G'day people!! sorry it's been a while since i've updated this thing, but i didn't travel to the other side of the world to sit on a computer-right, also haven't had internet access where we have been!

Day 1- Xmas Eve

So, what a week it's been, left Gosford on the morning of Xmas eve and travelled to Sydney via a shopping mall for me to purchase my new Prada Sunglasses that my folks bought me for xmas (thank u)! So we arrived in Leichardt (a suburb about 10mins from the centre of Sydney) at Dale's auntie's place which she was kindly renting out to us for the week-ideal! His auntie, janice was lovely, told us all we needed to know before leaving us with a key (if only she knew what she was letting herself in for ;-)!!) The little apartment was ideal, right next to the lightrail/metro station, so we purchased a weekly pass and could jump on that to pretty much anywhere in Sydney!! So hit the grocery store for essentials, put our glad rags on and headed for Darling Harbour for a nice meal and some very sophisticated but pricey drinks (not the traditional travellers style but hey it was xmas eve!!). Randomally bumped into to 2 girls we went to uni with (Chuckie and Jo), small world hey, so caught up with them and some friends they'd met! failry sensibleish night in attempt to try and avoid my annual xmas day hangover!!

Day 2 Xmas Day!

No sun- rubbish!!!! Opened pressie's (thanks mum)- wine and Special K breakfast! :-) headed into the centre to meet chuckie & Jo headed to a typical backpackers bar, $20 entry xmas dinner and a free beer, was pretty packed with a good atmosphere.. what else could we want!! Can honestly say they meat tasted like plastic but we forced it down for a bit of blotting paper and the festivities began! Obviously introduced a few drinking games to get the day going! Early evening- decided to jump on the bus to Bondi beach for a change of scenery, bad move, beach was quite busy but was cloudy and couldn't find an open bar, so managed a toilet stop before jumping back on the bus!! Typically ended up in a fast food shop, my chicken and chips were much more tasty that my xmas dinner!! :) then a good old xmas carol sing song on the metro home whi9slt speaking to all family- very vague recollections though!

Day 3- Boxing Day

Hungover!! Hit the shops, bad move! Met chuckie and Jo, sightseeing, Circular Quay, Opera house harbour bridge, then went to 'the rocks' for some lunch! Gilrs night in, cooked and film!

Day 4

Went to Sydney Aquarium so Steph could see all the fishies as she's scared of the water and doubt very much she will be snorkelling the Great Barrier reef with us! We also saw Nemo and his friends!! Then went to Bondi Junction for shopping but again- bought nothing! That evening went to friends hostel for a social (not smart with that 7% smirnoff ice) before going to a Beach Party in a club in the centre! Danced the night away before Claire's free champayne bounced- enough said!!

Day 5

Very suprised how good I felt, went to the fish Market for lunch. Caught the ferry to Manly Beach, soaked up some more rays! Cooked dinner, helded the sofa down and enjoyed a night of home luxuries.

Day 6

Went to the harbour, chilled before going on a highlights cruise around the harbour! Went up the Syktower, amazing views, Claire was petrified, went green as she reckons she's going to jump out of a plain- Ha!! Then went on an Oztrek simulator thing, a journey around Australia- pretty cool! We then went to Darling Harbour for a meal with the girls we've met!

Day 7

By this time I felt like I was walking around the world, so we decided we deserved a day to chill! Headed to Bondi beach for a day of Sunbathing, was absoultely packed but found a nice spot! Was again dissapointed with the amount of hot surfers there was for us to watch-NIL!! Janice arrived home that night so we had a meal and a bottle of wine with her!

Day 8- New Year's Eve!!!

Really hot day, headed to the harbour, found a nice bar in the sun and enjoyed a few steady drinks to warm us up for the night! We met Phil and Vicky (friends of Rich's) he tried his best to make sure we would be too drunk to see the fireworks at midnight!! Jumped on the tram back to get ready for the night- Dale and his friends arrived, headed to a spot in Belmaine to watch the fireworks on the hill with a cool box in toe! Awesome night, fireworks were amazing, had a tickets for a club after midnight so partied the night away!!!

Day 9- New years day!

Regretably so, did not have a hare of the dog- big mistake! Yes mum & dad, a long walk before ending up at a pub is the only way to spend New Years Day!! Not a 4 hour drive via Palm Beacj, Summer Bay (the Home and Away set) Steph and Claire were far too excited, i managed an ice lolly and some seaside air to try and cure my hangover! Arrived back in Gosford, ordered a curry as we decided our New years Diets were starting on the 2nd but it was YUK! Aussie's can't do curries (and no it didn't have kangaroo in it!)

Day 10

Beach, as Dale wanted to go body boarding, the waves were mega, about 6foot so we decided to give the sea a miss and soak up the sun!! Then a bit of Shopping and home to pack and finish planning our road trip up the coast tomorrow with our first stop being Port Macquarie tomorrow, a nice coastal town about 4 hours from here! Let the surf lessons begin......!

So, there you go, what i've seen of Aus so far has been amazing, i'm sure they could do with a few more PE teachers out here..once I have mastered surfing! Ciao for now... x