Item 59: Melbourne - Bring on the sunshine (and drinks)!

Location: Melbourne, Australia

A welcome relief from the longest winter of my life in the UK, Melbourne has welcomed me back with days of sunshine!

Whipping out the summer clothes and slip-slop-slapping on the sunscreen before heading out to catch-up with some of my favorite people, there's definitely no place like home.

Degraves Street amongst the office-worker crowds was a reminder of decent lunchtime eating. No mash and fries from the canteen for these locals! A lunchtime walk, some take-away sushi or an eat-in panini is all they need.

The city has also introduced me to some new bars that have popped up since my last visit. The Aviary in Victoria Street had a funky Richmond feel; Siglo Bar with balmy views from the rooftop terrace of Parliament House and St Patricks Catherdral on a Summer's night was Melbourne in a nutshell; and the Riverland (underneath Transport Bar in Federation Square), for an after work drink while watching the rowers along the Yarra, was a reminder of why this is one of my favourite cities in the world.

Melbourne may be renowed as a food capital in the country, but it's selection of bars are well up there as the perfect place to catch up for a drink with old and dear friends.

Item 59: Melbourne? CHECK!

Item 58: 1001 Inventions @ Science Museum

Location: Science Museum, South Kensington, London, UK

In today's national security climate - recently the threat level was upgraded to Severe in the UK - the Science Museum has opened a free exhibition 1001 Inventions, which details the history of science from the Muslim world. The high-calibre showcases demonstrate the Muslim civilisation's ability to share knowledge and inventions during the dark ages, many of which lead to the future achievements in areas including the advances in health care, industrial tools and engineering.

The entrance of the exhibition is magical, with a replica of the “Elephant Clock”, encompassing dragons, a phoenix and of course an elephant. In-fact, everything on display throughout the room captures your attention and makes you want to be sure that you don't miss a thing.

Staying true to the Science Museum standards, there's a bit of interactivity with each show piece and in some cases the technology even bypasses that of the Ninetndo Wii. There's also a short Hollywood-standard film which absorbs the attention of many visitors, as adults sit amongst the children on the seats and the floor watching the inventors from the exhibition recreated on the big screen.

Unfortunately I find myself at times, a product of the news and the many public announcements telling me to "report any suspicious items or behaviour to a member of staff," at public venues. Thankfully, this exhibition takes you back to a time when being different and sharing ideas only brought about more opportunities that would benefit everyone.

Item 58: 1001 Inventions? CHECK!

Item 57: Decode @ V&A

Location: V&A, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

Thanks TimeOut! I only had to pay £2.50 to see "Decode: Digital Design Sensations exhibition", a gallery with digital art (not dissimilar to my laptop screen saver), and flat screen monitors displaying examples of online social networking.

Amazing stuff! It's no wonder everyone goes back to the 'exhibit' replaying two girls kissing, the artist's representation of the 70% gender-to-gender ratio of kissing videos that are on the Internet.

Item 57: Decode? CHECK!

Item 56: Snow in Yorkshire

Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Back in my day, when I was my age and living in Southern Yorkshire, we saw the endless days of sub-zero temperatures during the winter. In the mornings, as I'd open the curtains to my bedroom, views of snow covered roads and footpaths instantly reminded me of the warmth of my own bed. However, they also validated my impulsive Wellington boot purchase, clearly a worthwhile investment.

Out the door and off through ankle deep powder all the way to work, with my trousers tucked into my rainbow Wellies.

And that was just the start of 2010....

Item 56: Snow in Yorkshire? CHECK!

Item 55: Edinburgh - Happy Hogmanay

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Favourable Hogmanay Edinburgh reviews and a weak Pound Sterling was as good an excuse as any to have a 'stay-cation' and welcome in the new year in the UK. With maximum temperatures of 0 and negative 2 degrees, I packed the ski jacket and ignored my traveller's vanity, (although more appropriate footwear for the icy streets of Edinburgh will be noted down for next time as double-layering the socks in my trainers just didn't cut it).

Number of falls: 1

Number of prevented falls: Plenty

With a week based in and around the Scottish city, time was easily wiled away. After visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Holyrood Palace, I was surprisingly not 'castled-out' after the tours. The time spent at these historical attractions was balanced with a tourist-oriented tour at the Scotch Whisky Experience and a visit to the Camera Obscurer which on a clear day provided us with excellent views of the whole snow-covered city. Many of our nights were topped off with some free public entertainment on the Royal Mile for Hogmanay Celebrations including the Scotsman newspaper’s 31 December headline act, "Revellers evacuated after weather wreaks havoc at Royal Mile Hogmanay event and blows burning embers into crowd"!

The New Years Eve 'Street Party' that was well marketed was a mile of Prince's Street, the city’s main shopping street, sectioned off for ticket holders. We were only able to identify one stage with performers, although three were advertised. Perhaps the Dj's fingers had caught frostbite earlier in the day?

At the stroke of midnight on 31 December 2009, everyone cuddled together and watched Edinburgh Castle high above the city light up with fireworks... Short and sweet lasting only a few minutes still pretty nonetheless. Scottish men and Scottish-wannabes were out for the night, posing in their kilts for photos, flashing their bare butts and then God No! I saw my first Scottish haggis for the year (as did the rest of the street, and may I add it did not seem affected by the sub-zero temperatures!!)

After rolling, falling, skating, dancing and laughing through 2009, I look forward to more fun and happy times that the coming year has to offer us all. Happy 2010 everyone xo

Item 55: Edinburgh? CHECK!

Item 54: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Location: Hyde Park, London

The lights have been up in Oxford Street for weeks now, so it’s been feeling like Christmas for a while coming. With careful planning we got tickets to the fresh ice in the rink at the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Pfft, so much for careful preparation! It was raining buckets the whole day. Our session at 7pm, had the ushers sweeping away puddles and after stepping in the soggy carpet while putting out skates on, we carefully approached the watery rink. With all concentration, the aim in the hour of allocated skating was not to fall. For the unlucky folks that took tumbles early on, it wasn’t just a patch here or there on their knees, it was their entire leg, or side or outfit dampened for the rest of the night. Ah, such is the silly season.

The rest of the wonderland has expanded through much more of the park. The giant Ferris wheel is again the centre piece, but the German Christmas market, Saturday night DJ amongst the faux chalets in the Bavarian Village all make for a cosy night out, as long as you haven’t been skating on a melted pool and have rugged up for the long cold winter ahead.

Item 54: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland? CHECK!

Item 53: Roller Disco, brought to you by Primark

Location: Roller Disco, Renaissance Rooms, London

My reliable source for any dress-up party, Primark, delivered once again.

But - Shock horror, my £1 fluro pink leg-warmers appeared to be the prescribed uniform for the majority of girls rolling around one of the two rinks at the Renaissance Rooms on a Saturday evening. Even more of a fashion faux pas were larger than life girls sqeezed into lycra leotards.. 80's? Yes. Sexy? Hell No!

As the night grew old, with more booze came more tumbles. Kudos to the venue for having enough staff to speed over to protect the fallen from being rolled over.

If you want to skate, get there early. If you want to come just so you can whip out the spandex that's been gathering dust in your wardrobe, rock up whenever but get tickets in advance as there's limited entry.

Item 53: Roller Disco? CHECK!