Well you lovely lot, I've finally risen from the ashes...Iiiiiiii'mmmmm back :-D! I thought I'd return to share some of my antics from the last 6 months with you. Yes can you believe it's actually been that long? In 3 months time I will have been away ONE year! Crazy right?

I appologise in advance for the long entry, this is as cut down as I could get it....so much more happened but some things need to be kept a secret ;P. There's no fun in telling everything is there now?

Any way here comes the last 6 months in one entry...happy reading haha!

So just a quick recap from where I last left it, me and Lizzy got back to the lovely city of Sydney all safe and sound after that disastrous flight from Nadi. This time we were here to work... it was time for us to begin the job hunting! We got a few promo jobs here and there which got us by for a little while but nothing permanent. Liz luckily managed to find us a night manager job at a hostel which gave us free accommodation. It was perfect for us as we were pretty much out of dosh to pay rent. After two nights in 'wake up' we moved into the 5* hotel that has turned out to be my home for the past 6 months: 'HOMEBACKPACKERS!'. Ok maybe a slight exaggeration on the 5* hotel part...For starters it's a hostel and...well...I won't go into the star rating of the place...but let's just say it's off the charts! Me and Liz settled in to our own room with...get this... a kitchen and a TV, it might have had a huge hole in the ceiling where the shower was leaking but it was free so we couldn't really complain!

Night manager was a pretty sucky job especially as we were working 8pm through to 8am on call and then up bright and early to job hunt...everyday was pretty much the same for a while, not much to report. We'd obviously try and cheer ourselves up by turning to the one thing that was always there for us...alcohol haha! Not sure that was the best thing to do though...Isn't that how people become alcoholics? We couldn't even turn to vodka...over $40 per bottle, it was way over priced. So yes...we turned to GOON, the lovely (sarcastic face) cheap boxed wine which did the job. You can imagine how bad it is when I say it's $14 per box for 5 LITRES! Even in our depressive state we had a good few nights out with Jamie, Joe and Mike (the guys we met in Fiji). We actually met them at Tamarama beach one day...it was a Sunday so we were taking a break from job hunting...it is a day of rest after all. It was a beautiful day but I did get a little to relaxed...I burnt to a crisp! I did need to cool down and the sea of course was the only way to do that but as I had made a huge fuss about not going in something disastrous was going to happen...and Yes! It did! I strolled down to dip my feet in, I decided to be a bit adventurous and wander a bit further in...BAD decision. A huge wave attacked me and took me out...resulting in me tumbling all the way back to shore. If that wasn't embarrassing enough I lost my bikini on the way back in...not just the top either...yes I was pretty much naked, the sea had stolen my bikini, and because I'd made such a fuss of not going in the water, the whole beach was watching and saw everything. I tried covering myself back up whilst sitting in the water but as I did it another wave hit...I just couldn't win. I had to quickly cover myself with my bikini and run red faced back to the towels. Didn't go back in the sea that day! It was just a bloody nightmare!

We'd also had a few nights out with people from the hostel...we'd actually made some new friends...It wasn't just Jiz anymore haha. There was 'Cheeky' Justine from York, Princess Joe, Curly Whirley my lovely little Frenchie, Julie and of course Mr James Hammond. He was my first friend haha. There were lots of other people around but they were the 'A' side crew and we were B siders. There was a divide at first haha.

Another week passed and we were still job hunting but getting nowhere, it was getting close to Christmas and the whole thing was just getting us down. Liz made the decision that she wanted to be with her family for Christmas so decided to fly home. This is where I began my journey flying solo.

I was dreading the thought of being on my own without Lizzyloo, I mean we had spent every day and night together for 5 months! It was hard and of course I still miss you Lizzy, but I know now if I'd left it would have been a BIG regret on my part. I have met and made so many great friends which wouldn't have happened if I'd left. After saying goodbye at the train station I made my way back to the hostel to find a package had arrived from home for me from my Nan. It was my Christmas present, which I said I wasn't going to open until Christmas day...but as I needed cheering up and I knew the package was full of British chocolate, i couldn't resist. To cheer me up even more Justine and me decided to go out to the 'local' Sidebar. This was pretty much the first night i properly ventured over to 'A' side. James, Rob and Liam joined us on our night out as well. The crazy moves were out this night...I was introduced to James's Mermaid dance which basically is him failing to do the worm, so he just lies on his stomach flapping (it's hysterical) and also Rob's firework move(wiggling the hips while stretching his arms and shaking his jazz hands in the air). The night definately cheered me up.

At this point I'd pretty much given up on finding a job before Christmas. I stuck to doing a few promo jobs which gave me money for food but I decided to enjoy my Christmas and New year and leave the job hunting for 2012.

After many nights out and lots of hangovers more friendships were formed. Many in fact, the crew on A side consisted of a lot of people. Apart from the 3 already mentioned there was Ash the gash, Klaus, Andy, Callum and Tom, Justine's boyfriend Conor and his friend Jack, Laura, Jamie, Christian, Alex, the beautiful Christie and P. (Perry), Audrey, Kez and Mr Andrew Farrell, who I randomly met on the deck, began chatting and found out he knows the girlies from home. Random huh?

Funnily enough I met Farrell the night Goon (well mummy to be Sarah) and Ben had arrived in Australia. It was awesome to see some faces from home again. They were only around for a few days as they had planned a road trip up the East Coast. I hadn't seen Sarah since Thailand and now she was in Australia...with an extra little something...or shall I say someone? Yes she had a small bump...she was carrying a little baba, which is now due this week so just a quick shout out to wish you lots of luck lovely. He or she is going to be gorgeous! Obviously there was lots to talk about since we'd last seen each other in Thailand so we had an awesome few days catching up.

Weeks passed and Christmas was finally here...my first Christmas away from home and I can actually say it was one of if not the best day of my life. Granted, it didn't feel like Christmas at all... the sun was shining and we'd all gone to the beach for a BBQ. Not your typical Christmas day is it now? So we were all up bright and early and took a bus ride to Coogee Beach! A few of the guys had gone earlier that morning to set up camp for the day! We had one of the best spots and the day began! The drinks were flowing already, the BBQ was warming up and the sun was HOT, HOT, HOT. It couldn't have been better! Throughout the day we had piggy back races, football and rugby games. Being Welsh I thought I should at least know how to throw a rugby ball so Farrell taught me how and then I took my skills to the field. We hit the sea a few times... and I have come to the conclusion that the waves here do NOT like me! Yes I was tackled back to shore a good few times...so I avoided the sea a lot towards the end of the day! While P. and Christie dished up lunch(as they were chefs of the day) a few of us had chipped in for Secret Santa so we got to unveiling the naff Aussie souvenirs we had all chosen for each other. As the day went on, things got slightly weird, I won't lie. We'd created a human centipede, there was an eiffle tower(involving Klaus Ash and Julie)...I'll let your imaginations run wild there! Andy got pretty wasted and was running around in an elephant thong for most of the day! Liam had been smothered in sun cream by Ash who had told him it was paint! He definately looked like he'd been bukaked! Laura was putting the guys to shame with her footie tricks! There were all sorts going on. Toilettes were flooding. Time was passing, the alcohol was still flowing and we still had loads of food left for an evening meal. Morning turned to afternoon, afternoon turned to evening and evening turned to night. The day was pretty much over. After a stroll on the beach with Liam we headed back to find everything and everyone had packed up and gone! So with no money or bus tickets we somehow had to get back to the hostel. As we were walking to find a taxi we passed Mr Hammond who had copped off with Hippy Canadian girl...shame on you James haha! We managed to get a taxi and got him to wait while we ran to get some cash! Everyone was still up so the night continued at the hostel! The day couldn't have gone any better! It was AMAZING! One that I will never forget.

New Year was the next big event for us! We had all planned to go and watch the harbor bridge fireworks, there were a few change of plans as to where we would go to actually watch them but on the day we decided to make our way to Glebe Park, from there you could see every firework display in Sydney, we had a pretty great view! The most important thing was we could take our own alcohol there haha! So not only was it going to be a great new year it was going to be an extremely cheap one as well. We had our area all sorted, the drinks were flowing yet again...we were celebrating ok, don't judge haha and we were ready to enter the New Year. 2012 here we come! The boys that used to stay at the hostel joined us as well: Dec, Matt, Lewis, Toby, Willis and a few others, it turned out to be an even bigger crew of us than there was at christmas. It was mainly a chilled day in the sunshine waiting for the fireworks and the countdown to the new year. The 9pm fireworks went off first... these were for the kids...but they were nothing compared to what was coming. 10,9,8.....3,2,1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! The Bang of the fireworks went off and the colours filled the sky. It was incredible to see. The whole of the Sydney sky was filled with colourful patterns. 6 different displays all going at once. Breathtaking. After the displays everyone was on a high, we were all singing and drinking, but it was cold so we took the party back to the hostel. We walked and walked and walked, trying to find a bus or a taxi or something to get us to the hostel which at this point was miles away! Curly manage to flag down a taxi but it was too small for us all and the taxi driver would not allow us all to squeeze in. We were all sticking together haha so turned the taxi away. The walking continued for at least another 30 minutes and finally....FINALLY we found a bus stop! We were so happy evereyone was back in high spirits...so much so that as soon as we stepped foot on the bus Curly and James began to sing their rendition of 'Alone'. As we stopped at the next bus stop the bus cleared haha...it was hysterical...I couldn't stop laughing. It didn't stop them though...they sang and sang. We even had the full version of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Finally we were back at the hostel where the party was still going and didn't stop until we had all passed out.

New Years day was another amazing day! I was up bright and early with Julie and we both made our way to Coogee beach where we had some hangover breakfast and a lovely cooling pint to start the day. First pint of the new year. We then made our way down to the beach to top up our tan when everyone else decided to join us and chill. We spent the whole day there, until the sun went down in fact! Another succesful day for the HBP crew.

After New Year people started leaving one by one...it was not a great time. The group kept getting smaller and smaller, but I did have one thing to look forward to...a mini Contiki reunion with Suzannah, Dani G, Jay Dawg and Mr Daniel Hornhardt. Yes everyone was coming to Sydney for Australia day and we had booked to go to the 'Big Day Out' at at the Olympic Park! Dan was first to arrive in Sydney, we had a catch up and spent a day at Manly in the sunshine, having a few drinks and watching some cricket. Cricket wasn't really my cup of tea but it was a fun day, and it was awesome seeing Dan again. Suzy Q and Dani G finally arrived after a nightmare journey from what I heard with flights being extremely delayed and then cancelled...but they arrived safely and had an awesome appartment down in Darling Harbour to relax for the night before joining the crew at Home Backpackers. After a few days Australia day had arrived and so had Jay Dawg...it was a mini contiki reunion, we just wish the girlies and Saaaam could have joined us.

The party started early...10am to be exact. The music was on, we were all dressed. It actually looked like Australia had thrown up on me, I looked the part haha. The drinks began to flow. We wanted to have a few drinks before leaving as the drinks were so expensive in the festival we didn't really want to spend money. Jay and Dan had a trick to hide a bottle of vodka down their shorts...Dan had no problem with doing this, he was like a proffesional. Jay on the other hand was hysterical at trying to hide the bottle. It took him at least 15 attempts and even then he couldn't walk like a normal person...he walked as if he's s*** himself haha.

The time had come to make our way to the Olympic Park, we got our train tickets and followed the crowds of people in red blue and white. I assumed they were going to the same place as us haha. We had the BIG DAY OUT app on my iPhone all ready and set up with the bands we wanted to see and the times and stage they were on. The only thing that was left to do was get passed security with the vodka. It was all down to Dan and Jay...and it was slightly worrying after watching Jays attempt back at the hostel haha. He stepped up to the plate and casually walked through as did Dan...We were in with 2 bottles of vodka! SCORE!!! After a rainy start to the day the sun crept through and began to shine!!! The day got even better. We saw all the bands we wanted My chemical romance, Kasabian, Kanye West, The Maccabees and many more. Callum, Tom and NIck were working on drinks for the day as well so we had a few freebies on the sly. Saved some pennies there...wooo. Between bands we had some chill out time on the grass, bought some chippies but they were drowned in ketchup...and by drowned I mean there was more ketchup than chips haha....they did the job though.

In the middle of Kanye West's set we made our way back to the hostel, and continued our partying with a few drinks there before making our way to the legendary 'Side Bar'. It was only us making our way out...everyone back at the hostel was pretty wasted, especially James who had drank a whole bottle of whisky to himself. He began miming Lady Gaga songs and then telling us stories of how a man met a woman... He is the BEST drunk ever. Extrememly entertaining. Many laughs later we contnued the party at the club and danced the night away with our very crazy, unique moves. We are soooooo cool. Before we knew it the night came to an end!

A few days later the mini contiki crew parted, Dan flew back to Adelaide and Jay, Dani G and Suz headed to Shepparton. It wasn't long though before I was leaving myself.

Me and the Frenchies decided to finally move on to Melbourne where we would begin our 3 months fruit picking...little did I know how hard it would be. The plan was to stay in Melbourne for a week and then head down to Jay's (from contiki) town to begin the slavery work picking tomatoes...I know I can't imagine me doing it either. Anyway...after a loooongg overnight journey to Melbs we had arrived. I instantly fell in love with this city...it obviously doesn't beat New York but it came in at a close second. It's got a cool vibe to it, lots of small side streets hid away with funky little bars down them, the tram system was also cool. I loved it mainly because I got away with not paying every time! St Kilda is just a tram ride away and that's where the beach is. It's nothing like the Sydney beaches but it's good enough. Me and Julie spent the day there mid week. After a few hours on the beach we decided to make our way back to the city BUT we ended up walking all the way from the beach up Chapel street (which by the way is the longest street in Melbourne.) We were trying to catch the tram back to the city but couldn't seem to find a tram stop. As we were newbie's to the tram system we were unaware that all bus stops were also tram stops so we must have passed at least 15 on the way back. As we arrived at the end of Chapel street the tram system seemed to vanish! We had been walking hours unaware we had passed many tram stops and now we'd got to the end there were NO tram stops. We continued to walk and walk. We were pretty much lost. Thank god for Google maps, is all I can say! Mr maps managed to finally guide us to a train station which could take us back to the city. We had been walking for FIVE hours...FIVE!!! I saw a lot of Melbourne that day...unintentionally!! I won't be making the same mistakes when and if I go back there haha. During the week I also met up with Saaaaaaam (from Contiki) he took me on some nights out clubbing. It was awesome to meet up with him again! Appart from a few walk about around the city the rest of our time was spent in the library...yes I can't believe I'm saying that either but it has to be said, it was the coolest library I'd ever been to. It had Wii's, Xboxes, Apple macs, Playstations...It was soooo much fun! It was a good way to pass time by not spending any money...at this point I was pretty short of dollar! A week passed quickly and it was time for a change of scenary...to the Shepparton we went.

Jay Dawggg picked us up from the station and as we had no accommodation for the night him and his Nan kindly put us up for a couple of nights. On arrival to the house we were greeted by the future Mrs Humphreys(Dani G) and Suzannah again. It was awesome to see the girlies again. They'd been working hard trying to get us work on a farm while we were making our way down. After hours of looking we managed to find somewhere, and had to start work that day! Not knowing anything or had any experience in fruit picking or farm work I turned up to work in skimpy little shorts, no hat and had no water! What a HUGE mistake that was! I don't really know what I was expecting but the sun was blazing hot which was causing me to burn, having no water was making me dehydrated and having no hat or clothing which covered me up I noticed that there were flies EVERYWHERE!!!! It was horrible, but I started work all the same. I was working my ass off picking and filling bucket after bucket of tomatoes to find that after 3 hours and only 18 buckets filled that we would only be getting $1.50 per barrel! $1.50??? I mean c'mon, seriously? I think slaves were paid more than that! After hearing that I completely lost all motivation to work so in the next two hours I'd picked an extra 6 barrels which gave me a total of 24 barrels picked in 5 hours of work! I'd earned $36...which I didn't even bloody get! There was no way in hell I was going to do this kind of work for 3 months for so little money so we quit. Jay and the Gleaves sisters came to pick us up and we left and didn't look back...there was no returning to that farm! I think it's safe to say that fruit picking is not for me. It was back to Jay's Nans for the night where we booked our train back to Melbourne, where I made the decision to return to my second home...Home Backpackers, Sydney!! Before returning I met up with Klaus and Andy who had returned from NZ and were heading back to Sydney a few days after me to stay at HBP as well. Me, heading back to Sydney meant that I would actually be leaving Miss Julie... as she was heading to Thailand. She did give me a parting gift though...the memory of her getting banned from Coles! Yes banned! haha, for eating a $1 roll around the store and leaving without paying! She had been caught on CCTV and was taken out the back to fill in a crime report but instead of making things easy for the shop assistant, she pretended she couldn't speak a word of English! haha! What a legend. We said our byes and I made my way back to Sydney...just in time for James, Perry and Joe's birthdays!

Most of the people I'd met before I left had left by now...but it felt like I had come HOME! The only thing was I would now have to watch the people that were left, leave! Christie, Perry, Tom and Callum were departing then a few weeks later James left us. It was a sad time...but that's the downside of travelling I suppose, people come and go. My plan was to stay here for 3 months to save, save, save, as I had arrived back in Sydney with $80 to my name. I had given myself a leaving date and as soon as my first pay came through I paid for my flight to Perth. I was back working reception in a few days of being back so the saving began pretty much straight away! Curly was still here so we were roomies again. The upside was A side began to form a new group...and now we have team Germany aka Janis, Alex, Dom and Henrik. There's our other roomies Alex and Rose. Then we have Ollie and Kieran.

The timing couldn't have been better for me to come back because after a few days of being here Mr Reece Pugh a boy I worked with a few years ago had arrived in Sydney on the Orianna World Cruise ship... and yes, he had got me a visitors pass for an evening on the ship and then a night out with him and the crew. I got to see all the crew areas on the ship, had some lovely free food which was not the usual backpacker menu (usually pasta, noodles or rice.) It was a night of luxury for me. It was great to see him again; it had been waaaayyyy too long.

After being Cinderella for the evening the clock struck midnight and it was back to reality for me.

Staying at the hostel is pretty fun actually; we have our own girly room which, we have had some conversations in there at night. Gossip sessions galore haha, there's been snog, marry, avoid, weirdo rants I'm telling you, I bet many of you would love to be a fly on the wall in our room!

I'll let you in on a little story...it's not juicy so don't get too excited it's just a funny little tale. Curly (real name Sophie), well her mum actually wanted to name her Tatiana Annunciata Esmerelda Jasmine...with the surname Braithwaite! How brilliant is that?? She thinks her mum may have wanted her to be a Persian princess haha. I'm sure having that name would have been classed as child abuse, don't you agree? Thank god they came up with Sophie aye?

A few events happened over the weeks, we had Paddy's day, a few birthdays, website travel night out but most importantly GRAND SLAM NIGHT!! I'd watched every game on the run up to Wales Vs France and on Paddy's day I was up until 4am watching Wales kick France's ass! It was awesome; I do wish I was back at home for it though. Nothing beats the atmosphere of Cardiff on a match day! Especially when they win the Grand Slam!!! Days passed quickly and before i knew it my last Saturday night had arrived. It was the 2nd time around for me leaving but I still threw myself a leaving party haha. Everyone came...we booked a room out at the karaoke bar. Everyone sang a song...we had rapping singing, duets, group songs...even had instrumentals. By this I mean Tom and his tambourine. All night he would walk around the room shaking his tambourine...it was BRILLIANT!! Drinks were flowing, everyone was in high spirits and we took the party to side bar. Of course I had to finish my time in Sydney at side bar it was like my second home, although the passed few weeks I have to admit we have been traitors, taking our money and presence to their rivalary 'Scubar'...mainly because of the fitty promo guy that works there. Girls he is Yummy!! Anyway back to my last night...It couldn't have been any better I had the BEST time and I will miss everyone at HBP so much. Love you guys. Special mention to my roomies, Rose and Alex...love you girls, how am I going to cope without you! You too keep me on the straight and narrow haha, without you I'm not sure what mischief I'll get up too haha.

Well...I have to go to Perth now and start again meeting people...It's a scary situation. I've been comfortable for 6 months now I have to start a fresh in a brand new City....eeek! Soooo apart from a few events here and there the rest of my time here has been pretty normal, not much goes on. It's always the same s*** but a different day. Not that I'm complaining, Home Backpackers is like my second home, I'm part of the furniture now but now my adventures begin again.

It's time to finally leave the city of Sydney and Home Backpackers and fly to Perth to begin another month long road trip! So fellow bloggers it looks like I'm back! The travels are about to start again!

I'll be in touch,

Love ya'll

J.L xxxx<3