After feeling as though we had been a part of an Australian 'boozed up Britain' in Surfers Paradise it was very much appreciated to be invited by the Munro's to return to the country to experience an outback Christmas on the family ranch.

The December Christmas build up felt somewhat strange in the blistering heat and the fact that Australia doesn't really do the commercialised craziness that we have all come to both loathe and love back in the UK. This was also backed up by the 2 of us feeling quite strange watching 'The Grinch' by the Southbank river in a free open air cinema in Brisbane just before leaving for the outback. Maybe next year we'll take a portable tv down to the river Irwell and compare the 2!

Upon arriving at the farm on Christmas Eve, we quickly learnt how different our Christmas would be from our usual version in the valley by the fact that our first job would be to jump in the ute and go and cut down a Christmas tree...I was quickly buzzin whilst standing on the back of the ute riding out into the farmland on the hunt for a medium sized gumtree to bring back as a trophy. Apparently, Munro had taken it easy when driving whilst I was standing on the back and that I was meant to do the same when it was my turn to drive....after taking a corner in 4th gear, he said I was taking it too far!

As for Christmas Day it was one that we won't forget and included hatching chicks, nursing a sick cat, dinner for 16, a cricket match and our 2nd snake scare of the travels. Here a large brown snake which is apparently very venomous had been spotted in the chicken pen, but unfortunately as we hurriedly arrived there with shovels in hand and Sarah's brother Jack holding the shot gun, it had disappeared...I thought I was glad that I didn't get to see it but a bit gutted at the same time, especially when Sarah gave us serious advice to make sure we watch our step and bring a torch as they normally come back and stay in the vicinity. Went without saying that me & Stace would rather have seen it shot!

If Christmas Day was a chilled one, Boxing Day would be one of my most exhilarating. Whilst Stacey was trimming Sarah's hair and still trying to feed the sick cat, me & Munro were being zipped around the nearby lake on 1 of the best things I've done in a long time, jet tubing! The Aussies were gaining great pleasure by speeding quicker and quicker and could only laugh at the 2 squealing pommes behind swerving side to side who were both literally holding on for dear life. At least I've finally worked out why we have that muscle in our arms between the elbow and hand...and 2 days later they're both still killing me!

We then visited the outback races which was described as being similar to a gypsy 'grabbing' event where the fashion wore by the women was more worn in hope of snaring a local rodeo cowboy! As for us we'd arrived with only 4 races left but got off to a flyer by winning our first before coming 2nd and bloody 2nd again. However none of this would matter as our last horse was a sure winner, we knew this as Stacey had swore that when we first walked in the horse called 'warp nine' had nodded at her when asked by Stace if he would win..........it was close.........it came last!

So next we're shortly off to Perth for new year and a couple of weeks along the West Coast. We're looking forward to it even more having finally found possibly the greatest travelling game we can play in 'Monopoly cards' which we received in the not so Secret Santa (cheers Sarah). Honestly go out and get it, it's brilliant and has already made me highly competitive, especially when Stacey won the 1st game and did a little victory jig!!!

I just want to say a big thank you to the Munro/Henry family for a superb Christmas and hope you all at home have had an absolute minter, we did actually miss you all but will make up for it next year. So last but not least Happy New Year to everyone reading this blog!