how you doing mate. we just got the the internet indoors so just btrying it out. sounds like you had a great time down on bondi! so you not going to work at the commonwealth games now? seen as you going to start traveling again. what way are you going up to darwin?? anyway mate speak soon and try not to think of wolf creek to much!!!

Hope youre having a great christmas in Oz..Bet your day at Bondi was a bit bizarre! Did you manage to get a turkey sarnie anywhere? Mum wants to know what you had for your christmas lunch?? If I dont speak to you before, have a great New Year. xx

THREE IN ONE! Blackburn 3 Mighty West Ham 2 Sorry, can't remember to much about this one only that Marleene scored the first one, then Repka gave away a penalty (to be fair it was a well dodgy decision) that Dickov scored from; then Dickov got a second, I think Zamora may have got our equaliser only for Kuji (ex - Ipswich!) to get the winner. Then we had our third away game on the trot against Everton and blow me, we only went a beat them! Everton 1 Mighty West Ham 2. This was Everton's 2000th consecutive game in the top flight (hopefully by the end of this season it will 2010 and they are down!). They got away to a flier with Beattie scoring after only nine minutes. However, after that it was all the mighty Claret and Blue. First of all Repka hit a low ball into the Everton area that for some reason Weir put into his own net, Buffoon (not Repka for a change!). 1all at half time. Then as we attacked, attacked, attacked, Ethrington took a ball wide on left, cut in, went round a couple of the toffeemen and hit a low drive that Wright in the Everton goal (another ex - Ipswich) could only palm away and there was Zamora on hand to slot home. No real trouble after that and the three points were safely on their way back to the East End. Pardew reckons it was the best we have played all season and I for one am in full agreement! Then we had Newcastle at home last Saturday. Went to this one and cannot believe how well we played and lost. Mighty West Ham 2 Newcastle 4. We should never have lost this. I like to think I'm gracious in defeat (well sometimes!) but we ran this game from start to finish. I reckon that Newcastle are probably one of the worst sides I have seen over at the Academy for some years. They really only had four decent players; Given in goal, Parker in the midfield and Shearer and Owen up front. Other than that the rest of them were hopeless. Having said that though, we were pretty naive when dealing with Shearer and Owen. On a freezing Saturday afternoon (so cold I had trouble holding my pint!) we started off like a steam train but somehow Owen scored after a mistake by guess who?! We equalised soon after as Solano scored in his own net after having the ball hit against him (wisecrack at the game when someone shouted out that Salono was the only thing to come out of Peru since Paddington Bear!). After we equalised, it was all claret and blue with Given pulling off a couple of good saves. Then just before half time, Newcastle had a free kick that Owen headed in unopposed. Crap defending really as he is the smallest bloke on the pitch. 2-1 down at half time. Came out the second half and bombarded them and they only survived with Given again saving them and desperate defending. Suddenly they broke away, Owen onto Shearer and we are 3-1 down. Again we attacked and this time managed to get a penalty that Marleene put away. After that, we got desperate for the equaliser, hitting long high balls into the area and following a corner that Carroll came up for, they again broke away with Owen slotting home. Disappointed that we lost but not the performance; I think if we can manage to stay up this season (and we should do) and keep learning, we could be an even better side next year. Couldn't believe Shearer on Match of the Day that night saying he thought they played well, Twat. Anyway, Can't grumble about 6 points after three away and one home game. Still nicely placed in the table. Hot off the press: you are going to love this. Hannah came home from school the other day and guess who had been to visit them? No not Repka but only Young Teddy (or Terry as she called him!). The West Ham Physio lives in the village and arranged it. I noticed there was a lot of dads down the school that day taking and picking up their kids but Young Terry had been, strutted his stuff and gone. Not sure if he had driven of used his bus pass to get there! Young Terry's injured at the moment and Zamora has been playing and to be fair deserves his place. Three goals in the last four games is a good return. I think Marleene has scored the same so maybe there is life after Young Terry?! Anyway got to go, my finger is killing me with all this typing! Take care buddy boy and have a good Christmas (by the way, I know this might ruin your Chrismas but he isn't real)!

Hello Mate,

I'm just sitting here in my office in burnt out Hemel Hempstead thinking that on Sunday you will have been gone 6 months!!! Before you know it, it will be June again and you will home, bored, fed up, depressed, no one to have a beer with, cold did I say bored & fed up. Bearing this in mind I suggest you go for it BIG time!! climb every mountain , ford every stream (feel a song coming on)

have a cold beer for me will you

Take care

Dad

Hello sweetie, how you doing??? Great pics as always..........I agree with your mom i reckon the zoo pics are really good. The lions are my faves - how cute are they. Sydney is looking good too....wish I was there. I always say that dont I. Im at work temping for a teachers union for 3 weeks and am bored 'keithless'. Only half hour to go. Gotta fly....love ya XXX

I have just spent the last hour half finishing my Ko Samui postcard, it was quite a long and detailed one too. As i was saving it the computer decided to lose it all! So i am now quite pissed off as this is the second time it has happened. Sorry dad but you will have to wait a bit longer for the postcard updates!

Yes, it is cold here but read something in the Sensational Soaraway Sun (so it must be true) this morning that warmed the ole cockles. Mighty West Ham boss Alan Pardew admitted he could lose Thomas Repka in January's transfer window! Pardew reckons he has been playing "terrifically" and wants to keep him! Unbelievable! Apparently, Repka's family have been unable to settle In England (after 6 years!) and have gone back to the Czech Republic and he wants to join them. I say, praise be to Allah and sell the useless buffoon! There's probably loads of over 40's who will come play rightback for the mighty claret and blue! Take care buddy boy.

I don't know if it is just me that likes things in the right place and kept up to date but update your Postcards will you?

Sorry, getting a bit "anal" in my old age. Got to go, the curtains aren't hanging straight..................

take care,
Dad

Without trying to sound too smug, i just wanted to let you all know how bloody hot it is here today! Its 35 degrees and definatly the hottest day ive had since ive been here, could only manage a couple of hours on the beach!!! Sorry i know its freezing there in England, couldnt help myself!!! Today i have also sorted out what im doing on Christmas day. Im gonna do the typical backpacker/tourist thing and go to bondi beach where Judge Jules (Radio 1 Dj) is playing along with a long list of others. Not quite what im used to on christmas day but it should be good! Not much else to report though at the moment, work is alright, oh i served the almost as old as teddy, Dwight Yorke the other day, he now plays for Sydney FC and is their star player. I think i was the only one who recognised him though! Anyway better go, might go and treat myself to an ice cream! Take care

Good to see some updated photos of your travels..I'm very jealous as its bloody freezing here (no change there then!!) Hope you're still having a good time, your missing nowt here, only me pickin up the local lingo ..speak soon x

Birmingham 1 Mighty West Ham 2 After last weeks disappointing defeat to Man U last week, the mighty claret and blue bounce back and secure another three points on the scoreboard. One down, scored by Heskey after only 11 minutes, we equalised in the 36th minute through a brilliant goal by Zamora, in for Young Teddy who was out with a calf strain (apparently done whilst getting out of his wheelchair)! Taking a throw-in by Marleene (wish he could kick a ball as well as he can throw it!), Zamora flicked the ball over a Brum defender, and as if the ball was glued to his foot, rounded another and then slipped the ball home through the keepers legs. Truely a class goal. Then 9 minutes later, Ethrington flew down the wing like a speeding bullet, had the audacity to let the ball go out of play, knocked it back into the box and there was Marleene hanging around doing nothing to smash it home. 1-2 at half time and happy days! Second half was a bit frantic but the defence held strong. Heskey did equalise but replays showed he punched the ball in; bloody cheat, should have been sent off and banned for life! Anyway another great win to consolidate ninth in the table. Hot off the press: Got Norwich away in the 3rd round of the FA cup. According the the News of the World, Young Teddy has asked for a one year extension to his contract; he still thinks he can do a job even at the age of 96! In the Sun today (so it must be true) Anton Ferdinand and Reo-Coker were mugged outside a kebab shop by an AFC Wimbledon footballer after Anton chatted up his girlfriend. Court case was yeterday and sentencing of the mugger is adjourned for reports (whatever that means?). I say throw the book at him: touching my boys when they are having a quiet night out at the local Kebab shop! Makes you laugh really; most Premiership players are seen out at top UK nightclubs; our boys outside a Croydon kebab shop! Anyway, tell Paul Spurs had a lucky, unexciting 3-2 win against bottom club Sunderland. Take care buddy boy.

ignore your mothers point about the Zoo pictures..the cold is getting to her!!!