So apparently 'Winter' was here, rather than coming (excuse the 'Game of Thrones' reference, I am now hooked and all caught up!?). Along with 'Birthday' season for Ceri, Heidi, Me Tracy and Jade. Ceri started the ball rolling, with her special day being the 10th June when we went to the Hippopotamus Restaurant and Bar located in the Museum Hotel, to celebrate. It's a rather oppulent venue, with great views of the water and renowned for its Art. I'd had a drink in there previously, with Nicole when we'd caught up over Easter. This time, it was for a, 'Hip High Tea', that afternoon which included a cocktail and a GF option. Whoooo Hooo! ?Executive Chef, Laurent Loudeac had lovingly created a beautifully presented, selection of sweet and savoury morsels for us to scoff which was ... read more

It was the last week in February, and I'd come to a decision that I needed to tell my new housemates that, it looked like, I would be moved out by Easter. No opportunities on the work front had arisen and I needed to focus on an exit plan. In fairness, they were all offering to help and sending me information about any job advertised, from different places they came across. On one of the days, I received a message through about a shop girl needed in the $2 shop located just round the corner from where I live. I grabbed my CV and went round. The lady in the shop was very nice and said they would let me know the following day. I'm not sure why I decided to continue up the street and ... read more

I said my final farewell to Jade and 'the girls' before heading to the 'Nomad Backpackers' located in Auckland CBD. This is where I would meet my new tour group before spending the night. Tomorrow we would leave to start our trip and I couldn't wait. It felt like ages since I'd been on tour. This time though, I already knew how, the Tour Leader 'Duffman', liked to role from my previous escapades in Oz. It was around lunchtime when I turned up to check in, but not being a Hotel, I was too early, so left my bag and used the kitchen facilities to warm through some curry, I'd brought with me. Whilst at the 'Sun Roof Terrace' (as it was labelled) eating my lunch, (don't be fooled by that name, it is a hostel ... read more

It was a typical day in Melbourne the morning of my flight, what with sun, wind and rain. It really had been a mixed bag, but I'd had a fantastic time. The remainder of my time in Australia would be spent in the state of Queensland, more specifically Brisbane. This time I'm glad to say, I was firing on all cylinders with no issues at the Airport and my flight landing 10 minutes early. I even got a fantastic view of the Gold Coast whilst on my way. I stepped off the plane and there it was, the heat. If felt amazing and I was instantly recharged to take on this new City. I'd booked to stay in a little place located just outside the CBD in the suburb of Spring Hill. I dropped my stuff ... read more

I left Perth early on Saturday morning. I was ready to see another aspect of this huge country. Perth Domestic Terminal was small and very quiet or so I thought. When I commented to a lady who was serving me my cuppa, she remarked it was busy for a Saturday. It was just another nuance of W.A. I used Virgin Australia for my flight and they were nothing but efficient. I had another row of seats to myself on the three and a bit hour flight, arriving in Darwin around 5pm in the evening. As it was a domestic flight, we were that much lower in the sky so I had a fantastic view of the changing landscape beneath. Migrating into the Northern Territory, had included an unusual time change of +1.5 hrs on Perth, so ... read more