A very scary surprise?

I managed to wake up early and get down to meet K & J for breakfast. We walked to the Radison to be picked up for the Neighbours tour. There were lots of trams in our street which was the main pick up area to get out to the Grand Prix so just by chance we ended up in the most convenient place. The Neighbours tour was very good and I really enjoyed being in 'Ramsey Street' which is actually called Pin Oak Court. Standing outside the houses was really strange. It looks much better cared for on the TV than it actually is. They have a security guard on duty so that you do not go onto any of the properties. I have to say if I lived there it would drive me mad. I think they must be paid a lot of money to allow the filming. We were then taken to the set at the studios and saw the hotel, the lake, Charlies Bar and Harold's for those of you who watch it!! It is really small and yet it all looks so big on the programme. I loved it and it was a really good Mother's Day present and one I will never forget. They tell you that you will meet one of the characters, past or present!!! Ours was very past!!! When she got onto our bus not many people recognised her which was a bit embarrassing to say the least. She used to play Janelle and I really liked her when she was in the programme about two years ago but she has lost a lot of weight since and looked nothing like her character.!!!! However, she was very nice to chat to and signed our cards and told us lots of things about the programme. We also picked up lots of tit bits from our guide about future story lines which are about to happen. We got back to the hotel and set off out in the car to take James on his surprise birthday trip that Kirsty had organised for him. James was not a happy boy and I could feel the vibes coming from the back of the car and felt very uncomfortable. He had wanted to stay in and watch the qualifying for the Grand Prix. It is quite a long drive to Geelong o typical Aussie roads ie nothing much on them and not many places to stop for lunch!!!! I was getting edgy by now but we eventually found a place for lunch but still had a way to go for the airfield and I was wishing Kirsty would tell James where we were going. We finally arrived and we saw a lovely red helicopter and James thought we were all going up in that and then as we got round to the back of the building Kirsty pointed out this old Japanese fighter plane and told him he was going up in that!!! I really didn't think he would do it as he did not look impressed more like a rabbit caught in headlights!!! we had to wait as the weather had not been good and there was one man still waiting to go up. The clouds broke up and they took off and came back safely. We hadn't been able to see the plane due to the cloud but it was breaking up all the time so by the time James took off it was pretty clear. We could see the plane in the distance and all I can say is I am glad I was not in it. It did loops and flips and flew upside down and then straight up in the air and then just dropped. When they landed he looked happy but when he got out of the plane his legs were like jelly but he said he had enjoyed it. We then drove to Point Lonsdale a little way along the coast and all part of the Huge area that is Melbourne Harbour even though it took us over an hour to drive down there. James was looking a little green and I asked Jon to stop so I could take some photos and James enjoyed some fresh air!! We carried on down to a lighthouse where there were three wedding parties having photos taken in gale force winds. The sea at this point, so I had read, makes a big rip where it comes in and I have never seen such a rough and vicious looking sea and I am sure nobody could swim in it but it is a very beautiful spot. We managed to get a phone signal there and huddled in a corner and phoned Heather for our daily catch up. I was feeling very guilty leaving her on her own in NZ but she was fine. James was by now feeling much better so we set off on the long drive back to the hotel. After a shower we all went out to Docklands for dinner, this time we caught a taxi as it was cold and windy. We went to a Brazilian churascaria which was not the best but we had a nice evening. The lights were turned out for Earth Hour during the evening and the waitress knocked our ice bucket over along with all our fizzy wine. Kirsty and I had only had one glass each from the bottle and they brought us another one. We had eaten so much the walk back to the hotel was very welcome or I don't think I would have been able to sleep. WEATHER Cloudy most of the day with a few sunny spells 20 degrees.