Hi Guys, Just a quick update on our travels... Still in wet and rainy Melbourne, today, Friday, is our last day in Australia before we leave for NZ tomorrow. Been doing the tourist thing in Melbourne, but can't upload any pics... Did get the hotel to buy a new bed though which was good! The bed we had was so soft it was terrible on my back, so they went out and bought a brand new one! Great service! Hotel Tolarno in St Kilda, can highly recommend it to anyone coming out this way! There - advert over! We did have a sunny day yesterday when we met up with Amelia for lunch and dinner! Amelia is 'working' in Melbourne for a few days, but we're sure she has retired!!!!! (Private joke there for when/if Amelia ... read more

Just a quick note to upload a couple of pictures and to say thanks for the various birthday greetings, and to say a special thanks to Rosie for the birthday money - it was spent on a trip up the Sydney Tower! We are now packing up our suitcases after a week with Richard & Amelia as we leave for the airport at 7am tomorrow to head to Melbourne for 4 nights... Over the weekend, Richard & Amelia drove us around the area to see a few sites, including Bondi Beach (which was a little cold and 'Brighton-esque' to be fair!) and a country pub out in the middle of nowhere! It was capped by a Barby on Sunday night which was a good end to the weekend and a good birthday celebration, knowing we would ... read more

Arrived in Sydney last night and Rich picked us up at the airport. Since Dave's hurt his back in Ayers we have been getting the disable/priority treatment on the planes. Wheelchairs so that I can push him around, forklift onto the plane and jumping ahead of the queue and getting on the plane first! As you can imagine I am finding it a lot more fun than Dave. Anyway, today is our first day full day in Sydney and we are staying with Rich and Amelia, the perfect hosts. Its lovely to be in a house rather than in a hotel! As Dave's back is still not better we are spending time relaxing and updating the blog and sorting bits and pieces out. Hopefully in the next few days we can start telling about the sights ... read more

Back to Cairns after 3 days up at Cape Tribulation in the rainforest and on the reef! Spending an exciting evening doing chores (like washing and sorting our cases!) before we head off to Ayers Rock early tomorrow (Friday) morning. Cairns is a nice little place, although we have used it more as a base than as a destination - we seem to be always coming and going into this hotel! Today we drove back from Cape Tribulation and then spent the afternoon on a cable car and scenic train up to and down from a village called Kuranda - very impressive scenery! We've now uploaded some pics from the cable car and the train. Video has been getting a good workout too (thanks McCann's!), you should all be glad we aren't coming back to the ... read more

We have just checked out of the hotel after spending a great time here (even with the humidity). Yes, Dave G we did visit Dave's favourite place (Hooters!) and I am a fan too! Great air conditioning! That said, we have spent a great deal more time in more traditionally singaporean venues. Yesterday we spent the day at Mount Faber which we accessed by cable car and then went for a river cruise on a bumboat before heading to the Night Safari at Singapore Zoo. The safari was great and would recommend it to anyone who visits these parts. Today we have walked round Little India, Bugis market and on the way back to the hotel we stopped at Raffles where Ginnie had the famous Singapore Sling! Killing time now before heading out to the airport ... read more