My time in Melbourne is nearly coming to an end. I'm catching the bus to sydney tomorrow evening-got a lovely 12 and a half hour journey!FUN FUN FUN!atleast it's overnight thou so i'll be able to have a nice snooze!Feeling pretty shattered @ the mo-as been trying to keep myself busy so constantly been on the move!I'm doing ok thou i'm getting into the swing of travelling alone, still abit strange and difficult at times, but the hostel i've been staying at for the last week or so is really nice and social and i've got to know a really nice variety of people and spent some really good nights/days with them. Sharing a 8 bed dorm with 7 others at the mo and we all get on pretty well-often spending time down in the bar together!lol! The first night i arrived there, my roommate, sol, invited me out to st kilda with her-so that gave me chance to meet up with a few lads and a really nice girl called paula (who has now moved into our hostel!) and put my mind at ease for the first night as i was thinking although i'd be ok during the day (not minding doing things on my own at times) it'd be harder in the evenings as i wouldn't want to be sitting in a bar sumwhere on my own-but it's suprising how quickly you get used to just going places on your own even in this sort amount of time-for example at home i'd never dream of getting and sitting somewhere to eat/drink on my own but sumtimes it's just the best way to get talking to ppl! *think i'm starting to waffle on abit now and this journal isn't making much sense-either that or you've all fallen asleep by this stage*Typical just as i start to feel more settled in a place and make friends it's time to move on-quite a few of them are also travelling up the east coast also so hopefully we'll 'bump' into each other again. Melbourne's a really nice city-could easily live and work here (lee, i'm very envious of you!) everyone in the city is so friendly and helpful and it feels like a safe place to be what with me wandering the streets alone at times (don't worry mum i'm not wandering down dodgy back streets!)

Thanks so much guys for all your e-mails and msgs on the board-it's at times like these you realise who your real friends are and your support and concern means soooooooo much to me! love to you all xxx

so...what have i been upto since my last journal entry...well...first few days here weather was absolutely lovely even in the evenings it's was warm and humid-jealous yet?! Anyway during my time in melbourne i've visited the Melbourne Zoo, Spent a few days just getting my bearings around the city (i'm walking and talking like a pro now-got used to where most places are and how to get there without the use of the map!), Paid a few more visits to Queen Victoria Market-as it's only a block along from my hostel-it's an absolute nightmare having to fight the urge to buy loads of food each time i go thou-it all looks so delicious!!! Saturday it was slightly overcast in the morning and abit drizzly so i decided to make the best of the worse weather and head indoor to have a look round the melbourne museum and then onto the old melbourne gaol-didn't really know what to expect from this place but it was actually really really interesting ready about all the prisoners and how they were treated-well worth the visit! Sunday the glorious sunshine was out again so headed off to St kilda with Dave and Alistar-on sundays they have a huge market along the esplalade selling various arts and crafts, a lovely beach to laze around on for a few hours and the streets are absolutely choc-a-block with restuarants and cafes which were packed.It seemed like it'd be a nice place to visit with mum and dad (and their wallets!)-some rather on the pricey side! OOO also headed to Brunswick street to check out what all the hype was about-it's a trendy street lined with lots of vintage boutiques/cafes/restuarants/gift shops-if only i wasn't a poor traveller and constantly thinking anything i buy i then have to carry on my back i could easily of spent a fountune down there (mum and auntie titch we would of been in heaven!). Most evenings have been spent in the hostel bar/lounge area meeting ppl and having the 'occasional' drink-well it's just social isn't it?! Sunday night met up with Lee again and cooked him dinner (!!) as a thank you for putting me up for a few nights then we headed down to the yarra river to take a few piccies of the city at night-all the skyscrapers/bridges etc lit up-but unlike looking ghastly like they do in britain the arcutecture is really well designed making the city look pleasing to the eye. I have paid a visit to the crown complex-a HUGE casino-we walked in dressed in shorts and flip flops, shocked when they actually allowed us in!! It was all abit over my head but the sheer size of the place was amazing-don't worry i have bet away all my savings-i wouldn't have a clue where to start and all my money would be down the drain within 2 minutes. The lads did however have a small bet of $10 and doubled it-but were wise enough to know to stop at that point!

Best shoot, weather turned out to be nice and sunday today so me and paula are gonna make the most of it and head off to the beach for the afternoon to brush up on that tan.....

OMG!!!! I alsmost forgot the most important thing-guess who i met last night-steady on girls of CVG you're gonna be dead jealous......wait for it.......................................

DR CARL KENNEDY-o yes!!!....of neighbours fame!!!! i went on the neighbours tour and for to see the school, meet dr carl and go to the street-took lots of piccies-WHICHI PROMISE I WILL PUT UP SOON-i know i've been saying this for weeks but i'll do it eventually!!!!

Finally-don't worry about me-i'm doing ok at the moment-i'm being safe and looking after myself-i'm feeling much happier than i was the last week or so in new zealand with the girls and i think it shows! Keep the e-mails coming. I've got a new mobile number by the way makking it cheaper for everyone-so the odd txt would be nice also :o)I'll emailed to you .

I know at sometimes i'm probabaly going to find it hard and i've got to go to sydney and pretty much start meeting a new bunch of ppl but it's all part of the experience and i think i'll be a stronger more confident person for it-hey, i bet you lot thought quiet lil' tori would never be the otherside of the country travelling alone!!

Take care everyone, love to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tak