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G'day my fellow followers,
It's 7:40am here and the minor birds are chirping and Australia is slowly waking up to another beautiful day... although the Ozzies would argue with me on that that's it's too cold and cloudy but by British comparisons, it's rather bloody tremendous so there!
Ok, so a little about my journey over here...
I guess it all started when at 9:40pm I heard the call to board flight QF002 to Sydney via Bangkok and the nerves and homesickness and excitement all kicked in at once. Luckily, once I found my seat 70B, I was met by Emma, seat 70A who was in pretty much the same shoes as me so we shared stories and she shared her chocolate with me which was very much appreciated and needed.
One thing I would recommend to all on long flights who have 4 meals on the plane to go, make sure you get your special requirements in when you book your ticket or you could be stuck with fruit platters for 22 hours and 50 minutes of your flight... mmmm! 'At least it's healthy I guess' said my super camp but super sweet steward!
Anyway, 10 hours, 2 fruit platters, a few shared stories, 1 mars bar (Jon can I eat them?) and a few tears later, Quantas was unloading us at Bangkok airport for a refuel, I think we all needed a refuelling as well. I said goodbye and good luck to Emma who was off to start her amazing Asia travels and I managed to get through Thai security without A) Getting frisked in an unorthodox fashion (Sorry Jon) and B) Without picking any ladyboys up (Mum you must be pleased). I have to say that Bangkok airport is so user friendly, I imagine the government will soon create a law where as every flight attendant and member of airport staff must wear t-shirts with the several million signs of where to go and how to get to where. It really made me feel a lot better knowing there was over 10 signs in a row simply saying this way to Security, let alone to my gate number and the ladies and the... THERE'S NO BAR!
No stiff drink for Lucy then, back on the plane...
Once back in 70B, I prepared my movie list for the next 8 hours; Couples Retreat (Brilliant comedy, totally a chick flick though), The Road (Thoroughly intense but a must watch) and Men who stare at goats (George C Looney is a genius).. but don't take my word for these recommendations, I'm no Jonafan Woss.
After 2 more appetising fruit platters and all those fabulous movies, the very camp and australian Captain Mike announced our descent and I was finally going to step foot on Australian soil, or concrete but you get the gist.
Chris at Immigration was a sweetie, *cough* I mean he was really scary and hardcore like the American ones... giggle.
To be honest, I was pleased it was that way, I was very tired, very hungry, for anything but fruit and I had another couple of miles and hours to go before I could get a cuddle so I enjoyed my immigration experience. It was actually a lot simpler than I thought, no papers were needed, only a few questions to answer and a swipe of the old passport and I was through so that should be pleasing to anyone who might be scared of travelling purely becuase of the crap you 'thought' you had to go through at the airport.
At this point in time, I really could not be bothered with the 2 hour, 2 change train journey, esp with my two bags, both weighing in at more than the half tonne man riding on an elephant so I grabbed a taxi and off I went to Long Jetty; Cennie Coast here I come.
The taxi guy was a complete sweetheart, sorry am I crushing any kind of hardcore manly status for the Australian male population... If it's any consellation, I think he was only kind to me because he probably fleeced me on the price but at 5:30am, Lucy doesn't care about much so he was lucky to get away with it... he did though ply me with a vodafone SIM card, mars bars and V energy drink so with energy levels buzzing for once, a smile on my face from the increasing chocolate intake and a new mobile number... I was ready for my Australia travels.
I pulled up to the house and I was finally there, as the fresh pasty chick on her throne at Long Jetty!
It was only 7/8am so I dropped my bags, and had a fabulous catch up with Tim, Mr Generous and yet very Brave for allowing me to stay with him for the next couple of months.
(Beware, from now on it all gets very Australian and you should start to read this out in an accent)
We started the day off by heading out in the Yute which I have named Beaute to Shelly beach, a couple of minutes down the road.
It was practically desserted and I really did feel like I was about to become the next member of the Home and Away crew, it was stunning. We then Yute'd it up the hill to the top point of the Central Coast and took a walk into the Bush also known as Crackneck wood, now leaving Home and Away and becoming the next Steve Irwin.. I was in flip flops so I was acting as dumb as him by treading near potentially life-threatening Spider and Ant nests with no protection on my little piggies but hay, you're only in Oz once!
The walk was amazing and we were only met with tiny little lizards, a few boyds, mainly the minor bird and the Australian magpie but no hideous creepy crawlies! Phew!
Then it was off to the Long Jetty coast for fish and chips (Jon I can hear you telling me off from here) but it was delicious and I didn't manage all of it, half of it went to Garbo the Gull who amusingly protected us from any of the other 15 or so seagulls hovering around us so I felt it only fair to reward him.
By the time we had strolled the beach, ventured into the Bush & stuffed our faces with seaside traditionals, I was feeling flat out and although it was only 8pm, it really was time to hit the hay...
So that leads us back to where I am now, 8am, jet lagged, home sick and heart broken, but feeling thoroughly lucky at getting the chance to have this amazing experience in this beautiful country.
I promise I won't write for at least a couple of days, just to give you a chance to read through the whole of this rather long essay-style written blog ( and I normally hate writing essays)
I love that you guys are following my journey, I only wish you were here in the flesh to share it with me.
Love to all and I hope the sun comes out again in England, I've just been informed by Mother that it's rather bloody cold... you whinging poms
xxxx
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