Wedding!

Wedding. We packed up at Camberwell at 11 and had a good drive to Healesville. The driving was so much smoother as I had looked up advice on the automatic. The air bnb is a loft at the back of the property.on the Marrondah highway. Very comfy I parked in the carport. We went for a walk into the town initially looking for Coles and found a good jewellers where Liz got garnet ear studs to.match her dress. They are heart shaped. Tammy and Michael Robinson picked us up at 3.45 and we were at Zonzo winery at 4. The ceremony was lovely with Ann and Paul reading the Irish blessing. Sarah looked stunning. We met Lennoxes and the Greek family. I videoed a lot on my phone. The.crowns ceremony was nice. The mothers witness the wedding and Clare had the rings. Then canapes and champagne and an Italian sitdown. Antipasto, pizza, lamb and desert. 140 there lots of Lenoxes and Greek family. Good speeches and great  dancing. Particularly loved Mark's speech and the dance. Finished by 10. Lots of wine. It was worth every penny! Woke early thinking of all our lovely family weddings. We had a lie in and I sorted out the orange juice squeezer. All met behind the Healesville hotel for beer and chicken. The weather was perfect. Great chat and really enjoyed chatting to John Marwick. He has played Lear in Wellington. To bookshop. Trekked up hill to Walnut cottage where Ann is staying. More like a stately home! Enjoyed playing with Owen and Max. Owen looks serious but loves a laugh too. Cockatoos and parrots in garden. Bacon and eggs and Ann brought us back in rain.Clare and Mick drive to Sydney tomorrow. They got there safely. Sunday to Mass at Tarramara Abbey Cistercian. Had a chat to the organist who played bird imitations at offertory. One bread one body was painfully slow. Chris Walker Belmont mass.  Tea and met monk from Tonga and the former abbot such a good chat! Connections to Roscrea, Kurisamala ashram and Mount St Bernard. He knows Tony Hemson. To Watts cafe for Stuart's 60th. Very nice pie and tea and good chat. Family photo. Coles to get wine and supper stuff. Trip on Yarra Valley electric railway was lovely. Saw kangaroos. To Ann's and Mark and Sarah were there before returning to Melbourne. Played Aussie scrabble. Good chat. Test going Australia's way but England won! Calls to Owen, Henry and Dennis.
Monday picked up Ann and Paul and to Mocha and Lime for coffee. To Healesville sanctuary which is lovely. koalas, kangaroos, bird show including eagles and parrots, cockatoos, owl. Pie and tea. Bilby, Tasmanian devil, platypus under water. Shop. To Chocalatier for hot chocolate. Shops and later got pizzas. It has been really lovely spending time together.
Tuesday packed and Ann picked up shopping bags left in boot. Smooth journey to Melbourne zoo saw gorillas, lemurs, monkeys , lions, peccaries, sea is and penguins.giraffe, zebra, baboons, Australian birds, wombat, Tasmanian devil, Sumatran tigers, Asian elephants,coati, snow leopards. Really enjoyed it think we have been here.Drive to airport
and car handed in O.K. Would have been better not to pay for not having to fill it up! Wheelchair. 14 hour flight. Watched all 5 episodes of Chernobyl  excellent. Slept a bit, good food. Hour wait for wheelchair! Driven to Shangri-La hotel by a Keralan. Luxurious suite. Had a swim and lovely breakfast. Much discussion about what to do as 35 degrees out there. In the end hotel booked a driver who took us at 1 to old Dubai the museum was very interesting. Amazed by variety and size of modern blocks. Jameillah mosque from outside only one non-Muslims may visit! The Palm is all reclaimed land. Ended at Dubai Mall which is huge. To Burj Khalifa the highest building in the world. The fastest lift 142 stories then walk up. Nowhere to sit. Saw fountains from above and beautiful sunset. Fountains. Wait for hotel bus. Shower and bed. Liz went for swim and tried to login to Emirates. Woke at 12.