G'day all!

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G'Day,

Well, I have finally arrived in Australia, first stop Sydney last Thursday, just in time to escape the big freeze!! I had a brilliant flight with almost no jetlag. OMG Sydney is a beautiful city, although not so nice when it was freezing, wet and too windy to do the Bridge climb on Friday.
I eventually completed my first challenge on a warmer day when I climbed the Harbour Bridge, unfortunately Marg was not allowed to accompany me on my first epic journey! The views from the 'summit' were awsome - (their speak not mine).
I was really well looked after by Martine's family and especially her dad Bob, who became my unofficial and unpaid guide! Went by train to the Blue Mountains and got some walking in and encountered my first Aussie wildlife - a big lizard, I don't know who got the bigger fright!
I am now up in Queensland with my sister and her family in Hervey Bay. The humidity is hard to get used to. There are about a million fruit bats in residence here that come alive at dusk along the Esplanade, we went to see them yesterday evening, with a storm brewing and the bats in full flight it was like being in the middle of Hitchcock's 'The Birds'.
This is officially the rainy season and it is living up to its name, as I write there is a spectacular thunder and lighting storm overhead.
We are heading off to Airlie Beach on Christmas Eve to visit the Reef, the forecast is rain for a month, so watch this space.

Have a very merry christmas,
Sue xx

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Comments

[Debbie]

Good to hear you've arrived safely, but poor Marg having to be left behind :-( Have a brilliant Christmas xx

[Lolo]

:)
Have an awesome time !! xxxxx

[kim]

Cant believe thats one week already! Happy holidays, the weather is horrendous here. xx

[Joe the Celtic man]

You made it !
Wee Sue, Great that your journey went without a hitch and that you are settling in. Here, the whole UK has come to a standstill with snow and ice. Managed to get to London for Rosie's 'do'. I'm going to miss her terribly, things will never be the same. Need you back here to cheer us all up - but not before you fully enjoy your adventure of a lifetime ! Take care Sue and have a great Christmas. Will think of you and toast you at midnight Australia time on New Year's Eve. All my love. Hail hail ! Joe

[sue m]

Happy Christmas Joe & Noreen
Thanks for your message Joe, I miss you all too, and I agree that Rosie will be missed sorely!! however, it wont change that much with our wee trips planned, and your on the case! This actually does feel like the other side of the world. Its been lovely catching up with my sister and her family, she has two great kids and its been great spending time wit them too. Been a wee bit homesick at times, but I know I am really lucky to be in a position to experience all of this. Anyway Have a happy and holy christmas. Love Suexxx

[sue m]

Thinking of you this Christmas
Hi Kim\and Molly Thanks for your message, hope you are both feeling better. I have heard about the big freeze, it started the night I left. It is hard to believe that it has been a week already. It has been really humid despite of the rain and thunder storms and its a bit hard to get used to. Off to the beach tomorrow and dont think there is a phbne recpetion there, so try get through Christmas the best you can, thinking of you both. Love Sue xx

[Bridget]

Glad you made it
Hiya Sue, Pleased to hear you arrived safely. Sounds like you're having a great time, look forward to keeping up with your journey. Big freeze is right, the weather here has ground the nation to a halt almost... so glad I've no more commuting by train. Keep in touch now and have a wonderful Christmas. Love and miss you loads. xxxxx Ps Kieran said hi and wishes you a Merry Christmas x

[Eileen]

You are one brave lady! I would never have tackled that bridge climb - too scared in case I fell off!!! Glad your having a good time. Have a fantastic Christmas in the sun. Bart sends his regards and best wishes too. xx

[Joanna Hynd]

Impressive Holiday so far!
WOW! The Bridge Climb looks amazing and I love the fact you have your lippie and full make up on in the photo lol. It sounds/ looks/reads like you are having an amazing time. Weather here in Fort William is snowy and festive. John and I have Robert, AJ, Craig, Gavin, PG and Alex for Christmas dinner tomorrow and we will be toasting you for Christmas (well, you know what us Scottish people are like, we will drink to anything!!) Hope Christmas Day is wonderful with Frances and family, though from the sounds of things, I think that is guaranteed :-) Merry Christmas and enjoy celebrating the start of 2010 on the other side of the world Love and hugs, Joanna and John XXXXX

[Bernie]

Merry Christmas from SA
Sue, Just a quickie as we have no internet access, glad you got there OK. We are sweltering in 39 degrees of heat, did the Kruger yesterday, fantastic! Merry Christmas, Bernie.

[baz]

hi ya
So nice to hear you're having an amazing time, your photo of the blue mountains brought memories flooding back. Well done for doing the bridge, something we never got around to doing it, the veiw from the zoo is also amazing if you end up going back to sydney, call me when you get a chance, love you xxx.

[Pauline]

Hello
Hello, Glad your having a great time. You've managed to miss the snow, so you can imagine the panic on my face every day and the test run of what shoes to wear!! Everyone is doing ok here, I'm now completing on the 11th can't wait. Make sure you have a great time in Aus and hope you have had a good Christmas and a fab New Year. Catch up soon. xx

[Suz]

Hi Sue, I'm sooo envious, it sounds fab and I love Sydney so can imagine how you enjoyed its jolly cold here so that humidity would do us a treat, hope you had a great christmas, very different im sure, did you go swimming/surfing? lovely to keep in touch, take care Suz x x

[kim]

Hows it going?
Hiya Sue, Happy New Year XX Hows it going? XXX

[CJ]

Happy New Year
Hi Sue - Have a very happy 2010! with much love from CJ, Jason and the girls, in snowy Leigh on Sea! xxx

[Clive Haste]

Lucky you
Hope you are enjoying your travels. You really could not have picked a better time nay a better year to undertake your travels. You've managed to miss all the bad weather and have it hot down under. Take care and enjoy