G'day mates, I've finally made it...well actually I have been here for 4 days now and I'm loving it, though the weather sucks! I thought it would be boiling now, but I have experienced rain and wind! Anyway it's great to be with my brother, Mark and Julianne and unbelievably exciting to meet their little baby Georgia for the first time. She is absotultely adorable and I have had soooo many cuddles, fed her loads, had her staying in my room once (I told Mark and Juli that it was so they could have a lie in so now they think I'm really nice!) and I have given her a bath, though I wasn't very good at that and got rather wet! Juli and Mark's place is really cool, and is set in a little quiet cul-de-sac. They have a pool (though it's not working presently, but hopefully will be before Chrimbo), 2 lounges a garden and a massive patio. They are about 20/30 minutes drive from Perth City. Mark has had to work this week, so during the day Juli,Georgia and I have spent most of our time Christmas shopping (we spent so much on really stupid, unneeded things yesterday, such as a Santa plate, Santa salt and pepper shakers, Santa bowl...you get the idea!). It is not a good idea for me to go Christmas shopping with Juli; she is the only other person in the world - over the age of 10 - that gets as, if not more excited than I do about Christmas! I had another potentially bad accident tonight, which seemed like a scetch from National Lampoon's or something! I really need to sort myself out! I was cooking food for my nephew for when he gets here and I was pouring some water out of the pan. The saucepans are really heavy and hot, so I gripped both handles with a tea-towel. As I raise the saucepan off the hob, I realised the tea towel was on fire and my hand was about to be burnt very badly, so I threw the pan back onto the hob and all the boiling water lept out of the pan and covered me in a tidal wave! My body was fine, but it caught the left side of my face, which was rather painful, for a good hour after. Still being as hard-core as I am, I continue about my business, chopping carrots one handed and holding ice to my face.....you think I would have learnt! I'm ok though all, don't panic! Interesting differences between Oz and England I have noted so far (where Juli and Mark live anyway): - It is really hard to give directions here, as there are no landmarks to clarify your way. Instead there are really long straight roads with trees either side, that all look the same. - Christmas isn't very Christmassy here without the coldness! - Western Australians ( I don't know about the rest of Oz) don't 'do' Advent Calendars. - Most light switches are on the door frame. - Everyone owns at least one (normally 10+) stubby holder - a cool jacket for your beer bottle. - Only rich people live in 2 storey houses. - There's no such thing as Nesquik; they have Milo. - Shopping centres are huge and in the middle of no where, not 'just off the High Street'! - Australians call things by funny names (not English), such as garages are called 'car ports', duvets are called 'dunas' and cool boxes are 'eskies'. - Australians shorten any word they can: sanga = Sausage; bevvy = beverage; Freeo = Freemantle (a place) etc....I even heard Juli and her sister use the word 'hamo' meaning hamstring! Very odd! Well the rest of my clan arrive on Friday, and I definately won't be writing before then, as we have loads to do, e.g. tidying, cleaning, and best of all, putting Christmas 'decos' up. I'll try not to injure myself again between now and next letter, though I can't promise anything. Take care all. Love Lynds x x PS Only 20 sleeps to go.