This marks the end of my time at Bondi Beach. It's a bit of a trek from here to uni and with lectures starting next week it's time to move on down the coast a bit.

Truth be told it's not been the most eventful two weeks. Safe in the knowledge that I'm here for a year I'm waiting for the weather to warm up a bit before I do all the tourist stuff. But I did enjoy the coastal walk between Bondi and Coogee beaches. None of my photos do justice to the power of the waves. There's some top beaches here - Coogee and Bondi especially look like good places to while away a summer day but right now it's a bit too nippy for that.

The weather has definitely taken me by surprise. Sydney always looks so hot and sunny on those postcards. I've been walking round in long sleeves, hoody and jacket most of the time. At this stage I am left questioning if I've brought the right balance of jeans to shorts and jumpers to t-shirts. But the good news is that the worst of inter is now behind us and the weather is due to pick up slowly but surely towards 40 degrees. Only a few more weeks before I'm moaning about how hot it is then!

I was surprised by just how sleepy Bondi is as a suburb. Apart from the beach front itself there's not a lot going on. It's largely residential despite the huge number of backpacker hostels lining the sidestreets and there's an odd mix of backpacker joints and top-end city-slicks' establishments. Still managed to source the good fish 'n' chip shop though even if they don't put vinegar on the chips here...

All registered with the uni. Module forms have all been approved and my ID card issued. I am now a full accredited student of the University of New South Wales. House-hunting on the other hand has been rather fruitless - there's a lot of exchange students still hunting and not many properties up for grabs so competition is pretty fierce! Still... the uni won't let me homeless will they? Oh yes they will. Keep positive Sam - tomorrow will be the day.

We had an afternoon pub crawl round 'the Rocks' with the Aussie students on the second of the induction days. Managed to grab a peek at the Opera House and Harbour Bridge while we were at it. I'm sure I'll be popping back here a few times over the next few months so will wait for another opportunity to tell you about them. Needless to say I didn't make it round all the pubs (good thing too at those prices) and I headed back to Coogee with some of the others to watch the final installment of the 'State of Origins' rugby series between NSW and Queensland. It may have been a dead rubber (QLD were already 2-0 up) but I get the feeling rugby is just a sideshow to the regular punch-ups the players like getting involved in. Also got ourselves on the Bundaberg Rum website. (see the photo album).

Hopefully I will resolve my temporary housing dilema soon and get on with enjoying myself. Keep your fingers crossed.