Also, she has several incriminating photos of me that I might need to steal. So I’ll get back to you on that…
Duck’s Gizzards, anyone? Anyone?
Those of you who’ve been visiting me here for awhile might have picked up on my undying love for the ABC show SeaChange. SeaChange was, and remains, one of the best Australian television programs ever (true story).
I grew up watching it with my family, and in recent months have watched all three seasons again, twice, simultaneously, emotionally-engagedly, with my housemate at Smurf Home and with my mother at Her Home.
So you might be able to guess that I was a leeeeetle bit excited when I recently discovered that the filming of SeaChange was based at Barwon Heads, which is an hour and a half out of Melbourne.
And I was a leeeeetle bit more excited when my brother suggested we go there today to take advantage of the beautiful hot and sunny Melbourne weather.
The part at the back, with the dolphin, is Diver Dan’s Boatshed. Ohmigoshsquee.
This is how I felt about being in SeaChange territory on a beautiful warm summer’s day with my wonderful brother and the smell of salty air (theme song reference alert):
This is how my brother felt about being in SeaChange territory on a beautiful warm summer’s day with his magnificent sister and the smell of salty air:
I ate enormous prawns that were almost as big as my feet (true story) with a rich mayonnaise-y Marie Rose sauce, and remembered how much I don’t like de-heading shellfish. Or de-heading anything, for that matter.
Luckily, the pictures of the SeaChange cast on the way to the bathroom at At The Heads, the restaurant attached to Diver Dan’s Boatshed at which we were dining, made up for the prawn peeling.
As did driving across what was once the SeaChange bridge, although I think it’s been rebuilt since filming. (I can’t really get too upset about that, though. Everyone who’s ever watched SeaChange knows that the bridge was always getting rebuilt.)
Unfortunately, I didn’t spot Diver Dan or Max anywhere in Barwon Heads, but I guess I’m okay with that.
It was a beautiful day anyway.
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Looks like a great time!
It really was!
Oh, a beach visit! It’s cold here in the U.S., I’m JEALOUS.
Except that I just made a cookie with lime, coconut, and milk chocolate because of the inspiration from your review last week. Yum.
Here’s why you shouldn’t be too jealous: this is my first summer in two years. That’s right, because of traveling I’ve had three winters in a row. So at least you’ve been warm fairly recently!
Can’t wait to see the cookies!!
Didn’t I tell you? I don’t want to hear about it … but, that said, it does look lovely.
Maybe you’ll feel better if I tell you that The Brother and I said several times during lunch that it felt like you, dad, and the grandparents should be with us?
A bit … I s’pose.
oh my – how glorious is that sunshine@!!!!!
Absolutely glorious! I’m revelling in my sunburn… (naughty!)
Oh man, all I could think about as I read this post was Diver Dan so consequently can’t remember anything of what you wrote! I want to go there!!!
Oh, and sleezy man voice has gone from your front page now…I can’t decide if that is sad or a relief.
I must warn you though, Diver Dan clearly wasn’t much of a raw pumpkin pie chef
I hoped you’d like this post! I was counting on your to be one of the more interested ones
And about the creepy man… you could always bookmark the postand check it when you’re feeling in need of a boost?
Yes!!!!! I had to reread it several times though so I could focus on what you were writing rather than having Diver Dan’s face hover in front of the text making it rather impossible to read!
Good idea about the creepy man. I might just have to do that…
That naughty Diver Dan, sneaking into our fantasies all the time…
(Though, actually, if I had to pick, I’d take Max. Which is good, because this way we don’t have to fight about it 
)
I hate peeling prawn heads too, but the prawns are worth it!
Jess, lovely to hear from you again! I just read that you’re stopping the blog
– if you ever want to catch up in person, let me know!
We had a beachhouse nearby at the hilariously-named little town of Indented Head and there’s one episode where I’m walking by wheeling baby Sapphire in the pram in the background when they were using the main street (‘street’ is used very loosely) of the next town (St Leonard’s) to film a scene outside of Bob Jelly’s real estate.
Oh. Dear. Holy. Handbucket. Kath, which episode?! I own the whole series, and NEED to go find you and screech ecstatically about it.
I’m wondering if it’s that wonderful Auction scene – I think I remember someone go by with a pram. We could check it out if you come around tomorrow.
It’s a plan!
Did you find it?
Whoops, we got distracted by watching Pride and Prejudice
Mwhahaha. Is that why you went to Barwon Heads?? Ah, your brother loves you.
It was so lovely spending time with you! And the photos aren’t *that* incriminating…
He does, he does
Though, actually, he just desperately wanted to get out of the city himself. I’ll have you know we drove past The Abyssinian on the way out *and* back, and the first time I squealed and pointed, and the second time E. made woeful noises about wanting to eat there again immediately.
Back at you a million times! And easy for you to say… the photos aren’t of you!
I love barwon heads and diver dan’s hut – unfortunately seachange was on when I was overseas so I only got home to the tailend of the excitment about the show – always have meant to watch it fully on dvd!
haven’t been to Barwon Heads for ages – am so glad you got some glorious weather for it – your timing was excellent considering all the rain of late
I know, we were very lucky weatherwise! Now, Johanna, you MUST hire/buy SeaChange and watch it properly. If only we lived in the same city, I could lend you mine!
I’m so happy the weather has been holding out for you – you timed your trip perfectly!
And I looked as happy as you in those photos when I was walking around Montmatre picking out the locations in Amelie
Yes indeed! There was a bit of rain on Thursday and Friday but not too bad, all up
Also, I had the exact same feeling in Paris. Plus, I was staying at a hostel right near many Amelie locations!
Love, love, love SeaChange too.., I must get the entire season for next time I dig in for a serious comfort zone fave TV show fess.
Fun times you’ve had here.., its great to see such happy faces. And as awesome as it looks to get a wonderful presentation of prawns like that…, I have to agree with you…, don’t like the ripping prawn heads off either. Time & a place methinks.
Yes yes yes you must! It’s just such a happy, moving, hilarious, and well-written show
Would I sound really stupid if I admitted that I completely forgot about the hands-on part of prawns? I was just so excited about being in Diver Dan territory…
Awesome time you have there!!
Thanks Anh! It was wonderful
Mmm Me likey prawns as big as feet or even hands!
And incriminating photos? Haha do tell! 
Oh heavens, it looks like I’m going to have to show some of the photos after mentioning them like that!
I wish this photo truly showed the size of the prawns… they were massive!
Wow, I am really envious for your sunny weather there in the land down under whilst my lips are chaffing here in London! And oh, those prawns those prawns!
I’ve actually had three winters in a row because of traveling, so I think I deserve a bit of summer!
Though I do sympathise with your cold weather up in grey winter London! At least there’s always yummy chocolate and seafood to be had, right?
Such a gorgeous place – isn’t it fantastic to eat by a view that beautiful? It could make any food taste good I think… and now, more importantly – where are those incriminating photos?!
Absolutely! Even if the food hadn’t been wonderfully fresh, I would’ve been happy to be near the ocean on such a beautiful warm, blue day anyway
Oh gosh. I’ve really stuck my foot in it by mentioning the photos…
Loving this post. But…..20 minutes from my house?? And you didn’t call?
Very sad face! lol So glad you enjoyed your time down here! 
))
Oh, my bad! My internal blog-radar didn’t go off telling me there was a friendly face nearby
Oh gosh, you live near Barwon Heads? The envy!
I did, indeed, have a wonderful time in Melbourne. Rather sad to be back in Canberra, actually!
Wow! Look at those shrimp! YUM!
Exactly!
I hate de-heading prawns too! So worth it though. You know, I have never seen Seachange…!! Looks like a super fun day! I love it out Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove way.
Heidi xo
Heidi! Get thee to a rental/DVD store and get yourself SeaChange, a block of chocolate, and someone to snuggle down and watch the entire series with! I promise you, it’ll be worth it
holy crap those prawns are huge!! Your trip bac home must have been even harder to bare after going to Barwon Heads on such a beautiful day. You’ll have to organize a trip back quick smart!
I’m so glad you could tell how big they are! I almost chose a photo with me in it to showcase their hugeness, but then I was sick of my own face
Also, you got it in one. Canberra is still nothing but grey and rainy… I miss Melbourne weather and, moreover, Melbourne friends! How are you goign with finding me that job?
I can almost smell the air in those pictures! The fact that it’s finally crossed into “truly chilly” over here has me even more envious. Love the pic of you and the boots – er, I mean, the dock!
Don’t begrudge me my first summer in two years!
And no need to correct yourself… you and me, we understand that shoes trump ‘most everything else in life 
I think knowing how much you enjoyed yourself being here makes me possibly even happier than you were. Maybe. Yes?
I am a total expert prawn sheller too, so you’ll have to take me next time.
I might also retract my previously shirt competition challenge..
Aw! That is such an incredibly lovely thing to say
And yes, please, come with me next time. I hate how the icky juices get all over my hands…
Are you retracting because you know he’ll win? Because he really will…
I don’t know anything about this SeaChange, but I am wondering if those duck gizzards were sold in any personality traits other than “playful.” Were there “shy” duck gizzards? Or “easygoing?” Or “obsessive-compulsive?”
*laughs* I really don’t think I can add much to that
I’d love to see what obsessive-compulsive duck gizzards look like though.
Also, you need to order SeaChange from Australia and watch it. Stat.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an episode of Sea Change either. I suspect my mother has the DVDs, perhaps I’ll have to watch some over Christmas? Although the blokes in the house are always watching some stupid cricket match or bloody boat race.
Yes yes yes yes yes! If you give them a go, I promise not to call you unAustralian
I don’t know what I’ll do if you don’t like them, though… keep in mind that the first episode is *very* much establishing characters, but if you stick with it it hits its stride 
Well that sounds fair, and I won’t be able to call you unAustralian for not devoting yourself to the pleasures found within mangoes. I am attempting to eat my own bodyweight in mangoes this summer it seems. Nearly finished the fifth tray and counting! Certainly not tiring yet. I’ll let you know if I get around to seeing any.
Please do! Though I feel the need to restate that I don’t not like mangoes, I just don’t love them and seek them out in the way other Australians do as soon as they’re in season. But I definitely love my mango passionfruit baked custard recipe, and am considering some mango smoothie action in future
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