You might see that I've missed a day.... Got a little snowed under holidaying, so will merge two days into one.

Thursday morning awoke feeling less tired than I had going to bed ... But still a little sleepy. Thought I had better use some of the food I had purchased so cooked up some toasted rye vegan style toasties. A smear of smashed avocado as a base. An assortment of toppers ranging from olives, cherry tomatoes and or dairy free cheese. All with a liberal seasoning of sea salt and cracked pepper. I stole one of the coffee pods and made a soy coffee...

Fed and watered I went in search of Bernard. Found him in the computer room. "Hey" said he... "Let me show you my VR goggles." "Sure" said I.

So the next hour or so was an experience. I walked around in virtual rooms, flew to the moon in a space shuttle, even attempted to pilot a Hawk jet fighter... Crashing both flights mind you. Bernard does have the best gadgets. The down side was Bernard told me the price of his little toy.. Way out of my budget. But then he said. "You know there is a much cheaper version that works with your new phone" that was it . We needed to go shopping and investigate.

We opted for a train ride into Melbourne city. So a short drive to the Berwick station. I got to use my Myki for the second time. Bernard took me to the Samsung shop. I'm so glad we don't have one in Perth. Otherwise I'd be poor. There as the wireless charger I have been looking at online and a battery life extender.... All the perks. Asked the guy about the VR goggles so he got some out and I had a demo. While I was traveling up on the train I did some googling to find out all about them. The normal retail price was over $200. So I was sure I was not going to buy one.... But after having a play with one and finding out they were on special for $159... I succumbed to the pressure and purchased one.

Next stop was lunch.... Found a nice vegan curry and rice mmmm. Bernard looked around
at some games and hobby shops he was rather interested in a remote control car... He had alway wanted one as a kid he said but he didn't want to spend the money as he was building a house. That didn't stop him looking.we must have gone to a dozen hobby shops.

I thought I should visit the local harley dealer so looked them up there were three listed. One we had passed on the way in on the train.. And two in Melbourne. I noticed one was a Frasers motorcycles. So thought that would be the one I should visit. I might be able to purchase the antenna I needed to replace the one on my bike and get it shipped one Frasers to another so I didn't have to take it back on the plane .

Following my personal challenge to travel on as many different means of transport possible... Bernard suggested we take the tram up Elizabeth street to the dealer... And that's what we did. Alighted the tram and walked up the remainder of Elizabeth street... Past an Indian dealer and a victor dealer... Must be the road of bikes. Got to Frasers and asked about Ye antenna. Sorry mate was the answer they only deal in Ducati and triumph motorcycles.... Oh well that's a spanner in the plan.

I decided not to pursue the other dealer. I thought it was time to play tourist. So we jumped back on the tram and headed to flinders st station then made our way to yet another hobby shop. Then on to federation square for a coffee at the Lindt chocolate shop. From the shop we made our way to look at the Yarra river, where I spied some ferries, yet another form of transport I could possibly add to the collection.

Walking on the bridge over the Yarra I spied the MCG in the distance . We had passed right by it in the train on the way in but I was not quick enough to get a photo before we went underground. So this was a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. photo op.

Heading back towards flinders st station we passed a few horse drawn carriages, yet another candidate for the transport collection. Luckily enough we found the terminus for the carriages just outside flinders street station. I asked about prices and bookings. $100 for hr ... And you need to book..... So maybe.... It's more money to waste.. So maybe not...

Caught the train at flinders st station towards home. Not sure of the time but it must have been after school knock off time as the train was full of school students. There was a group of girls from the look of their uniforms, from a private girls school. They had their laptops out and we're working on a joint project of some sort. It was cool to see the enthusiasm they had and the professionalism in which they swapped thumb drives and discussed different aspects of their project. So unlike what I would have expected. Maybe it was due to the fact they were from a private school or maybe I just underestimate young people of today.. Not sure.

From the train station Bernard took me to see the display home of the house he an Phoenix are building. Unfortunately it was closed until Saturday . So we didn't get to walk through. We did though then go to their plot of land and see where the house will actually stand when it is built..... You wouldn't believe the Name of the street..... Lineham drive... I kid you not.... Lol

Arriving home I thought I had better cook some more of the food I had bought so made myself a stir fry while Bernard filled up on " puffy dogs" ( a kind of sausage roll with frankfurters in).

After dinner I broke out the new VR goggles and attached them to my phone. After a few downloads and upgrades I was again in the world of virtual reality. I must have spent some time " away with the fairies". As by the time I surfaced Bernard said he was ready for bed..... So shortly after that ... I did the same. Caught up on some face booking and emails then hit the Zs myself.

Friday morning... Woke up around 8am. Today was the day of Bernard's house inspection. So we couldn't really leave the house until they rocked up . And in a typical agents way they had given a massive window of between 9am and 1:30 pm..... I spent the time catching up on blogs. Cooked some more of my food... Malcolm's fry up special... Mushrooms butter beans tomatoes corm garlic etc ... All fried up and served on rye toast. Delicious!

The agent arrived around 10:30 or 11am.. I'm not exactly sure spent a few moments looking around, but was more interested in the robot vacuum that was scooting around the floor.

With all the walking over the past few days I have worn holes in the bottom of my shoes.... So thought id buy some new ones..... I'm not sure how I got the idea but I started thinking about doc martens. Maybe for the cushioned soles.... My feet are really starting to hurt...

I spoke to Bernard yesterday about it and he had taken me to a shoe shop that sold them.... But when I got there I didn't like the look of the shop... I'm not sure what it was ... It seemed to me to be too much of a young people's shop... I didn't feel comfortable walking
In so I bailed.....

Bernard gave me a hard time about that.. But still suggested I went back to another store he had found and get the docs..... He finally convinced me to go have a look.... So today we went out to a few places.. Shopping... One was even another hobby store, and yes Bernard finally bought the remote control car he had been procrastinating about for days... Then said.. Well if I'm spending money I might as well get a helicopter too.. And did just that.

Next stop was the DM store he had found.... I walked in and instantly felt good... They had brothel creepers and doc and a wide range of other shoes. The place was attached to a shoe mending facility... It just felt right... On top of that the docs were on special..... So instead of paying in excess of $200... I could get a pair for $150. Sold I thought.... I haven't worn docs since I was in the band another lifetime ago ..... Cool

Home again with out purchases..Bernard played outside with his new car, chasing the dog and cats.. While I added some more to this blog. After a while Bernie was inside playing with the helicopter.. Still harassing the animals....

Bernard had spoken earlier about a slot car set Phoenix had bought him and that he wanted to now pull that out and have a go..... So for the next while we were formula one drivers flying around the track at break neck speed... We soon found it was an unfair track as in one lane if you took a certain corner too fast you left the track and went flying across the infield... Whilst the other lane was navigated with ease. So we then took turns in inside lane and outside lane. The object now was to be the first one to win a race using the terror lane.... This was all pretty cool. I can't remember having a slot car set as a child... Maybe I should buy myself one... What more money wasted you say...lol

The plan for the evening was to pick Phoenix up from the airport then make outer way to a pub in Melbourne to listen to a band Bernard had found..... So time to get ready and go.

The trip from Bernard's to the airport is rather a long one.... We had fun finding the right terminal as like my efforts in Perth with virgin... Jet star now has a new terminal at Melbourne airport... So second attempt we made it to the correct terminal and picked up a very tired Phoenix. After some deliberation about weather to go see the band or not we dropped into the pub... I had a pint while the other two chilled.. We then noticed the band did not come on until 10pm... A little late... So we decided to find somewhere to grab some dinner then come home.... B&P Being tired opted to go to bed early.... So I am now lying on my bed finishing off this issue of the blog. And with that said... Let me say this..... Good night.