Hi Everyone!!

Today is a good day because we said goodbye to Bruce (the van) once and for all! We woke up at 7:30am, haven't seen that time in weeks, and started to pack up all of our stuff. We parked illegally for the first time last night because its impossible to find anywhere to park in the city. We found a really cool place by the river with a view, like the pic here, of the city so that was all good. Then this morning the police arrived so we tried to jump up and pretend we hadn't slept there but they knew. They were asking tons of questions but then they left us alone and didn't say anything about moving on so that was lucky!

We were supposed to get the van washed before we returned it so we used the rest of the washing up liquid and a washing up sponge to do it so we could save some money! Then we went to a hostel to drop off our bags and finally it was farewell Bruce! Our happiness levels increased as soon as he was gone and now we have a cool hostel to stay in with a pool and funky cinema style tv room. They have free dvds too and luckily yhrye have elf because I was thinking that I was going to have to buy it soon to increase my christmas spirit! Think I'll still have to buy christmas on 34th street though!

We watch tv in the hostel for hours and just lazed around until our room was ready at 1pm and now we have showered and feel clean and chilled put for the first time in a week. Its so good not to have to worry about where we need to park the van. They have free shuttle buses from the hostel to the city as well so we can get around cheaply. There is a nice bar here though so I think we'll be here tonight because we are desperate to speak to other people! They have a welcome meeting at 4:30pm with free wine so I'm going to that!

Tomorrow we're going to Australia zoo which is what I have been looking forward to the most! Its the zoo that Steve Irwin owned and they have all the usual aussie animals there. I really want to cuddle a koala bear so that is my mission. They have tasmanian devils there too so that'll be pretty cool. Brisbane is a good base city for all the stuff you can do in Queensland so I think we'll be chilling here for a while.

The hostel is right by china town so I'm hoping desperately that they will have some cheap noodles for me tonight! If not I'll be back to my 50p pot noodle style dinner that I had last night! Anyway, all is good from Oz now. I'm happy once again!

Jan, I'm loving the hiding of the decorations and I'm thinking you sound a bit nutty about the santa that you saw! Your stories actually make me miss the fun of pensions!

Missing you all loads xxxxxx

p.s. I hear the civic has a very funky christmas tree this year!?!? xx