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Gi'Day to you all!
Well its been a long time since we last updated the website or at least it feels that way ....but no worries its all done now!!!!!! What can we say we have been doing much what you guys back home have been doing working, drinking, working, drinking, working, drinking.........cant believe how quick the time goes by when you are actually doing something constructive with your day rather than sitting on a beach and bumming about!!!!! However that will all end quite soon as we have only a few weeks of work left before Christmas and then we have no work for many, many months...... back to being beach bums, lapping up the sun on one of the many east coast sun drenched beaches and camping by a billabong, under the shade of a collibah tree ......how sweet does that sound!!! ( Oh by the way...name that tune!!!)
OK, to update you on what we have been up to since we landed in Sydney, this could be a long one so find a comfy seat , pour yourselves a rather large glass of wine (or pick up a scooner!) and settle in for the story............... We had a welcoming committee when we landed in Sydney in the form of Frankie (sorry Stevo as most of you will know him or the Londoner, we will explain the Frankie part another day!!) and we were whisked away in our Limo (or the Frankie mobeel as it should be better known) to Frankies flat and stayed with him and his flat mate Nathan (or Borat, you will find out why when you see the pictures of Mo-vember, growing a borat-esq type of tash for charity).
We stayed in the flat for a few weeks (thanks you guys) until we both had a job, Amanda in advertising and Greg in Labouring, and then we went flat hunting...........oh and did we see some crackers!!!! Went to see a few on the lower end of the budget and realised that cleaning in these places was not a priority .....oh and size definitely didn't matter!!! So we went after a flat in the same block as Frankie and Nathan, not exactly what you would call backpacker accommodation as it has its own pool, gym, sauna, cafe, and carry out shop (ideal!!). We managed to get a flat in the block after irritating the life out of the poor girl in the management company, 1 bedroom flat (with balcony)....just the ticket!!
Managed to do a little bit of sightseeing and lazing on the beach before we started work. Went to see The Opera House and Harbour Bridge the second day we got here and I have to say it is a bit surreal...but to really see them at their best, go there as the sun is going down, they really are an awesome sight then! Oh and as we are talking about surreal the first time we saw the Opera House at night was when we met Amanda's ex Sales Director from The One, Aileen, there for a few drinks....really didn't expect that one......but as ever thanks for a great (drunken) night Aileen it is always good seeing a friendly face from home!!
Outwith our drinking at the weekends (which we will go on to later) we also try and get to the beach when the weather is good (its been a bit up and down here over the past month or so ...you lot at home will be happy to hear!!), goes from 35 degree sunshine one day to thunder storms the next, however we had the first day of summer on the 1st December and hopefully it will be hotting up nicely by the time we finish work! Bondi beach was one of our first ports of call and...well......we weren't exactly overwhelmed by it.....it does look good but nothing like the beaches we seen of the west coast of America ( heard the beaches get better as we move up the coast ...phew!!). Although it was about 8.30am on a Wednesday morning (we were off seeing a flat) and the beach was totally empty, we went again on a Saturday and you could barely get an inch for yourself it was that packed!!
We have met a group of really good friends over here, most of them English, Irish and 1 Scottish girl called Shona ( wont try to name everyone incase we miss someone out, you will be able to see everyone in the photo album), and as expected have managed to have a few really crazy nights out! Our local is now not the Tavern but the Trinity and it is the haunt for everyone each weekend and some of the week as well .... we have spent a few drunken nights in there as you can imagine!
Our 2nd weekend here was a baptism of fire as we went to an all day festival with everyone called Park Life, as usual we started at the Trinity and then headed for Park Life, listened to some great music, drank far too much beer and got ourselves really manky from the dust in the park..... similar type of festival we usually go to in Scotland however we are usually covered in mud (much like T in the P this year) instead of dust!!!
2 of the guys, Lummy and Gary, DJ at a club every month, the nights called Monkey Tennis, and once again as you can imagine there have been a few messy nights in there (and the parties afterwards!). Really does sound like all we do is bevvy at the weekend and.....well.....that's probably true!!!!!
Then 2 weeks ago we seen some faces from home in the form of Amanda's mum and dad who had come to visit for 2 weeks, it was really unbelievable seeing them again and what a time we had while they were here!!!
As ever we packed a whole lot into the 2 weeks they were here and that started on the Sunday morning taking a trip to let them see the famous Bondi beach....weather was really nice in the morning but not quite sunbathing material as there were a few clouds and it was a wee tad windy at the beach, however being Scot's that didnt stop us making our way there....mum and dads reaction to the beach was much the same as ours!!
We then grabbed a bus and headed to the Quay and they got their first glimpse of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, they loved it and as we had been on the move most of the day we decided to settle down for a couple of drinks (not like us) at the opera bar.....it is definitely a bar with a view!!!!
Hired a car from the Monday to Thursday of the first week and took them off on a road-trip, first stop the Blue Mountains. There had been a number of bush fires around but luckily enough where we were going there was no sign of them (or was there???). My mum and dad (sorry from now on I'm going to write M&D, makes it much easier!!) got their first taste of a hostel when we got to the Blue Mountains and unbelievable enough they really liked it.. ..not like the ones you got in the olden days (ooops, sorry M&D, not saying your old or anything!) ...we headed out for a bit of lunch before they went on their first hiking trek to the three sisters (rock formations) in the mountains!! Didn't trek too far though, 40 mins in all and a few stairs on the way, straight down (oh and you have to come back the same way, straight up!)!!
Then went to the Scenic railway...didn't really tell my mum what it was all about until we got there...those of you who know my mum know she hates anything that looks remotely like it belongs in a funfair or would give you butterflies in your stomach.....the scenic railway is cut into a cliff face and goes straight down on a 52% angle!!! Let me hear you scream (or shut your eyes and give yourself white knuckles as my mum did)!!!!!! Have a look at the pics and you will see.
Went hiking again in Wentworth falls (in 30 degree heat, great fun eh!!!) the following day and then headed for the Hunter Valley (which is a wine region outside Sydney). The drive should have took us a couple of hours however we ran into a slight problem...well quite a big one....a bush fire!!! We were asked to wait on a fire engine which would escort us through the fire as it had now crossed the road and there was smoke everywhere....not something that happens to you everyday!!
Got to Hunter and my M&D were really impressed...we had booked a 5* cottage to stay in, with a vineyard in their grounds, a pool, your own 2 bed cottage (with complimentary wine, cheese, bikkies and brekkie) and BBQ area......oh and your very own kangaroo called Chloe!!! Being British we decided to have a BBQ and eat it outside as the sun was setting over the valley...all sounds really special...that is apart from the flies!!!! Honestly you have never seen as many of the little b*****s, and persistent too...later on we discovered that Ozzies do have BBQ's but then eat the food inside...bit too late for us though!!!
Went on a wine tasting tour the following day and managed to have a few (well Amanda didn't as she was the designated driver for the day), bought a few bottles of vino then headed for Port Stephens, Anna Bay. This was to be the 2nd hostel M&D stayed in and you should have seen my mums face when we got there....and it wasn't joy!!!! The hostel was in the middle of nowhere and set in what only can be described as a jungle.....many thoughts of snakes and spiders going through my mums head!!!! All turned out well though as the rooms were great and you could sit outside your cabin in the jungle and listen to all the crazy hooting & howling noises from animals we could not quite place!!!
We had a 4x4 tour booked of the sand dunes the following day and we went looking for Pipis on the beach...don't ask....then a drive over the dunes to tin city. The city sits in the middle of what can only be described as a desert and consists of 11 tin shacks that people actually stay in year through!! Once we were finished there we headed to Nelsons bay to do a hike to what the hostel owner told us was a scenic point and would take you no more than 10 mins to walk there. It was actually a hike of 1km there and 1km back.....but straight up...via many stairs cut into a hill...in blistering heat!!! But we all managed it and the sights were really worth it when we got to the top.
On the way back down Amanda had her first encounter with quite a large spider...which had landed on her top....obviously she dealt with it swiftly and with grace.....in reality however I jumped up and down like a maniac as it had then landed on my leg and I thought it was headed straight up my shorts...heart attack or what!!!!! Drama over we made our way back down and after we finished the leisurely hike we headed for a beer and some lunch, then the long drive home to Sydney....totally knackered and a night in with a few drinks was on the cards.
After a lazy night in we went to manly beach...you get a ferry there from the opera house...and spent the day lazing on the beach, having some lunch and of course a few beers. Then headed out at night down to the Opera Bar for a few drinks, the Rocks open air market and jazz festival and then a meal. ...oh and another few drinks!!
Amanda and Greg had to return to work the second week and M&D headed out them selves for that week...fitting a huge amount in as usual and then we joined them for dinner and drinks at night. Frankie joined us for a night at the Indians then we headed back to the flat for a few drinks....well lots if the truth be told!!! Went out for dinner for their final night (boo hooo) but the 4 of us were totally done in...the past 2 weeks had taken their toll and we managed to eat the meal at the Greek restaurant and then back to the flat .
It was really sad to see my mum and dad go....said our farewells in the morning as both of us were working that day....probably better that we didn't go to the airport, think it would have just been another tear-fest!!!!!
M&D landed safely back in Glasgow Saturday afternoon after a very long journey and spoke to them on Sunday, think they have managed to bypass the jet-lag so far!!
Well that really brings you all up to date on what has been going on down-under, there will be another instalment from Sydney before we leave as we will have to let you all know how Christmas has been on the beach (not that we are trying to rub it in) and the NYE fireworks at Harbour Bridge and the Opera House........life is just such a nightmare here!!!!!!!!!
As ever we miss and love you all loads....keep us up to date on the gossip from home....and we will speak to you all again at Christmas!!!!
Oh and thanks to all you guys who have sent over cards, really appreciate it, all adds to that Christmas cheer!!
All Our Luv, Maz and Flem xxxx
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