Well as promised, Australia Day was an absolute melting 39 degrees, but that didn't prevent the thousands of patriotic australians marking the occassion in style.

Having moved our flights back to ensure we could take in the event, Stu was determined to fit in as much of the festivities as possible. So we were up early for a swim at Claremont 50m followed by our free bbq breakfast and watching the kids on the inflatable commando run. We dashed home to change and then headed out to City Beach, where they were attempting the world record for the number of people in a line on inflatable flipflops. We got there a little bit too late, but Mel manage to acquire one of the flipflops free of charge, although it is now causing packing problems because it is large and surprisingly heavy! We couldn't find Charlie who had told us he would be participating, so we headed back for lunch.

We did some packing, and then got the bus into the city. We wandered around all the stalls in the melting heat, saw old cars, giant flag painted on the grass and then found the small remaining area of shade to watch the air show and boat parade, including pyrotechnic skydivers, catamaran races, sea planes, flybys, helicopters, jetskis (including one who had the misfortune of falling off infront of a crowd of 10,000). Mel was wearing lifesaving top, and got asked for her phone number in case she was needed later! A lot of people were diving into the river, and then being hoiked out by the police boat.

We had baked potatoes for tea and settled down to watch the fire works which were immense and ran for over half an hour. Although one of the barges was in flames y the end of the display!

We got straight on a bus and no traffic queues meant we were home in half an hour - much to our relief after horror stories of transport problems after such a huge number of people fill the city.

Lots of love from the country we have been in so long, and are now leaving,

Stu and Melx