Hold on, this is a long one! Be prepared Sydney allows access too many a different cultural experience. Two of these I experienced this weekend past. So Friday night comes by, and its Becky's leaving do at work. So we are all invited to meet at Circular Quay, at a bar called Jackson's on George. I have been wanted to go here, for ages, but it's a long way from the comfort of the fridge. So Liza and I caught the train home after work, she works in the building next to NAB and we occasionally have spontaneous lunches (I like to call them Lunch meetings, for works sake!). I haven't been able to walk to work recently as am suffering from Shin Splints...! Ouch but getting better now. We get to the bar, which everyone who has been here has told me is awesome, and it's huge - 3-4 floors with the biggest 610ml pints I have ever seen! The night went on, and Jackson's was quite quiet so the girls decided to go to Cargo bar, another bar I have longed to see! Variety is the spice of life they say. This bar is great but full of sleazy guys trying to get with everything that moves. And before you say well I belong here. I don't and I left after a couple of drinks. However the setting is great, on Darling Harbour, outside, covered by Umbrellas. So two new non-backpacker bars in one night, I am so proud of myself. Kayley has left now to go up the East Coast, and Matt, Becky, Nat and Karen all leave on Monday so the house is going through a transitional period. (Stay tuned). Anyhow Saturday was my Fridge Brother trip to the Hunter Valley for some R+R and elegance. The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's premier wine growing districts, about 2 hours north of Sydney. Luckily for me, my friends Dave and Flick from Vietnam had invited me. They have friends whom run a vineyard, and put on tapas tasting evenings. At first I couldn't go, because I was short on cash, and accommodation is around $100 a night, but Dave the superstar that he is, arranged a bed at his friends' house for free. So I caught the ferry over to Manly to meet them, and then there the adventure begins. We travelled with Michael and Pam, two of Flicks friends, drove for 2 hours north into the Valley. And to a winery which was literally just an iron shack with sheep surrounding it. But behind it was an old unused house, one floor and it could have been beautiful if looked after. This was the stuff real Horror films are made of. The middle of nowhere, not a house, or car to be seen and there was me, in a house with two people I didn't know! Flick and Dave were staying with other friends. Anyhow enough of that, I am still alive! We then drove to the house. And there were Kangaroos everywhere, running wild! How cool is that, my first Kangaroo sighting. I am easily pleased. Now the house we drove up-to was enormous. Built into the mountain, with boulders all around it, different wings of the house were connected by passageways from the hub. The hub had the Kitchen, dinning room and Lounge all in one, with a balcony that could hold over 50 people. I was totally gob smacked at this house. It must have been worth millions. See the pictures, they really are stunning! There were 18 of us all in all, and I had to start mingling. Everyone was a bit older than I was but I met two couples I got on with very well, Jen and John, and Matt and Flicker. All in there 30's but really great to chat to. John works for Qantas, Jen I believe is a Teacher, and the most interesting was Flicker who is an Art Therapist, something we spoke about on length! So the Tapas and the wine started. First Pink Champagne followed by a white, 3 Chardonnays, 2 reds, then a full-bodied red, then a desert wine. That was the plan anyhow. It didn't pan out that way, cos the wine was so nice. Seriously expensive at $45-$200 dollars a bottle. And because we were friends of friends it wasn't one glass either! They were topped up regularly. I must have drunk over 2 bottles of mixed wine to myself at least. And it was all amazing tasting, I even liked the red, yes Tim I have developed, I now drink red wine. Plus the Tapas were exquisite. Starting with shot glasses of fish soup, and then delving into free-range duck, chicken, lamb (which was the nicest lamb I have ever tasted!), meatballs, Vegetable Samousas etc. I was chatting to the crowd all night and it was really nice to have intellectual if not slightly squiffy chat with some real down to earth Australians! They were all really nice, and I even bagged myself some time on a yacht! (Hopefully next week). Plus the hosts had a 10-month-old python that I played with for a while. The night finished off with some dancing, which I couldn't participate in too much, but did show Flicker and another Aussie Vanessa some of my best moves, spinning around like a loon! The group were brilliant, dancing to a variation of music from Linkin Park to Crowded House, Tracey Chapman and Ottis Reading. The Conger even occurred, mum you would've loved it. Michael was really funny all night and although Flick went to bed at 9ish, the night was one of my best since being away. Vanessa and I also went onto the balcony and you should see the stars, millions of them and since this mansion was surrounded by nothingness, it was pitch black outside. And it was so clear that we could even see the Milky Way above our heads. There was only one other instance where I saw stars like this and that was with mark, Russ and Nat enroute to Salt Lake City from Denver...in the middle of the desert. Simply captivating. We got back to the deserted house around 3ish, and all I could think of, was the film wolf creek. Such an active imagination! I have to say a huge thanks to Dave and Flick since the night really was brilliant, and in the morning we had a cooked breakfast, and explored the Valley. From its little corner stores, which were very old worldly, to its masses of countryside, it was just gorgeous. I recommend it to anyone visiting. A Great night, with great friends and good people, some maturity, some immaturity, some amazing food and wines and most of all some great memories! Pictures to follow shortly...