Hey Hey and a Big G'Day Toya,

Upon my arrival in Melbourne I took the sky bus into the city. It dropped me off at Spencer Street Station where I stood slacked jawed wondering where the hell I was. When I had lived in Narree Warren our next door neighbour was working at Spencer Street Station helping with all the underground work before the above ground work could begin. By the time the above ground construction began we had sold the house and moved to Queensland.
What the? Where the? WOW!

I took a train to Flinders Street and headed across the Yarra to South Gate to visit my Tribunal pals. I received a warm welcome and we headed out for cold beers and a chat whilst I watched the Melbourne girls walk on by. Summer is a beautiful time anywhere in the world. I spent the night at a friends place.

We sat chatting into the early hours about all the stuff you talk about when you have just given everything up.

Melbourne to me is the greatest city on earth. It has something for everyone no matter what time of the day or night it is or where you are from. I had spent many years living in Melbourne's inner most suburbs. My life was work, music, bands, beer, movies, biking and walking. I was never in a band but most of my friends were and still are jumping around stage.

Brisbane's 'The Onyas', Sydney's 'Astroid B612', Tassie's 'Mustang' and Melbourne's 'Bored' to name a few.

If and when you visit Melbourne head to the Tote Hotel in Collingwood and tell Richie Ramone (yes that is his real name) that Shane sent you. He'll either scream obscenities at you for knowing me or throw you out the door or if your lucky, both. No really, the Tote was the second home.

It's Melbourne's greatest band venue besides Richmond's Corner Hotel.

I preferred Richmond so I always lived a short stumble from The Corner Hotel and drunkenly paid for taxi's home from the Tote. Made no sense then and still doesn't now. Richmond is a much more beautiful part of Melbourne. That's my defence! Both have their fair share of overseas bands, but the Tote sees a lot more local acts. Riche also has his own small Record Label called 'Full Toss Records'.

He re-releases many older bands albums along with current bands.

Mate, if you can't make it to the Tote in person grab a beer, turn up the music N click here

Quick plug: the greatest Australian bands of all time would have to be either Sydney' Def FX or Melbourne's The Underground Lovers. On a more gutter level next in line would be Bored, The Hardons, The Celibate Rifles, Exploding White Mice and anything that Fed Negro (St Kilda) is in, has been in or is conjuring to bring forth from his deranged mind (to name a few; The Brady Bunch Lawn Mower Massacre, The Band Who Shot Liberty Valance, I Spit On Your Gravy, The Gravy Billies &The F*ck F*cks whom at one stage changed their name to the C*nt C*nts as one of the pubs they were playing in insisted they change their name...so they did!

Enough said.

Ok, back to the Travelogue.

Work took up too much time, but for that to happen you must allow it. I spent most of my work years in different Commonwealth Government Tribunals during the day and at night doing the live video links for the AFL Tribunal. The AFL hired both myself and my day time Tribunals court rooms several nights per week.

Hey, I had the dream job of most Aussies whom followed footy. I of course had never followed Footy and had no idea who was who and why the media was trying to break down the door. I got to have dinner with the Tribunal each night and listen to a lot of Law and Police talk as that's whom made up the AFL Tribunal, QC's, Police and ex-Police. I'm unsure about currently as they have gone through big changes. I found that more exciting than footy and footy players.

I would usually be reading Lonely Planet guides.

Both jobs gave me many perks such as free footy tickets, black tie do's and dinners at the MCG with all the big wigs, access to free door lists at certain band venues and great views of Melbourne city, Western Port Bay, the Dandenong Ranges, the or THE MCG (sorry guys) and the cities garden areas...a 360 degree view baby! Both were great jobs, paid a heap of money and I got to meet the 'those and thems' from the court room to the footy field. I had to say good bye on two separate occasions before I could finally let go of it and the people within.

Once in 1999 and the second and final time in 2003.

In the morning I made my way back to Flinders Street Station, boarded a V/Line train and I comfortably railed into Gippsland. I was met by my family with huge smiles, a couple of tears and some very cold beers from bro. I spent the following few days at my brothers and then headed back to the Kettles (Mar N Par) where I stayed for the next week.

It was fantastic to be home and spend time with the Kettles.

We spent breakfast, lunch and dinner together each day. It had been many years, maybe too many years. I met up with friends I had not seen for several years one of whom works in the retail industry. One sunny after noon I left his store with a 40 gig iPod for the price of a 20 gig and several other small items. I busied myself for many hours trying to figure out a 10,000 song, song list to fill my iPod.

It's much harder than you think!

On the 16th January I said my sad good byes to my family and I headed back into the city to then head back out of the city but on a different side. I stayed with the person whom had been and still is the most special person in my life. Late the next afternoon we said our very sad good byes and I headed back into the Law Courts. I stayed at a buddy's new abode. In fact I slept on his surfboard cover. If you haven't tried one, give it ago.

Heaps of padding and very comfortable.

The beach smell reminded me all too much of the coast I had just left. I sat wondering whether I was doing the right thing. All too early the alarm went off and I grabbed a taxi to the Melbourne Airport where after a few hours delay I waved good bye to the greatest city on earth, my friends and family and what was my past.

***** Why have I written all of the above when I was actually never going to?
(I finally sat to write it on Wednesday, 22nd February 2006)

Several people have contacted me through my Travelogue and have asked me many questions about my past and the hows and whys to the question of teaching over seas. I don't mind writing about it, I just never thought anyone would actually want to know.

For those reading this and are either travelling or considering travelling, join Travelpod, live your life's dreams and truthfully tell people about the stories that make up your past that then allow for your future! Don't question what you have no way of knowing the truth of, especially if you are also writing publicly about yourself and expect others to believe your writings! That's also for the misery guts whom questioned my Trans Siberian adventure.

Travelpod is for family and friends to keep in touch. It's for those whom have the eternal flame that creates the courage to leave the safety of their homes for destinations far and wide. It's also for those whom like to sit back comfortably with a hot cuppa, relax, read about it and happily write to the writer of the Travelogue with their questions.

It's not for your criticism and unfair judgement!

Enough said, please read on and enter the world that has now become My China.

Beers N Noodles Toya...shane