Melbourne. MCG!

We did a walking tour of Melbourne which was interesting enough but it was pouring with rain so not ideal for looking at street art and grafitti and the cutesy little alleyways with bars and outdoor cafes, which was a shame as everyone had been telling us how fabulous Melbourne was.

Especially the tour guide.

There has been a long standing friendly rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, whether it be claims to have the best housing, the best sports grounds, the best Olympics etc but both Sydneysiders and Melbournites will agree that their two cities are two of the greatest cities in the world.

The Town Hall looked very Christmassy.

The Eight Hour Day Monument commemorates the Eight Hours Movement which was initiated in Victoria in 1856 to successfully change the general rights of workers for the better.

8 hours work.

8 hours rest..

8 hours play and education.

The impressive Government building of Victoria.

The shopping precincts reminded me of Chester Grosvenor precinct.

Thank goodness for my showerproof poncho.

Oooooh a Debenhams. 

But what we were really looking forward to was the guided tour of the MCG.

This was going to be fabulous.

The MCG is Australia's largest , oldest and most popular sporting venue.

The first ever cricket Test match 15/3/1877 and the 1956 Olympic Games were held here.

Outside and around the stadium are the statues of the GREATS. 

You can't measure brilliance.

However, when you consider the batting achievements of The Don, with his 99.94 AVERAGE in Test cricket, he really was one of the greatest, most BRILLIANT cricketers to have walked the planet.

Husb was BEAMING just to be breathing the same air that surrounded his statue.

He was in his element.

And we hadn't even gone IN yet.

I loved the Blazer Bar.

It has 100,024 seats and has a "DROP IN" wicket (literally)

Don Dogs!

And Husb is quite tall !!

We sat on the settee that was exclusive to those members with 50 years service.

What an honour.

Oh my Days, he just LOVED it.

The Long Room.

The Sheffield Shield was being played here tomorrow so the dressing rooms were out of bounds, but nothing would wipe the smile off Husb's face, he was in his element.

Interesting facts about the MCG:

• It was at the MCG, on February 11, 1984, that an ODI ended in a tie for the first time, both West Indies and Australia made 222.


• The MCG is referred to as the 'Spiritual Home of Australian Sport'.


• The light towers at the MCG are the tallest for any sporting venue across the globe.


• According to a rumour, on January 2, 1955, groundsman Jack House decided to water the pitch on the rest day of the 3rd Ashes Test match between Australia and England to save the 22 yards, after it developed huge cracks on a hot Saturday. However, the Victorian Cricket Association and the Melbourne Cricket Club held an inquiry into the matter and denied the rumour.


• On January 2, 1961, West Indies' Joe Solomon was ruled out hit-wicket, after his hat fell onto the stumps while playing at a Richie Benaud delivery.


• In 1981, Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar took Chetan Chauhan off the field in a Test match, after being disappointed with an LBW decision against him.


• The infamous incident of Greg Chappell, Australia's captain, asking Trevor Chappell to under-arm the final delivery of the match, when New Zealand needed a six off the last ball to the tie the ODI, took place at the MCG on February 1, 1981. Although it was not against the laws, the incident was considered as 'against the spirit of the game.'


• It was at this ground, in 1995, that umpire Darrell Hair called Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing the ball(chucking), seven times during the Boxing Day Test match.


• The MCG is part of the yearly-Melbourne Marathon and has also hosted a few rock concerts.


• On 27 August 1999, an electrical fault caused the city end scoreboard to catch fire, thereby delaying the start of an AFL match by half an hour.


• The MCG is where the Super Sopper was used for the first time.


• On Day 1 of the 2013 Boxing Day Test between Australia and England a crowd count of 91,092, was a record for a single-day attendance in Test match history.


• During World War II, from 1942 to 1945, the MCG was used for military purposes and more than 200,000 personnel camped at the venue.


• Australia's first ever bicycle race was held at the MCG in 1869.


• The MCG also hosted Victoria's first ever Tennis game in 1878.

It was starting to get a bit rough after our steak and wine.

Apparently we were experiencing

THE ROARING FORTIES.

Strong westerly winds.

Thank goodness we weren't south enough for the Furious Fifties or the Screaming Sixties.

Just me and the coffeepot left at 10pm!

Day at Sea tomorrow playing 

Graham Grimshaw who likes Green kept his Giraffe in the Garage 

and Neville Norovirus who likes Navy kept a Newt up his Nose 

and watching the Test Match 

and thrashing Husb at Score Rummy 

and then

 NEW ZEALAND!