Hello Everyone, Firstly from Gabe and we wish everyone a Merry Christmas & a Happy New year. Well what a year. It has absolutley flown. It feels like yesterday that we were still going through the final plans for the wedding. Where do we begin. March 13 - Our Wedding. Its only nine months ago that the day happened and so many of you were there to experience what turned out to be an amzing day for Gabe and I. To have so many friends and family with us on our special day was great and i can report that our first year of marriage has been absolutley fantastic. A definate highlight was having Lance come over from Africa. March 27 - The adventure begins. We endure a 14 hour flight from Sydney to Johannesburg before flying to Nairobi in Kenya the next day to begin our 2 month honeymoon of a lifetime. Starting in Kenya we ade our way down through Tanania the over to Zanzibar for 5 days on paradise. From there we travelled south to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe and the adventure capital of the world in Victoria Falls. Gabe and i both took the plunge in plumetting 115 metres into the Vic Falls Gorge in the mighty gorge swing. A fantastic experience. Also in Zim we had the opportunity to walk and play with Lions. They ranged from 3 months to 15 months and it was something that not many people get the chance to do. Then from Zim we travelled over through Botswana and across to Namibia. Namibia rocked with so many different landscapes. Game parks in the north where we saw over 50 lion in 3 days, Dessert and sand dunes in the middle and the south as we got closer to south africa was a lot mor modern. Then into South Africa where we finished our trip in Cape Town. Over 2 and a bit months we saw so many amazing things, expreienced things that are to most out of reach and met some amazing people who have turned out to be some of our greatest friends. After spending a little time in Cape Town it was time to get back on the plane over to Joberg where we met up with Shaun and Hayley. We had an awesome few days with them at Sun City and in Joberg. Then it was a bus ride a few hours north to Nelspruit where we were to spend a week with Lance. A great way to finish of our Africa adventure. A relaxed week with a great mate. It was awesome to have Lance drive us around Kruger with a slab stacked in the cooler box. We set off at about lunch time and drank and watched game all afternoon, before retiring to our free chalet where we had a braii and drank into the night. It was then time to head to our new home. The mighty UK. We were expecting it to be cold. About 15 minutes from landing the captain came across with a weather update. It was 10 to 6 in the morning and was already 16 degrees. What a way to start. The first couple of weeks were tough trying to find work sleeping on any floor we could find (thanks to everyone who gave us their couch or floor and to anyone who wants a floor or couch to doss on your more than welcome. Then on the 19th June we moved into our 3 bedroom apartment in Clapham. Its a great house in a cool area. We are in South West London about 8km from central London. Were living with Jub who i have been at school with and frends with since grade 2 and also another friend from home Vic. Our first holiday was to Paris. We had 3 nights of romatic dinners, chees and biscuits at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and all the wondeful sights of Paris. Next was Dublin. What a place. Our main aim of the trip was to go to the International Rules Game between Australia and Ireland. It was great even though the aussies lost the atmosphere was awesome. For the rest of the four days me gabe jub and dave spent our time mainly in Temple Bar drinking the nicest guinness in the world. So many people say that the guinness in Ireland is so much better and they are right. The bits in between have been filled by work. Gabe is nursing and i am working for the Department of Constitutional Affairs. Were both enjoying our jobs and it keeps us busy. A great bit of news last week was my little brother Bretty getting an invite to go and train with the Australian Cricket side on the MCG in the lead up to the boxing day test. Apparently there was a report and photos in the paper the next day about Glen McGrath having a bruised toe. Apparently all thanks to bretty. Now here we are on Boxing day. We had a mini pub crawl around Clapham the for our first xmas away GAbe, Jub, Gabe and myself enjoyed a massive traditional feast at home. Plans for New Years a still undecided. And for the future. Were off to France, Italy and Germany in April with Gabes Mum and Dad. MAybe slip off to Prague before hand for our wedding anniversary. Then its going to be some work and maybe a bit more travel before we hed off for a bigger trip towards the end of next year. At this stage were looking at doing either South America or Turkey and Egypt but who knows. So thats what weve been doing. Good luck to everyone and our best wishes for you all for 2005. If anyones in our neck of the woods dont hesitate to knock on the door. Only one way to finish a long email CHONK ON Matt and Gabe