Day 787 – Australia – VIC [Rest Day in Melbourne]

05/08/22

 Rest day in Melbourne (Victoria, Australia)

A full day in Melbourne, meeting friends, supporters and sharing about the journey

Lunch with my cycling buddy Jim of the Greyhounds Singapore

Today felt more tiring than a normal marathon-running day! I caught up with a few Melbourne based friends in the morning. Ben whom I hadn’t seen in 24 years since we worked shifts in a pub in Glasgow as students. And Jim, a pillar of the Greyhounds cycling group with whom I used to ride every weekend in Singapore. I was treated to breakfast, the “best croissant in the world” at Lune Croissanterie and a great meal pub with a local IPA. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Myriam’s introduction at the Consulate

I then made my way to Caulfield Junior College and met Caroline Pommier the French director and Chris Chant the Principal. They led me to the assembly hall where a hundred or so pupils were gathered. The children directed the event, the Q&A session and bombarded me with questions for over an hour. It was fun and as always, sharing with the children is an exercise I greatly appreciate. Their enthusiasm, mix of serious, funny and unexpected questions can take you by surprise. I saw a tinge of disappointment in the eyes of a little girl when I answered her question negatively: no, I didn’t have to catch a fish in a river to feed myself during the journey!

Great turnout at the cocktail-reception

A quick walk to town and it was time for the cocktail-reception at the French Consulate headed by Myriam. Again Myriam had outdone herself. 40 people were in attendance, representatives of the French community in Melbourne, associations, education, businesses and research alike. We were served Champagne and petit-fours. And this was followed by a little presentation of the world-run by Myriam, and Pat Farmer joined me at the microphone to talk and answer questions.

Left to right: Dottie, Serge, Pat, Chef Philippe, me, Prune, Rosie, James

Serge Thomann took us to dinner at Philippe Restaurant in town. The Chef (Philippe Mouchel) has been trained by Paul Bocuse ofr 25 years, a semi-culinary-god in France! Needless to say the dinner was remarkable and noticeably more refined than what I am used to in the world-run!

It has been a great, full and long day – I sure hope to enjoy a low key day in the city tomorrow 🙂