Haha very funny postings neal!!! glad to see you got your butt into gear and dragged Nick down the coast! very jealous tho!! Nick, hope he's not tiring you out... will definitely have to catch up -- i'll try and get to the outdoor surf movie in kings park on friday nite - sounds excellent!

Hi again - now where was I oh yeah, that lad is just too fit...
Although we had walked about 20 km the day before I could see that nick was getting a bit twitchy cause he hadn't had a decent run or trip to the gym for a while so I took him to monkey rock, a giant granite rock on top of a hill with views over Denmark and the coastline for miles east and west. I pulled into the carpark at the bottom of the hill and kept him talking while casually putting on my shoes - I knew I would need a major headstart - then I threw him the keys and said there's the start of the track, lets have a run, race you to the top, lock up the car before you go and see if you can find a bottle of water behind the seat somewhere haha. I took off as fast as I could, expecting him to race past me at any moment. As I staggered panting to the base of the smooth vertical rock I knew the track kept going round the side to a place where you could easily get up on top, anyway it was plain to see so I dragged myself on and up. Standing at the top, trying to recover my breath I was wandering why nick hadn't flown past me so I went back searching for him. Sure enough there he was scrabbling around at the top of the ridiculously steep rock face - where no one else would even have considered trying to climb - wondering where I was! Crazy man. Reminds me of the first cave we went down. I spent ages organising to grab a nice piece of rope from my brothers place cause I knew we would need it to get down to the lower cavern with a little lake in it. Its a magic spot, the water is a dead still sheet of glass and the roof, just a foot or two above it is covered in stalagtites so when you shine your torches in the right way the scene(roof) is reflected under the water like some fantasy landscape - only need a little bit of imagination to see the pteradactly like birds flying round the spires and hobbits climbing all about. Anyway - after all my efforts to get the rope, tie it off etc he just shimmied down the the hole and hopped back up without using it at all !! Cheeky b*****.
So for all of you fit nick friends back home I have come up with a few strategies should you ever want to take him on in a race.
- try to organise a few vague spots with a way more difficult and challenging wrong way to go, he'll take it every time!
- include a kayak leg in all races, he'll probably out paddle you but as long as you go in a straight line you'll beat him by miles.
- if no water is available for kayaks just substitute a few holes of golf and again, hit straight to gain ground on Mr Zigzag
- if all else fail you'll just have to go for a classic R-C-S triathalon ... no thats not run, cycle, swim; no matter how good a swimmer you are you'll probably still loose. This one is a run, cycle, SPELLING BEE !!
HAHA sorry mate, just jokin' round. ;-}
Happy new year to all
neal.

Hi everyone !!
Hope you are all well, this is neal. We have had a great time tripping around down south. Its great to have another visitor over to get me off into the trees and south coast beaches again. I love dem trees. Good to do it all rough this time too. We managed to spend a whole nothing on accom. staying in the hikers huts on the bibbulmun track ( 950 km walk track from perth to albany ) and in the tent...was fun. One problem though, nick is just way too fit and keen for any and everything !! I'm completely b*****ed !! haha but having fun ;-)
Hi Maz, yes nealnmel became just neal and mel around the end of august but we're best of friends still and always. She's family to me after being together for almost 12 yrs and we see alot of eachother still. Hi mel if you see this, will catch you when we get to perth next...yes i'm showing nick all i can too, might try and do pinnacles/kalbarri gorges before the flight home if nanna hasn't organised too many things round bunbury...have to see.
Hi to all of nicks mates...haven't actually read any of this noticeboard yet but i shall 'meet' you all soon when there's a free moment. Got to get the kayaks on the roofrack and go meet my brother with the windsurfer now...get nick out into the sun again...if you can't recognise him when he gets home he's the one with the suntan !!
All thre best
neal

Just (yesterday) got back from the south, which Neal and I have been touring ofr the last 4 days. The first day the suddenly pull of the road into a car park... Neal had a wicked smile on his face 'you'll enjoy this'. The biggest tree i have ever seen - oh yeh and its one you climb!!! the Dimond Tree is a look out tree for spotting bush fires, the hit at the top is 53m up. This might not sound too much to some of you but, if you know what i am like with hights (not good) its a big deal. I climbed the metal pegs which run around the tree to the top, just, and you can see a picture of me at the top with a very very fake smile.

We then went to do the tree top walk, which has you on platforms walking around the hights of some massive woods. (see pics)

We camped in the bush in a hut, which was really good, till in the middle of the night when i got the shock of my life when a possom jumped us and started stealing our food.

The next day we when for a few walks in the bush interrupted by a vist to a hurb farm. Geat food, coffee and cake! The walk to the next camping spot would have gone well if we had gone east instead of west. After a somewhat lenghty detour we arrived at the hut as darkness was really beginning to make things difficult. we were greated by 6 somewhat supprised spots of light which all spun around looking at us, head touches - great.

After a night of hiding from mosqutoes, we wased in the sea, and spend the rest of the day traveling to Denmark (long trip i know) and checking out all the local coast lines.

Newyears eve was spend with a bottle of baileys in a campsite by the river in the woods - really really nice spot. the river hide its contents due to its colour but Neal assured me there wouldn't be any crocs as he dived in. More visiter during the night!

In the morning we went to some sand dunes, which were absolutly massive. I am glad we did this early as i didn't fancy being there in the heat. Oh yeh on the way there we managed to get the car stuck in the sand and had to dig it out!

Great trip

Got back, went for a paddle and found a good jumping rock. we scrambled to the top and mde like mad men and jumped in - all going well. The next assent Neal went first, the rock was getting a little slippery by now. I went up got halfway them slid down. Barnacles managed to make quick work of my feet - so me be hobbling a little now.

Hope everyone is well, catch you later

nick

hi there,

a quick catch up... Perth was great (you've got the pics so i won't go on). the best things were going around the guided tour of the prison (where all the convict were held). Commpletly amazing and mad to think it was still a working prison only 10years ago, i forgot my camera there which was a realy shame. Also had a tour of a submarine which was really interesting, well paid job by the sounds of it but not my cup of tea - no mountains at sea.

We nearly went on a helicopter ride over Perth but missed the day they were flying.

hi Mel good to hear from you (yes maz this is mel from Neal and Mel - I will fill in all the familey news from oz when i get back). We may be going up to Perth at some point next week some i will amke sure that neal keeps you posted, it wouldbe great to meet up.

Maz, your right how far are we behind. I am getting your chrimbo pres in next day or two, so if you want something spacific let me know, now. I can't phone home from dunsbrough, so if you want to talk phone here, if you call about lunch time 12 you should catch me.
have you got my pres yet, if not i am full of good ideas!

Jane how was your christmas did you get any interesting preses?

Paula i hope the assets didn't freeze off, how was your night out? who were you with? is everyone back at flat now? did postcard arrive? do we have a new flatmate yet? has Joan started turning basebent into gym? There are plenty of potential husbands for your list! but you might be better off not looking in the city, the beaches are the place to be - but i guess it will be hard to keep you away from there. Ask Mel (on this list) she lives in Perth and may be able to suggest some good hunting grounds for you!!!

Nem, good to hear from you. How are thoughts on the work front going!! We will have to meet up soon pick a day the week starting mon the 12th. Big news - wow - give me a clue!!

I hope everyone else is well, see you soon

nick

Hi Nick,

It's 39mins past midnight.......or should i say 39 mins into the new year! I've just finished an evening of entertaining kids at the cricket centre, i got paid a heap for so that attracted me rather than getting lost and cold on the quayside, and def not drunk as everything costs way too much! and while waiting for a lift home, thought i'd email everyone i couldn't text to wish them all the best for 2004!
Plus i hope you had a fab birthday and an even better crimbo
Take care kid.....we need to meet asap when you're back i have big news!!!!!!!!! (no i'm not pregnant!)
Lots of love, N xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi there, photos are great, cousins are treating you well by the sound of it. Looks like you all had a great Christmas. Marianne and Owen have now arrived in Kendal and we are beginning to recover from the shock of the suprise engagement news and congratulation cards are now arriving for Richard and Jenny. After being serviced you car still has a few problems so have taken it back. What is the code for you radio and where are all the car documents that usually live in the glove box? Hope you had a great trip down south. Love Mum

Hello chuck. Hope you had a good birthday. Did you throw some prawns on the barbie?! Have you found me a nice Aussis man to add to my list of potential husbands? Look for 1 in Perth and I can meet up with him real soon! Have been a bit quiet on the badness front recently but am definately going to make up for it tonight. Am still at work - boo, hiss! Finish in 1/2 hour then its not stop partying to the crack of dawn and beyond. Going to Tiger Tiger which is open til 4 then I guess I'll freeze my best assets off waiting for a taxi! Oh well, some things are worth enduring.
Hope you're having fun. See you soon and Happy New Year x

happy everything! cool photos - like the wiggly bridge, cute kids - look a little more awake than my cousins were this year, gotta go - back out for drinks... why does this always happen when I've got studying to do? You know when you just fancy going out for a drink then nobody else wants to and then when you shouldn't then you must! work that one out... enjoy xx

Hey Nick, hope you had a good christmas and a happy birthday-how old are you now...30!!?? I love all the photos Nanna is as cute as i remembered and haven't the little ones grown. Am very jealous of all your adventures and will have to start saving up myself-give everyone my love, and if you or nanna are goiong to phone again i'll be in sunny kendal fron tues afternoon till sat night so would be lovely to chat. Well biggest piece of gossip at this end little ricks only gone and got himself engaged!!how behind are we!?!!Any way carry on having a fabulous time and posting the pics - how was the hike,any photos from that? All my love and see you shortly Maz xxxx p.s what you got me christmas? p.p.s Is Mel the Mel from the Neal and Mel we know and love?If so when did this happen and why doesn't anyone tell me these things?!

by the way... big hello to the Spencers back in the mother country!!! Hope you all had a great christmas!