Hello everyone!!! Firstly, big apologies for being a slack ass and not sending a postcard for quite sometime (Nov 25th if I recall!). I am very disappointed with myself and will attempt to make up for it in the future. I hope I have made up for it with the masses of new photos that I have been sorting and uploading (and titling) over the last few days. Boy, what a task!! Mind you, we have the advantage of a super quick PC (with broadband) so it has made the task a lot easier. I am currently sitting in the office at the computer. Its Friday night, its 10pm and Im working (sort of!). We kind of have jobs. I like to refer to our current position (of trust, I may add) as 'residential/domestic service/support technicians'. Sounds good, yeah? Yes, we are house sitting! You may laugh away, but 5 weeks gratis accomodation, with car, computer and more DVDs then Blockbusters aint too bad. Did I mention the spa bath? Or the air con? Anyway, this very sweet role is due to finish very soon as the owners are coming back next week from their 5 week holiday in Europe. Then we are back on the road. Plan is to hire a camper van and do the East coast for a couple of months. But as my business studies lecturer used to say to the class and myself: 'a plan is good basis on which to change your mind'. And he was right. And still is. Cheers Andy Quick, why did I only get a C grade for pitys sake? Apologies, I have a tendancy to waffle onwards into realms of unknown garbage. I blame the '2 Ronnies'.. So, going backwards and not forwards, we have totally got used to Australian life and Sydney as a city. Its a great place and very much like London, except cheaper, cleaner, nicer weather, better views, and generally a nice place to be. Hmmm, nothing like London then really!?! Seriously tho, it is a cool place and has everything but it can get hectic, so its nice to be out of the city in a chilled up and coming town for a bit. Blacktown is nearer to the Blue Mountains, Featherdale Wildlife Park (going there soon) and Eastern Creek Raceway (V8 Supercars territory). And the Blue Mountains which we have done was superb. A lot to do and definately more than a days worth, the scenery is breathtaking, there are lots of walks and for those of you who want it all within a reasonable space, there is Scenic World. See the photos for proof. It is actually pretty good. You can get transported down into the rainforest and walk around on 2.5k's of wooden paths (impossible to get lost). There is loads to see and photograph, so I would recommend it if you dont have much time there. Plus you get to see the famous 3 sisters rock formation. We are thinking of going back and doing some bushwalking as there are tons of tracks around with plenty more hidden sights. You never know, we might even bump into Steve Irwin!! Pior to that, we hooked up with Mich and Vic (see photos) in Sydney the other day and decided to take a trip on the Oz Jet boat seeing as it was Vic's last day in Oz. Well, the photos dont do it justice. 30 mins of high speed action around the Sydney waters followed by some 270 degree handbrake style turns. Wicked. We had some lunatic Italian driver whose primary mission was to get us as wet as possible. He managed that, I think. It was wicked fun and 30 mins is just enough time. Any more and you start getting a little bit tired. Especially when this puppy jumps a wake and the boat totally leaves the water, gets about 5ft of air, then smacks back onto the water, HARD! Its a great way to see the sights and its a bit of a giggle too. Apparently the jet boat has 2x350 diesel outboards, followed by some trickery which makes it do its jiggy stuff and (i hope i got this right) pumps out 16,000 litres of water a min. Nice!! New Years was awesome. We spent it in Kings Cross at a place called Potts point. Tons of places around the city were offering spaces to see the fireworks but some were charging and some were BYO and some werent, so it all got a bit hectic. We chose this place because it was BYO, free admission, had DJs and sounded like it had the vibe we were after. We were not wrong. Great views of the fireworks, great company and a little too much 'booze fut baby' all resulted in a full frontal labotomised hangover the next day. But it was worth it. Top banter. Christmas day was also quality. We spent it with Simon, Tracy and 2 other friends (Carmel and Mark) down at the beach near Manly. The weather being windy and a bit overcast didnt stop us from going into all out picnic mode and really showing the Aussies how to do it. It did start to get a bit chilly towards the end, so we hopped back to S+T's gaff, had the customary couple of hours shut eye, then awoke to set up for a murder mystery party, which was hilarious in most parts. The next morning we awoke to help S+T move out of their flat and into their new house down the road. The weather decided to be really really hot, which just made it even nicer (not!). But we managed it, job done, sorted. And all in 4hrs flat. Sweet. December flew by and the only thing that I can think of, right now, that we did, which was worth telling you guys about, was our trip to the Sydney Aquarium. Totally quality is all I can say. Compared to the 'Museum de les Mer' in Biarritz France, Sydney has it all. Much more humane, bigger tanks, penguins, crocs, sharks, turtles, platys and of course a certain clown fish, and chums, that all the kids keep harping on about, Nemo!!! Its shocking to think that 'a certain US animated film making company beginning with D' are ultimately responsible for the demise of fish like nemo and the coral in which they live. Over farming due to demand is to blame although its all being covered up. But who are you going to believe, marine biologists who can back up what they are saying with facts and stats, or some money obsessed fish farmer? Anyway, thats another matter! But the aquarium is amazing. Well run, well staffed and the residents seem happy which is the main thing. We also took a trip to the IMAX cinema to check out the hugest screen out there. All I can say is 'wow, thats big'. Im sure most people have seen an IMAX film but I hadnt and in 3D too... Quality. The film had to be Nascar 3D of course, in digital surround sound (12,000 watts!). It only lasted 50 mins but gave a good historical picture of how nascar came to be what it is and why american drivers can only steer left. Im only joking!! I know there is Indycar where they actually steer left and right, but you must admit, it can get a bit tedious watching a car go round in circles?!? Or is it just me? Anyway dudes, those are the 'highlights' of the last few weeks/months. We have done other stuff but its far too boring or rude to tell you lot about. So consider yourselves lucky that you got off this lightly! Thanks for reading anyway, you, that solitary 1 person sitting out there in cyberspace. I salute you!! damo