Jem's been in his new job a couple of weeks now and he's really enjoying it. He's been to loads of wine tastings and is getting to try lots of different wines. A number of winemakers also pop into the shop with their wines, so Jem is able to try the wines with the people who made them. He also loves coming home at lunchtime and he's been put down for quite alot of overtime so it's all good for our saving.

Over the past couple of weeks we've met up with a couple of friends from home which has been really good. Jem's mate from school, Phil Trowler, came over on holiday and we went out to the Hotel Bondi for a few scooners and a catch up. Then the next day Phil and I had a delicious brekkie at a really nice restaurant overlooking Bondi beach. Jem was a lightweight and was too hungover to come!!

Last Sunday we went out to the Beach Rd Hotel and met up with Jem's old flatmate, Nigel, who he lived with in London. After a few drinks we got gorgeous fish and chips from our local chippy called 'A fish called Paddo'.

I visited the very tranquil Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour last week which was lovely to walk round and I had tea and scones in the Chinese tearoom which was yummy. The garden was designed by landscape architects from Guangdong, and is an oasis of lush serenity! You enter through the Courtyard of Welcoming Fragrance and are able to walk round the Lake of Brightness which is beautiful. I was very lucky with the weather because the sun was out but lately the weather has been really bad. It's the worst summer in years!!! Trust it to happen when we're here!!! I haven't even been able to get out on my boogie board!! After the gardens I had a read in Belmore Park and then it started poring with rain and I got soaked on the way home!! I went to see Juno at our local arty cinema and really enjoyed it.

I've been really busy with work. On Saturday the rugby was on in the sports stadium close to the pizza place and a music festival was on in the local park so we were packed out. I didn't get home til 2am and had to get up for housekeeping at 7am the next day so that wasn't much fun. Thankfully I have a laugh at work and get to meet loads of great people who quite often leave my a beer or a glass of wine which we're allowed to drink near the end of the shift.

Last night our friends Dean and Michelle, who live in Sydney, came round for dinner. Jem cooked chicken breast stuffed with Ricotta and herbs, broccoli and asparagus mixed with lemon and parmesan and new potatoes. It was delicious. We were able to eat it on our balcony overlooking the city which was great. It was good to see them and catch up but, after all the beer and wine we drank, it was hard getting up for work at the hotel this morning. Thankfully we weren't busy so we finished at 2pm.

We can't believe how quickly the weeks are passing us by and are both looking forward to the couple of weeks we're going to have off at the end to visit the areas around Sydney and go to a couple of restaurants.

On Wednesday we're going round to Guy and Helen's flat in Maroubra. I haven't seen them for ages because of working at then weekend so it will be good to catch.

Hope your all well. Miss you lots!