Hello all, well last time I left you we had just arrived in Byron Bay and as we're now in Sydney it's time for an update. Byron Bay was my favourite place that we have visited so far, it was absolutely fantastic, so much so on our last night we were trying to work out whether it was possible to commute the couple of hours from Brisbane to Byron - which in a sober state is a little unrealistic but even so a nice thought at the time!

We arrived in byron and drove straight down Shirley Street and easily found our accomodation on the left and a mere 15 min stroll into the centre (and that's at Iains leisurely swagger/stroll that even I have adopted whilst out here:) We decided to have a drive up to Cape Byron to see the lighthouse whilst we had the car and even in the rain (yes again!) it looked spectacular. From the lighthouse we watched the waves below crashing against the rocks and even saw a pod of dolphins swimming along, despite our new found love of technology (through the skype revolution), we weren't quick enough on the camera to catch the dolphins doing an infamous dive, everytime we snapped they appeared to taken a fancy to underwater swimming, but believe me, they were there. We then headed down to our accomodation to check in, which was absolutely fine and then had a drive into the centre. We parked up at the beach carpark and went for a walk round, but for having a drink in the beach bar overlooking the main beach. By this point, the sun had started to shine, and there were a great couple of rainbows outside (pictures to follow), we then had a bit of a walk around the centre which was absolutely gorgeous, really cute full of a mixture of shops ranging from little coffee houses, boutiques, juice bars, with a really laid back vibe and a mix of people young and old and lots of surfer types. We headed to the internet cafe where I added the last couple of updates and then decided tummies rumbling that we would get something to eat. Iain who has by now really taken to the laid back vibe that is ever present in australia was perturbed that I was rushing him off the internet, the leeds united website to be precise as it was only 8.30 - only it wasn't it was 9.30, somewhere between the 100km journey from Surfers to Byron, there had been an hours time difference! Normally we would have been spoilt for choice but at this time there was only one restaurant still open, called Balcony on the corner of a street where we sat upstairs looking down at the passers by on the street, it was really good. The following day as we had to hand the car back, we decided to get up early (which had it not have been for Iain literally dragging me out of bed - my early morning persona has abandoned me would probably have not been quite as early) and drive up to the lighthouse and as luck would have it, it was a glorious day and the views and walk were really special. We walked up to the top and also out to the most easterly point of Australia. Later that day, we tried out the beach for a couple of hours and then ventured the few hundred yards back to the juice bar for a healthy smoothie (it is very easy to convince yourself it's healthy when it's got the fruit in and so easy to forget about the cream and ice cream!!). We were then faced with a tough decision as to whether to attend yoga by the beach or to go for a run. We decided to go for a jog on the beach from one end to the other, which once on was really good, jogging by the sea with the waves at your feet and then doing some sit ups looking out to sea, - whilst you might think this sounds unbelievably heathy, I must point out that its not so much to help us lose weight etc, but rather to enable us to keep up the three course dinners we've been enjoying! That night having learnt that the restaurants stop serving a little earlier than back home, we got ready a bit earlier and headed out to a restaurant called Fresh on the main street. We wat sat just up from the street and had a lovely meal, made all the better by the entertainment in the form of an excellent band busking across the street from the restaurant. The following day, we headed back down to the beach, where we forgot to take the suncream - (we had already applied suncream and were only there for two hours so worry not parents), before once again having a venture down the streets of Byron and going for a little walk before jogging along the beach. Again we got ready a little earlier and headed out to the restaurant. Unfortunately for all of you that have signed up to the 'Iain, ditch the hat campaign', it was back, however this time much needed as the forgotten suncream had caused serious repercussions in the form of Iain's now tommy tomato face! (I am now jealous as he is a rather lovely shade of mahogoney - however worry not ma and pa, suncream is applied rigorously each morning!) The meal that night was absolutely esquisite and unbelievably cheap around 35 pounds for a bottle of wine 2 starters, 2 mains including a steak and over another bottle of wine regretted only booking the 3 nights in Byron. The following morning and it was time to move on again, so we had booked the airport shuttle. Our flight was at 12 pm and the pick up was 10 am, I was slightly disturbed when by 11.15 we still hadn't arrived at the airport, however this worry is a very English charm apparently and was not shared by the driver. With a stroke of luck, the flight was delayed and we made it no probs and an hour and 15 minutes later we hit the runway at Sydney airport. That's all for now, lots of love to you all. Sara and Iain.xxxxxxxxxxx