The first television show I watched here (by mistake, of course) was Neighbours. One character said to another "you big galah". I found out that a galah is a bird and today, I saw a pair of galahs - aka the rose-breasted cockatoo!

We sadly checked out of Chateau Yering and headed the hour's drive to Mornington Peninsula - a stunning scenic part of Melbourne. We met up with the Horseback Winery Tours and my guide was Paul Walkling.

With my wonderful & calm horse - Henry - we rode through some stunning parts of the area & vineyards. The tour is the only one of its kind in Victoria.

We finally arrived at Ten Minutes by Tractor - a wine producer/restaurant. The food here was incredibly good ...

After our sumptuous meal, we then drove the 25 minutes to The Peninsula Hot Springs ... an area of natural hot mineral springs. There are just over 45 pools here that range from 42 degrees to freezing plunge pools. My guide through a few of them was Aleshia Commons. We are smiling in this photo - but actually, I am grimacing as this tub was rather too hot for me!

As REALLY was this one!

I let Aleshia jump into the freezing plunge-pool before me ... ladies first - of course!

We did finally jump in together!

All smiles, DESPITE the smell of sulphur and bubbly feet!

After jumping in & out of the pools for an hour, my personal guide left me while I headed up to the Arabian Tent for a refreshing massage! Thank you Sally ..!

The afternoon was great fun ... and even though I whined about the heat in the pool, I felt very calm & alive after it!

We then all drove 90 minutes into the centre of the city and checked into the Crown Towers. I have a suite on the 24th floor with incredible views.

Dinner was a lovely affair at Koko - the signature Japanese restaurant! Terriyaki & sake ... hmmmm ...

I WILL sleep well tonight!

Song of the Day: This Love - Maroon 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebKZ9J3AsTs

Weather: Hot ... and occasionally showery ...

My (incredible) Day: Part 2

At 5 pm we drive 10 minutes to Healesville Sanctuary. Attracting 350,000 visitors a year, the Sanctuary is filled with over 200 species of Australian animals & birds ... my "animal guide" for the evening Homo Sapiens Sweetus Maximus - Sue Jaensch (aka Sue Dingo). I am the ONLY guest in the Sanctuary!

First up, a meeting with the Emu. There were 4: Eenie, Meanie, Miny and Mo ... I fed Eenie and Mo ... or was it Miny and Meanie ...

Then I got in with the kangaroos - both red & grey - and spent 15 incredible minutes feeding them!

I made many friends including Trevor and Jessica and Boomer ... and and .... all VERY tame and very loving! I could have taken them ALL home ... I have never kissed or been kissed by a kangaroo - yesterday, I was!

Then off to see the grumpy but happy koalas (that are NOT bears!). This one Maya was coaxed down with euchalyptus and did't mind being stroked.

and petted!

Next up, a delicious meal - provided by the Healesville Hotel - where I had one final visitor - Sue's baby, Kuma. He liked the idea of ...

table dining ..

he liked being hand fed flat-bread!

and didn't mind being stroked as he ate!

He did eventually settle and left us to finish our meal! Dingoes ... are glorious animals ... !

WHAT A BRILLIANT EVENING! WHAT A BRILLIANT DAY!

My Day - Part 1 :

Up at 0600 and we drive 20 minutes to the launch site for my hot air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley.

My pilot is Chris Dodson from Global Ballooning ...

It has a capacity of 150,000 cubic foot ...

and I am allowed inside it!

Hot air ... and we are off

An ox-bow lake from 1000 ft ....

Back to the lovely hotel for 0830 breakfast ....

Drive to the Domaine Chandon winery ...

Meet up with Mat Janes ... Domaine Chandon is part of the LVMH group is sister to Moet & Chandon which hails from Epernay in France

The view from The Riddling Room of the vineyard ....

Hectares of vines .... lovely wines ....

Wine-tasting with Mat ... my favourite is a sparkling red ... DELICIOUS!

Song of the Day: Word Up - Cameo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZjAantupsA

Weather: Hot & humid ...

I am getting old. How do I know this? Well, I am suffering - for the first time - from jet-lag! I have always got over it in a day but on this trip, I seem to be coping quite badly to the extent that last last night I was in bed by 10.30 (I am writing this diary entry at 4 am!) totally wiped out and sadly forfeited delicious desserts! I also seem to have deleted a whole load of photos from my day! There's a moral in there somewhere ...

Anyway - GREETINGS from Chateau Yering in the Yarra Valley. It was "filming on property day" today and we got through an enormous amount.

Arrival by helicopter from Yarra Valley Helicopters. The hotel has 250 acres of land ... stretching down to the Yarra River ... and it looks amazing from the air. In 2009, a huge fire swept this area, killing over 170 people. It's taken a year but surely, the Yarra Valley has come back from the brink and there much more green than black visible ...

I arrived in a R-44 ... a small but extremely cute helicopter!

I was greeting by the wonderful General Manager Sue O'Brien who has been looking after us so well that they boys have already remarked that they don't want to leave! Don't get me wrong, I totally agree!

A brief "borrowed" history lesson now:

"This welcoming property in the European tradition is surrounded by historically significant gardens. It is a fitting tribute to Paul de Castella, a Swiss immigrant who established this superb residence in 1854.

The accommodation at Chateau Yering consists of 32 suites individually decorated with different color schemes. Word has spread quickly of the high standard of food and accommodation and the accommodation is full on most weekends.

This heritage listed Victorian mansion on 250 acres, borders the Yarra River and is set amidst established gardens dating from 1854. The luxury period accommodation and award winning Eleonore's Restaurant boast some of the best rural vistas in Victoria, while the lounges and sitting room are a showcase for fine paintings and antique furniture."

I have a Yarra Suite - around 50 square metres in area. Bathroom, lovely bedroom (complete with cat) ...

Living room and suite-hugging balcony ... and views to the Great Dividing Range and Yarra River! These photos got lost - will take more later today!

Eleonore's Restaurant is run by chef Mathew Macartney. He prepares some brilliant, original dishes using local produce as much as he can. It's a popular restaurant in the area and if Michelin was down here, he would be starred. The desserts are to die for! He taught me how to make a truffle ravioli today ... YUM!

The hotel also has a cafe with contemporary cuisine, the Oak Room (conferences & weddings) and the Bar where the property's Food & Beverage manager Cameron Hogarth prepared the "house cocktail" which included Canadian Club whisky and Cointreau ... it was STRONG!

To end the day, Sue and I drove 10 minutes to visit some roo-poo courtesy ...

of the local wild kangaroos! There are around 300 of these happy & sweet looking creatures bouncing around in two mobs ...

Just 45 minutes out of the city ... and nature takes over. A great way to end a filming day ...

Up early as I am off hot-air ballooning!

Song of the Day: Dream a Little Dream - Louis Armstrong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-xzfwDAn1I

Weather: Hot, hot & hot!

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY to The Goring in London!

The one hour stop at wonderful Changi Airport in Singapore was a blur! Jumped off the plane and into a shower and still had time for a quick diary entry before catching the QF10 from there to Melbourne!
The boys were waiting in the lounge for me ... so packed that they sat on the floor!
Back on the plane ... for the 6000 km + journey to Melbourne ... we arrived there at 0630 ... looking rather bleary eyed.

It's a 75 minute drive or so from the airport to the Yarra Valley and Chateau Yering. More about this lovely property tomorrow. I have a lovely suite overlooking the 250 acre estate with hills in the background. On arrival, we were met by the gorgeous GM Sue O'Brien ... we WILL be having a GREAT time! Also, it's lovely and warm here ..

The view ...

Noisy crows ..

Tim's awake and eating yummy pizza!

Song of the Day: Stylo - Gorillaz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9vAOzYz-Qs&feature=featured

Weather: Yum!

Have just arrived in Singapore
10885 kms gone ... with 6027 kms to go to Melbourne
It's 7 pm here and we leave in 45 minutes so no time for huge diary entry
Qantas flight good ... lots of sleep ... and a 12 year old Glenlivet to keep me company
The bed reclined to 172 degrees (give or take) ... but bot 180 degrees (flat) - I wonder why ...
6 degrees in London, 32 degrees here in Singapore
It's odd that in a 24 hour period, I am only "on the ground" for one ...
I am being called ... ooops

1st of March??? Where has the year gone???