"Welcome to the party, pal"

-- Die Hard

(Greatest Christmas movie of all time)





It has been a thoroughly entertaining week here in disgustingly sunny Australia. Despite my claims that without coldness and rain it just isn't Christmas, the team at the Backpackers put on a very impressive show, complete with all-you-can-drink beer and a ferry trip to nearby Rottnest Island on the big day itself.

There is something strange about spending Christmas Day on a beach in the sun, drinking Victoria Bitter and throwing steak on the nearby barbecue... But strange in a good way.

Slightly more difficult to get used to was the sight of eighty or so sunbathers all wearing woolly Santa hats... But you've got to really, don't you?

The sea was rather Australian, meaning it was full of Jellyfish and Stingrays. Still, despite twenty or so Jellyfish stings, we recorded an impressive zero Stingray Fatalities, which is something to be happy about.

The days that followed were slightly more relaxed. A friend from work had decided to b***** back to Melbourne for Christmas, and had kindly given me the keys to his flat, so I got to enjoy the delights of peace, quiet, and not sleeping in a room with fourteen other people. Which was nice.

New Years Eve beckoned, and I was working at Rosie's from twelve until twelve. Spending yet another New Year's working behind some bar could have been annoying, but I rather enjoyed it. Putting the 'casual' into 'casual bartender', I fulfilled my ambition of being drunk by ten o'clock, and from there the good times just kept on rolling.

The pub was actually open until two, and despite me finishing work I still found the time to help out on occasion - I'm just that kind of guy I suppose.... That and letting a horrendously drunk man behind a bar without CCTV cameras benefits everyone.

Things are starting to wind down now, in all kinds of ways. I've handed in my notice at work and only have one more shift. Tom and Vinny have been sorting out our transport to Melbourne - a brand-spanking-new (1983) bright yellow van that is one of the greatest vehicles I've ever seen.

We're going to be setting off next Saturday, starting our long and rather elaborate adventure holiday that will eventually, a god I don't believe in and a 55mph top speed willing, deliver us to our new home before the end of January.

We're excited again. We're going to be moving. We're going to miss Fremantle - it's been good to us and we've been good to it. But by the time we get to Melbourne we'll be a few thousand miles closer to getting around the world without flying.