Well this is our last week in Sydney before we head up the East Coast. We are only working Monday and Tuesday and then no longer do we have to know what is in an Eternity sandwich and what the price of a bacon and egg roll is! Also we will be joined my mate Neeley who flies into OZ on Wednesday! On Monday we went into work as usual and then Annie went to the beach with Tom, and I cleaned the house as Jane and John are back tomorrow - thats the first time I have used a hoover in a while! In the evening we headed out to "Scubar" to take Tom to the crab-racing!! Annie and Tom picked a crab in the first race, and after a tense beginning their crab (Spunky) came in 2nd place - YAY!! They won a "Scubar cap and T-shirt. But things went back to normal in the last two races with our crabs failing to get going at all. We met an English guy called Tom (also) from Gloucester, he was really nice - he is also staying in Sydney with family. He was an interesting guy, he played rugby in Gloucester and now is taking 3 years out to work and travel round the world! We also met two other English guys, Jim and Andy. They were on 3 weeks leave from the British Armed Forces and so were having a holiday is OZ. We all then went on to "Scruffys". The usual band were playing live so we all drank and danced to them for a bit. Then we headed downstairs to the where Tim (the DJ) was playing hip-hop and dance tracks and spent a while down there before heading home to the cold pizza that we had left in the fridge - nice! Last day at work today (Tuesday)!! Tonight we are heading out to Chinatown for a nice spicy meal and then onto the cinema to see 'The Interpreter' starring Nicole Kidman. That film was really good, not sure on Nicole's accent in parts but I really enjoyed it! On Wednesday we decided that now that we have finished work the best celebration would be to go shopping, so that is what we did before we went to meet Neeley. We met Neeley on the steps of the 'Sydney Opera House' - not something that can be done everyday! Over a cuppa she told us the gossip from England and we tried our best to give her information on Sydney - although she had already walked round most of the city before we met her! We had a quiet evening, and Neeley went to catch up on some well needed sleep after her 24h journey! On Thursday we met up with Neeley and all went to 'The Rocks' for lunch. We wandered down some of the back allies and found a lovely courtyard cafe, with tables and ivy - very pretty! After lunch we went to Air New Zealand to sort out our tickets - we are now going to Fiji and The Cook Islands too!! In the evening Neeley stayed in the city and went out with some mates from the hostel and Annie and I went to North Sydney. We went to "The Greenwood" and had lots of drinks before 11pm as this is the happy hour, and then went on and had a few games of pool at "2060". We then had an early night, as we are saving ourselves and our money for the 'Anzac' public holiday weekend! On Friday Annie and I went into town to meet Neeley in the early afternoon, so that we could book our Greyhound passes that will take us up the east coast. They worked out at about 80 quid each - which for a 45 day unlimited stops pass is incredible!! We then went to Chinatown and had a bite to eat in our favourite food court before heading over the Sydney Harbour Bridge at night - it was fantastic with all the lights from the city! We then all had a night out in 'Darling Harbour'. Annie and I met Neeley at her hostel where we had some wine with her hostel mates, and then we all headed down to '26 bar' for a few vodkas before going to 'Cargo' at 1am. We had a really good night, it was really busy and the music was quality! I cant believe that we only have a few days and nights left in Sydney. On Saturday Neeley went to the Blue Mountains overnight so it was just me and Anne-Marie left. We met up with our friend Tom from Gloucester and decided to go to watch a Rugby League match in 'Parramatta'. We all got the train there and payed out $15 for a seat. We watched the "Parramatta Eels" thrash "Wests Tigers" 26 - 16. It was really fun, the atmosphere was electric with all the children having flags and most people were wearing the shirts. Another thing that was really nice was that supporters from both teams sat together, there was no segregation - and no trouble! After that Annie and I went on a night out in 'Parramatta', first we went to "PJ Gallaghers" - a slightly downmarket pub with an older crowd, but then we went onto "Roxy" - a much more trendy club with funky dance tunes and cocktails! We stayed there until 4am and then got a taxi home. I then went to Tim's house, he is a film maker and I got to watch a trailer for his film that is being released in the UK - "Fink". It is kinda "Lock Stock" meets "Pulp Fiction" - and looks really good! PROMO PROMO!!! Had a quiet Sunday. We met up with Neeley and we all went for a Pizza Hut buffet - they are the best thing ever!!!! We then went back to her hostel for a chill out, Annie went home but I stayed as the football was going to come on! Ended up staying overnight as the games did not finish till late. On Monday we all met up and went to the 9am Anzac Day parade. It recognises the efforts of all Australian and New Zealand servicemen and servicewomen, with a large marching parade that starts in "Martins Place" and goes up "George Street" to "Hyde Park". There were lots of marching bands and so many veterens. The crowd was fantastic to, the radio said there were over 20,000 of us, they even handed out Australian flags that we could wave during the parade. In the afternoon Neeley and I went on the train to 'Bondi Beach' and had a walk along the promenade. In the evening we all went out on 'George Street'. We wentto "Scubar" but missed the crab racing, we then headed onto "Sidebar" and I enjoyed another massive cocktail jug! After that we introduced Neeley to the wonders of "Scruffys", it was not as busy as usual which was a shame, most people were due back at work on Tuesday after the long weekend! But we danced away downstairs as Tim was DJing and arrived home at about 5.30am - what a late last night in Sydney!!! On Tuesday we just had a lazy day about the house. Neeley came over and we went for lunch in Greenwich and met Tim there to. It has a really nice cafe - which is a bit expensive but the food is really good! We then got Jane and John some flowers and wine as a thank you. Now I am currently trying to pack my bag, which is not looking too good!!! We are taking the 10pm Greyhound bus from Sydney to head up the East Coast to 'Coffs Harbour'; arriving in at 7am. I have had the best time in Sydney, it has been all I expected and more. The people that we have met are all so nice and welcoming to us. The city itself is amazing; one moment you are taking a ferry under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, then you walk past the Sydney Opera House - I mean who can do that everyday! Also the nightlife has been a real bonus, nearly every night we have gone out we have met so many new people and had so much fun!!