Hello everyone,

Sorry for the delay once again in updating the site. We've been busy and the time has gone so quick, we didn't realise how long ago it was since we last updated you all.

Firstly, I hope it's not too late to say Happy New Year to everyone. I don't know if it counts in February but never mind!!!!! We'll tell you all about our Christmas and New Year later in the blog.

We are both very well and loving Brisbane! After a 19 hour bus trip across Oz from Sydney to Brisbane! That was certainly character building....!

We decided to stay at the City Back packers on the outskirts of the city along with the other main backpacking sites and I think Alan and I are getting a little old as our room was directly opposite the (noisy)bar and we weren't impressed! It was fine on the first day but after several nights of pissed up people having fights with their boyfriends and singing wonderwall (even worse than Alan's Dad from what he tells me!) we decided we had to move on! Alan made me laugh as he's a trainee granddad. He even went into town and bought earplugs!!!! Pipe and slippers next I fear.

So we are now in an apartment in the City with fantastic views across the city and we have a pool and gym in the apartment complex! Good decision I feel all round to move! Brisbane is a lovely city, very new and close to the beaches extra so a very good place to settle for a few months.

Our first visit to the gold coast was with Alan's friend from Uni, Matt, a.k.a Burgers. We went with him and his girlfriend Katherine. It's been great having them around as they have been a great help and we've had some good times with them so far with more on the cards before we leave.

Since our last blog Christmas has come and gone, it always goes so quickly! We hope that everyone had a lovely day! We had a very different Christmas being 33C on the day we thought we would make the most of the weather, in the morning we went for a swim, not something you would do every Christmas. Then it was time for a BBQ on a beach in the city, I really did miss my turkey and stuffing! But really good to get into the Oz Christmas! It was also weird not watching Corrie and Eastenders, sad I know but thank you mum and Emma for keeping me updated on it! Can't believe Nick Cotton came back I thought he died years ago! (I know it's not real life Alan!)

The whole build up for Christmas was strange as it's not as Christmassy over here. I think the heat and the lighter nights have something to do with it.

On Boxing day Alan managed to get the cricket ground, The Gabba, with Matt/Burgers which he really enjoyed. It was a 20/20 he tells me. I'm not sure that was the game format or how many beers they had each!!!!

For New year we went for a BBQ around Alan's friends house Matt/Burgers and Katherine, we had a really good night lots of drinking and lovely food! We were sat on the decking all night and it was weird watching the Sydney fireworks on tv at the actual time rather than on the news in the UK. Alan didn't look at all well in the morning, he actually had no colour in his face, I really did try hard not to laugh!!!His first words in the morning were to ask me if I could see him, apparently if I could, that meant he wasn't dead.......like he felt!!!! He was probably still pissed 10 hours later for the UK New Year!!!!

Matt and Katherine have been really great showing us around the city, sorting our post, a huge help so a big thank you to them! It was good to see the New Year in with them and their friends.

On our last blog Alan was going to try and beat me into getting a job first sadly this was not achieved! But we are both working hard now saving money to hit Melbourne and Ayers Rock! I am particularly excited about Melbourne seeing the Neighbours set always been dream! Can't wait to get some pictures taken with Karl, Suz and Toadie!

I'm working at a place called Jo Jo's which is a nice restaurant in town. Alan is working out of town at a car auction place detailing cars! He even gets to wear a nice hi-viz top that Matt and I enjoy taking the piss out of him for!!! He's gone up in the world now with a yellow and now and orange one!!

On our days off I have tried to stay away from shops, they are really good in the city! So to avoid this situation we have been hitting the beach as often as we can! We went to Suffers Paradise which is a lovely beach but a little too built up and very commercial. I think when you have been spoilt by the cook island and Fiji it is very hard to beat paradise!!! The last time we were there Alan and I had the worse sunburn of our lives! I do not think we applied the sunscreen in an appropriate manner! You could actually see our finger marks were we did not rub it properly! I'm still red and it's been two weeks, not good! We our sticking to the local saying slip, slap, slop!!!! The sun is said to be stronger because of problems with the Ozone layer!

That evening Alan and I decided to go out for a lovely meal to celebrate my engagement ring coming back having been resized but the trouble was we were in so much pain that after a few drinks we had to go home due to not being able to walk or barely move! I do think we have learnt from our mistakes there!

While in Brisbane we have also managed to get one of The Zoos. It was fantastic to see Kangaroos up close there are some classic pictures of Alan I think pretending to be a Kangaroos, check them out! There were many different animals from large birds and snakes! But the best thing about this day was when I got to hold a koala bear, they are lovely creatures and it was so nice to be that close to one of Australia's famous animals!

I am still on cloud 9 after Alan asked me to marry him! Still can't believe how much thought and effort he put into everything from the ring to planning the day! We had to get the ring resized in Brisbane but we have since got it back! I am always looking down at it, it's a really beautiful ring can't wait to show it to everyone at home! Thanks for all the messages from you all. Glad you guys are pleased too!

While we are away Miss Laura Ellison my friend for many years will be getting married, I'm very upset not being to make the big day but we both wish her and Phil a lovely day and cannot wait to get back to celebrate with them!!!

Recently we celebrated our first Australia Day. It was a good time and we got into the city to get amongst the festivities. We had a few beers and watched some shows and soaked up the atmosphere of the day. We even put the transfer tattoos on to get into the spirit of things!!!

That weekend we had a great night out in town with Matt and Katherine. Alan and Matt went to the A League football before hand, which he tells me is nothing to the football at home. He's asked me to mention that they were sat behind the goal and Burgers took a ball square to the mush during the warm up!!!! Maybe he drunk so much beer that night to numb his red face!!!!

We're due for another good night this Friday for Alan's birthday so looking forward to that. I'm getting to know a few bars well as they people I work with often have a drink or two after work so it would be rude not to join them!!!

As I said above we're not around for too much longer in Brisbane but we're looking forward to getting away and seeing some more of this amazing country. We'd love to see more but it's just so big and we don't have the time. There is a farm in central Australia that is bigger than the UK and they herd the animals using a helicopter!!!!

We hope everyone at home is doing well. Please send us some messages to let us know how you all are and what's happening...

Take care everyone.

Missing you lots

Hope you are all well

Lots of Love

Jules & Alan

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