He doesn't 'do' photos though so nothing to see.
Rhonda and I headed into the city (by car) and went for a walk around the Botanical Gardens, which cover 38 hectares of the inner city. Thanks to the city providing free 3 hour parking in the street alongside the gardens we drove in rather than use bus, tram or train. I was very happy to be chauffered around the suburbs and down into the city.
The gardens were lovely, not a lot of flowers in bloom but lovely, huge trees, green lawns and great views to the high rise of the city.
We enjoyed the 5,000 square metre Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden. Designed as a discovery area for children of all ages and abilities.
Rhonda and I walked and walked and talked and talked all around the gardens and then went home for lunch.
Gary and Michael arrived about 30 minutes after us.
We had a lazy afternoon and in the evening took Rhonda. Gary and two of their daughters, Merryn and Lauren (Megan is married and living across the city) out to a local Thai restaurant.
There was some initial confusion over the BYO status - something about only one bottle of beer on the table. We explained that the second bottle was non-alcoholic and therefore constituted a soft drink and the confusion evaporated.
The meal was absolutely fantastic. Light, spicy and very, very tasty.
The next day, Merryn went to work, we left Lauren at home and the four of us 'oldies' went up into the Dandenongs. We arrived in the village of Sassafrass at 10:45. The best restaurant in the area - Miss Marple's Tea Rooms opens at 11:00 so we sat outside and waited so were first through the door when it opened.
The restaurant owner shares our view that the one and only Miss Marple is Margaret Rutherford and her photos are all around the walls.
The food is excellent, although the portions are huge! Rhonda decided to forgo a meal and went just for dessert - a Vicar's Folly.... My God this really was HUGE.
After lunch we walked up the village main street, going into one of my favourite shops - Geppetto's Workshop. I have never seen so many wonderful puppets, and toys you cannot go up to the Dandenongs without visiting this shop. Their website states "We choose products made from wood where possible and we avoid batteries … we feel the kids should make the sounds rather than the toy! We’ve filled our stores with the world’s most creative and distinctive toys and puppets that reflect traditional values. Our products will remind you of your childhood and of the toys and experiences you and your family had when young."
A real delight.
We then got back into the car and drove to a couple of scenic lookouts before our main destination - William Ricketts Sanctuary. Cottage and Gallery.
Rhonda had actually met the man himself visited the place in the seventies. The artist himself died in 1993.
The art work is, what can I say, Strange. Weird. Maybe paternalistic. Different.
We all formed different opinions as we walked around. Afterwards we had a lively, enjoyable, discussion with the ranger/receptionist. Certainly a place worth visiting to see his work and get your mind working.
That night Lauren cooked us a lovely spaghetti bolognese dinner and we chatted until late.
The next day, Saturday, it was time for us to move on.
After breakfast we dug the boards out of the lawn and leaving a lasting impression drove out of Melbourne onto the M1, Princes Highway eastwards.
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