Oh my God, what a week! We've just got back to the hotel after spending a brilliant evening in Sydney. We started out at 4.30 and had dinner by the river and then had champagne at the top of the Sydney Opera House, overlooking the harbour and the bridge. I can't fine the words to describe it, it was very emotional and I had a job to stop crying. I can't believe I'm here!!! The Opera was very good although I still can't believe it all.

The whole week has been lovely although tiring at times. We've done such a lot. Tuesday was the longest day travelling and it took about 7 hours to get to the Blue Mountains but it was well worth it. It was late by the time we arrived and we were the only people staying in the hotel. It was an old house and the owners weren't on site either so it was a bit like Psycho and we had to keep the bathroom light on all night.

We started out early in the morning and walked to Echo Point but it was really misty so couldn't really see very much. The skyrail looked amazing though but couldn't persuade June to go on it. We caught a trolley bus around the mountains and walked some more. By the time we got back to our starting point, aching from head to toe, the sun was setting so we bought abottle of wine and stopped to watch the sun go down over the mountains. We hobbled back to our hotel and called a taxi bus to take us to the RSL club where we had a brilliant meal for only $8 and joined in the quiz night. I've discovered that I'm not very good at Australian quizzes.

The following morning was bright and sunny and the mountains were really clear but there was no way either of us were going to be able to do the walk again! I wanted to walk down the giants stairway to walk over to the first of the three sisters but fear grabbed hold of me when the steps turned into more like and step ladder and I was looking down on the tops of the trees thousands of feet below. I sat on the steps hanging onto the rail with both hands trying to talk myself into going further but couldn't do it. I turned and went back up the steps a hell of a lot faster than I went down and didn't stop until I got to the top. I don't think my heart has ever beat so fast in my life...but at least I tried! I'm still aching now though.

We carried on the Canberra and got to the Capital state in time to get the last tour bus of the day and got taken around the main tourist sites by the most fantastic guide. We went to a Japanese restaurant for dinner and when we came out it was freezing and raining! How dare it! The temparatures down South are a lot cooler than up North (not often I can say that).

We went to the Australian War Memorial first thing this morning and it was really moving. It was an amazing place, overlooking Parliament Hill. We didn't intend staying too long but you couldn't help it. I'd love to go back to Canberra and spend a bit more time there but maybe when the weather is a bit warmer.

We arrived in Sydney this afternoon at about 2.30 and spent hours getting ready for the Opera (not often I can say that either). We caught a bus down the Circular Quay and the spookiest thing happened. There were two girls staying that the hotel in the Blue Mountains (they were obviously very 'close') and who should be on the same bus as us in the middle of Sydney? How strange is that? Out of the whole population of Sydney and all the buses, we had to get on the same one as them.....

I love Sydney and can't help grinnign like a Cheshire cat. My face is aching and I don't want to go to bed. There is too much to see in too little time but we have along day planned tomorrow. The htoel is great and has free internet access when you can get on the computer. I have far too many photos now to put on but will try and download some straight from thec amera if I can.

I hope you're all okay and working hard. It won't be long until I'm back unfortunately but we are already planning our next trip to Nepal!

Chat soon, love to all x