So we arrived in byron and checked into backpackers inn on the beach. Byron was a brilliant place - unfortunately christmas got in the way and i ended up doing nothing in byron except go and lay on the beach and have festive celebrations. So on christmas eve we took festive fotos on the beach with us wearing santa hats etc. The weather was beautiful so it had to be done. That night we all went out to Cheeky Monkeys which is an absolute dive but once drunk it didnt actually seem that bad to be fair! So we drank copious amounts of alcohol and danced our arses off. Everyone in there had santa hats on but me, vicky and rianna were wearing reindeer ears so we were the ones that got all the attention all night - not bad huh!! Anyway, the night was really good and met some people from our hostel. I think after going to the beach we made it back to the hostel by about 4.30am! So sat eating Shapes (they are flavoured crackers that christie introduced us to and now im obsessed with them - so tasty!) until we decieded that it was high time to head to bed. Christmas Day was a bit of a hangover day for me. For some reason i ended up waking up really early so me and vicky opened our stockings (i had one from my parents and i made vicky one as felt bad she didnt have anything to open)! Then died pretty much til 1pm when the hostel buffet festive began. Some guy was playing the guitar - the songs were really good but all us brits were a lil annoyed he didnt play any christmas tunes! So we sat on a table with 2 brit guys from essex and 2 german guys volker and phil - we ended up having q a laugh but my head killed for a good while. The buffet was ok - not ur traditional xmas lunch but helped the hangover a bit. Spent the arvo talking and eating then i had a nap before starting the festive drinks. We spent the evening with some swedish guys before heading down the beach to sit round a fire while some dude played his guitar. Really nice xmas - very different and very weird. Didnt feel like xmas so i want an xmas dinner when i get home in may - yorkshire puddings, stuffing - the lot! On boxing day we were gonna see Narnia but tickets all sold out so we went to the arts factory and to the buddha bar which is a funky cinema with cow print sofas as cinema chairs - there we watched brothers grimm which was ok not too bad! For dinner we had shrimp on the barbie with some dutch guys and rachel (the american) who had just arrived from surfers! Really nice food, had salad, coleslaw the lot. I was gonna have an early night but got persauded against my will to go to cheeky monkeys again - so i couldnt really say no so it was anotehr late night for me - had loads of cheesy songs and it felt like Jive on a wednesday at uni but it was fun. The next few days left in byron we went to the beach and did some body boarding and we did finally get to see Narnia with volker, phil, jen and max - the queue was massive but got seats. Loved the film - it reminded me so much of that bbc 1 drama they did of it. On the 28th we got the night bus down to sydney. Bus not too bad - me and rachel bought some sleeping pills to help us sleep and they did work but not until half way thru the journay so next time ill take them earlier! So that was my christmas - very strange to be in the heat with hardly any decorations around and pretty much so christmas songs - sounds strange but i kinda missed the over the top british holiday! next stop sydney!! nikki xxx