Hey Everyone,

Well almost another week has passed in Melbourne. On Tuesday I checked back into hostel life, I was dreading it after having an apartment with Andy for two weeks but it aidnt so bad. The girls in my dorm are fantastic, there is Sissy and Andrea from Austria, Elka from Germany and Lorna from England. To ease me back into hostel night we went to Ladies night at the Cushion Lounge bar in St Kilda on Tuesday night, lots of dancing and good times were had.

On Wednesday I went into the centre of Melbourne and took the opportunity to do some shopping. I was lucky enought to get some Aussie dollars as a Christmas present so I bought myself a vintage dress from one of the many unique shops in Melbourne. The shops here are absolutely fantastic, I love it. I am wearing the vinatge number in my photos with my penpal Hannah, I couldnt resist it has my favourite colour in it, aqua! In the evening I went to see the film Australia at the cinema, it was one of the best films I have ever seen, very romantical, lots of tears were shed!

On Thursday I headed for a relaxing day at the beach. Rachel also returned from the Gold Coast and we enjoyed a night out in the hostel with my room mates. It was ladies night in the hostel which means free champagne. We throughly enjoyed ourselves and danced to some classic tunes.

On friday Rach and I went up the Sky Deck tower in the city centre which allows you to look out over the whole of Melbourne, it was beautiful. We enjoyed a fancy piece by the side of the Yarra River in the sunshine. In the evening I went back to the cinema to see Four Holidays, not as good as Australia but still good fun to watch.

On Saturday I went to the Shrine of Remembrance and visited the War Memorials and bought some history goodies for hopefully a classroom on my return. In the evening I met up with my penpal, Hannah Chilli. We figured out that we have been writing to each other for 18 years. Our teachers did an exchange programme in Primary school and each pupil in the class got an Australian penpal. I am the only one who keeps in contact with my penpal. Hannah visited Scotland about 4 years ago now and we met up for a very quick coffee in Edinburgh so I was very excited to see her in Melbourne. We went out for dinner in Chinatown with her boyfriend and some of his friends. I was treated like a guest of honour, it was fantastic! It was so good to see her and catch up.

On Sunday Rachel and I did the Neighbours tour. We were taken out to Erinsbourgh by bus and on the way there we got to watch old Neighbours episodes, it was the one where Kerry Mangel got shot, very touching. We were shown the school that they used while filming Neighbours and then taken to the Lassetters Complex where we found the lake, Harolds shop and Charlies bar. We ended the tour with a visit to Ramsay Street which is not actually called Ramsay Street. It was a lot smaller than we expected but so good to see the actual houses that they use, I hope you enjoy looking at the pics. The tour was fantastic and we even got to meet one of the Neighbours stars at the end, the Dad of the Timmons family.

In the evening I was taken to dinner by Hannah and her boyfriend while Rachel went carol singing on the beach, a good night was had by all! Well I better hit the hay it is getting late here in Australia!

Take care and Merry Christmas all

Gayle x x