Hello,

Hope you are all well? I am good. Just going through and updating the blog as I have not had access to the internet for soo long.

So here goes....

The girls and I at work decided to go on a Grampians Day Tour as there was a voucher on Spreets. We decided on a date and booked it. We were getting picked up at 7.40 from near Flinders Street Station. Which sounds all good in Theory. Once this was booked, I got a job at the local Irish Bar in Essendon (more about that later). I was asked to work the Friday night before the Saturday day trip feeling unable to say no, I said yes, and then realised the pub did not close 3. Oh dear, no sleep or me that night. By the time I got a cab home I only had 2 hours before I was due to leave - I spent one of these sleeping and the other washing blow drying and straightening my hair. Bloody stupid I know. Armed with 24 no doze tablets (Aussie version of Pro Plus), I got the tram into the city stopping off for Macca's - Sausage Mcmuffin and 2 Hash browns. Yes I am becoming a fat pig now. Boarded the bus, and met the rather hot looking tour driver J.

From Melbourne we headed west towards the Grampians, one of the worlds oldest and most spectacular mountain ranges - rich in Aboriginal history and an abundance of wildlife. On route we stoped for morning tea at the delightful town of Beaufort. There really was not much here at all. Just before arriving at the Grampians we stopped at One Tree Hill Lookout to view the Grampians Mountain Range in all it grandeur. Then we headed straight into heart of the Grampians Halls Gap and visit Brambuk Aboriginal cultural centre to learn the traditional ways of the Indigenous Australians. Here I saw yet more kangaroos and emus. The excitement is definitely wearing off and I have to say I prefer Kangaroo to be on my plate cooked medium - rare. I have yet to try an Emu, but will definitely add it to my list of things to sample before leaving. Ha Ha,

After this we stopped for Lunch in a town by Halls Gap, and I ate my pre prepared sandwich out in the rain. We headed to the spectacular Silverband Falls. Follow a gentle undulating track from Silverband car park to the base of these unusual falls, where a silver bank of water moves over mossy rocks, disappears underground and then reappears downstream.Silverband Falls is an unusual waterfall because it tends to disappear into the ground and its stream reappears further downstream. In January of this year, Victoria was flooded, and most of the trees etc: had been damaged. Upsetting to see how much damage rain can do.

It was then time to tackle the Chatauqua Peak Walk to view the Halls Gap Valley in all its splendour. It was quite a tough walk up to the top, it was very rocky and narrow pathways to walk on. But once I made it to the top I was barely able to breathe but the view was amazing. Like all things in Australia, the higher up you are the better. The walk back down was difficult as the sun was starting to set and it was raining. The rocks were becoming slippery but we all helped each other on the difficult bits. Charlie, you can see the rock climb that I did and how hard it is for someone who does not exercise, there is a video on You Tube (a friend is making them for her mum). The link should show you it -

The day finished with a Maccas, just as it started. Medium chips and cheese burger. Must stop eating it as ill be heading home needing two seats on the plane. Ballooning before my eyes. Just found out I have put at least two stone on.

To catch up on everything else - The job I had in the pub was terrible. I did a trial shift and was offered the job - every Friday and Saturday night. Boo. First and final shift was a Friday night. I started at 8.30pm and collected glasses til 2.30am. I applied for a barmaid position not a glass collector. Was not impressed, I now know how annoying I must be when drunk. People were even asking if they could snog me - I was like I'm working and sober, your drunk so get lost. Always the charmer I know. To make matters worse I didn't get paid for that shift as I never went back. Oh well.

Okay, so what else have I been up to?

I moved out of Sophie's house and into a hostel, Home at the Mansion. It is a great hostel - it's a fairly new one so the beds are really comfy, there TV's in the rooms and it is exceptionally clean. Was there for 3 weeks and had such a blast. In the effort to socialise and make friends I have been partying quite a lot. Always bad. Here's a run down of the first few weeks in the Hostel. To sum up - Boozy! The first night I got there I went to PJ O'Briens with a Christian, Cassie, Tara, Janey and Vanessa. Turned into a pretty messy night and work the following day was particularly hard. Wednesday was a drunken night, Section 8 followed by Shanghai Dumplings and then on to Turf Bar. Turf bar is a backpacker's bar. Another drunken night. Friday ended up in equally a bad way. Only once I got home at 1.00am, Tara suggests I go get changed and head to Brunswick Street with her and Andre. Being drunk and having forgotten my key, I went to reception to get another one to open the door and was told I couldn't go out as I was far to drunk. Interesting. I had no shoes on and no bag. Amy being Amy when she is drunk took it upon herself to go out with out any shoes on. Luckily Tara had the sense to get me some of hers. Ha. Ended up in Gypsy Bar and getting home at about 4am. With still no key the poor receptionist had to pretty much carry me up the stairs and put me in to bed. Saturday, seriously hungover, Tara and I decide to hit Rooftop Bar at 2pm and then moved on to Cho Goa where we indulged in some $8 jugs of beer. We then went back out to Brunswick and got home at about 1am. I fell asleep on the Bean Bags drinking Goon and only woke up when I was disturbed by the Receptionist (Same one as the night before :s) started Hoovering. Sunday was a quiet one as I was pretty much dying. Low and behold Monday was a Goonathon (Goon being disgusting wine, which comes in a 4 litre carton and is $9.00). Janey and I had a few drinks at the Rooftop Bar with Christian and headed back to the kitchen where we woke Tara up and drank 2 4 litre cartons in the kitchen. Bad Times. Hostel life has pretty much turned me in to an alcoholic!!

I could go on forever but all the nights ended up the same. Put simply I spent a lot of time drunk, not much time going to work or just going to work drunk. I had an amazing time and met some amazingly cool people. Think I may have made a few enemys to. Whoopsie.

Lots of Love

Amy x x x x