You may remember me finishing off my last blog with an indication I would be starting to look for work. Unfortunately for me I had picked the worst time of year as all the uni and school students took the casual jobs in December! So there really wasn't much going. I also knew I was going away again at the end of January so was only looking for a couple of weeks. Hence, no job. Hopefully, though, when I get back from my next trip I will be able to pick something up.

My lack of employment has led me to be a little more frugal with my spending, so I don't have as much to report as usual. I've still managed to have some fun though! I managed to meet up with a friend, Sam, who was a GAP student at Lochinver. Coincidentally he lives about 5 minutes walk from Vicky's house! So I've been round to his for a Guitar Hero and Pool session. I also took him to a Brazilian night in town where there was a live Samba and Forro band. I had been getting dancing withdrawal symptoms so it was great to do some Forro. Sam thoroughly enjoyed it too and had never been to anything like it before.

This weekend was a long one for Vicky and Grant as it was Australia Day on Monday. On the Saturday Vicky and I went for a long bike ride around the city, stopping for lunch at a little farm (hence the photos of the animals!). Thankfully it was relatively cool and breezy (only mid-20s!) which was a nice break from the high 30s-40s we've been having the rest of the time. We also went to the cinema to see Slumdog Millionaire - I'd highly recommend it, we all thought it was fantastic. On Sunday we went for a picnic in the hills outside the city. On Australia Day Vicky and I went for a wander in the city while Grant built himself a workbench (very impressive!) Then in the true spirit of Oz Day, we had a bbq while watching the cricket. Grant was happy because South Africa won again.

I'm pretty sure I've done more stuff that I've forgotten about, but all in all it's been a lovely, relaxing few weeks. The weather has been incredibly hot and is actually set to break some records this week with 4 days over 40! Thankfully I am escaping tomorrow... yup, I'm off travelling again, first to Sydney to meet the McDonalds, then to Vanuatu with Azza for 2 weeks, then to Brisbane and the Queensland coast! I'm so excited! I'll keep you posted...