Well there is so much to update you on! We left you in Alice about 2 wks ago - we are slackers aren't we. Sorry about that but there is just so much to do that is more interesting than typing away at a computer ok!

We flew from Alice to Melbourne on the 16th and spent 2 nights there in a nice hotel to make up for the tents in the Red Centre. The first night we checked in late so we just went to bed. The next day we explored Melbourne which was lovely - we headed up from the hotel in the St Kilda area, through the parks and towards the river. By the river there was a cute arts market and just over the river there was a cool display of areal photos from all over the world. We then had a Japanese lunch a place called the Chocolate Bhudda which was yummy. After that we headed down to Chapel street for a bit of retail therapy and then in the evening we went out, ate Morrocan (not a whole one) and then met up with a friend of Rhi's and proceeded to drink until 3 in some cool bars. Typically I ended up chatting to a guy who was born in Portsmouth!

We were supposed to pick up a car from Hertz but they wouldn't let me take it as I didn't have my photo license - only the paper copy - with me. We were hungover and a bit stuck without a car (all other places were booked up it being Xmas and all) when Rhi joked that we should buy a car. So I did! We found a backpackers car saley place around the corner and proceeded to buy Eeee who is a Ford Laser 1.8 with 304 thousand KMs on the clock! She is disgustingly dirty and has a mind of her own when it comes to the alarm but she runs well and they had new tyres put on and she passed her Oz equivalent of the MOT so thats good. Also we got our insurance, major parts warrantee and breakdown cover which gives us a car and up to 4 nights in a nice hotel if the worst happens. It cost about 1300 pounds all in so I am hoping that we can get back about 50% when we sell her otherwise its been a costly buy! We shall have her cleaned up and stuck on the web to sell in Cairns before we go.

Spent from 18th to 23rd travelling up to Sydney staying in a few places along the way. 2 nights in a little lodge on the outskirts of Wilson's Promotory which is a national park. The piccy of Rhi is on top of Oberon Mount which we hiked up - our newfound almost goat like legs we aquired in the Red Centre fairly skipping us up the hill. We did get a bit carried away and attempted another mountain later that day but after another 2hrs we chickened out and came back down. We then moved on up the coast and stayed 2 nights at Mallacoota which is a cool little place with another National Park (they are everywhere) and stayed in a mudhut lodge surrounded by all sorts of birds which the owner had cultivated feeding frenzy friendships with. One last night was spent at Borley Point and then we headed up to Sydney on the 23rd.

Quite disgustingly it rained for 2 days in Sydney so we tookrefuge at the Cinema and shops. It has been great to see Louise and Paul and they have a great little flat in Mosman just up the hill from a really good swimming beach. Xmas day it cleared up and we sat outside and ate like queens at Louise's parents place in the burbs of Sydney. On Boxing day we went to Bondai beach and got sunburned in the wind. Later we climbed the Harbour bridge which gave amazing view of Sydney and surrounds - it really is a water lover's paridise! Yesterday we went to Palm beach where they film Home and Away and met up with a friend of mum's from school. Pam and Colin took us out for a little ride in the daughter's boyfriends fishing boat which was cool. Later that day we went to the Opera house and saw half of a show - we left at the interval as it was so bad. We had been sold it by the box office as a fun sing-a-long-a-broadway with James Morrison (who I of course thought was the UK crooner but turned out to be a fat but very good Ozzy jazz trumpey player). Although there was some cool classical music being played by the Sydney Philharmonic and some good jaz trumpet by James, it was ruined by Dr Carl Kennedy from Neighbours who came on and tried to sing and looked like most people's dad trying to be cool and dance with two left feet. I can't say it wasn't entertaining as all 4 of us were in tears and hysterics for the duration of his 3 songs! We left the show and went to some cool and hip bars around Darling Point.

We leave Sydney on the 29th and head on up the coast to Byron Bay where we hope to have a fun-filled New Year!

We will try and keep the blogg updated more regularly so that you don't have to read mamouth entries like this one. Keep the emails coming but try to send them direct if you can to either [email protected] or [email protected]

Lots of love and good wishes for Xmas!
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