When the Cheshire emerges...

So we come to Sunday. The trip home. I had moved out of my room on Saturday night to accommodate for family friends who were passing through to Melbourne; Tigger's looking at me probably knowing I shouldn't be in Mel's bed. Felt sad as I left the house, it had a real homely feel and I'd enjoyed my stay. Glad they kept the food from the care package I brought up, otherwise Mum would've killed me!

The road trip with Mel ended up being an awesome day. Took our time for a safer trip, Mel had promised we'd go through Penola so we stopped to see Mary Mackillop's school. We'd gotten there during mass (being a Sunday morning) and as such was the only time the tour wasn't open. Pity, but I did get a few photos through the window. This is the chick they want to consider a saint. She taught in country SA. That's unreal. Penola's lovely, I got coconut roughs from the sweet shop that I can feel rotting my teeth and we encountered a headless bride that moved and talked. It was almost lifesize; she was holding her head by the hair and if you pushed the button on her hand she moved from side to side saying some weirrrrd shit. "I just wanted this day to be... perfect *sobs*". It was so loud, and in a secluded part of the store it was the creeeepiest thing in the world. Wish I took a photo...

Passed a lovely cottage just outside Padthaway, Mel had always wanted to have a look. We turned back and went in the estate. It was for Padthaway Wines and we ended up spending an hour in their cellar on a wine tasting journey. The woman was amazingly knowledgable and we learnt a lot. Not to mention that the wine was incredibly good. They sell their stuff at the Ed's cellar so think there will be a trip there in the near future.

Weird guy in Tailem Bend's Subway that spilt Coke all over the door was the only other major thing. Lotta singing, lotta chips and almond bread consumed and some hours later we were back. Still feel weird being home. Although I was excited to see that my tickets for My Sister's Keeper had come in the mail. And as I was alerted to by Mel I've never been away from my family this long. Good to see familiar faces. Missed everyone. Found myself back at Macca's with the girls just before (minus Nav who's left for Singapore. Major sadness.) and it almost feels like I never left. Just feel I had a lot of stories to tell and something to show for it. Great experience, so so happy I went down there for my internship. Would gladly go again. Hope Erin has a good week for hers this week! Feel a bit worldly having travelled a bit more than normal in 2009. Although that only stretches across two states I've learnt different things on every trip and it helps me grow. The trip to the Mount most certainly did.

Nelly Furtado put it so well! I'm going to try and condense this into the shortest nutshell possible so it's not too much of a windy bore.

So I'm home now, still awake after a long day. My weekend was awesome and I can't believe my Mt Gambier trip is all over. I was slack writing last night because there wasn't enough time! However, I did the following:

Went to the community markets they hold every Saturday morning... bought a 'lucky rock' for $1 (!) but was shattered that the stall I would've spent a fortune at was closed. It had a selection of 300+ movie posters and one of Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights' was displayed. Was practically in tears. Total jip. Mel took me to their main op shop and was heavily tempted to buy a dress but stopped myself. Discovered I was on the hunt for a beanie (to watch the hockey later on) and Mel found a vodka Cruiser one that was so classy. Er, not. Bought Mel a Wicker Bear collectable to add to her collection from an antique store, bought myself my souvenir pin (yay!), and then there was the Cave Gardens...

Mt Gambier has numerous sinkholes, this one in the middle of the town. A real shame that someone had dumped a rubbish bin off the lookout, it's such a beautiful form of nature. These male tourists with kids were also there but wasn't really paying attention to them until the Scottish accent asks me where I go after I die. Uh, what? I thought you were mocking preachers when you gave Mel the pamphlet. Got to be kidding me. Said I hope there's an upstairs, gives me the pamphlet too and we skidaddle right outta there. How uncomfortable.

See Mel's bridal dress, no time to try it on because a chick Mel happens to know was being helped and gave us daggers... must've heard Mel saying she'd hate to be a pregnant bride. As I found out, that's the Mount for ya. Met fellow bridesmaid Petra for the first time with her bf, 4 of us went shopping in 'the mall' (their Centro) and I found a beanie! Well, one of the cool hat-beanies from Just Jeans, it's awesome. Lunch was at Sorrento's, chicken risotto = amazing. Great great food.

Other sights included the Centenary Tower (but only the base, it was raining so we couldn't make the trek up for the view), Valley Lake and surrounds (in which we were inside a VOLCANO!). Mel was the most knowledgable tour guide, she told me about the lava rocks, the lake, the histories, it was so great. Even personal stuff like her schools kept me occupied. Sat night was James' hockey game - WestPort vs Redbacks (in which came his first goal in 3 years - to say both he and us went nuts was an understatement). Quite fun although we were in the minority of supporters and the score was 3-3. Would like to see more hockey. Found out the whole Kelly family's played for West at some point, it's in the blood!

Ended the day losing my American Pie virginity. Not enlightened or proud but now I don't have to face people who can't believe I haven't seen such a generic film. Thought it'd be funnier - Sex Drive was hilarious. I thought AP started the trend...

I've seen more of SA this year than I have my whole life... first Kadina for the work experience at their paper and now to Mt Gambier where I'm doing my internship at Win-TV. Have a 5-6hr bus ride ahead of me. May update this again if I'm bored. But I'm kinda excited. And nervous. Still have to get ready...