THE SECOND PART OF THE BIG SMOKE TRIP !

Vickie and Gerald picked me up on Sunday morning and we travelled to Coburg to help celebrate a friend of ours Delvene Chestertons Birthday with her family. Delvene has just bought a new motorbike - and she was very anxious that I should go for a ride - oh was I glad to see the rain. You know me and bikes even if they have 3 wheels ! Sorry Del. I did sit on it for her.

Vickie and Kate (Delvene"s grandaughter with son Aron in the background. Delvene has just moved to Melbourne after many years living in Queensland.

Delvene, Son Owen and grandaughter Kate

Delvene lives in a beautiful unit in a complex that has been built on the old Pentridge Site - with the beautiful Large stone fences still visable.

Next stop on our way was Briggs Road, Caulfied to spend the next night with the kind hospitality of Vickie and Gerald.

Prior to picking me up earlier in the day Vickie had been very busy preparing dinner for Sunday evening to celebrate daughter Chantel achievement of passing her exams and becoming a Surgeon.

Her dedication and efforts over many years to achieve this dream are to be commended - studying came before anything else and I know her partner Srecko will be pleased to see it all behind her now as he has been so patient through the studying process and a real support to her.

Chantel (left) is captured with her sister Melanie

(more of Melanie's achievements in the third part of the Big Smoke Trip.

Dana pictured with Melanie's husband Bede enjoying the food. A usual Thornton spread.



Here Sreko is showing John and Vickie a photo in the local paper

A glimpse of the courtyard created by Gerald. Many a glass of red is seen on this table. (And now with no peeping Rosemary over the fence watching each mouth full being consumed)

Whilst my time with Vickie and Gerald was short it was as usual never the less most enjoyable and after a leasurely Monday and a visit from Sally in the afternoon before she left for work we ambled over to Ascot Vale for my third leg of the journey to the big smoke.