Wangaratta with Jimmy

So i had the most STUNNING time with Jimmy last week! For those that don't know, i met Jimmy on English TV Show COACH TRIP in September 2017 and we have been best friends ever since.

He lives in Bristol UK, but is from Wangaratta Australia, and i am very lucky because whilst i'm in Australia, he is here visiting his family so i've been able to see spend an entire week with him!

Jimmy's parents own ‘The Vine Hotel’ in Wangaratta and it is the most beautiful pub and restaurant.

Jimmy kindly picked me up from Melbourne on Monday 21st January , and on the way to his house, we dropped into the official ‘Movember’ headquarters to pick up some merchandise for Jimmy’s big charity event that was coming up. At Jimmy’s home I was greeted by a table of stunning gifts, Prossecco and a ‘welcome to Australia’ card. Which was so cute! 😊

Jimmy’s dad asked if I could work a few hours at the restaurant as soon as i arrived. So of course, without hesitation, I got stuck in! I was in my element with friendly staff and the fact that i was trusted to work. Me and Jimmy decided to wear our matching Movember tshirts that we had just picked up - to raise more awareness of the big event coming up!

Jimmy had a massive event with 200+ guests planned for Australia Day, 26th January. On this day he would be shaving his 5 year beard off to raise money for Movember. I helped Jimmy in the upcoming week to his event. It was so much fun because as you may know, i love to fundraise in the UK. So knowing i was helping in another country was awesome.

Despite Jimmy having such a huge event planned, he still made time to help me get set up in Australia and also show me some wonderful sights....

My first day in Wangaratta was very productive. [Me and Jimmy love being productive]

Of course, you can't start a big day without a big breakfast....

After our AWESOME breakfast, we went to print some posters for the big day. Jimmy made his posters, he's awesome at this kind of stuff, and this is actually what he does as a job now in Bristol after receiving a promotion in his company [yay]

After our successful visit to the Print Shop, Jimmy took me to town to open up my first ever Australian Bank Account. I also applied for my Tax File Number [you need this if you're going to work in Australia] and i also applied for medicare [this is like Australia's NHS and you need this also]

The productiveness didn't end there because i spent the evening writing an advice blog for any body that is thinking about travelling Australia. People might think blogs are easy but it actually takes a few hours to write just one blog, and if you're behind on your blog [like me] it actually also takes a while to catch up!

I'm hoping i can catch up with my blog over the next few days so that i can write in real time. [Write on the day things are happening] this will also help me describe my days better as my brain will be fresh!

Day 3

Day number 3 and i was feeling fresher than ever after a gorgeous sleep with Keno the Pom.

I honestly still can't believe how amazing my days were with Jimmy.....

On day 3, he took me to the most BEAUTIFUL little town called Beechworth. I actually loved it. It's the most picturesque town i have ever seen.

Beechworth is a well-preserved historical town located in the north-east of Victoria, Australia, famous for its major growth during the gold rush days of the mid-1850s.

We had lunch in the cutest little bakery and Jimmy bought me a traditional Australian cake called Lammington to try. [I felt awful but i didn't like it, haha]

Not to worry though, Jimmy is an eating machine and finished it off for me [even after already eating the world]

Just as i thought my day couldn't get any better, Jimmy took me to WOOLSHED FALLS.

I have literally NEVER in my life seen such a BEAUTIFUL place.

My fear of swimming in deep water couldn't even stop me from enjoying a dip in this glorious location.

If you are visiting Australia i URGE you to visit Woolshed Falls in Beechworth. PLEASE!

This is, without a doubt, the most explicit place i have ever visited in my entire life and is definitely the number one thing i have seen so far in Australia, even beating The Great Ocean Road Tour

[Don't tell Jude!]

I will never forget this place and i will be forever grateful to Jimmy for showing me such a dreamy site.

It doesn't stop there for Day number 3 because on the way back to Wangaratta, Jimmy took me to his home town Chiltern and shown me the home he grew up in and the school he went to. It was so lovely being able to see where my best friend spent his childhood.

VIDEO LINK TO BEECHWORTH AND WOOLSHED FALLS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZF3FxiyZUU

Our adventure doesn't end there......

Day number 4 and Jimmy had another stunning day in store for me....

He took me on a road trip through the AUSTRALIAN ALPS!

Porepunkah was our first destination, another gorgeous little town.

We had a coffee in this stunning little cafe.

Whilst walking from the cafe back to the car in Porepunkah, i took a moment to take in my surroundings. I breathed in the fresh air, i felt the warm sunshine beaming onto my face, i listened to the sweet sound of the birds chirping, and i felt nothing but loved by my best friend and safe in my surroundings. I started crying tears of joy, and tears of relief. Joy because i felt safe after an awful week of feeling nothing but anxious with a boy in St Kilda. Relief because i knew that i was now in a safe and happy state of mind. And it was all thanks to Jimmy.

I broke down to him in tears and told him how thankful i was to him for showing me such beautiful sites that i will never forget. I just appreciated all he had done for me during my time with him so much.

But the sights weren't over yet, because we then drove to Bright.

Bright had a fantastic park full of happy families, there was a river and it even had slides going down the rocks and into the river for people to enjoy! It also had a diving board!

You 1 thousandddd milllioooon percent need to visit this location also. Especially if you enjoy swimming or if you want a fun family day out full of action! It was full of smiles and laughter. It also had a little water park for the kiddies! [Or for those big kids, like me...]

Jimmy took advantage of the op shops [charity shops] .... and when i say he took advantage...we must have been in there for one hour at least... and he filled up two bags of clothes and shoes. To be fair though, absolute bargain because he got two bags of stuff for just $8!!

After Jimmy's op shop delight, we went to Buckland Valley [still in Bright]

We were driving down a dirt track road for at least 45 minutes and we were quite frightened because there was literally nothing around other than trees and dirt and we had no idea where we were going. If it was dark, i would have been soooo scared. We were just about to give up, turn around and head back, when Jimmy spotted a car in the distance parked up.

It's such a good job Jimmy spotted this car, because it meant there was a camp site. And camp sites often mean attractions or rivers....

Oh. my. god.

I cannot even describe to you how beautiful Buckland Valley was. Nah. There are literally no words. Beautiful, stunning, gorgeous....No... Nothing can describe how lovely this was.

The water was crystal clear. The only sound you could hear was the water flowing gently down the stream. Definitely on parr with Woolshed Falls. But there are less flies at Woolshed Falls so that still takes the lead in my heart. I will never forget Buckland Valley though. STUNNING.

There was a lovely girl camping at Buckland Valley and we got chatting as she offered to take a photo of me and Jimmy. She took this photo of us.

She was so nice and she even offered me to go and live with her in Melbourne free of charge! I really appreciated the offer, but i had actually been offered a job in New South Wales by this point, which i will tell you all about, as that's where i am now as i write this.....

After a glorious day in the sunshine, and after stepping in the beautiful waters, it was time for our drive back to Wangaratta where i completed my second shift at The Vine, this time, i was assisting the chef in the kitchen! [I couldn't read Jimmy's handwriting on his food tickets so i can't say how much help i actually was... ha]

VIDEO LINK TO AUSTRALIAN ALPS - POREPUNKAH, BRIGHT AND BUCKLAND VALLEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyy_ecKmez4

Day number 5

On 25th January, as it was Jimmy's last day with his beard [woooooo] we decided to record a final video together to always remember the last moments with his face full of fluff.

I wrote down some questions to ask Jimmy about his beard. He had no idea what i was going to ask him so it was a live interview. We love filming together so it was so natural for us and Jimmy's answers were flawless.

[Jimmy will be sending me the video link soon]

Glenrowan

Glenrowan is the site of the final siege and capture of Ned Kelly and his gang in 1880 and their story is preserved in the township's attractions and museums.

To celebrate the last day of Jimmy's beard, we visited the home town of Ned Kelly [Jimmy's beard inspo and famous Australian bad ass]

Jimmy saw a sign outside a shop saying 'Photos for $25 inside'

I am so glad he saw this because we received the most hilarious and stunning photo.

[I don't know why, but i find it funny as well as beautiful]

I'll forever cherish this photo. Jimmy looks so stunning and natural in it! Here is a photo of Ned Kelly to compare.

Doesn't he look like Jimmy!

THE BIG DAY - AUSTRALIA DAY - 26.01.2019

After a fantastic week of seeing stunning sights. It was time to raise some wonga for Movember. It was time for Jimmy to say goodbye to his beard.

I had so much fun helping Jimmy and his family run the event at The Vine. I started off by putting up bunting and balloons. Then i helped set up the band Top Cut who kindly donated their time and the barbers from 'Dude Hut' who kindly donated haircuts to help raise more money.

Jimmy was picking his friend up from the airport, so he wasn't at the opening of his own event! [I know he just wanted to be fashionably late really and make a grand entrance but shhhh ...]

I didn't mind Jimmy not being there, as this meant i could take center stage, talk on the mic to greet people, and announce what we had planned for everybody on this awesome day. Every body was really welcoming, and cheered when i told them i was from England.

After my time on the mic, i helped serve the BBQ food. I was soooooo frigging hot. After an hour on the BBQ i decided to delegate myself another job, because sweat was literally pouring off me and this just wasn't good around food....

Jimmy was of course here by this point, where there is food around, Jimmy is around.

I just loved keeping myself busy with different jobs, talking to guests along the way, clearing tables, selling Australia Day merchandise.... Before i knew it, it was time for Jimmy's big shave!

I presented a speech to Jimmy and his guests. I was so touched because a lot of people were crying as i was speaking, which meant by speech did the job, ha.

His friend Lorie did the honours. She is also a PINK Tribute act, and her voice is AWESOME! [ she performed later in the day]

Speaking of vocal performances, Jimmy asked me to sing whilst he was having his beard shaved off as well. I sang 'Birdy - Wings'

It was such an emotional moment because Jimmy was not only saying goodbye to his dark beard, but goodbye to his dark past also, i am so proud of him.

A fantastic day overall, it couldn't have gone any more perfect. Jimmy looks FLAWLESS with his new look, and i loved spending my day with his beautiful family and friends. Another day i will never forget. Jimmy and his family and friends raised a whopping $8401 (£4575) for Movember!

Jimmy kept going to pose with his beard in his photos, before realising he no longer had one! Old habbits die hard! His friend Brooke caught the funny moment on camera.

VIDEO LINK TO JIMMY'S BIG EVENT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zi8ksrLN4g

27th January bought my final day with Jimmy n Wangaratta.

We had breakfast at a gorgeous riverside restaurant with his friends Gypsy and Lorie. We visited his family in Albury and then spent the evening at a stunning lake side restaurant for his Sister's birthday with the most gorgeous food and beautiful sunset.

On the 28th, Jimmy drove me to The Deck Cafe - where i was picked up by a family that i will be living with for the next two months as an au pair... [ A live in nanny]

It's the 30th January as i write this and I miss Jimmy already but, as always, we are talking every day and i will be seeing him again soon. It was amazing to meet his family, who were all sooooo lovely. I love him so much and honestly can't put into words how much it means to me that he showed me such beautiful sights and gave me the most amazing week.

So here i am, in Condobolin New South Wales, three days into my new job, my new town, my new adventure.

I will of course tell you all about that....