My first week in Oz was spent in a bit of a jetlagged blur. I didn't know how quite how tired I was until I saw the pictures of me at Verity's birthday party looking like a pasty tired eyebag monster! This is why there aren't that many pictures with me in...

I met up with Kirsti on the Saturday morning. It was really good to see her after nearly two years of emailing back and forward nearly every day. We headed off to the zoo to see the month old baby elephant and get my first view of some Aussie natives with Kirsti's Mum and neice Ava. The koala even had the decency to be awake and munching on eucalyptus. The 45 minute queue to see the baby elephant (with no name) was worth it especially as I had my first encounter with a real life 'bogan' (Aussie chavs for those who don't watch Neighbours!), she was just charming! Unfortunately I can't write the choice phrases that were coming out of her mouth as they were too rude but lets just say that she was none too pleased to be standing in a queue and was making her poor boyfriend suffer for even suggesting it!

After the zoo it was time to don my French outfit for Verity's International birthday party which was lots of fun. Everybody dressed up and we had a BBQ in the courtyard of dreams before heading to the pub for a few more drinkies. I think I managed to look French even if I looked more like a mime artsist due to the pasty face! Ah well, the thought was there!

On the Sunday I moved my stuff up to Kirsti's parents house which is lovely and there I stayed until Wednesday when we headed off to Tassie. We spent the beginning of the week being Melbourne tourists. I had a few jobs to do such as finalising my bank account and setting up a phone to use out here (still haven't quite got around to that one). I was relieved to find that the money I sent to my new account actually turned up! I also met a couple of Kirsti's friends and was a crucial part of the winning pub quiz team thanks to my brilliant knowledge of British fast food outlets (who knew Wimpey was named after a cartoon character?! Me apparently) and Kate Bush songs (thanks to John for playing me the Alan Partridge medley of KB songs last week!)

The touristy Melbourney things consisted of riding the tram, visiting the State Library which has a beautiful reading room full of old books, going up to the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower to the Skydeck to get a 360 degree view over the city, visiting Federation Square which is full of bars and restuarants and going to the Crown Casino to mock the tackiness. It was all great fun and Melbourne seems like a great city. I have another week when I get back from Tassie to explore further so we will see...