The Final Countdown

Sorry I havent been blogging much of late, just havent really had the energy to do it but now that I'm just about ready to get on the big metal bird home I thought I'd update the blog for one final time. Since I last blogged I have had a week in Perth, WA which was fairly uneventful. Met up with Gary Grant of chien fame for a couple of pints on one occasion and spent a couple of days on the lovely beaches at Fremantle and Cottisloe. Tried to get a ticket for the T20 Big Bash game at the WACA but it was sold out. Was nice to just chill out and not really do much, top up the tan a little bit and have a few dips in the Indian Ocean. Beaches in Australia are just awesome places, so beautiful and on a nice day its just roasting, magic times.

Flew over to Melbourne on Friday the 13th, thankfully the plane didn't fall out of the sky or anything like that. Spent Saturday finding my bearings and sussing out where the Tennis was and took a walk out to Melbourne Park and decided that I would just wander in and watch some of the qualifying. Saw Maria Sharapova play an exhibition and Laura Robson win her qualifying game.

Took in the Melbourne Heart vs Perth Glory game on Sunday afternoon, 2-1 Perth with former St Mirren legend Steven McGarry scoring the winner. Looks like he's been enjoying a few too many Barbies since he came to Aussie. Liam Miller was the best player on the park by a mile so I think that may tell you something about the A-League.

Been at the Tennis for all of the first 6 days and have seen, in no particular order. Jelena Jankovic, Daniela Hantuchova, Agnieska Radwanska, Vera Zvonereva, Petra Kvitova, Ana Ivanovic, Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Thomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Nicolas Almagro, John Isner, David Nalbandian, Gael Monfils, Marcos Baghdatis and Stanislas Wawrinka. Plus a few more than that. The standard of Tennis has been fantastic and its been great watching it. Best match has to be the 5 set epic between Isner and Nalbandian and it was also great to be at the Wawrinka v Baghdatis match that finished around midnight and included Baghdatis' massive tantrum. If you haven't seen it already, look it up on youtube, very funny.

So the packing has started, done the last wash, flight is on Tuesday and it'll be back to reality.

What have been the highlights. Well the Rugby World Cup was tremendous, the Tuatara crew on the road. Bungee Jumping, Zorbing, Luging, Glacier Hiking, the New Year fireworks in Sydney, the Aussie Open tennis far too much to mention. Huge thanks to anyone with whom I've shared an experience on this trip, every one of you have helped make it as epic as it has been. Special mentions to the Tuatara Crew and the Kiwi Exp crew and Dave and Ronnie for Sydney over the festives.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read the blog, its been fun writing it and I've enjoyed reading your comments on it. Kinda kept me a little bit in touch with what has been going on at home.

Take care all for the last time from Aussie, see you all soon.

Cheers, Euan.