Gidday! It's big Robba here just updating ya that the surf's up and the barbi is rocking and rolling......... Yes we're in Australia. We arrived on a short (7hr) flight from Singapore and are spending our time down in Bondi Beach enjoying our last days of the holiday. Our passage through Singapore was fairly uneventful. Having been there this time last year we didn't really have much to do so just wandered the city a little aimlessly. However, when wandering without intent, sometimes you find the most interesting things- as we did. Firstly an excellent museum on the Singaporean fire service and then right in the middle of the city, a hill called Fort Canning which has only recently been laid out as a public park with lots of historical interest. Soon enough we were bound for the airport. A small hiccup involving my Australia visa (ie I didn't have one) was waiting to meet us! The visa I processed all the way back in February was of course attached to my old passport which was replaced in June but after a little bit of a panic it was all sorted and we boarded a BA plane. We hadn't really expected the flight to be so short. By the time we had finished our meal, watched a film and thought about getting some sleep, they were throwing the 'All Day Deli' breakfasts on our laps. So we arrived into Sydney without sleep but not feeling too bad. I did manage to pick up a couple of UK papers from the plane though so caught up on all the 'home' news. Sydney customs and immigrations remains the toughest I have been through. The officials are all very pleasant but they still make you feel guilty. And the fact that they wear surgical gloves as par for the course, makes you think that perhaps a strip search isn't that far away. Still we clenched tight, passed through and were met by an executive taxi that Andrew had sent for us. It was a beautiful summer's morning and we were both happy and relaxed as we cruised through the Sydney suburbs enjyoing our first taste of Western civilisation for four months. OK it was rush hour, but it didn't matter. The last couple of days have been quite relaxing. Having both been to the city before there was no rush to get to see the sights, but yesterday we took a 3 hr walk along the coast from Bondi to Coogee. Marvelous scenery and great to watch the surfers try and evade the sharks. We also happened upon a free concert on Bondi Beach. Much to Kylie's excitement it happened to be Neil from Crowded House and his brother Tim (she says it as if she knows them personally - but then they are from NZ so there is a chance) strumming their banjos. The weather has been mixed but we have decided today we better had go and see if the big coat hanger of a bridge is where it is supposed to be. Leaving for NZ on Sunday morning! Does it feel to any of you that we have only just left? xl