Day 97 (Sunday 21st January 2007) Marc's Birthday

Wow! He's 24...what an oldie!!

Sean, Stacey and Jess came round for the day, so at about lunchtime, David took us out for a bit of peace and quiet and show us some more sights. We visited Redcliffe first, eating an ice-cream by the pier whilst watching the swarms of jellyfish float by.

We moved on down to Woody Point at Moreton Bay before taking our first insight into Brisbane city. 'Brizzy' was actually quite a nice place. It felt nothing like Melbourne or Sydney, but then maybe that's just because we had David to show us around!

We drove past all the big skyscrapers (most of which David's company had fitted) in the city centre, as well as the old fig tree, before visiting Southbank and its artificial beach and mini rainforest by the river and absorbing the stunning views at Mount Coot-tha lookout, scenery at the Botanical Gardens and astronomy at the planetarium.

We all sat down for a lovely roast dinner that evening (our second in three months) and despite Marc desperately trying to keep his Birthday on the DL, they all brought out a huge Birthday cake and sung Happy Birthday after dinner.

Marc even had one of David's infamous cocktails and we all played poker until well into the night!

PS Thanks for the phone call Marc's mum...miss you both! Melissa, Graham, Aunty Jane, Steve and Daniel...thanks for the message and text guys!

Day 98 (Monday 22nd January 2007)

We did plan to do a nice scenic drive, David having worked out a route for us, but the big one (Arsenal v Man Utd at the Emirates) repeated that afternoon, took care of that...is this a sign of things to come?

So we lazed about a bit and hit the shops for a while before it began. Kaileah, we sent off a nice little Brthday package for you, but no peaking before the 9th March...we know all about your Christmas exploits!!

When we returned, Marc had stuffed up with the time differences over here and had missed 60-minutes of the game. Arsenal were losing 1-0 and it was all doom and gloom. Then came, what he'd like all Manchester Utd fans to know, one of the best ten minutes of his life...

Rosicky you sexy little Czech and Cesc the boy wonder carved out no. 1 for Robin '4P' Van Persie and then poor old Gary Neville's face dropped a treat when Thierry 'yes we're gonna' name our kid after you' Henry rose like a tin of John West, to thump the ball past the rooted Van der Sar!!!!

Marc was off around David and Wendy's farm and Cameron had his first teaching of how to jump up and down like a mad crazed fool in front of the tv!

Marc, now happy to do anything, helped Sarah knock up a shepherds pie that evening for everyone...so far at least, no one's died!