Explored more of Melbourne on Boxing Day and headed a few kilometres out of town, on a tram, to the beach at St Kilda. Sunny and breezy day and kite surfing & kite flying were very popular.

I'm coming to the end of Christmas Day, 'the first we have not been together since your birth', as it says in mum's card. She also said, 'I'm so very glad you are doing what you always wanted to do. My wish from the day you were born was that all your wishes come true'. So I spent the day touring along the Great Ocean Road, built by soldiers returning from World War 1, as a memorial, and a work project. It's a spectacular drive or ride. Saw limestone rocks called...

Being temporally ahead in the Land Down Under, it being just past midnight, and having already been to the 9pm 'Midnight Mass' (which was followed by a beer & conversations about theologically unorthodoxy with Franciscan monks & others), I'd like to wish you a Happy Christmas.

Landed in a 39 degrees Melbourne though due to 'drop' to 28 tomorrow. I see the UK is rainswept and am thinking of family and friends. Was met at the airport which was nice. Staying in a great little studio apartment and have put out my family Christmas cards, carried in my backpack since I left, which is now over 3 weeks ago. I'm living for this next week on the corner of Lygon Street which is a-buzzing with coffee shops, restaurants, and gelaterias. Dinner invi...

Took a trip on the train, north, up the Sunshine Coast. Some of the Queensland trains have free wifi! Met a friend from football and her family who live here, which was nice. Saw these, the Glasshouse Mountains, as Captain Cook described them as he saw them shimmering. I leave for Melbourne in the morning.