In the midst of all the drama and hard work that was Christmas at Momento, I managed to drag myself away for an extended weekend in Melbourne. I flew down on Thursday evening and was met at the airport by my friend Drew which was really sweet of him. I was sooo excited about going away as I'd not left Sydney since September 2005, apart from one quick day trip down the coast to see my Gran when she was in hospital.
So Drew and I chatted excitedly on our way back into Melbourne proper from the airport which wass really good. I hadn't seen him or spoken much as we'd both been pretty busy since he was here for Toybox in August. I should make something else clear here, I adore Melbourne and I have lots of friends down there that I love catching up with. My social schedule was pretty full up and when I arrived at Palazzo de Platt, ie Farrell's, I was shown to the suite that is named in my honour.
I think it's one of the reasons I love Melbourne so much, I get to stay at a boutique hotel in my own suite - the Margeaux Suite. Luxuriously appointed and styled in a manner befitting my good self, it's like being at home without being at home. Retiring to the gracious sitting room chesterfields for smoking and scotch, Farrell introduced me to his new boyfriend Tye and we settled into our usual banter till we realised how late it had become. So off to bed we tottled.
After a big sleep in, which I rarely get because normally I have to get up and walk Rosie before work, I looked at my mobile and saw cancellation text messages for all the stuff I had scheduled for the day. So I got up, had some breakfast (no room service, they'd already knocked off apparantly), and headed out for a whirl up Chapel Street. I dropped by the chemist where my dear friend Paula (aka Candi Stratton) works sometimes and had a very brief yak with her. Then off to Chapel Street proper for some teasing window shopping. Seeing nothing that really grabbed me enough to want to buy I was home again just after midday.
Realising that I hadn't yet indulged a coffee, it meant I could perhaps get a snooze in before dinner. So into bed I got and slept solidly for another 4 hours or so - BLISS! I got up around 5 and bathed and headed into the city to meet Joey and Faz for a bit to eat at a lovely Thai restaurant. The city streets were teeming with Christmas revellers but didn't seem to have that edginess that is often apparant in Sydney at this time of year. God how I love Melbourne. And the hot wog boys of course.
After dinner with much laughter and great food, we headed back towards the gay strip but at the last minute I bailed, opting for an early night rather than an early morning :) Much to Joey's disappointment. Sigh. But by all accounts he had a good time.
Saturday morning brought brunch with Cam & Maree and Esther over by way of Ascot Vale. Pretty suburban but their new home is just lovely and huge. I finally got to meet their new boys Jet and Dylan, 2 gorgeous cocker spaniels. After brunch Faz and I headed back into town and he helped me with a purchase of new sunglasses which I've been needing for ages. I ended up with a pair of Oxydo (never heard of them before either) but very nearly bought a pair of Prada shades that were divine, even at $380! I mean, they would want to be wouldn't they? Thankfully sanity prevailed and I didn't get them.
In the late afternoon I headed back into town to see one of my best girlfriends Jodi, a self confessed Kylie junkie like me, for a bite and drink pre Showgirl concert at Rod Laver. As we normally seem to do, we met at Federation Square and ate at a gourmet pizza joint there. I encouraged some drinking to go with the food, as after the last Kylie concert I reckoned that I'd need to be drunk to be able to properly enjoy it.
So on to the main reason for my Melbourne sojourn, part 2 of Kylie's Showgirl Homecoming Tour. In what was originally scheduled to be her birthday show during the original tour, this one was extra special as we had 4th row seats and it was the first time that Jodi and I had seen a show together. Our seats were as amazing as I reckoned they would be and Joey was suitably impressed yet again :) As the lights went down we took off towards the barriers and before you could say "Oh wow is that Kylie in a big feather head-dress?" we were pressed up against the barriers ready for the show.
I'd read and heard from others that Kylie had definitely warmed up some from those tentative first shows back in Sydney at the beginning of the tour, and they were so right. Although warmed up hardly seems like an apt description, scorching hot would be more appropriate. To the extent that to me it felt like a different show, the second coming so to speak was every bit as magical as I'd hoped it could be. Kylie was dynamic, engaging, her voice soared loud and pitch perfect and she looked amazing. But best of all, she finally looked comfortable and like she was having an absolute ball on the stage.
My favourite moments were the Smiley Kylie section, and the whole second act which is just magic. White Diamond is growing on me and will be a massive hit for her. The show was so much fun, and the 3 of us danced and grooved around for most of it. The spiritual indian barefooted segment to my mind still doesn't work and is a let down, but the rest of the show just sparkles with life and generous lashings of good fun. An exuberant celebration of all things Kylie.
After the show, we had plans for a big night out and about the clubs and bars of Melbourne, but after such an enjoyable evening I piked on Joey again. Which he was less than impressed about I can assure you. But you know what, if your hearts just not in it, then why push it?
Sunday morning brought a lateish Yum Cha with Tye, Farrell and a friend of theirs which was lovely, great food and lots of giggles. After that we grabbed a coffee and then I went to Lawrence and Ants for an afternoon gossip. Ant wasn't feeling well so Lawrence took me by their new apartment which is in a converted school. So chic and modern, yet old at the same time. It's not massive but I'm completely envious of the fact that its theirs (well their banks!). I can't wait to head back down for the housewarming sometime soon.
Later in the evening I caught up with my friend Matt who'd only just arrived back in the country after his year away in Canada. Whilst he was there he managed to marry his boyfriend, so now husband, and do all sorts of other stuff. It was so great to sit and have a conversation with someone that I adore and haven't been able to do that with for ages. Just lovely.
On Monday morning, the last day of my break, I went into the city and met Paula again for a decent chat. I have so much time for her and Matt, her husband, as everytime I see them they are trying so hard to make something more for themselves. Our chat was leisurely and before I knew it a couple of hours had seamlessly flown by and it was time to meet up with Farrell who'd just finished a meeting over at Southbank. We found a lovely restaurant and enjoyed a sun soaked boozy lunch overlooking the Yarra. Just bliss.
After lunch we did a spot of Christmas shopping for Rosie at a big pet store, got lots of lovely toys and things for her and probably went a bit overboard but she is my little girl after all :) Farrell drove me out to the airport for my flight home and Joey had changed his flight so we could travel together which was fun. The last time we were on a plane together was when we came back to Sydney after our brief holiday in far North Queensland in 2000. It was great to be home again and to see Rosie who'd been over at Joey's parents house for a week.
So my trip to Melbourne was a huge success and I had an absolute ball. So great to see so many of my friends, and to see Kylie at her best.
DxLabels: excite
Yep, Cher has teamed up with Mattel yet again for a limited run of 3 (yes three!) new dolls to be released later this year. The first two are on general release, but the last one is a very special Platinum Edition with less than a thousand dolls produced. Some 
