This last trip to Melbourne was one of our better ones - mainly because we all had a fair bit of fun, minus any dramas. Past causes of dramas are numerous, but I take responsibility, due to my angsty driving. But I have been working hard to turn over a new leaf of late, both with behaviour and reduced alcohol consumption, and it paid dividends. We all had a great time, but especially the boys I think. We stayed in an area close to the MCG, where we were going to the cricket. It was also close to Jolimont Park, and a 120 minute walk back into the city.
The walking aspect was generally good, with nice weather and some interesting sights to see, especially when we walked through the tennis precinct. It was actually the week leading up to the Australian Open, so there was a lot of activity. We could walk that way, or on the main road, through inner-city suburbia, which was kind of cool.
The first night we had a bit of a false start, as I tried doing the Menulog thing, but it failed miserably. In country locations I pretty much have a 80%+ strike rate on deliveries and getting what I ordered. In the metro areas though, it's more like 50%. And believe you me, it's damn inconvenient when you wait for an hour, only to have the fuckers not turn up. I did get a refund eventually, but it annoyed me no end. Anyway, we ended up walking into the city, finding a pub, and having a beer and a decent pub meal. Again, this is a good learning experience for me, as we were all in good spirits despite the inconvenience and late hour - this is as a result of removing angst from the equation.
The kids enjoyed the change of scenery I think, and of course everyone always likes the chance to visit some malls, enjoy some Boost juice, some good food, and update their wardrobes. The tennis precinct walk definitely more fun for the kids, with some park areas and a few things to do, other than just the cold, hard concrete paths.
The place we stayed at was pretty decent, with a couple of bedrooms, giving everyone some space and privacy. No on-site food though, so I had to go wandering a few times to look for 7-11 and the like. The pool wasn't bad, although the hot tub was broken and the whole place was a bit overgrown. This led to the pool itself being a bit dirty, but the kids definitely made the most of it, and enjoyed the experience. We were there for a couple of full days, and generally spent half of them walking around and the other half by the pool.
The main event for the boys and I was, of course, the BBL! I had never been to a T20 match of any kind before, and not to the MCG for a couple of decades. It was either an ODI or a footy match back in my uni days when I was last there. I have been to Marvel in more recent years, again for footy, but the G is always a great place to visit, and I love watching cricket here.
It wasn't a full house, but a decent enough crowd. The boys got some merch and snacks, and we enjoyed the game. There were a couple of internationals playing, such as Maxwell and Duckett, and both put on a decent display. It was very convenient that it only took 10 minutes to walk back to our accommodation after the game, as we were all tuckered out by then.
So yeah, a bit of relaxing, a bit of swimming, a bit of shopping and enjoying the city sights, and it was a decent trip for us. I'd happily stay in this location again, although I reckon next time we will go back to Glen Waverley. Next trip to this part of the world though, is also to a BBL game, but in Geelong. I think it will be nice to have a good look around that city too.
Overall, this was probably the best city-stay we have had in a while, because it did not involve any fighting or dramas. I need to make sure I keep that calmness up, as it really does make an impact on the whole experience, and everyone as a group. Food highlight for me for the trip was probably Marrybrown, a Malaysian fast food franchise, that I got some of in Melbourne Central. The ayam goreng was excellent, and their NL was bloody good too. For the kids, they enjoyed the shopping and the pool, and of course the cricket. I think wifey enjoyed herself too, which always makes me happy. I love our family getaways!
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