Nice wee flight over to OZ from Singapore (7Hrs). Picked up at the airport by Kerry & Marc; Sally's firnds from uni who were kind enough to put us up in thier apartment for a week. Airport to pub within 45 mins, impressive stuff!!

Kerry had an itenerary planned for us ad acted as our personal travel agent. The first item on the list was taking us to see a show at a lttle place called the Sydney Opera House (you might even have heard of it). We took the ferry from Manly, where they live, into the city centre which offered amazing views of the opera house and the harbour bridge. Apparently this is a commute for some people, who were just blaze about the views!

Expecting an opera, I was delighted to find out that the show was actually more of a cabaret/burlesque/circus/Edinburgh festival type affair, called 'La Soiree' much more my level! So we got positioned at the back of the room next to the bar near a large piano. We hadn't realised that the piano would be used as part of the show, but it worked out well as one of the performers, a lady magician, got completely starkers right in front of us just to prove there was nothing up her sleeves or indeed anywhere else. Contortionists, gymnasts, singers, dancers , acrobats etc - top night.

We then had a day out in Manly which is an awesome part of Synedy with loads of little beaches amazing houses and great little resteraunts bars etc. First we met up with Thow, Sally's pal from school, and his girlfriend Marie for a spot of brunch. Then soon enough we were joined by some more of her school friends; Finn and Kyle. After wandering around the peninsula and checking out the views for a while we headed to the beach with a crate of beers (spot the scots). Suitably lubricted and sunburned we headed for some food, thai food which Finn and Judd thought was 'the best ever!'. Some wine on the beach followed (classy) and then some cocktails at a local watering hole.

Next on the itinerary was a trip to wine country. So up to the Hunter Valley which is roughly 2hours drive north. The main revelation from this trip was that we found a red wine which I not only found drinkable but actually enjoyed!! This had never happened before so obviously we bought some . . . and drank it that night. Sampled loads of good grog from some very nice wee wineries, accompanied by smelly cheeses and hand made chocolates!! We returned to Sydney educated conniseurs of fine wines able to identify the palate, flavours and idiosyncracies of each wine . . . or so we pretended as were pished!!!

Sydney has the bench mark very high, so this Melbourne place better be as good everyone says it is!!!!