G'day all!
It has been a while! I've been in Oz now for....crikey 3 months! I now wear thongs and singlets, get around on a surf board, drink schooners of beer and only eat food that has been on cooked on the BBQ and oh and everything is like 'far out' and ends with an O....because of course this is what Australia is all about...o!

I've had my first birthday in the sunshine! Spent Christmas morning swimming in the sea and BBQing on the beach! And New Years was celebrated at a house party over looking Sydney harbour! Not a bad festive season hey?! And of course best of all I have seen my big Bro and Gemma and that has been fantastic!

In between hopping around the beaches of Sydney and topping up my tan, I have also been working.....booo! I was extremely lucky in landing a job as (with everywhere) jobs are scarce! In fact I landed 2....how good am I huh?! The first working for the Department of Corrective Services (the prison service) and the 2nd at the not so charming Charring Cross! Both were pretty easy and very dull!

Work finished 2 weeks ago, so I packed my bags and headed to Brisbane. Stopping at North Stradbroke Island, Surfers, Byron Bay, Nimbin, Hunter Valley and Port Stephens.

Along the way I've celebrated Pancake Day. Found 2 places I would love to live. Been in 11 different beds. Drunk several bag of goon. Eaten far too many ham rolls and Coles $2 bags of cookies. Discovered coleslaw sandwiches weren't as great as they sounded. Seen 100's of kangaroos and a similar number of dolphins. Been to the best zoo in the world. Swam with turtles. Walked a dozen scenic routes. Been freaked out by the big fished in Byron. Met 2 very crazy guys (which coincidentally were both American!) Discovered that not all Australians learn to surf as soon as they can walk.Lost 1 bank card. Been on 12 buses , 1 plane, 7 trains, 2 boats. Become a surfing pro ...of course! Been stung by 1 jelly fish. Been stuck in one hillbilly town. Turned several shades darker brown. Been offered 2 jobs and 1 bed. Been to 1 doctors and 1 hospital. Seen a thousand white beaches with turquoise sea. And met loads of great people along the way!

It has been a fab 2 weeks that have been mostly beaches and beer so I am now very, very excited to be heading off to New Zealand tomorrow to see something other than white sand and turquoise sea....although slightly worried about being in the cold once again.

Better go, I've got to pack my bag and I think it may be harder than it was the first time! And the first time was pretty tough!

I hope everything is wonderful back home x x x