5 p.m. darkness - we're on our way, it's Good Friday. A quiet, quick drive through sleepy, wet, Melbourne. By six a.m. we're on the Bendigo Road. An hour from Melbourne - 'how much longer' the question repeatedly asked by my two sons. Seven more hours of driving!!!

First stop just outside Bendigo at McDonalds - for breakfast. Freezing. Shop busy. I fill up with constant cups of coffee whilst the three lads dig into Egg and bacon muffins. Geoffrey asks for another. How can such a thin child eat so much! Mentally tell myself to get him checked out for worms!!!

The land becomes flat. Flat, dry and worn. Occasional fences and clusters of trees, most of the time there is only bitumen, straight, narrow, the scenery unchanging. A few small towns passed through, usually with a railway siding dominated by the concrete towers of wheat silos. A few houses, a shop and usually a hotel. The semi-desert of northwestern Victoria, wheat country.

Tyres humming, motor singing its constant note. Children's voices, arguments,
'Mum, Matthew hit me'.
'No I didn't you hit me first'.
'You liar, no I didn't'. Ouch!
Mum, 'Will you two be quiet Daddy's driving'.
'He hit me'. Tears, more tears.
Dad. 'If you two don't behave I'll stop this car and smack you both'.
Fisticuffs. Car slows to virtual halt. Fight stops, peace resumes. A few more of these before we're home!.

Numerous questions. Long silences, peaceful, happy. Games, 'First one to see a cockatoo get's a dollar'. First one to see five crows together gets a dollar. Big argument - five crows equals five dollars!
'Who made that smell?'
'Matthew did'.
'No, I didn't.
Don't lie Geoffrey you are always lying.'
Mum 'It definitely wasn't me!'.
Dad. 'Nor me. Unless I get the truth you will lose 50 cents pocket money - you two boy's are disgusting!'.
Whispered conference in rear. Cheek.
'50 cents isn't much to loose' replies Matthew.
'Right, that's it - you've both lost a dollar now.'
'I'm hungry'.
'So am I'.
Dig in bag for drinks and biscuits, a never ending supply - do my two children have bottomless pits for stomachs'. Dire threats if anything spilt in rear of car. Near Mildura -
'I feel sick'. I turn and look at Matthew - he's white-faced and white-lipped.
'Stop'. I yell.
Manage to eject him from the car just in time. Everything expelled.
'I hate being in a car - why can't we come by plane'.
'You're sick on the plane too,' I remind him. 'You'll feel better now,. We should have given you a pill'.
Thank God for 'Wet Ones'. Quick clean up - he managed to be sick all over his shoes! Ah well, at least it isn't in the car I tell myself.

Lots of sympathy from Geoffrey who stops teasing his brother and constantly asks 'You all right Matt?' At last Mildura! Sighs all round. Hunt for chemist - purchase of sickness tablets. Petrol stop, cool drinks, two bags of ice for the cooler boxes. Everyone brightens up. Across the bridge - we're in New South Wales now. Cheers from the boys. A couple more hours undulating dirt road, dust flying, husband swearing 'next car is definitely four wheel drive' boy's squirming. Relief - we've arrived. All tumble out of car - boy's dash off. Mum stretches. Dad relieved ...