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Published: December 29th 2007
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Christmas Eve in Bondi Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all had a fab time and have made plans for the new year. Christmas was a bit difficult as feels very strange spending it away from friends and family however I must say that I did have a great time thanks to my ozzy pals here. I also chose a great time to work as I benefitted from all the Christmas perks such as invites to 5 Christmas parties!
Going back to where I left off with my last entry; I went to my first gig by myself a few days later. I went to see The Killers at Sydney Entertainment Centre and had a great time. I felt a little self conscious at first being the only one on my row but then I started talking to a group of kiwi guys sat next to me and danced and sang my way through the rest of the concert with them. The guys sang the encore song, Helter Skelter by The Beatles to me and emailed me copies of all their photos. I had a really fun night.
A few weeks after that my friend Sonia from the East Coast came to stay
Fireworks at Australian Pop Idol final 2008!
Amazing firework display as they announced the winner (we couldn't hear a thing from pop idol but didn't really care!) with me so we had a few nice meals and nights out. I finished working at the harbour on the 23rd November. Work organised after work leaving drinks and bought me a $50 clothes voucher and card as a thank you for my 3 weeks work which was lovely of them. My secretary agency lined up a new PA job right in Sydney centre which started the Monday after and took me right up to Christmas.
The following Sunday Sonia and I walked down to the Opera House where the live final of Australian Pop Idol 2007 was taking place. We couldn't see or hear the acts but we were only interested in the fireworks which were amazing. The photographs don't do them justice, they had hearts in the sky and everything, if that's a taster of New Years then I can't wait! We met a couple of girls I met at a hostel there and we sat at the opera bar until the fireworks finished. I think it was this week that my social life started to explode! On the Wednesday I went to a posh bar at Darling Harbour for drinks and canapes courtesy of my secretary
A sunnier view from my desk at AMP!
That is a 6* cruise liner in the docks agency. As I was sipping wine and eating lobsters and oysters I met a nice girl from England and we ended up going for a few more drinks afterwards. I have met her again since, I have been making friends in the most random of situations.
Sonia went away for a few nights but when she returned we went to the Chinese Gardens in Sydney with a couple of her friends from New Zealand. The gardens are beautiful, we sat in the garden of tranquility for a while just relaxing. I may go back in the next few weeks. The Sunday sessions started this week which is basically sitting in an irish pub with live irish music with my irish friends on a Sunday - a fun way to pass the day. This week I reached my 6 months in Australia anniversary. I had a few unpleasant issues with my flat but it's all sorted now so nothing to worry about. My friend Lyn who I met in Perth took me to her secretary agency drinks to cheer me up so it was wine and nibbles all round again!
My first big Christmas party was with my latest
Drinks after my last day at AMP
A few of my work colleagues joined me for drinks at Custom House Bar, Circular Quays.
L-R Liam, Paul, Justine, Me, Justin job. They arranged a "Cocktails with the Captain cruise theme night" at Randwick Race Course. Since it was a cocktail party I treated myself to a dress and shoes in the sales and decided to get a Christmas haircut with my Christmas money. A definate treat it was as they gave me champagne and chocolate coated strawberries then knocked money off as I lived near the hairdresser both in Sydney and at home. The Christmas party was amazing. They had paid actors dressed as the captain and the cabin crew and laid on a 3 course meal in style! We moved into the 'cruise' on moving platforms to meet the 'crew' and I met two Australian girls soon after I got there who adopted me for the night. As the night went on they provided cabaret entertainment, a beauty room, poker tables etc etc no expenses spared! All the staff and partners were invited so it was a turn out of 800 people +.
The next week I met up with Trish and Ryan, my canadian pals who were leaving Sydney shortly after for a cold, Canadian Christmas! The following evening I went for another agency drinks and nibbles
A little later on my last work night!
Sonia my friend from the East Coast was visiting me and slipped when we were getting a shot sat on the cannon! in Kings Cross. This week two of my flatmates moved out so we had a few farewell drinks then my new pregnant landlady moved in and cleaned the flat from top to bottom - an amazing transformation! On the Friday I went to the AMP Christmas party. The company hired out an entire theme park (Luna Park) for the evening with 1920s style waiters and waitresses handing out drinks and nibbles all night. Every ride was free so I had a go on the dodgems, the ferris wheel and the death slide(!?!). They then put on live bands, karaoke rooms, poker rooms etc. Another over the top but fantastic night.
More nights out, I actually have a real Australian friend now who I go to an indie night with on a Thursday! That week was my last one in work so they bought me a posh bottle of Champagne, Christmas shortbreads and took me out for dinner and drinks all on the boss! I must be impressing them! Had after work leaving / Christmas drinks too which was a laugh.
This brings us up to Christmas Eve where I packed my overnight bag and headed to Bondi Junction
where Noelle (irish) and Sukh (brummy) were preparing a Christmas feast for me, Lyn (Irish), Abs (Bristol) and Marleen (Dutch). It really was a lovely traditional Christmas dinner and the second roast dinner I've had in Australia. We had crackers and all the trimmings and all sat with our Christmas hats on silently tucking in to our dinner. That night we walked down to the pub for one or two then all retired to bed (well I was sleeping on a settee). The next morning we swapped secret Santa presents and I opened a couple of bits and pieces from home. We watched a stand up comedian DVD then got ready to walk down to Bondi Beach. It was a little overcast and rumours that they'd be charging $50 to sit on the beach had scared a lot of people off, they were untrue. We had fish and chips on the beach and then walked back to the girls. We sat and watched Christmas TV, made a few calls home and I stayed over again. Boxing Day we returned to Bondi Beach which was warm enough for bikinis and then I went to a backpackers bar in town and saw
more of my friends. I have met up with Laura and Hayley, the girls I met on the plane over here from Manchester twice now which is nice to catch up.
My plans for New Years are to watch the fireworks at Sydney Harbour Bridge with the Bondi girls. I have booked tickets for a fortnight in Tasmania leaving Sydney on 7th January. I will return to Sydney for a few days and then meet up with Erin in FIJI! Erin was the scottish girl I travelled down the east coast with, she told me of her plans which I was very jealous of so researched flights and very reasonable so spending 10 days there then return to Sydney and get coach to Canberra the next day. Will be off alone, staying there 2 nights then heading to Melbourne the start of February where I hope to work again for a month. I am very excited about starting to travel again, I think I will have to spend the next week sorting out all the possessions I seem to have accumulated!
Well expect an update a little sooner this time once I return from Tasmania. I hope you
PB works Christmas Party Cruise Ship
Me with the captain at my new works Christmas Party with a 'cocktail with the Captain' cruise theme. all have had a fantastic festive period and wish you a great 2008. Let me know how you are all doing! Lots of love xxxxx
p.s If you are sending any mail from now on can you return to the locked bag address as will be leaving Crown Street week after next.
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darren & lorna
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Happy New Year
Happy New Year. Bet the weather's good over there. Better than here anyway. We have had a good xmas. Callum went ice skating and was starstruck as he met Hayley from Coronation Street.