Jim, Alex and I got the bus to Brisbane where we went our seperate ways but planned to meet up again while we were all in town.

I managed to check in to my hostel ok but unfortuantely I got the impression that it wasn't going to be the best hostel I have stayed in. The staff were unfriendly and very unhelpful and there wasn't anything organised to celebrate Christmas. This was rather unusual as so many of the other hostels I have stayed in had something organised. But I was sure I'd find something to do.

Brisbane is a really nice city with some huge public parks and some amazing colonial architecture. If Noose felt like the south of France then Brisbane reminded me of Boston (Massachusetts, not Lincolnshire).

My first night I went out for a drink with the lad staying in my room. Graham was from New Zealand but had been living in London for two years but was heading back to New Zealand on Christmas Eve. He did say that he would show me round Auckland when I got there in just over a month.

Christmas in Oz is nowhere near the event it is back home. There were obviously decorations but they were minimal. there were even a number of shops open on Christmas Day, which defiantely wouldn't have been the case at home. Dad, I think you would like Christmas in Oz!

I spent Christmas Eve sorting out and buying my new camera because I really can't be without one for any period of time on this trip. Again shopping on Christmas Eve wasn't as traumatic an experience as it is in Manchester. It was, however, still all men doing all their Christmas shopping in 15 minutes in as few shops as possible!

The rest of the day was spent exploring Brisbane and playing with my new camera. I did meet up with Jim & Alex and compared hostels. Mine was called "Cloud 9", definately false advertising.

Christmas Day was a very unusual experience. I have to admit that it didn't feel like Christmas at all and the fact that it was 32 degrees didn't help! I spent the morning relaxing by the man-made lagoon and beach on Brisbane's south bank but I did have to leave just after midday. Over here a "traditional" Christmas dinner appears to be a BBQ or picnic and soon enogh I was surrounded by loud, hyperactive kids running around and screaming.

I made my retreat and ended up in the Sub-Tropical Gardens near the CBD. It was much quieter here so I spent the afternoon realxing under a tree reading and enjoying the experience of spending Christmas in the kind of weather that would make Spain in July look slightly cold.

Christmas Day evening was reading in my room and generally not doing a lot. I did speak to Mum and Dad which defiantely made my day a little brighter.

I made the mistake of wondering into the centre of town on Boxing Day. I totally forgot that it was the first day of the sales and so it was totally manic. In the first five mintues of being in town I almost got knocked off my feet twice by women who were shopping like their lives depended on it! Needless to say I did not stick around. It rained for the rest of Boxing Day so I spent the time watching Christmas TV and reading my book. Exactly what I would be doing at home.

Tomorrow I move on to Surfer's Paradise, which has some of Australia's best beaches. Hope the weather picks up.