G'day mate(s)...God what an authentic Aussie sheila I am :-) Well We are at the end of our stay in Melbourne, and I love it. Trying to remember what I've done...ah yes. Flew in from Sydney on Sunday and did the usual, supermarket/ maccie's visit etc etc. the hostel is remarkably nice and the showers are even hot, what luxury. Although strangely whoever designed the bathroom decided to put frosted glass in the partitions between the showers...it's been an interesting experience showering with 2 other women every day haha.

We were down in reception bright and early on monday morning for the major reason fro our visit to Melbourne...the authentic Neighbours tour!!!!! Excited is not the word. The bus rocked up with neighbours splashed all over it and ramsey st signs etc, other people may have been embarrassed to be seen in it, but we were proud :-) Tour was fab, we went to Erinsborough High (allegedly as it actually looked nothing like it) but anyway we had our pics taken with the sign and worked ourselves up into a neighbours frenzy.

Next we stopped at the studios and saw Sky's VW, the Grease Monkeys set, the bus stop...and met Janelle!!! I pity her really, we swarmed on her like flies poor woman. Got my book signed and had a photo with her grinning like a crazy stalker. She was lovely. We also saw Lou waving out of his car as our bus tailed him down the highway!

Next stop was Ramsey St itself aka Pin Court Rd. It was much smaller then I thought (something to do with clever camera men) but other then that it was perfect. We trailed around all the houses, again poor people who actually live there and took lots of photos with the signs (especially for you mum) and got the neighbours lowdown.

Good day all in all, and the best was yet to come. Had a nap in the afternoon in preparation for...neighbours night! It surpassed my wildest dreams (ok maybe not that good but close!) We had photos with Steph, Paul Robinson and Toadie, had many glasses of wine, did a quiz and then had a boogie until we got kicked out. I got stalked, altho strangely not by an american or irish, but by an english guy!! Shocking really. He was actually very annoying and weird, much worse then the aussies coz he actually seemed to be missing a few screws and even when I got angry with him he didn't get the hint. fab night anyway though, and a maccie's on the way home finished it in style. We also met a crazy Phillipino woman chasing some guys round maccie's....'mental mental chicken oriental' is all I have to say about that.

Umm Tuesday was a more leisurely day... had a very welcome lie in and then did a half hearted bus tour around the melbourne sights. randomly saw many children being forced to practise cricket skills in Federation square...No wonder the damn aussies are so good if they are resorting to these dirty tactics!!!! On the spur of the moment we decided to go to the cinema,...mainly for a chance to sit down for a while!!! The film was a bit boyish but actually very good (called the departed). It was very violent though, apaprently I was laughing in my sleep that night so I can't have been that traumatised...or maybe I find people being shot amusing...either way its a bit disturbing.

Umm Wednesday was an amazing day. We did a Great Ocean Rd tour along the coast in a Go West mobile with a crazy but very funny driver called Angus. Saw loads of beautfily landmarks like the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, wild koalas on the trees by the rd (I even saw a crazy Italian woman trying to pet one...Sadly she didn't get mauled by it, now that would have been amusing!) Also went to an aboriginal centre and heard a didgeridoo player. But best of all for me was a helicopter trip!!!!! It was awesome seeijg the coast from that high up. I am now determined to learn how to fly one day. can't describe it, will bore you with pics when home!

s*** running out of time! Stopped in Colac (home of the Timmon's family) for the best noodles I have had since coming away, and that sadly includes 3 weeks spent in asia!!!!! Delicious, really great. Knackered when we got in so straight to bed. Up earlyish this morning, to buy a backpack as mine has met its maker, and to hunt for cold weather clothes to no avail!!! They haven't heard of jumpers here despite the fact that we have been rained on twice today and a hurricane passed through while we were on the beach. We are going to freeze in NZ, but oh well I will have my neighbours book for company!

We've heard a rumour that the band playing tonight at the hostel has ex neighbours cast members in it, so that may be our evening sorted :-)Better love you and leave you before my time runs out and I lose all this, so lots of love....next stop New Zealand tomorrow!!!! xxxx