hi people, tried to write this last night but lost it which p**d me right off. Hope u all had a nice xmas and didnt miss us too much, well actually i hope u did!  We left sydney for sleepy lismore, trip wasnt bad lots nice scenery, took 9 hours, of which i spent most of it trying to kangaroo spot and i did see two which was cool. Lismore is on border of nsw and queensland 45mins in shore from byron bay, pauls auntie is housesitting/dogsitting for 6 weeks. House is in middle of nowhere, quite big and v nice in middle of green hilly countryside, could think we were at home if it wasnt for banana trees, palms and koalas cross here signs! Paul got over his dodgy gut to go straight into having temps of 39.5 (very high) for 36hrs so off to docs we went on day b4 xmas eve to get antibiotics for severe sinusitus, very expensive and high maintenece he is turning out to be. Then on xmas eve was sunbathing and in the lovely pool all day in the lovely sun till 1500 when went running in and chucked my guts up everywhere with sunstroke, a hat has now been bought. i had improved by the evening and dragged myself out of bed to watch miricale on 34th st. felt really homesick on xmas eve especially when got card from rileys with a pic by megs and photos of the otters, we stood that next to the folks cards, so that day was not on top form and missed everyone more than u could no, paul was the same too. xmas day was really hot, paul felt better by this point, although still not on top form.  got paul a psp but convieniently for him due to his ongoing illness i got nothing, not good ay, xmas am started with a fry up by the pool then we spent all day in the pool and had full xmas dinner at 1700 followed by xmas pud. the day was very strange, kept having to remind ourselvs it was xmas. Tried to phone home for two hrs but the lines were constantly congested which was very annoying. We spent one day shopping in lismore not the most happening, evenings everybody goes to bed early, they say its cause they have got up early, unlike us which i guess is a fair comment. boxing day weather was really overcast same as yesterday. yesterday we went to byron bay, was really cool, lots of good shops and they had a beachfront market which was cool. stuart, vanessa and boys went too and paul had a go on jakes boogie board, wasnt quite as slick as jake however. beach was really nice and powdery but wasnt sunbathing weather, not cold tho. they then went back and me and paul had dinner then drove back in our hire car. today we drove to surfers paradise which is in queensland took just over 90mins, got hotel right away which was lucky as most booked out, about 60 pound for a nice big room in middle of action.  weather is better than yest but not amazing sunshine so not sunbathing but has lots of shops, its also hour behind nsw which is wierd so we have got an extra hour.  Have just bought some more local souvieniers, my spelling is so bad isnt it, hope youre not judging, (alex).  might evening be able to get paul to stay out little later tonight if im lucky especially now hes finished his antibiotics!  tomorrow its pauls cousin jakes 12th bday so they are meant to be coming up here and we are all going to wet and wild waterpark, then we will go back to drive back to sydney on saturday ready for new year.  just tried to put my photos on this computer but my usb stick isnt working which is annoying.  had enough of writing now so will speak soon STILL LOVING AND MISS U LOADS AND LOADS LAURA AND PAULXXXXXXXX

PS havnt had any perriss/riley emails for a while so get typing and lucy tried to email u back but it failed, yr pics were lovely very cute and really clear to, keep me updatedxxx