It was my third full week in Brisbane, and also the first real chance to get to know and explore the city, because unfortunately John didn't need me and Matt at work this week.

After having a long weekend by monday we were getting a bit bored since the weather was terrible at the weekend and we were cooped up inside so on Monday we decided to check out Roma parkland and the suncorp stadium.

Roma parkland is apparently the worlds largest subtropical garden in the world and it looked like a really lush place... From the outside, by time we found our way up to the place there was tape around half the entrances saying no entry because the storm at the weekend had destroyed some of the metal fences and massive branches and other parts of trees had fallen off which made it unsafe for the public to access.

We managed to find a way in eventually, since only half the park was open but it was still a really nice place, lots of cool exotic flowers, a pond, and some high raised walkways to have a good look around.

We wandered on past there and off to find the suncorp stadium and we came to a cycle and footpath lane. There was a notice on the side saying at spring time, around this area it is breeding season for some type of bird and for it to protect it's children they swoop down low and can even hit people on the head! So they recommend, especially on this walkway to never stay still and walk fast and watch out. Only just realising after 3 weeks it's. Spring here I caught on that these low flying birds which almost kamikaze into your face were doing it on purpose! And honestly it's s*** scary, walking back from dominos pizza in the dark then you see this low flying bird from

Nowhere swoop right down and its like a foot away from your head is a bit of a unnerving experience.

Found the suncorp stadium which turns out to be about 5 minutes away from our hostel which is spot on! It's a big stadium but even though football isn't massive over here but they use the stadium for rugy and oz football I'm guessing too and also concerts. Gonna have to check it out and watch a footy match I reckon.

Tuesday me and Matt had a look through town since there was nothing else to do and we ended up stumbling across a 24 hour pancake restaurant. It was once an old church so the outside makes it looks nothing like a restaurant except a big old style cartoon poster on the face of it. They do all sorts of pancakes and since it's open 24 hours it would be an ideal place to get some food after a night out, have to check that out too.

On Wednesday I got a txt from a few mates I met in calypso, they had rented a house near the suncorp stadium and coldplay were playing there so they asked if I wanted to come over and sit on the balcony have a drink and listen to the concert. Took Matt over and the rest of our goon from the weekend and had a drink and a catch up, the gig sounded really good despite me not being massively keen on coldplay but it was pretty cool just to sit and listen about whilst reminiscing about good times at calypso, annoyingly they focused more on the part when I was dressed as a woman.

Thursday is victory night and since the last two nights out I never lasted past 12 so I had to show them that I'm not a lightweight, thought id take the pre-drinking which sort of worked but I ended up drinking more goon and beer before going to victory. Victory is the name of a bar/club in central which on thirsty nights has the cheapest drinks in central, 3 dollars for a vodka mixer so I took full advantage of it and got smashed with 50 dollars to my name.

Soon people were dropping like flies, smithy and James left at 1am but they had work in the morning, then Matt and bryany left soon after so I stayed out with a few Irish people from the hostel and then a few girls who work at the hostel who were with a few people and stayed out until 4.30am last one standing! But next day I payed massively for it, goon gives you a terrible hangover but the caffiene comedown from the red bull mixed with vodka hangover was horrible.

Saturday morning and Tony arrived, met up with him in the hostel about midday, a very normal yet weird feeling meeting a mate from home out here, must have been even weirder for him since he just arrived in the country and also was drinking on the flight so he was a bit drunk when he arrived so he even said it didn't feel real to him.

I showed him around town for a bit then we bought a box of goon between us 2 and Matt for tonight as we were hitting the valley. But come 5 Tonys jet lag kicked in and he was in bed by 6. On came the pre-drinking again. Along with the chants our group tend to sing after a few bevvies which are the ken Barlow song, freshen up for the Poonani, and no spray no lay. Based on the music sang by the toilet attendants back home, you know the guys I mean, give you a paper towel and try to sell you a spray of Armani or whatever knock off stuff they have. They didn't come up with the ken Barlow song just to state.

Got the train through to the valley about midnight but everyone except me had munchies so they got a mcdonalds which I knew would sober you up so I had an ice cream, cost 50 cent can't go wrong! The valley is like a lads holiday, just a massive street full of bars and clubs with drunk people staggering all over the place. Found the main club called the family, 20 dollars to get in so Matt sulked about that, bryany complained about the music while me and smithy partied away! Doesn't sound like we will be travelling over that way any time soon.