Hello everyone

Well, at last I am writing another blog. I don't know where the time has gone but I've been having a lovely time. I stayed in Sydney for a few days after returning from Tasmania and then came down to Malua Bay again.

Alex and I set off for the Snowy Mountains on Saturday night, staying in Canberra to break up the journey. On Sunday we got to Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains and stayed on a really lovely campsite just out of town. Our cabin was lovely and clean and roomy and we went on a long walk to Porcupine Rocks in the afternoon, having a close encounter with a snake (non-venomous, I hasten to mention) on the way back. We also walked along to Charlottes Pass to look at the beautiful snow gum trees.

It was so beautiful up there, that Alex re-arranged her schedule and we booked another night on site. On Monday we drove to Thredbo and took the Kosciuszko Express (a ski lift) for nearly 2km up the mountains and then walked for 2km to the Mt Kosciuszko lookout. We were 2000 metres high there, looking at the highest point in Australia (Mt K). We didn't quite make it to the top as it was too far to go in the time we had, but the weather was beautiful and the walk was great.

We had lunch in the Eagle's Nest, the highest restaurant in Australia and then came back down to do another walk in Thredbo along the river. Then it was back to our cabin for supper and another walk down to Lake Jindabyne, which is where our campsite was.

On Tuesday we set off for Malua Bay, stopping at the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme visitors centre for a while. The scheme is a colossal feat of engineering and makes very good use of the water in the Kosciuszko National Park. We had lunch in Canberra and went to the National Library of Australia where we saw a very powerful photographic exhibition of Roger Ballen's work in South Africa. Then we hit the road for home.

Apart from the snake, we saw an echidna, an emu with three babies, birds of prey, lyre birds, kangaroos and loads of lizards everywhere. Lovely.

The last couple of days in Malua Bay have been restful and Alex and I have been gardening and catching up on shopping and chores. Tomorrow morning I am catching the 5.45am (aaarrrgghh) bus back to Sydney. Sarah and the girls have now moved in with Ian and it sounds like total pandemonium there. I'm going to see Kerry (Helen's friend) on Sunday and then Ian and I hope to get out to the Blue Mountains for a couple of days - family duties permitting !!

My flight to the US on 15th is looming ever closer and it seems very strange to be leaving Australia, having been here for so much longer than originally planned. I've had a fantastic time and will be really sorry to leave - but it will be great to meet up with Phil in Colorado and spend some time with him.

Right, I'm off now as Alex has clients coming soon and I must get off the PC.

Lots of love to everyone.

Issy xxxxx