Well G'day! Get me, I am a right littl' city worker now. I have been working at Worley since the 3rd July - that is over a week now!

I have spent my first two weeks in Perth staying in the Ocean Beach backpackers in Cottesloe, mainly shopping for work clothes, doing some sight seeing, trying to find a home, chillin' with fellow travellers and by the beach. Jess and I took a trip to Freemantle, or Freo as the Ozzies say. It is very popular here to shorten words. Another example is "selfies", pictures of oneself... Freemantle is a gorgeous suburb of Perth, with local markets, funky cafes and bars, a harbourside and a Little Creatures beer brewery (still yet to try). I stocked up on some girlie goods, already fed up of looking like a boy or a tramp, and bought myself some pretty earings and a toe-ring. We also got our first glimpse of a "city/town Aborgine" in Freo. They are Aboriginies that come to the city from the outback, and for one reason or another, they drink to the point of drunkeness. Their bodies are unable to process the alcohol and as a result they create havoc. The Australians refer to them as pests, which I found rather hard to digest. Freemantle was so nice that I hired a bike and cycled back there the following day, as Jess slept in bed, poorly.

The beaches are gorgeous, white sand and clear seas - heaven! I have also met up with Mr Andy West, which was great! I emailed Andy to let him know where we were staying and low and behold, 5 minutes later, there in the OB bacpackers kitchen, was Andy! It figured that Andy lives just 100m up the road from the hostel. Andy joined us for dinner and wine, and some rum and coke as we watched England play their last game of football in the world cup! We all had an early night after that.... The following day, I joined Andy for the Cottesloe Sunday Sessions....The Sunday Sessions are a drinking and dancing event: Ozzies, wearing their bush-hats, drive in from the outback in their yutes, students and people from the suburbs get dressed-up, head to the OBH (Ocean Beach Hotel) or Cottesloe Hotel, and in summary, have a Sunday Session. I cannot describe the noise of chatting and music - it is a great atmosphere.

 Jess left last week to work in a country pub in Pingelli, where she is provided with accomodation. I will miss her!

All is not lost though, as I have met some fab people at the backpackers, including Jane and Fiona. They have been great company and we all head out for a girly meal last week - deliciously cooked scallops and yummy salads. Thank you Jacque (who is also staying at the OB packpackers). Jane is sadly leaving next week to travel the west coast in a campa-van. Fiona is nursing in Perth for three months, which is great as we get along well and are members of Fitness First in the city - we were both chuffed to have a gym buddy! Body Pump here we come! (so sad aren't I?!) Last weekend was spent enjoying a lie-in and the Cottesloe beach, watching the surfers ride the waves and the sun-setting. Attached to the backpackers is a house (or thereabouts); most of the house is up the tree, including the sofa.... well until it was burnt on the bonfire at the party on Saturday night. A great and well-alcohol fuelled party later, I had met lots more lovely people. Fiona, Jane and I decided that it would be nice to resolve our hangovers with the almighty of brunches at 'Beaches Cafe" in Cottesloe.

Staying at the OB backpackers has been fun and I considered staying there for a while in a private room, but decided that cockroaches in the kitchen and boozing every night, may just not be the best thing for me. So, wittling down options, including the Perth suburbs and the city, I have at last found a home for the next three months! I tried my best to find a pad looking over the ocean, but the rooms are snapped up pretty quickly, so have settled for a room in a house in Swanbourne. The house is about a 20 minute walk to the beach and 5 minutes walk to the train station. From there I leave the house and get to work in 20 minutes - fantastic! Graham owns the house, he deals in shares and we share with Lou the dog and another girl called Kathryn. Lou is great fun, she is an Australian cattle dog; a mix of several breeds, including bull terrier and dingo. I am looking forward to taking her to the beach. The house is pretty smart, new kitchen and bathroom (funky tiles and stuff). I have been there one night - it was very relaxing and I found it hard to get out of my divine double bed. Work at Worley is interesting. I work an 8 hour day, core hours are 8.30am to 4.30am.

Most days are sunny here; chilly in the mornings (often from the wind) but the day soon heats up (18 degrees). I like to leave work before 5pm, when it is light and stroll through the city, which is buzzing pn a Friday as the people have fun in the bars or shop until 9pm. If it rains, it is normally for one day and the previous or following day may be cloudy. July is the worst winter month here, so Spring will come soon. So far, I have been writing a report on wave-hindcasting for a phosphate terminal in Saudi Arabia, and yesterday, reviewed a report on some modelling produced for an LNG terminal off the coast of Australia. The work is challenging as it is slightly different to my work at Halcrow, although it is forcing me to bring back some of the stuff I learnt on my BSc and Masters, which can only be a good thing! I still have not made it to Rottnest, but Jane and hopefully some of the guys from the OB Backpackers will be heading there on Saturday to celebrate the 15th July - my 27th birthday (boy, did that come around quickly!). I shall let you know how the evening goes! Perhaps I will be sober enough the next day to make it to Subiaco or the Perth Aquarium. For the following weekend (23rd July), I shall be sailing!!!! I am very excited.

Thank you to all for your lovely messages. I would love to reply, but unfortunately when you write an email to me via the website it does not add your address, so if you pop your email address into the mail I will endeavour to get back to you!

Mark G, thanks for the comment - all my spelling and grammar is indeed atrocious - I must write these journals in less haste... Love to you all (missing you hugely), Em x

p.s I will pop some pictures on the website soon - last ones from Africa (including the Safari) and some of Perth too! The picture above is Coral Bay (I think that is on the west coast, apparently you can dive with Whale Sharks and Rays there, hmmm perhaps I will go....)