Melbourne - Top 10 Memories

We had been in Perth for around 5 months following our move back from London in December 2007 and the birth of Giles in January when Simon was relocated to Melbourne by the company he was working for at the time. We started off in 1 bed short-stay digs and ended up owning a fantastic apartment in South Yarra in a great location that became the basis for so many good times and an unbeatable quality of day to day living.

As our time in Melbourne draws to an end, I am reflecting on the things I have enjoyed most in this city. It has been a fantastic place to live for the past few years and it is definitely one of my all time favourite places ever.

These are in no particular order.

1. Weekends Away

From the summer weekends spent camping in Torquay and the Great Ocean road to caravan trips on the Murray River, Melbourne has so many great camping spots within mere hours from the city. We had a resurgence of finding a place on a map, packing up the car and setting up for a couple of nights. What made it more fun was a good group of fellow campers to share it with, there is nothing like a good red shared around the campfire at night.

2. Markets

Melbourne is a market-lovers (that would be me) paradise. It has it all - vintage clothing markets in Camberwell, farmers markets in several locations every weekend, and once-a-month specialty markets in Fitzroy, Collingwood and lots of other places!

3. Chapel Street

Aaah Chapel Street - how do I love thee, let me count the ways!!! It was beyond amazing to have this winding street of endless shopping just around the corner from me... If I could pick up a section of Melbourne and take it with me where ever I went, it would be Chapel st.

4. Walking into the City

Most Friday afternoons included a walk into the city to meet up with Simon after work. It was a lovely walk from our place, along the Yarra river - especially enjoyed in spring and summer with the sun shining down through the trees and the school kids rowing up and down the river along the way.

5. Inner City Living

Some may think I am crazy for loving apartment and inner city living, but I think it can't be beaten. I have driven the car no more than 5 times in 3 years as everything I need is so close by. I love to watch the hustle and bustle and general life going on all around me and being a short walk from fantastic shopping, cafes, restaurants, parks, botanical gardens and galleries means going out is easily done, which means you do it all the time, which makes life far more interesting!

6. Interstate Visitors

Alot of you loved Melbourne too and we got to play host to lots of family and friends who stayed with us. This was alot of fun and we really enjoyed having people stay with us and getting to show them around.

7. Skiing

We only did this once but it was great to spend a week in the snow at Falls Creek, a 3 hour drive from Melbourne - we have all the gear now so hopefully it won't be the last time.

8. My job

I never thought I would go back to work but the opportunity was there from the company I worked for in London, which happened to have a Melbourne office not far from where we live. Working a few days a week is awesome - all the perks of professional life and then you get a 4 day weekend every week! My company has looked after me and given me interesting work dealing with offices across the entire Asia Pacific region, and travel opportunities, and I am really appreciative of this.

9. The local park and libraries

There is a lovely park a couple minutes walk from our place and Giles has spent alot of time here over the past couple of years. The library is across the road and is by far the best I have ever come across - the range of magazines is huge and it has the widest range of books and always the latest DVDs. Giles even had a baby reading group here in 2008!

10. Giles - baby to toddler

Giles was 4 months when we arrived and is 2.5 years now. Our time in Melbourne is punctuated by his development from wee baby to independant toddler. From those endless nights awake with him as a baby that wouldn't sleep through the night (!!), to watching him learn to sit, crawl, and walk, take over 15 flights, play at the park, find books to read at the library, go to swimming lessons, and be my constant companion on shopping excursions up Chapel street - my time in Melbourne will always be fondly looked on as a special time watching Giles grow into the little personality he is now.