I thought we crushed that spirit in 1296. I challenge you to a surf comp.

Bell's Beach - 2 pm (surfs good) Sunday

Don't you be coming along with that Scottish indenpence talk - I won't have none of it

Slug Wallace

Are you from Liverpool???

I can hear a Scouser overtone in your posts.

Oh, BTW Bordy, Scottish Coaches Conference in a week's time. Judy Murray is one of the speakers, we're hoping son Andy might be there too. (He's got a little injury at the moment so if he isn't at the Swiss Open next week or qualifying for the Madrid Masters he might be able to make it). It was a pity Hewitt withdrew in Thailand, I would have loved to see Murray vs Hewitt in the semi.

OzTennis

Well tell her I'm following him from here & would love an autograph at Mel Park. I see there is a Scotland V England match in Aberdeen coming up with Andy & Greg Rusedki & others. Looks great.

the challenge wasn't for money was it - definitive proof of non-liverpudlian descendants.

My Mrs says I can take you on as long as you provide 2 Cardiac nurses, a wheelchair & an oxygen tent.

Geez that woman has faith in me.

Yeah, Scotland have a chance of beating England at tennis for the first time in a while. I'll mention to Judy (and Andy if he's there) about the fan club in Melbourne! At the last conference Judy put up some of Andy's signed Davis Cup shirt, racquets etc in the raffle but I missed out. There's sure to be the same again.

OzTennis

Just to hijack this thread even more, we had Hawick on the Melbourne news this week. One months rain in a day, loads of damage. I know your not to far away, hope everything is ok your side of the lowlands.

You can count on it, infact yours will be the first door I knock at when we arrive!!

Jo

Did I not mention I moved to Adelaide. :scared:

I can still find you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Col,
We are hoping to move to Melbourne next year with our 2 boys age 6 & 3, can I ask - how have you found Melbourne with a young family? Our boys are sport mad, and would love to play cricket/tennis/golf or footie all day - which is costing us a fortune in the UK!
Its great to hear that Melbourne gets the thumbs up, like your wife I am panicking about everything!
Thank you for any infor
regards
Charlotte

Charoltte,

Melbourne is simply the most child friendly place we have ever experienced and are constantly remarking on how much there is to do out here. The beaches are clean, there are just countless play parks for the wee ones - there must be about 10 playparks within a 5 min drive of our house. All with what appear to be brand new equipment and very well thought out - not just the standard swing, slide and roundabout we had at home. At many of these parks there are free bbq's - hot plates and picnic tables so you can bring a bbq, cook your own food and let the kids run around. We've been very impressed.

In the 5 weeks that we've been here we've been to the Acquarium, Healsville Animal Sanctuary (native Australian animal park), Werribbee Open Range Zoo, The Botanical gardens, Anakie Fairy park, Albert Park, to the beach, to a free open air Barbie concert at Fed Square, to see Thomas the Tank Engine up in the Dandenong Ranges, went on Puffin Billy train ride, to see Little Robots and Andy Pandy in concert etc etc. There is simply an incredible amount to do.

There is a free magazine that we get at school that has listing section (I think it's about 10 pages) with things to do with kids - places to go, concerts, plays, events etc. We've certainly never worried about what to do or where to go !

We've also found that there the restaurants and cafes are full of kids. We now try to eat out at least twice a week with the kids and make sure we have breakfast once a week out.

Not too sure about the cost of sport. I'm sports daft myself and hoping this rubs off on the kids. My 5 year old has just started school and she is already playing a lot more sport than she did in the UK - it's very important here for the kids to have a more active sports life. The school is also taking the kids off on a 2 week intensive swimming session. They will have very few lessons during this time as the emphasis is being able to swim, and swim well.

What you ill find is that there are plenty of opportunities to play sport. There are tennis courts, football and soccer pitches everywhere.

Send me a PM if you want any more information. Happy to help if I can.
Good luck.
Col

Hi Charlotte

If you boys are sport mad, then they will love Melbourne! There is always a sporting event happening although I would recommend slowly introducing the concept of Australian rules footie and horse racing

Not at the same time surely :scared: :scared:

Although could make for an interesting game.