Thursday, June 02, 2005

Marcia II, Cherie going astray and Melbourne's temptations

Due to public request here another post from the sensational and amazing SB. In tonight's exposé I am going to examine the naming procedures for whales, the almost magical appeal 2nd hand CD shops have on weak souls like the mine, the limitations of GPS Navigation system on outback roads and other highly interesting topics of current relevance. I will conclude with a comparison of different pepper grinder mechanisms.

Before we get started our appartement centre would like to advice that they are not - as reported by MB - called "Darling Manor" but "The Manor House".
http://www.cyberoo.com.au would like to advise that by mentioning a company name MB has breached our sponsorship contract and that a decision on the action which will be taken is pending.

Our journey to Melbourne started with an excessive takeaway breakfast consisting of a takeaway quiche, which MDR bought at a convenience store earlier that morning, and takeaway pizza, which was left over from dinner. During breaky Uncle Pat, who had just turned 86, gave us a visit and provided us with some high class entertainment, i.e. storys from his latest holidays and a brief history of Warrnambol and region (BTW, I'm not being ironic, his knowledge is amazing and the accounts of his travels are highly enjoyable). He himself is amazing, travels through the world and administers his website www.home.austarnet.com.au/pfxcrowe (this link was kindly authorized by http://www.cyberoo.com.au).

Because the local newspaper (or rather - advertisement paper) had reported whale sightings, we decided to have a look at the local whale sighting platform, joining about 30 other tourists from all over the globe who waited patiently for the whale to surface. Unfortunately that cow decided to swim to another bay (no, that's not an insult but the term for female whale) so we only saw the "smoke" (that's what the local whale watching guide called that water they splash up) and although Marcia insisted on staying a bit longer we didn't get to see anything else.

However MB wasn't happy with that and decided to ask the guide random questions instead, including the fatal one that will be revealed in due time.

PLEASE WAIT FOR DUE TIME UNTIL YOU CONTINUE READING!
You will know when due time is - usually it ocurrs within five to seven minutes, however those times may vary.
To make your wait a little shorter, why don't you visit our sponsor's website, http://www.cyberoo.com.au...

Here the fatal question, which MB asked the whale watching guide because there was nothing else to do: "And what is this whale called?".
Whale guide: "Well, what's your name, lady?"
MB: "Marcia."
Guide: "Well, we'll call it Marcia for today."
Well, it was meant to be amusing and we grinned friendly but then Marcia turned it into a laugh for all by saying "Oh thanks, that'll give new material for all those 'stranded whale' jokes about me." - Good one MB!

After I had to stand next to a stupid sign for about 5 minutes so MB could take a photo without tourist walking through the frame we re-boarded our vehicle and found out that most of the sights we wanted to see on the way were to insignificant for Cherie to know (it's only the Twelve Apostles, nothing important...) and we had to give her a place much further down the coast. Luckily we are all capable of reading signs and so we stopped at the right spots anyway. MB and MDR took about five minutes to get into warm gear before getting out of the car while I decided to toughen up for when I go back to germany and wore a t-shirt only (well, sometimes a jumper).

At Laver's Hill (or something like it) we left the Great Ocean Road and headed to Colac to do the rest of our trip on the Princes Highway. Unfortunately they must have changed the road slightly and Cherie got totally lost and told us to do U-turns all the way to Colac, and even there she didn't quite know where we were. Finally MDR got fed up and punched her, after which - surprisingly - she worked fine again.

We drove all the way to Queenscliff, from where we caught the ferry across the inlet. We had about half an hour time before departure, so we decided to have lunch (leftover quiche and leftover pizza) and we also did a quick trip around the town (MDR: "Our ferry goes at four, so be back by..." MB: "I know, five to four" MDR: "No, quarter to four, it's a ferry, it won't wait for us" and so on for three minutes).

We made it to the ferry on time and while MB and me relaxed for a hile, MDR took the camera and inspected the whole boat and asked the crew questions about the features. I did an exploration of my own and stayed on deck for a while, however due to the weather I was the only person outside and got rather bored so I joined MB and MDR (who had retuned) again. We read various newspapers, chewed nibblies and MDR also chewed on his glasses, which was commented by a three year old kid with a clearly audible "Mum, look what he'ds doing to his glasses", which MDR answered with "He's eating them".
Little kid: "Why are you doing that?"
MDR: "Because they're tasty!"
MB to MDR: "Why don't you offer him a try?"

We finally arrived in Melbourne and checked into our appartement, which offers all the luxuries of modern city life, including a tram line and a metro station just around the corner, which means we have to keep the windows closed at night or we wouldn't be able to sleep, but on the other hand the good thing about living next to the train station is that it's not far to walk home (hope you're getting that reference to a famous Aussie comedy...).

But the location is superb, within one kilometre there are about 17 CD shops and indeed I already bought a second hand Shania DVD and a second hand Shania CD.

It's also got a swimming pool, however when using it you feel like in a fish tank because it's got a hige window to the entry area...

MB is on the lookout for a new peppergrinder and at the moments got her eyes fixed on one costing a hprrendous amount of money, which I find not fit for your o'erlooking (that's from Shakespearre's King Lear). She's not sure whther to get a ceramic mechanism or a stainless steel mechanism yet, and although I promised a discussion about it, I haven't got a clue either, so please send any suggestions!
SB
P.S.: If you find a typo you may keep it!

3 comments:

pauly said...

poor whale..

as for the grinder, just go for the most expensive one. that's bound to be better, no?

oh, i happened to come by this cool website the other day, check it out - http://lostinjp.blogspot.com/

Paul said...

Wow, that was one of the funniest posts I've ever read. Very realistic MDR observations. Might be better leaving out the Shakespear until you grammar improves but apart from that - wunderbarr

MB said...

Just to update those of you who are breathlessly anticipating news of the pepper grinder. I bought a $25 Maxwell & Williams grinder at the Myer sale. It has a carbon steel mechanism and has a huge capacity. I won't be refilling it so often, one of my main beefs with the current one I have at home.