A good start to my week in Melbourne

I arrived in a cool and wet Melbourne on Thursday evening after a seamless 21 hour flight via Kuala Lumpur via the excellent Malaysian Airlines. 

Travelling light helped, hand baggage only, to avoid the baggage chaos at Heathrow.

Thursday morning dawned bright and clear and I strolled along the bank of the Yarra River to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of the world's most famous and impressive Test Match venues.

The highlight of my first two days was a superb dinner last night at the Members Dining Room of the RAFV, the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, City Club. I was the guest of Prof. John Ralston and his wife Ann. John served over 20 years on the Editorial Board of Minerals Engineering. 

John and Ann were born and raised in Melbourne and John talked very fondly of the late Olivia Newton-John, who attended the same school. The Ralstons moved back to their home city 6 months ago, after nearly 40 years in Adelaide.

John was initially Professor of Chemical Technology at the University of South Australia in Adelaide and in 1994 became the first Director of the Ian Wark Research Institute ('The Wark'), serving for 18 years. He is still.active in his field, and among his many interests he mentors students in China and Canada.

It was really good to talk to John and Ann last night and to be able to meet and congratulate the manager and chef of the restaurant, Hafez Shakira and Jelena Grujovic, which recently received the enormous accolade of the award of the top restaurant in Melbourne.  Praise indeed as this cosmopolitan city is internationally renowned for its fine dining.

A great start to the week. It's hard to believe that I will be on a plane again in 4 days time!