Tasmanian Devil May Care......

Hello from Oz,
Where to begin? We're back in Melbourne after experiencing six wonderful days in Tasmania. A real surprise. The island was astoundingly beautiful and we made full use of the campervan, we'd hired, to get out into the wild and do some 'services free camping'. We've not seen whiter sand on this journey than those on the beaches of Tassie', (as it's known out here).
The islands population were interesting folk, largely related to the convicts that were sent there by the Brits early in the country's history. Beard growth seemed very popular amongst men, with many of them looking like eighties rockers ZZ-Top. There were many hardcore bikers on the roads and I can imagine a Hell's Angel's chapter fitting in quite nicely in the capital city, Hobart. Many of the people we came into contact with were so laid back and so surprised that we'd travelled so far,(apparently, only 3 percent of the visitors to Oz actually visit Tassie). There were many familiar names on the Island. We passed through such places as Swansea, Bridport, Devonport, and even parked the car in an area called Dunn Place. Maybe my past includes a convict or two, need to check up when we get back. Convicts feature heavily on the tourist trail and people seem to be proud of this aspect of their heritage. Rightly so, I think, as the islands towns, cities and transport links were all constructed, (and often designed) by them. We cannot wait to return to the island and finish it off there was so much more to see.
As I said before, we're back in Melbourne. This is a city like we're used to seeing North of the Equator; cosmopolitan and full of contrast. There are alley-ways plastered with imaginative grafitti and fly stickers, there are skateboarders, bmxers and 'alternatively' dressed people at every turn. These contrast heavily with slickly dressed office workers and affluent shoppers. Looking up, above street level, we have seen some great examples of world architecture. Victorian Gothic Revival, Art Deco and Deconstructivist styles appear to comfortably fit together and reveal the cities apparent, progressive attitude. It's the sort of city where Jo and I feel at home and we have had fun negotiating cafes, galleries and parks again. At times it feels like it used to in London when we lived there, especially London in the Spring.
We leave for London on Wednesday, via New Zealand and the USA. We will arrive in Heathrow at 11am on Thursday 9th September. That's right, five months early! We have good reason for breaking off the trip. Our sister-in-law, Melissa, is not responding at all now to her cancer treatment and has been told that there is nothing that the medical profession can now do to hold off the disease. Our family are important to us and we feel it's time to 'return to the fold'.
So finally, I would like to thank you all for reading all of the e-mails we've sent on this trip. This has been, for me anyway, the most creative thing I've done in the last Seven months. I've loved some of the comments people have sent in reply to all my sweeping statements and generaliztaions. People have been so kind. It's been so nice to know you've all been 'travelling' with us and following our progress). It's what gives Jo and me courage; knowing there is a great safety net of friends and relatives waiting for us in the UK. Can't wait to see you all soon and tell you about the other friends we've made along the way.
Love
xgregandjox