Hi All,

We hope Xmas prep's are all coming along nicely back home! It's really weird over here, there are people in bikini's and boardies putting up xmas decorations in their gardens.... very strange!

Our Xmas plans are coming along nicely too, we drop the van off in just under 2 weeks in Sydney, we then have to slum it in Dorms for about 10 days, but alcohol and beaches can fix that up quick as you like, We don't know exactly where we'll be for xmas / new years eve (anyone whos done this before feedback would be awesome!) but never-the-less we know a fair few people who'll be in the city of the partying so I'm sure it'll be great!

It's sad to be handing the van back over soon but we've sorted out our van in NZ so we're looking forward to exploring over there as well! after the 5 weeks in NZ we've organised our 2 week holiday in Fiji (I know we're already on holiday but we ain't backpacking in Fiji and its guna be lush!). after that its a whistle stop tour of the states comprising of LA for 3 days, Vegas (The Mirage...) for 2 nights, San Fran and finally New York New York.

Enough about the future the past has been great, after our last update in Byron we said our goodbyes to the Clarkes! (we really didn't want to leave you guys!) I got my fix on some DIY, managed to put up some quading around a new section of ceiling on the Veranda and some tongue and groove cladding on an inside wall! Oh I loved it! So we packed up and hit the road, back to single burner meals... but not for too long! we did some touring back on the coast and headed to Coffs Harbour and met up with some freinds we met on the Whitsundays Island's! they we're really nice to us, let us camp out behind their house and fed us and watered us! oh and they had a hot tub! was lush! Clare got drunk on cocktails from the bar whilst Graham and I talked about his service in the NSW Police which was amazing to learn about!

After that we really had to pick up the pace in the van, then we found out that most of the sights and activities involve an unsealed road or a 4wd track to get to! shame our van sin't allowed up them otherwise its a sod off bill when we hand it back! So we've had to miss out on some of the national parks and waterfalls but at least it gives us a reason to come back and check them out properly! so after leaving Coffs we hit the coast again and checked out the NSW scenery, (which is very much like home, green hills all that, very different to QLD)

Ahhh s***e times running out! love to all and I'll finish this off next time!

XXXXXX