HAPPY CHRISTMAS

we arrived in sydney on the 22nd after a vERY early morning (4.30 precisely) to take the 7hour coach from port macquarie. we somehow found a pie shop that was open at this ridiculous hour and i somehow ate a chicken and noodle pie (which i never thought i could do!) and the girls had a sausage roll. the journey was a bit boring but managed to sleep with a crooked neck next to charlotte for a little bit. after our breakfast stop, we watched a film which passed the time a bit... and then suddenly, we were at our stop in northern sydney! we took a bus to spit junction, mosman & met john & janne for them to take us to the estate agency. we signed the contract and hEY PRESTO... we had 2 keys in our hand and became owners of the most amazing appartment! we really could not believe our luck when we walked in the door. the appartment was absolutely amazing, with a balcony that (when you stick your head round the side) you can see the opera house from!! no joke.

so we got settled in, and soon the honeymooners arrived (they're the couple we met in magnetic island who are taking the 2nd bedroom). it was just so fun to have our own place for the first time in ages and be able to unpack!! the night before christmas eve, we went out with charlotte & siobhan's friend from uni who has been in australia since july. the bar was called 'world bar' and they served cocktail mixers in teapots with shot glasses so you had to pour you own shots! it was quite a cute idea! we had to leave early because gemma had had a fEWWwww teapots too many but was a fun night anyway.

on christmas day, some friends who we met in brisbane arrived for a christmas feast in flat 7D, 72 Prince St. we had prepared huge marinated steaks, fresh salads with roasted vegetables, potato salad, king prawns skewers & a hUGE fruit covered pavlova... yes they were quite impressed! we made a toast to all of our cold families and friends in england and then celebrated with all our windows and doors open iN the sun! the celebrations didn't end until the boys left around 2am so you can imagine, we had quite a fun day! we just got rid of all the bottles this morning as we left to come to this most humungous internet cafe... underneath macdonalds! it looks like mission control there are that many computers!

over the next few days until new year, we are planning to visit the blue mountains which is just outside of sydney, and also hunter valley where they make wine. after new year we are trying to squeeze in a 3/4 day trip to melbourne before the girls head off to NZ for a week. after that they will be returning home, boo hoo. don't worry though... you can still hear about my adventures, there's a lot more still to come!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS