hello people!

Its been ages since i wrote last - yes donna thank you for pointing this out- but its mainly because i havent got alot to tell you. This is mainly the fault of facebook which i go on daily so im always talking to u all and telling you what im up to!!

Since i last wrote i made my way back to sydney and within an hour of landing jenni and i had found jobs flyering for an internet company! i cant say it was the best job in the world and i only lasted a day but it worked well for jen who earnt 100 pounds in 3 days for walking aroudn the block a couple of times! The next day after the boring flyering job i went to Darling Harbour to look for a job in a restaurant and by that night i was ready and working! The restaurant (Nick's seafood restaurant) is one of the most popular in Sydney and i feel very lucky to have got a job there as so many people have tried to get jobs there since and they're no longer recruiting! im a cashier which is good for me because i dont have to wear a shirt and trousers, i just have to turn up looking smart (an excuse for me to go shopping and buy some dresses hehe!). I work 3 nights a week and then sat and sun daytime, so u can imagine the state ive turned up in the last 2 sundays when ive only got to bed at 5 and had to be at work at 9am! haha! Most days before work i have a nice lie in, go the gym, then walk around the city (shopping!) then head to work. Its a very relaxed atmosphere in sydney, nothing like london!

In terms of accomodation Jenni and i had spent our first week in sydney staying in a very grotty (prob on my top 3 of grotty hostels that ive stayed in) hostel in the centre of sydney for 20 ish dollars a night. However, after the room getting damp and stinking to high heaven we were moved to another room, only for the next day to find we had a new roomate staying with us... a cockroach!! That night (sunday) we started looking for flats and by tuesday we had moved into our new home. Now the flat isnt exactly stylish, it has very granny style furniture and the kitchen isnt the biggest or cleanest but our bedroom is a decent size and the boys we have moved in with are cool! also, as i have mentioned loads before, we have a gym and pool that i have been using frequently!

One of the highlights of being back in Sydney was visiting Summer Bay, its really called Palm Beach and its a one hour bus ride from the city. I went with Shane, lucy and jame's mate from back home, and it was fun -despite the rain- to go and see the surf club in all its glory! i was so amazed to be standing on the beach that i have watched on telly for the last ten years or so! i am gutted that i cant go to the neighbours set too tho!

Other than i have to say although there isnt much to report, apart from work and the odd saturday out doing our usual (lots of drinking and dancing), i am very comfortable and enjoying sydney life.

In fact im liking it a bit too much... The weather is warming up and everyday on my 2 minute walk to work i look around darling harbour and cant help but smile at how lucky we are to have this opportunity! About two weeks ago jen was offered a job in melbourne and it would have meant us splitting up for the remainder of our trip, so in the mean time i considered staying in sydney for longer and then carrying on with the rest of my trip in november rather than september. however, she didnt take the job and said she would rather carry on with the orginal plans of leaving sydney in september. so that is now our plan but i have to say im very keen to stay and work here for longer then carry on with the rest of my trip in november as i am feeling so content living in sydney and am in no rush to get home just yet (sorry mum!)

Today, on my day off, i caught a boat to Manly and sat on the beach reading. The sun was shining and people were sunbathing! it was such a nice feeling to think that this is there winter/spring and people are in their bikinis on the beach!

When we were travelling around australia before i was a bit disheartened at times because the culture among backpackers is drink, drink, drink (which although i like to do this once or twice a week, everyday is just boring!) but now that we are living in sydney i can now appreciate australian life without being forced to see a load of europeans shoving drink down their throats 24/7! so you'll be pleased to know im very happy! I am still missing Asia tho and another good thing about Sydney is that we are living near china town so i always take a walk through its streets and pretend to be back in asia! i am planning to go to dinner there one night so i can get some more practice eating with chop sticks (i was taught this in vietnam!!)

Jenni has booked to spend this weekend away skiiing (ive never done it before but im planning to give snow boarding a go in new zealand) and il be working but im going to go out for marks (flatmate) bday to the casino! i have no intention of gambling what small money i have so il just watch but im looking forward to going to the casino because ive never been before!

Thankfully, now that im earning, I was able to get my hair done again! my roots were far too long to hide! I'm now alot blonder and and ive had it cut shorter and with lots of layers, scarily it looks a bit like my hair did in the days after my mullet cut but the style is growing on me! hehe

Funnily enough i got in touch with dave turnbull (thanks to sarah) on facebook and il probably meet up with him before i leave sydney so it will nice... and strange... to see him half way across the world!!

I hope ure all well, miss you all. love me.xx