G'day all!

Since Mike's last essay, we've been having a high old time in Sydney with some family friends, Annette and John. We're staying at their lovely home, and we're both agreed that when we grow up (so at least another 50 years til that happens) we'd like to live in a house like this - it's beautiful - oh yes, we're flashpacking now!

House-envy aside, we've been having a fab time as Annette and John have been great hosts - we're being fed well every night, and Annette has even fixed a big rip in my top - it's like being at home but with much nicer weather!

So, without wishing to sound smug (because let me tell you, it can seriously rain in this city - my afro is testament to that!), here's a quick run-down of what we've been up to over the last few days…

Day 1 - After a power-nap to get over the horrors of our flight from Singapore (a devil child made sure we got absolutely no sleep), we hit the town with Annette and John, downed some tequila and got rip-roaringly drunk… Ok, that's not quite the truth. We actually went out for a very nice meal, shared a bottle of wine, and headed home for a well-earned sleep.

Day 2 - Our lovely hosts drove us around Sydney, pointing out the best bits and suggesting ways we could fill our days. We realised very quickly that it'd take several months to do justice to the city, so we retired to the pub to make plans for the coming week. John introduced Mike to the joys of the Aussie 'schooner' - it's just less than a pint, so he can drink 2 or 3 without feeling too guilty. And then the heavens opened - and oh boy, when it rains in Sydney, it really rains. Despite the downpour, John managed to fire up the bbq - we're practically Australians now!

Day 3 - Mike and I headed into Sydney and walked for miles. We did all the touristy things, as we scooted around the botanical gardens, the opera house, Darling Harbour and The Rocks. Worryingly, one of the staff at the Botanical Gardens asked us for our opinion on her 'living wall'. Keen to sound like we knew what we were talking about, we told her it was 'dead pretty' and that we'd quite like one in our flat. Wise words indeed - watch your back Alan Titchmarch…

Day 4 - The sun was shining, so Annette and John whisked us off to the fish market for a lovely munch on barramundi - a cod-type fish that goes very well with a glass of vino. Oh this unemployment malarky is such hard work. Needless to say, I bullied Mike into posing for some 'comedy' pictures with the giant lobsters. I'm very funny.

Day 5 - We had our first proper connection to home since we left, as we went to meet our friend Tony for lunch. He moved over here with his wife a couple of years ago, and is the man responsible for introducing me to Mike - aaah! Anyhoo, he somehow looks more grown-up since we last saw him, which is probably down to the fact that he's a father to 3-month old George - double aaah! After a lovely Thai meal, Mike took me shopping for some new trainers and a new top. It's quite frankly tragic that I'm so excited by my new purchases.

Day 6 - Annette and John drove us to the 'Blue Mountains' - so called, because of their odd blue colouring. After an incredibly steep train journey to the bottom of a valley (it's the world's steepest train dontcha know?!) , Annette, Mike and I clambered to the top again. I'm making this sound more adventurous than it really was, as it actually only took 45 mins to reach the top - though my red face and flustered state would suggest that I'd been climbing for at least 5 hours. In my defence, it was really hot…

Day 7 - Feeling invigorated by our healthy activities yesterday, Mike and I decided to walk the 6kms between Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach. It was raining when we started, though that didn't stop the surfers from hitting the beach. As the sun came out, the wetsuits came off - yum. Though of course I didn't notice their all-over tans and toned torsos. I'm a married lady after all. I really wouldn't look. Not one tiny peep. Bronzed pecs do nothing for me. Nope. Hmmmm…. Anyhoo, after a tiny perv at them (I think Mike had noticed the bronzed babes in bikinis so I'm not feeling too bad here), we headed home and cooked for Annette and John. And before you ask, no it wasn't cheesy pork.

Day 8 - Another beautiful day dawned, so Mike and I hopped on the ferry to Manly and spent the day with Tony, his wife Deanna and baby George. We had a lovely lunch on the harbour (the Aussie portions are so big that even Mike was defeated by his meal), then walked to Manly beach. Later we headed back to Tony's parent's house, and the boys trotted off to collect a take-away. And then the heavens opened again. The boys eventually returned home, looking like they'd entered a wet t-shirt competition. Nice look boys!

Day 9 - As we're just 2 days away from St Patrick's Day, Mike and I thought we'd explore The Rocks a little further - and their plethora of Irish pubs. After queuing 20 minutes for a single schooner of beer, we came to the conclusion that we'd need to drink vast quantities before we really enjoyed ourselves. Feeling adventurous, we attempted to start a pub-crawl, though a burly bouncer demanding ID from me (I didn't have any, so was refused entry!) quickly put paid to our plans. Poor Mike was a little miffed that he wasn't ID'd. We can't all be eternally youthful Mike…

Which leads me to toady…

Day 10 - Our last day with Annette! Annette is off to Melbourne tomorrow morning, so we spent the day walking along the coast and debating whether we'd be tempted to live in Sydney for a year (the answer was 'very'.) I think Mike was mainly swayed by the number of girls sunbathing topless, though I became increasingly discouraged by the sheer volume of man-eating spiders grinning at me, as I tiptoed past. They're evil looking b*****s, though John promises me I need to be more worried by the snakes. Crikey.

And so there I shall leave it. As I write this entry, Mike and John are enjoying a few 'schooners' with Brett, Annette's son-in-law who arrived in Sydney on a business trip tonight. Poor Mike is still reeling after getting up at 3am last night to watch his beloved Aston Villa being defeated by Tottenham, so I think he's earned his drink…

We'll write again soon, so lots of love til then,

Suzie and Mike xxx