Hey Everyone,
Its feels like a while since I have written anything for the site, what with the mundane thing of work getting in the way - bu**er eh!! Nevermind if we want to fund our life here its a must. No on a serious note we are both getting on well in our jobs and enjoy it once we are there (most of the time).

So, after I worked flat out for a week I was able to have a week off as my friend Sarah (Hunt) for those of you who know her, came to visit for a week. The day she arrived I spent the morning cleaning so she could see our flat in fairly good nick, as long as it was tidy at the beginning!! Sarah arrived on Wed 21/11 in the evening. I was waiting at the airport quickly checking the old email on the computer when i looked up and thought 'that girl really looks like Delta Goodrem' (for those of you that might not know, she used to be in neighbours and then went on to sing [like most of the neighbours stars, hehe]) Anyway, it was her! So I tried to discretely take a photo and the bloody flash went off, but I wasn't as obvious as some people who just stood in the shop staring at her and asking for her autograph. As I was waiting for Sarah to come through customs she came over to me and started chatting as I had a 'welcome to Australia' balloon. She was asking me loads of questions, so we had a good old chat!! She was waiting for Brian McFadden who was on Sarah's flight. We then had a piccie taken, which I look not good!! Seeing as she is stunning! There we go my claim to fame at Sydney airport.

When Sarah came through it was a bit emotional, we both had a couple of tears but it was so good to see her after all this time, I couldn't actually believe she was here with me. We headed back to our humble abode where we spent the evening catching up, drinking wine and having a great time. It was so good,

In the morning we took it easy as Sarah was obviously a bit jet lagged and the weather wasn't all that great. In the afternoon we headed down to Circular Quay, where I introduced Sarah to the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We were like proper tourists with the camera being snap happy. We wandered around the rocks and had a drink opposite the Opera House.

On Friday we went into the city and went on the open bus tour, it was ok ish weather but we went ahead and did it anyway. Sarah got to see the main sights as we went round on the bus, the sun came out but the wind didn't go - the photos are quite amusing! We also had to dodge the trees as the branches were so low that we nearly got knocked out a few times.

After a full day of sightseeing we got ready in the evening and went down to Darling Harbour to one of the bars where Jo met us and a few faces we hadn't seen for a while. We met up with Malcolm Smith (for those of you that don't know him, Sarah and I used to go to school with him and haven't seen him for about 8 years) and also met up with Amy Kirwan and Bryn who we also went to school with and know from home. So it was a mini Hugh Christie reunion in Sydney!! We had a great evening, Claire joined us later in the evening too. We had far too much alcohol and the photos really did get worse but I've edited them for the site!

The next morning we all felt a bit ropey. We were going to head to Manly but the weather had other ideas and rained so we decided on good old brekkie then headed to paddington Market for a mooch round and some lunch before we went home for an afternoon nap!!(I know we're lightweights aren't we!). When we awoke from our doze we all got ready and for an evening at the opera house watching the Australian Ballet. It was a great performance and we all really enjoyed it. Another tick in the box!

On the Sunday we went into the city to Darling Harbour as Sarah had see it at night but not in the day. We met up with Jo, Rob, Lew and Libs and went for lunch. After lunch Sarah and I caught the train over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and walked down the road to get fab views of the city. We then walked back over the bridge which was actually the first time I done it, other than the bridge climb. That evening it was the final of Australian Idol at the Opera House so we went and had a few drinks and met Jo as Libby had a ticket! They had fireworks halfway through which were great.

The next day we were up early as Jo and Rob lent us their car, so we met Malcolm and I drove to the Blue Mountains. On the way we stopped at Fetherdale Wildlife park as Sarah couldn't come all tthe way to Australia and not see a koala and a kangaroo. So at the park we saw both and other typical Aussie animals. We got to stroke the koalas and feed the kangaroos. The Blue Mountains were stunning. You can see for miles and there really is a blue haze over them. We saw the three sisters rock formation and we manged to get fairly close. It was a great day with the weather. We took a picnic with us and just enjoyed ourselves. That evening Jo and Rob invited us for dinner, so we went to a Teppanyaki resturant where the chef cooks the food in front of you. But it did have a difference, we had food thrown at us as we had to try and catch pieces of omlette in our mouths or the bowls we were holding. And we had tto catch spinning bowls of rice otherwise they would have ended up all over us. It was very different but a great night and wicked fun. Thank you Jo and Rob.

So on Tuesday which was Sarah's last day we had the car again, we went to Bondi Junction shopping then we went to Watson's Bay for amazing views, we also we drove the coast road from Watson's Bay to Coogee. It was on Coogee Beach that Sarah went on to the sand and her photo taken in the rain with the umbrella up! Typical it had to rain at that moment. In the evening on Sarah's last night we had drinks at home and Malcolm and Dan came round to say goodbye.

Wednesday was a sad day, it was horrible to see Sarah go. I hate going to the departure gates at airports, they are always sad. We had such a good week and I really didn't want it to end but it wont be long before we catch up again. Sarah thank you so much for coming over, I hope you had a great time like I did.

Hope you are all ok.

See you soon. Until next time.

Love and miss you loads

Carly

xxxxx