Just another couple of pics that I couldnt fit on the last blog (see below this blog)

Just a few more pics from Xmas etc

Roly, Rich & Grahams dog getting into the Christmas spirit.

Mike's Xmas Lunch
Oysters for appetiser, mmm
Song & jason doing the Barbie in Centennial park on Weds
ALL the boys and girls from Hyde Park Cafe

G'day and Merry (belated) Christmas to everyone and a great New Year, which - of course - I'l be celebrating twice this year, one at midnight, and apparently I've got to stay up and have a drink "for England" about 11am, when everyone in blightly will be joining me in 2007. woooooooo I'm in the future, spooky!
Anywho, I've not blogged for a while because, basically the run up to Christmas was a bit manic, and we were both working up until last friday,been quite busy!
When I got home I found I'd recieved a Christmas package, obviously I couldn't wait for Christmas, I ripped it open straight away. Thank you Mum and Dad, i don't know what I would do without the Leicester - Loughborough Bus timetable all the way out here. The Forrest magazine was an interesting read too, I know know how to make a snowman properly if such an occasion arrises. brillo!
Since friday we've been catching up on the partying side of Australia, lots of bars and clubs nearby at Kings Cross (mostly back packers and strip clubs), Oxford Street (lots of gay bars, but some nice straight clubs), and William street, where we live, our two local pubs (conveniently on the way home from work). We are also so close to the centre of sydney it'd be rude not to explore that too, so you can see why I've not had time for this blogging malarky.
Christmas day was really nice, Richard andGraham had family and friends over (about 23 people), we woke up from the Xmas eve night out about 11:30, just time to help with some minor table decs and then everyone started to arrive. Fresh Oysters and King prawns made a welcome breakfast as we all sat on the patio talking and around 3ish Lunch was ready.
Turkey, Pork and Ham, veggies and tatties, then two types of Xmas Pud with chocolate cakes, mince pies, nuts etc etc, far too much! mmmmmm.
Party went on into the evening and a sensible 1am bed time meant we were nice and fresh to go to the drag races on boxing day! It was a trek, 36km out of town on the train to Blacktown, then about 4km by taxi, but we made it! Great old day with the racing going on into the night (something they dont do back home) great to watch the flames shooting from the 7,ooobhp V8s in the cool night air (Baz, you'll know why thats such a good thing.
It was only about 10.30 when we realised we couldn't get a taxi back to the train station as we were right in the sticks, so we walked to the nearest pub, had a couple of beers and the manager gave us a lift to the station in the "courtesy bus" which was nice, that is until we realised that we were so far outside the civilised world that the last train was at 12am. This was a problem (at 12.30am) and the only option was to get the bus, so we arrived home eventually at 2.30am . . . sober (its acceptable to return at that time when drinking but we were tired!).
Straight to sleep and then up again at 12.15 for our staff xmas "do" at centennial park - a park big enough to swallow leicester town centre - which starts at 12.
Excellent barbie by the owner of the cafe (Song), and the chef Jason. I'm still getting over the fact that they have these huge gas bbqs in the park for everyone to use, seems like such an Aussie thing to do! great!
barbie finished around 5ish and we went for a drink with a couple of the guys from work. went to a few bars playing pool, meeting new people (an ex nottinghammer and his mates who'd moved here 6yrs ago, and 4 hilarious Mancs!) etc and eventually, we found we were the only ones left, so we headed for home about 3am. another good night.
anyway, we're both well and have been resting up for a day or so, so after this storm is over (yes a storm, with lightning and thunder and everything!!) were going out again to Blink to buy our NYE tickets. Can't wait to get some piccys of those fireworks, apparently they're like nothing on Earth, amazing.
Im just rambling now (trying to make up for the neglect I've shown the blog recently), I hope you're all dandy, and have a drink for me on New Years won't you?
Il be calling on Sunday about 1pm (GMT) to boast that Im in 2007 and your not :) lol.
Bye all!

P.S Im putting the pics of the barbie on the next blog as i cant fit them in here!

No news!

Not really felt the need to blog recently as works been the priority, so sorry about that to everyone that was getting withdrawals . . . . . . anybody???? no? just you then Sis!!

Just saving all my pennies up for christmas where I get two weeks off work, and the Helens here for the two weeks after that too!! so will have plenty of pictures to share with everyone mid december through to end of Jan and exciting things to make u all jelouse with!! really looking forward to all that!


I hope everyone is well back in the land of Blighty!

I just want to say "hello and not to worry Joan and Tony" , thanks for saying hello!
Same goes to lots of other people following this blog!

Hi Steve & Maz - Sun costs to0 much for me to send over (more expensive than a return ticket anyway! lol), Amanda can you send me some British cold please, yes I AM missing it!!(yeah righto!!), Hello to Brian and family! Xmas dinner will actually be family n friends thing here at the house I think, but no doubt il be on bondi later on with the other pommies!!!
Even found a comment from Woolie!! great!! just waiting for Loz to jump on band waggon and take a look at pictures of gardens and stuff that I took especially!! tut!

Lots of other folk I would like to mention but time is ticking and people are falling asleep reading this, so Il leave you with some random pictures!!


There was a plane writing an advert for a web site above sydney the other day, worlds biggest bill-board?

This is Oli, french dude that has been here with Richard and Graham since about Feb, hes leaving next week, Im getting his room!

Aussie Choice of sandwich filling.

Prefer ham myself, well, ya know, each to there own and all that, when in Rome etc etc etc.

Quite tasty though I have developed a bad taste in music and gold jewelery??!!

quite concerned about the "light and tasty" Coon on the left?

Students, it has to be students!! wont be travelling with these, think we'll just rent a car!

Car rental sounds good actually, especially with the "Antichrist-of-Sheilas-Wheels Car Rental" (not sure if thats its real name but it could be. You see the truely Aussie "no birds" sign outside??)

Is this a relic from last year when Mr and Mrs Mason visited? I doubt it but it was funny anyway!!!

Everards' Marketing influence reaches farther than expected!!

Th-Th-Thats all folks.

Until next time.................

Bondi

As promised I have now been to Bondi! Its nice.

I say nice because its like any other beach, the surf is great, its full of nice people ( ;-) ) and has Ice cream, but its just another beach. was especting something great, beautiful, and free beer!But alas, its Skeggy-Downunder (seagulls included) but without the the bright red chav-families!!

This is what it looks like...

Its about a mile long and hires out surf boards for $15 for 1.5 hours (£8.50 ish) for all other information please contact the tourist board....

I went down yesterday (monday) all day with a couple of kiwis michael and I met on sunday at the cafe. Went for Hungry Jacks . . .

Or as people call it, Burger King.

still $6.45 for a whopper meal whose complaining?

I read on beach for a bit but ocean was calling so they went off to shops and I went swimming, got a bit comfy with the waves, decided to try a surf board . . . different story. Couldnt balance properly and managed to fall over board in a wave and into the path of said board. . undettered I soldiered on, and actually stood up on the board for an entire 2.5 seconds without injuring vunerable bodyparts.

Wahay!

Took mike down today but boarding shop was closed,so just with all the other people that cant afford a surf board we swam with the waves. Not as boring as it sounds (pics of this near Xmas - two weeks off, woohoo).

finished swimming at dusk (8ish)

then went for supper

At the italian next to this because it sounded like a cheaper 'Hooters'!

had pizza, mmmmmmmmmmm

anyway I hope everyones ok at home and hope its not as hot as here (36deg). i know its about 6 there but had to get that in!

love you all!

a special "hello" to gave as he feels a bit left out

HELLO GAV

bye

lapping up the summer sun!

Came home from work knackered after a relatively busy day and took advantage of the 25 degrees and sat on roof with a coldie and chatted to mike about work . . . and why not??

great roof. . . great view!

TTFN!

Night Out!

had me first night out last night! Went to a pub/brewery with a huge range of home made "beers" , unfortunately all lagers as i found out the hard way :0(

"Blink" was good, its the only rock club in sydney and its about the size of Mosh back home, rubbish! oh well, top night, wide range of music and an all girl metal band (Dark-Shadows)downstairs (I know I know, but they werent bad!)

Stayed until about three, couldnt stand another 3 hours as I was at work 9am this morning! (no no no I felt fiiiiine!!!!)

Pics o' me hoose (no mooses loose 'boot this hoose tho'!)

just a dog (roly, a collie) and two siamese twin cat sisters, confused??

Nice to see a few comments from everyone, (hel, sas even me good buddy Baz!!) but I want to know whos doing mum n dads comments because it doesnt seem like their thing! (sorry mum, dad!) :0)

:o) <--- if that really is you guys this is called a smiley, turn your head to the left and youll see!

This is our house

The living area upstairs

. . . . . and our bedroom

Not very exciting blog, I know, just wanted mum n dad to see im not holed up in some hostel!

Guys, Im really sorry about the half nudie picture of mike, he wouldnt move :0(

Like i say, not an earth shattering blog, not done anything exciting as weather has been poor, hitting 29 degrees at the weekend so will be down on the beach hopefully (no bikini pics honest helen!! :0) )

Blog-forecast . . . . . . . . . . .

Tomorrow- pics from first big night out in sydney!

went out on the saturday i got here but friday nights are great apparantly! rock on!!

later in the weekend- Bondi bellyflops?

like i say, if the weather pics up il be down to bondi, only a short bus ride away (10mins?) and I want to go body bording!

yes mum, Il look out for sharks!

no helen, I wont drown!

and no I wont be peeing on any jellyfish stings, that'll just make it worse!!!!

hope everyones OK!!!!

A Quick Horticultural Blog

It was one of those "saw this and thought of you moments" as I passed through the botanical gardens the other day (they're beaut mate!) i saw these and thought of Loz! (worrying eh?!)

......................

. . . anyone found on the paths may be prosecuted!!!

this is an indigenouse tree, seems normal enough but it has 10 main trunks and arial roots, wEiRd!!

Small oasis in the gardens, just couldn't capture the magnificense (can't spell it, sorry) of the garden! and this is in a city!

More pictures by popular demand (......from my sister!)

As promised some pictures at last of my life here in Oz!!!

First a picture of where im working now, a small cafe on the corner of the main park in the city: Hyde Park, hence the name, Hyde Park Cafe (funny that?!) its good fun, good environment and good food. my first impression was greasy spoon, but its far from it, it serves real food, (fresh fish, risottos, pasta dishes etc) home made too.

Behind where I stoop to take this pic is a large patio area with about 25 tables, and about 10 tables inside (hardly used because of the weather), the other side of the building is an entrance to the tube/underground.

This Picture is the view from the garden at the back of our house, Hyde Park is just behind the big building (in front on left) and is about 10 mins walk away.

House is great! three storeys, 4 bedroom huge living space/dining area, handy as different friends and family are here every night for Graham's excellent cooking!

Richard and Graham are the couple who own the place, theyre the most welcoming people I could wish for, and they keep telling me to just treat it like home, help myself to food and drink etc, its great here, and only 20 mins walk from operah house, 15 to city centre shops etc (pictures of house to come).

Sorry guys!

It wasnt until I rang home yesterday that I realised that this site was being visited! Anyway, I have had a little trouble sending pictures from my fone to the blog so have had to set it up to work from laptop, now I can show you more photos!!

Hope everyone is dandy and not too cold, its still a bit springy here with the odd shower, but summer starts 1st Dec! so bondi surf, here I come!!

Sydney opera house

Mikes at wrk,went4a walk,look what i found!

Missing everyone a lot but loving every minute of ths city,didnt realise how big it was! The people are really friendly, and so diverse, very welcoming! Weathers hot but tolerable,foods great!
Catch you all soon!

Meet my friend

Cant go anywhere without bumpin into sum1!

Me being cheeky at hong kong airport!

They even have english plugs!

Hong kong airport

Half way there everyone!

My ride

Leavin on this jet plane!

Water feature

How guds my fone sas