Made it to Sydney!

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Left the island last Saturday and flew to Brisbane - Kylie kept us entertained with her dramatics...she's a bit of a nervous flyer! We ended up staying at Brisbane Backpackers Resort - the one I stayed at when I first arrived in Oz - so it was like going 'home'! Had a 'few' drinks at the hostel before Suzie and I hit the town. Found a club that we'd been to once before and had the best, and the sweatiest, two hours of dancing to tunes from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The next day we headed in to town for a bit then went to the cinema to see 'Twilight' - BEST FILM EVER!! That night we were joined by Nathan, one of Suzie's friends from home, and headed back to the bar (surprising, huh?) After numerous jugs of cider I decided it would be a great idea to go for a swim at the 'fake' city beach and managed to rope in a few of the guys from the hostel. Didn't leave there til midnight...banterous!!

On Monday we headed off to Surfers Paradise in Nathan's VERY nice rental car. Was joy to spend a day or two on the beach. I think I may have even started to get a tan!! Whoop!! On Wednesday I bought the 2nd book in the Twilight series...finished it by Thursday afternoon, all 500+ pages!

On Thursday, Nathan and Suzie began the 11 hour drive to Sydney (groan!) but Kylie and I returned to Brisbane. She flew back to Townsville the next morning so I had a day alone in Brisbane which was spent reading on the beach pretty much all day. (At 9am I bought the 3rd book...can you tell I'm obsessed yet???)

Saturday arrived and that meant a flight to Sydney, where I met up with Suzie at a random little hostel before heading straight to the Top Gear Live Show at Olympic Park. It was awesome! Jeremy Clarkson is even more of an arse in real life and the Hamster is just, well, amazing! No James May...just one of the presenters from the aussie version of the show (which apparently is "a bit shit"!) Saw lots of shiny cars and a ridiculous number of men drooling over them.

So, I'm up to today...finished the 3rd book so had to go get the 4th (obviously!). Suzie's boyfriend flew over today so she checked in to the very swanky hotel he is paying for, and I moved to a different hostel. It's in the centre of the city, a minutes's walk from central station. Seems really cool. Just found out today that 3 of the other people I did the training course with when I first came to Oz are heading for Sydney in the next few days so we're gonna have a big reunion. Can't wait! Also spoke to Yvonne today so am in the process of sorting out another visit to Tassie...yey!!

So that's my rambling over, hope you survived through to the end! xx

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Comments

[Audrey I Walker]

Mum here!
Great to get Blog 15 - we really look forward to all your news here. Jeremy in trouble in our press for referring to PM as blind, Scottish idiot. He has since apologised for the blind and Scottish bits - but not the idiot reference! Enjoy Sydney. Are you going to climb the bridge - Adam says it is awesome. Brother has teo interviews for PE - at Edinburgh and Stirling - you are4 never here when we need you - to put the finishing touches to his dance routine! Love you Sands - keep safe !! Love mum XXXX

[Yvonne Haig]

Send us some sunshine!
Glad to hear that you are enjoying the sunshine while we shiver at -8degrees! Took me 2 1/2 hours to get home through the snow etc on Friday- a bit of a contrast to you sitting on the beach! Not the best weather for your mum driving her swanky new car- which looks good- note I'm still waiting for a lift from her!! I hope that your spider bite is a bit better- it sounded awful! Midgie bites sound tame by comparison! Glad you enjoyed the Top Gear show- did you hear Jeremy Clarkson make the remark re Gordon Brown? Typical Clarkson. Saddened to hear about the fires in Victoria and relieved that you are nowhere near. Difficult to contemplate the heat when it's so cold here. anyway, take care. By the way your photos are super- you're obviously having the time of your life! I'll keep an eye on your mum and see that she behaves herself. Love Yvonne x

[Audrey I Walker]

Mum here!
No new blogs for a while - get going - I look forward to hearing all your news. Dancing show going fine - still a nervous wreck though!! Love you heaps. Mum XXXXXX