So we have spent our first week in Sydney already. I have loved it all. A lot of the week has been taken up organising things like tax numbers, health cards and speaking to the agency we will be working with. We have also managed to find a very stylish apartment that will be 'home' for the time being.

Work starts at the end of March or early February, I'm looking forward to it, but also a bit apprehensive about it too. Its difficult to get lost on my way to Raigmore, Sydney on the other hand.....Yikes, its big.....

I have encountered my first experience of the Australian beasts that are known as spiders, I like to see them more as tarantulas, they are awful.....We were off to view an apartment and before we even made it to the door, I was off after spotting cobwebs bigger than myself. With two gigantic spiders, I couldn't have gone any further......As I said to mum they were the same size as her lambs at lambing time lol........

We have seen torrential rain, which lasted all day yesterday. I got drenched after my brolly, which I had just purchased was destroyed in the wind......The thunder is like nothing I have heard before, it woke me in the night and I thought there had been an explosion.

So other than all the bits and bobs we have had to sort out, we have had a fairly chilled week after spending a month in Asia on our feet continually. Getting used to the area and finding wee shops and cafes that will maybe become our local ones.......As usual we have been sampling a few of the local beers, all tasty I might add.

We have been down to Paddy's markets near China Town and it is amazing the amount of fresh produce available, and it all looks lovely. It is so cheap, you realise how much bigger supermarkets up their prices. Will definitely return for their fruit and vegetables. Look forward to my first roast dinner away from home :-).

Cooking in the youth hostel has been different, two cookers for everyone to use, but managed to have some nice homely food, mince and tatties. Yum....

We were at Bondi Beach today, was ace to watch the surfers and body borders on the water. What a stunning beach it is, I look forward to returning soon. I have already been researching buying a body board for myself, cant wait to have a go.

I look forward to exploring more over the next few weeks before I start work, hopefully no more spiders though.

Obviously I'm missing everyone back home and its really good when I get texts, messages and calls from everyone, so keep it up guys.........xxxx