2nd April A bus from the Redland Bay ferry terminal to Brisbane CDB costs $9 and a bed in a 6-bed dorm is $30 - expensive, but it has a private bathroom and I have the room to myself when I check in. A wander into town to see what there is and use the State Library for free internet. There's almost nothing on GumTree, but I send out a couple of replies. I get an e-mail from some French girls and a phone call from an Australian guy. It's a bad connection but I think the Australia wants people to move a relocate, he gives me the phone number for a German girl. He doesn't know here name. Leaving the library I call the German girl (Sandra) and arrange to meet tomorrow. Shopping for dinner ... read more

20th March Awake at seven, everyone else is still asleep so I sneak out of the room to call home. It's a little confusing that it's Tuesday morning for me and Monday night in England. Lazy morning getting the last of our stuff together and planning for Sydney. A 45 minute walk to Dee Why to use the library, grab some lunch and some shopping from Coles. It's warm and sunny. The walk back seems twice as long. Someone throws n ice-cream at Matthias. Still early and with no plans Sandra wants to head into Sydney CBD. Anna wants to stay in the room and write a story so the three of us catch a bus to Manly Waft ($3.60 on a 10 trip pass) and catch a ferry ($7). Sandra goes for an ice-cream whilst ... read more

25th February Lie-in a little longer than I mean to - no harm no foul. Breakfast, e-mail, shower. Message from Krista when she lands and anthoer when she gets the car. I walk to meet her once she's lost in the city. Thankfully she's not as Finnish as her FaceBook photos. She gives me the keys and we drive around a bit looking for free parking near Salamanca Market. We park in a residentail street and walk through the parks to get there. Do some shopping (chopping board and drinks). I make a half hearted attempt to find a kindle sleeve. Move the car again to near the hostel and go shopping for camping gear. I buy a sleeping bag ($39) and roll matt ($9.95), Krista looks for trousers. Check into hotsel ($23 a bed in ... read more

February 16th - 1BOY 399 Alarm goes off at 08h30, but no-one shifts until gone half past. Checkin out I see that yesterday when I paid for one night they charged me for two. I can't get a refund for my $27 because that's too complicated so they give me a $81 refund (onto my card) and I have to pay the boys back. To the library to steal internet. Meet Ben at the cafe next to the YHA. Still contemplating the lift with the two French girls, but Ben seems OK so I grab my bag and take his offer for a lift. Stop in Hahndorf for a beer and a pie. It's a twon that's trying to be German. Coorong National Park to watch the Pelicans. Kensington SE, there's a 40-foot lobster and no ... read more

2nd February A lot more humid today than it has been and the sky is looking very grey. Pack the last of our bags, strip beds and Ollie goes on a date. We are meant to be meeting Steph at 11h00, 12h00 comes and goes before she sends a text to say she's on her way to Murdoch station. Louise drives us in and we load up'the beast' with our bags - Step already has two years in AUstralia and six months in Perth crammed into most of the space. A quick stop in Busselton to see the Longest Jetty in southern hemisphere (1,968 metres?). It's $2.50 (each) to walk the length of it so we just visit the gift shop/information centre. Stock up on food - communal cooking goes out the window after 20 minutes ... read more