Lots and lots has happened since the last update. As soon as we arrived in Cairns back at the start of January we celebrated Ian's 30th birthday! Not with too much drinking though it gives him a headache now that he is getting older!! I made him hold a snake at Carns tropical soon much to his reluctance he agreed and had a pic taken. I took the cute option and held a koala. I think I came out the worse though Koalas are not cute they have sharp nails which dig into your skin.

Ian then headed back to sunny England leaving me all alone in this huge place with just my rucksack sob! in torrential rain storms.. Never mind I soon set up home in a share house with a few flat mates (32 to be precise) mainly girls because the lads already there are far to wild. In my section I have Nienke from Holland, Vieke from Holland, Sandra from Melbourne, Emma and Jo from England and K from Japan. We have enjoyed many nights out to the clubs here, toad races and cinema trips during monsoon rains, also an aboriginal dance show. The highlight so far has to be a scuba dive on the reef. The first thing we saw was a green turtle under the water, an amazing experience and it has made me decide to do my PADI open water course next month. Hopefully Ian will want to do it too?? hint hint...

Work wise I have been very busy (which is why I have not been on the internet much) I work up at Kuranda range as a waitress at a place called Rainforestation most of the time, its about half an hours drive each day. Lots of other backpackers work there so have met lots of people. The park is quite big with army duck tours on an amphibian vehicle and boomarang throwing. Lots of American and Asian tourists seem to go there. Yesterday there was a lizard about a meter long under one of the tables I was trying to hide him to save him from all the flashing cameras he was destined to have thrust in front of him poor thing! There is also a swearing parrot called Marty to entertain me who has also scratched me. As well as working at rainforest I have also worked at the casino, convention centre at a basketball match (on the hotdog stand!) Shangri La bar and a banquet for the mayor. I am not a natural waitress so I do find it difficult but the people I work with are cool and help me out quite alot. I get stressed opening wine at a table and can only just about carry 6 plates at a time.

Just want to say thank you Mum for my marmite (emergency food parcel) even some of the Aussies I live with like it to Vegemite.

Will keep you updated. Looking forward to Ians return soon, miss you on days ending with y! x x

Lindsay xx