G'day again! The problem with having such a good time and doing so much stuff means finding time for the internet is hard and when you do find time there is far too much to write! I'll do my best but it might have to be a shortened version!

Ok, so currently in Melbourne, arrived yesterday mornng after getting an overnight bus down from Sydney (unfortunately our intention of getting some sleep whilst travelling down was hampered by a loudly snoring guy in the seat in front of us!). Having found our hostel (we are staying in St.Kildas, a very backpacker-y area South of Melbourne, lots of cafes, bars etc...) and crashing for a couple of hours we headed down to St.Kildas beach and loked around quite a big market of crafts that was there. We'd found out that there was an Ozzie Rules Football game on at 2.10 in the Melbourne Cricket Ground so that was our next stop. It was Carlton V Collingwood (the magpies), apparently a local rivalry which meant for an almost sell out crowd (77,000!). It was SO good to watch and despite some help from a man sat next to us I think we are still pretty clueless as to any rules (if there actually are any). Despite us all intially supporting the crows, I was the only one to stay true to my team till the losig end (the others swapping to Carlton as they were clearly going to win!). After that we came back to our hostel and cooked some spag bol then we headed back into town to go to a comedy night as it was the last night of the Melbourne international Comedy festival. Eneded up seeing a show about 'all films EVER made'. The guys doing it were defintiely funny people despite about half of the film references going over my head! We got a relatively early night in preparation for today...... yes, in only just over an hour I will be visiting the sacred Ramsay Street!!!! WOOP!! And then even better, tonight we will be partying with the 'stars'! We are hoping for either Paul Robinson or Jarod but we;ve heard he's recently been banned from attending the Monday nights because fo his, er.. bad behaviour!

Oh dear, this was meant to be a shortened version of what we've been up to!

I think the last time I wrote we were heading to Byron Bay? It was definitely worth the stop, such a beautiful and (as usual) massive beach! Loads of surfers and backpackers. We met up with some guys the others knew from Cardiff and had an awesome night out with them (suffice to say 'Goon' played a part - thats what everyone over here calls really cheap boxed wine as itsa ll anyone drinks before a night out (probably not the best choice as its so cheap an nasty its ingrediants list fish products!)). Next day we somehow managed to get up at a reasonable hour and set off for Sydney. IT wasnt as far as we thought, reaching Sydney early afternoon of the second drving day. We didnt really know where we were going till we found ourselves drving over the Harbour bridge and seeing the Opera House across the bay - very cool. Having Winnie (our camper) in Sydney is more hassle than its worth so we got rid of it a day early despite being sad to see her go! Gemma was leaving for NZ the morning after we arrived so we headed into town so she could at least see a few of the sites. We ended up in Darling Harbour and had a really nice (and surprisingly cheap) meal (they say travelling changes u and it really must be as I voluntarily opted for fish which if you know me is unheard of!). Oh dear, running out of time in my credit...

Ok, so Gemma left us and then we had 5 days in Sydney. Found a nice and quite central hostel near Chinatown which served as a good base. Managed to seea lot of the sity and 'do' most of what we wanted... Open top bus tour, Opera House, Botanical Gardens, Mrs Macqueries Point (for good views of the Opera House and Harbour bridge), Musuem of Sydney, Bondi Beach, the Aquarium, Museum of Contempory Art, some shopping (mostly window shopping unfortunately!), Chinese Gardens, a day in the Blue Mountains whic included a cruise back into Sydney past all the sights (really spectacular) and probably more stuff I cant remember right now. We've got another day in Syndey on Wednesday before our flight to Auckland on Thursday, I think we might walk over the Harbour bridge and go up one of the pylons (as none of us can afford to do the bridge climb at about 100 pounds each!)

Ramsay Street is calling me so I'd better be off (cant keep Harold waiting!). We've got all day in Melbourne tomorrow before getting another overnight bus back to Sydney. Time really is flying by, can't believe its nearly the end of our second leg. Not long and we'll be at the half way point, thats just crazy!

Hope everyone is well and coping without us at home! I expect I'll be writing again from New Zealand.

Lots of love Eleanor x