Decided to stop at pharmacist on way back to hostel yesterday and was told I had scabies!!!! Promptly bought some cream, went back to hostel, washed clothes and covered myself from head to foot in cream. Cancelled trip for today and instead changed hostels (to a cleaner one) and went to see a doctor, as when I woke up there were more spots. He has informed me that it is NOT scabies, thankfully, but an allergic reaction. It will probably take 72 hours for the spots to stop coming out and to avoid the heat!!!! Easier said than done. Also, he advised me to cover up on the plane to Sydney or they may not let me fly!! So now I am doing a one day tour to the rock tomorrow which leaves at 0530 and returns at midnight. S xx

Oh deep joy, I am covered in bites. I think I must have slept with numerous insects last night as I am now very bitten. It is also 39 degrees today, so they are itching like mad. There is a pool (actually more like a pond) at the hostel so I'm going to spend the rest of the day in there to cool off and allay the itching. Off on a tour into the outback for a couple of days tomorrow and then to Sydney on Wednesday, so may not be in touch until then. S xx

I've been wracking my brain for a song about Alice, only to realise that I was actually thinking of "A town called Malice" by the Jam. It may actually be more apt!

Hope your back is feeling better. Safe journey to Alice Springs.

The snake is definitely brown! Joe Pascali won Im a celebrity. How was your concert?

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!!!! Photos downloaded. Fremantle updated and 4 new albums added. Have been playing with the camera, hence the 'special' effects ones. Enjoy!!

You know you said you missed having an Advent calendar this year - well - ask Suzanne about the Advent calendar she got and, not only that, she sent it to me as an attachment. Quite a difference from the chocolate ones!

I do not wish to know about anyone's eggnog lattes! It's official, Perth is technologically backward. Today I have managed to locate one internet place after 2 hours of searching, which does not have the ability for me to load my photos onto the site. I can do it using older software, but one photograph is taking about 7 mins and then it crashed. I have about 100 pictures to load, so I will continue searching for somewhere more up to date, but that may not happen until I arrive in Sydney on the 15th, so don't hold your breath! Sherry xx

Your text messages from your mum should make more sense now. I have taught her where the punctuation keys are and how to get numbers!

I had the eggnog latte with Sophie and Ben at Lakeside on Monday!

The Oz vodafone sim cost $50, but I get $50 credit with it - bargain!! It also means that when people text or call me I no longer foot the bill. I also get free texts, including one's to the UK - so I should say it's much cheaper. Still no joy re photos, but now in Perth, so fingers crossed. Then again, they have no Starbucks, so maybe not too advanced here!! S xx

I have tried to educate your mother in the art of shopping but M&S have her brainwashed. Grey cold and a little bit foggy here today. Glad you have sorted out the sim card, is it much cheaper? Ben has a French one and it works out at about 2p a message back to uk, he has a spare phone too because it is cheaper for us to text a uk mobile number - he just replies on his French one! When are you going to get some more photographs sorted out?