'Neighbours Everybody Needs Good Neighbours'

****WARNING - This blog contains only Neighbours related items and will contain some plotline spoilers****

01 Erinsbourgh High

All together now . . . Neighbours everybody needs good neighbours With a little understanding you can find the perfect blend Neighbours Should be there for one-another That's when good neighbours become good friends!!!!!!

Now there are many highlights to this trip, for example Angkor Wat & Great Wall of China - however one at the top is all things Neighbours related in Melbourne the home of Ramsey Street. So what else do you do on Easter Tuesday but book yourselves on the Neighbours tour! We found out on the way to the Neighbours tour office, that Paul (I'm so evil) Robinson broke up with Lynn Scully at the Novotel, St Kilda (where we are staying - St Kilda, not Novotel). Obviously we had already bought all the Neighbours goodies before the trip (you know in case they sold out!). Once we'd picked up everyone, we were off to Erinsbourgh High!! After a democratic vote, we watch Scott & Charlene's wedding on the way - my favourite episode (as it proves that even the beautiful Kylie Minogue could not escape the 80s!!). We learnt that it is called Erinsbourgh because it is an anagram on Neighbours - how did we not know this!! The school is a day centre for teaching English as a second language, and is magically transformed by putting the school sign (from the back of the bus) over the gate. They also have to hide the welcome signs by the door as they are in loads of different languages. Back on the bus, it was off to Pin Oak Court - known to millions as Ramsey Street. Sadly they were not filming but that meant we were left to wander (under the watchful eye of the security guard) around, so many many photos later. We'd been to see Mrs Mangels (R.I.P) house (now Steph & Boyd - Toadie the main visitor!), the one where all the single people live,  the Kennedy's, the Robinsons (Scullys/Timmins/ new family now), the Ramsey's/Harold's & Skye's (till she goes to prison of course - but we only knew this because the tour guide had seen them filming her release) (also this is where Scott rugby tackled Charlene because he though she was robbing the house) & Paul Robinsons house (which was Lou & Cheryl's). Handily the tour brings along a Ramsey Street sign for more photos! They did a brief history of the street, which starts with the usual 'but it's so much smaller than on TV' - the wonder of television is the answer!! Then of course the 'Who's house is this' for which we got them all right! We were told that over the Easter weekend they were filming a bus crash on the street (ooh) but not who was in it except for about half the street. Then it was back on the bus and the one minute ride to the studios. This is what they use for the outside of the 'prison' -including the gates. Lassiters, the Dr's surgery (but evil woman's not Dr Karl's) etc are in the back lot - but us mere public are not allowed back there (they must have known we were coming!). As we were parking in the car park (where else), there was a massive cry (from one of the other crazies on the bus, not us) 'Its Susan!!!'. We thought we were going to faint - Mrs K (or Jackie to her friends) boarded the bus and said 'Hello' to a gobsmacked bus load. We all got off the bus (as it was boiling!) and were given a Neighbours postcard for her to sign. She talked to us all whilst everyone was having their photo done - I (Sarah) obviously only had one question to ask her  . . . .  "What was Parky like when you filmed with him in our nation's capital?". She said he was the nicest man - which we all knew already and then we just chatted about our travels (pushing other people out of the way of course). Apparently, Susan may (!) be getting ill in the near future - but they wouldn't say anything more. Back on the bus we had a drive around the studio to have a nosy over the fence at Lassiters.  On the way back we watched the episode where Jim Robinson (R.I.P) dies - which had a lot of 'Oh Jim!' and Libby and Drew's (R.I.P.) wedding, although we had to get off the bus before the wedding started - Grr!

02 Neighbours Van

Our next Neighbours outing would be to the Melbourne Museum which houses lots of interesting exhibitions including: Aboriginal art, evolution, naked bodies (who knows), a Forest section (where a bird nearly scared the life out of me as I was enquiring if it was fake, it 'went toilet' to prove not! We were still a safe distance away), Great Wall of China (a touring exhibition which involved a lot of 'been there!') and an Australian life section. Of course you will all know us too well to know that it was the latter section that we are concerned with. As you all well know, when the Scully's moved into the Robinson house they burnt it down - this is because they needed a new set as they had donated the Robinson kitchen to the Melbourne Museum! It was really cool to be stood where Helen Daniels (R.I.P.) and there was even some of Scott & Charlene's wedding cake left in the fridge! Lots of pictures later it was off into Carlton Gardens for a quick geocache on the way home.

03 Pine Oak Court (aka Ramsey St)

The Elephant & Wheelbarrow is an English pub in St Kilda and is home to the world famous Neighbours night. When we booked we were told that we would get Libby Kennedy singing, Connor, Dylan & Dr Karl (woohoo!). So of course we were first in the line to collect our tickets and while queuing up (so we could get a good table) we noticed that on the poster it didn't have Dylan's name it had Madge Bishop (R.I.P.) - well I'm sure you heard our screams of delight. We made it in to get the table at the front, got our free lager (+ 1) and watched (well) Neighbours on a big screen. Sadly, we caught the episode where Helen Daniels (R.I.P.) died holding Hannah's hand. After what seemed like forever, Libby came on stage to sing a few songs. She does have a good voice (bit country - bit scared that actually singing along to the Dixi Chicks!) but we are not sure if she releases singles or anything (i.e. we were not told they were on sale in the foyer). Then, the 'stars' came in one by one onto the dancefloor. Then it was question and answer session, where they take everyone's questions from the table and then carefully screen them and ask the best ones - or in this case not because ours were not asked. I asked Karl what Parky was like to work with (of course) and Aimee asked 'Did you like Leeds when you were filming Emmerdale.'.  Whilst the trivia questions were going on the 'stars' went round the tables for photos & general chat (depending on how hammered they were). I will admit that we were very giggly (shock horror I hear you cry :o) ) but we got our pictures with all (I even got all except Karl to hold Pooh Bear, because I'd already asked Karl to sign my book and a favour for April). Madge was a bit weird, not sure they were paying her enough money for her to be bothered, as per Connor. Janelle was off her rocker on free 'champagne!' but Dr Karl was by far the best - he even bent down to have his picture taken with Aimee! Sadly the trivia included general knowledge questions not just Neighbours so no fear of winning that one! There was a few 18-30 games (kissing, singing & dance-off) (hmmm) and some 'girl' had Dr Karl sing happy birthday to her. On my (Aimee) way to the Toilet there was a group surrounding Karl blocking the way to the loo so I politely said 'Excuse me I need to get to the ladies (in order for them not to think I was going to push my way through to Karl - as if ;-))  Karl noticed me and said 'let the lady through toilet emergency' & helped me through I dashed into the loo jumping up and down and giggling in the privacy of the toilet cubicle ;-).  Then it was time for Dr Karl & his band 'Waiting room' to get on stage. Of course we were at the front, only slightly squashed against the barrier - well some chairs. They played - Kaiser Chiefs, Jon Bon Jovi, with the highlight song being 'Who the f@#! is Susan!' (in reference to him sleeping with Izzy when he thought it was Susan, as you do). We managed to get to touch Dr Karl (I stroked his thigh as couldn't reach his hands ;-))(esp. during Put your hands on by Reef), well some people (lawyers/police maybe) would call it groping but we were getting our $5 out of him (how much more it cost to get in because his band was playing). It was a really good set and they are touring in the 'U.K.' soon so keep an eye out!

04 Mrs Mangels House

Of course this will not be the end of the Neighbours blog since we will go to Neighbours night again - everyone keep their fingers crossed for Harold or Paul!

05 Look who we met!

06 Its Libby singing

07 Aimee & new friend Madge

08 Dr Karl saying hello to April

09 Dr Karl rocking the Elephant & Wheelbarrow!