Hey, how is everyone

Read some papers yesterday that said you have snow, brrr! Has been kinda warm here. When first arrived in Melbourne was in the 40's but has cooled down a bit, thank god, was way too hot. We went to the beach and couldn't even put our feet on the sand was so hot.! Now have a bit of colour was still as white as white as I was when I left.

I'm still chilling out here in Melbourne. The first week was fab, stayed in St Kilda. Mum, Dad you would love it there is so so beautiful. A beach resort just outside the city centre. The beach is much nicer than Coogee in Sydney and they have lots of kite surfers in the water. Really nice to watch. After the hectic life in the city in Sydney was nice to spend some time here. Really felt like I was on holiday. It has lots of little petite cafe's and cake shops selling cakes to die for, every cake you could ever imagine. YUM YUM! Helen and I tried to resist the temptation but eventually it was too much to bear. Who cares about your weight anyway when you are travelling, HMMMM! I had a black forest gateau as I missed out on that at Xmas, was yum!

In the evenings you can walk to the end of the pier and watch these really cute fairy penguins come home for the night to their babies that are hidden under the rocks. We went down one night and watched this, gave you a funny feeling in your stomach, was so nice to watch. They are so so cute.

We stayed in this really nice hostel, pretty expensive though as all the prices have went up here for the Australian Open, Stupid tennis I say, not fair. One of the best hostels I've stayed in. We stayed in the Sanctuary at BASE "Girls only" You got feather pillows, a towel and free shampoo, conditioner and yeah can't be forgetting the free champagne every night. We never missed a night of that I tell you. We put Raspberry in it to make it taste nicer and to make it a nice pink colour. Here they don't have blackcurrant in pubs is raspberry much nicer. After a few of them that was my drink for the night, fab!

In Base was so easy to meet people, met a crowd right away. Had a bar downstairs which was really good. Something different going on it every night. Met a guy Paul frm Ireland, still see him the odd night, a nice guy.

Moved on from Base as they put there prices up to way too high for the tennis. Moved across the road to "All Nations". This was ok but twelve bed dorms. Noisy and we had to move bed every day. Strange way the owner worked it, became too tiring.

Decided to move to the city after days of job hunting and no luck, thought would give it a go. Plus Helen only had one more week here so we thought a week in the city would be good.

Moved into Hotel Bakpak, cheesy name eh! Should be called the worst Hostel in Australia I say. It was awful. The kitchen was so so disgusting. 5 out of 6 dryers weren't working. No atmosphere just a massive city centre hostel not friendly at all. Left a lot to be desired. We stuck this place out for 5 days, still no job. Then moved across the road to another hostel, much nicer.

Helen now gone. Enjoyed the time together but like travelling on own as well. Have met a few people along the way here in Melbourne. People come and go each day. Met Claudia from Switzerland . We 've been hanging out a lot together. Poor Claudia though she got her bag stolen with everything in it. Not good. I hope that doesn't happen to me, not good. Has def made me more safety conscious locking everything away.

Oh and yeah I've had some work, so hard to get here as everyone came down from Sydney after Xmas at same time plus a lot of Australian students still on holidays so they have work. I started in this bar but just not for me far too classy, too many rules. I didn't like it and they didn't like me. You could only touch the glass twice and had to do all this fancy stuff just not for me and meant working from 5 pm to 5 am in the morning. Would kill me. Anyway is no more. On Sunday I had a really really bad job, yes it so was. Cleaning toilets at a music festival. Yuck, it was as bad as you can imagine. Yeah think of the toilets at T in the Park and multiply the heat by three. Not the nicest job on the planet. I had to do the gents as well with them all at the urinals all shouting, "Where's Kenny". Some famous movie here about a toilet attendant. I was paired up with Lyndsay also from Scotland, we had some laughs though,. it was an experience that's for sure. Saw the odd bit of bands. Saw the streets, Jet, Muse and Tool.

Monday got more work at the festival, the day after was meant to be cleaning toilets but cos we had done such a good job night before not much to do. The guy sent all the other girls home but kept me. Yipeah I thought! Until I found out I'd be labouring with the lads lifting fences, taking down stages, climbing on top of portacabins taking signs, flags down. Hard hard work in the heat and a lot of heavy lifting which the guys had to pair up with me for.Somehow I was the only girl. But had a fun day, met some really cool people. I also got to drive a yute around the festival site for a while. Was fun spinning around, tooting the horn. After the weekend was shattered only had three hours sleep. Met up with guys for a beer then went to bed, a well deserved rest.

Now looking at leaving Melbourne pretty soon. Hard to get work, plus I feel as if I want to travel for a bit away from the city. Not appreciating Melbourne as much as I prob would have if not spent so much time in cities already. Have advertised for a lift. Looking to leave in next few days. Got an offer off some German guys today but don't fancy. Will keep you posted.

Miss you all. XXXXX