would stay on my head when faced with the gusts of wind at the beach in the afternoon. Answer: extremely well.

Day 51 (Perth) - Tuesday 8th November 2016

🎵 He's making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice... 🎵

It's a little surreal to have Christmas music playing in the background whilst walking past beach and summer gear in the shops. The same goes for seeing Father Christmas and Christmas trees when I've put on suntan lotion before leaving the house.

Anyway, had a successful trip to the mall and Christmas presents have been bought (hopefully, niece was suitably distracted by her mode of transport around the mall to realise what was happening). There was even time for a babyccino for her later.

Day 50 (Perth) - Monday 7th November 2016

Niece delighted to bury her feet in the sand

Went down to the beach this afternoon and played 'Dodge the waves' with niece. One wave caught us all by surprise, and I had to grab niece before the wave knocked her off her feet, whilst her mum rescued our belongings.

Partial video evidence of this is available for the right price (see my sister for details and charges before she sells out to 'You've been framed'). 😄

Day 49 (Margaret River) - Sunday 6th November 2016

My sister crammed a lot into her 40th birthday celebrations today. After breakfast there was a swim in the pool, followed by a walk along the beach. Then candles were blown out on the birthday cake and wishes were made (as well as slices consumed).

We didn't make it all the way to the end of the Busselton Jetty, the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere at 1.8 kilometres, but we did get to the lowest boardwalk in Ngilgi Cave, which was about twelve storeys below ground.

Surprisingly, the only alcohol imbibed by her all day was a little wine tasting at the lunchtime vineyard. The subsequent case of wine purchased still remains intact this evening (#ShockerIKnow).

Happy 40th Birthday, sis! 😀 💖

Strongwoman Sis on Busselton Jetty

Ngilgi Cave

Yes, that is her non-alcoholic drink

Day 48 (Margaret River) - Saturday 5th November 2016

Nemo and Dory

Call off the search - Nemo and Dory have been found!

On our drive to Margaret River, we stopped off at the Dolphin Discovery Centre at Bunbury. Niece was very excited to see Dory there (I don't think she realised Nemo was there too). We also spotted dolphins out in the bay.

Lunch was at a picturesque vineyard, where sister stocked up as she meant to go on for her special birthday weekend (#SozzledSogAtWineTasting).

Dolphin Discovery Centre

Rock climbing to see dolphins

Aravina Estate vineyard

Enjoying wine at the Aqua Resort

Day 47 (Perth) - Friday 4th November 2016

Match going on in background

Nephews bunked off school today to go to the WACA Ground and watch Day 2 of the Test Match, where Australia were playing against South Africa. (Okay, so youngest nephew might've had permission to go as he was part of a group of boys and girls who were allowed onto the pitch during the cricketers' lunch break to practise their cricketing skills.)

It was a good atmosphere and, when we left mid-afternoon, Australia had just beat South Africa in the first innings (#StillHaveNoClueHowTheScoringWorks).

Day 46 (Melbourne/Perth) - Thursday 3rd November 2016

Melbourne airport

Phew! All my domestic flights are over now - I just have the (v. long) international ones to contend with midway through this month.

Arrived back in Perth safely from Melbourne.

Day 45 (Ramsay Street/Erinsborough/Melbourne - Wednesday 2nd November 2016

Me and Travis Burns (A.K.A. Tyler Brennan in Neighbours)

🎵 Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours... 🎵

I have made it to Erinsborough - hoorah! I'm still getting over the fact I've walked the same street as Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie, to name just a few of the legends who have graced Ramsay Street over the last thirty-one years.

Our tour bus took us to Pin Oak Court in Nunawading, which doubles as Ramsay Street, Erinsborough. Afterwards, we went to the studios and saw Fitzgerald Motors and Grease Monkeys as well as the bus stop that'll take you anywhere in the world (at least, it seems that way if you watch the show), and where we met the lovely Travis Burns and his man-bun. Sadly, we didn't get to see the Lassiter's complex as tours are only allowed there at the weekend, when they're not filming.

This afternoon, I popped into the Lightning Ridge Opal Mines showroom and was given a demonstration on opal cutting and polishing (I also saw my first Huntsman spider and Red Back spider there - the guy who founded the mines was a bit of a Steve Irwin character and keeps the little beasties there). Plus, I visited Melbourne City Library to access the library's WiFi and continue my quest. 😁

Quest tally: three out of eleven

Day 44 (Perth/Melbourne) - Tuesday 1st November 2016

Perth airport

It's the Melbourne Cup today, so I think it's appropriate that I've flown to Melbourne this afternoon. Celebrations have carried on until the evening with men in suits and women in Ascot-style garb still out on the streets.