Melbourne

There is more than one Acland Street!  GPS got it wrong first time and almost ceased to be considered a friend, he had to be turned off because each time we disobeyed he would say plaintively "recalculating".  We also had a map and found our way satisfactorily to our destination passing a perfect beach scene.  Irresistible to the swimmer in the party, we parked and before lunch, swam in what is a shallow and almost waveless sea.  This is because Melbourne is in a huge bay which stretches miles, see later posting, before it becomes the real sea again.  This salty expanse is perfect for sailing and for safe swimming and also for sunbathing.  

We can't help noticing that there are lots of golden bodies stretched out, turning every so often to get that enviable and even tan.  

After swimming we took ourselves to Eleura, a great Victorian house, of which there must have once been many in the hey day of Melbourne and its golden gold rush past.  The joy of these houses is that they are built for all the weathers which Melbourne enjoys, great balconies running round the whole house where you can sit in shade and catch any passing breeze.  We were welcomed by John Jepsen and Judith Lowenhertz.    Mr Jepsen leads the Philosophy School in Melbourne and is assisted by Miss Lowenhertz.  We looked a bit briney when we arrived but were still welcomed warmly! and shown up the great stairs to our very welcoming room.   After tea, which is common to all Philosophy School houses but is also as Australian as we might think it is English, and after a shower and a walk to watch the sun set through the smoke haze still visible here, we were incredibly kindly wined and dined by Mr Jepsen's senior ladies who had prepared a delicious dinner.   This was a wonderful start, some of the ladies are old friends, and one, Mrs Phillippa Street had been with us years before in Scotland, Marita Brewster and Judith had been with us just recently at Waterperry and Mrs Helen Nicholl's son Cameron had been a guest at George and Soph's wedding.  So much to talk of before retiring fairly early.  We were to have a busy time the following day.