BLOG 12First of all I'd like to thank Maurits, Paul, Marianne and Wouter, Roos and Erik and my parents for their Christmas cards!!! It's great to get some mail here. Well 2009 didn't completely started the way I would have liked it too…But let's goo back in time, because many things happened before the first of January 2009.First there was me moving out of the hostel, which was quite a relief: the last week people in my room were stealing my food, my cutlery, my bowl, etcetera. Really annoying, so happy to have moved out of there. My new flat is really nice, as is my flat mate Sonia. Sonia is a kiwi (from New Zealand) and when I'll go there (22nd of February) we'll spend some days together and she'll show me all the must-do sight-seeing places! Really cool! We don't see each other much at home, because we're both working a lot: She during the days and I afternoons and evenings. So sometimes I find myself chilling out on the couch all alone and I cherish these moments ;-p Christmas eve I didn't have to work, but I was really tired (started work at 8 in the morning and worked the night before), so I had a nap and a really long and hot shower before I went out. Hypes of people from the hostel were in the Steyn Hotel and we had a great evening (see pictures on my blog). Christmas day I went out to have a swim at Shelley beach, with Maria. All the people from the hostel were having a barbie over there, but Iwas going to have one at my new flat. After a swim (no waves on Christmas day) and a chat I went back home to meet all Sonia's friends. Most of them play volleyball, as Sonia is a really good volleyball player (played for the National team of New Zealand). We had a nice time eating, jamming and talking. Boxing day (in The Netherlands 2nd Christmas day) I had to work in the afternoon (evening) but it was not as busy as usual. And then suddenly it was the 31st of December. Really weird when it's nearly 30 degrees I have to say. My friend Gary (who sold me my surfboard) from surfers HQ invited me for a party in Sydney with a good roof terrace ánd balcony view on the fireworks. As we arrived in Sydney around 15h (after a surf of course) Gary got a phone call… the party was off.. the guy that threw the party just broke his ankle (dirt bike riding) and had to go and spend new years eve at the hospital. Unlucky! Plan B for us was buying some nice snacks, sit next to the warf (circular quai) and in the end we had a really relaxed and nice new years eve with an excellent view on the fireworks! We conquered a place in between some families and, as the paths were really busy, we had our own 'emotional and private' space ;-p I was afraid it was going to be really crowded, but it was all good. Afterthe fire works we stayed over in Sydney in an apartment of a friend of Gary and the next morning we took a cab back home. When I rushed out of the cab, my camera, of which I thought was on my bag, probably slipped out and ended up either in the cab or on the street. I only found out that that happened a couple of hours later when I wanted to show a friend the amazing movies and pictures I took of the fireworks. I hoped that the cab company would find it, but I found out today it didn't, so I went to the police station to report it and to check if someone maybe turned it in, but that hadn't happened either. I wanted to buy a new camera for some time, but I didn't wanted this to be the reason! I loved my camera! Anyway, I'll be in Sydney Thursday to go and see the play The war of the roses with Cate Blanchett!! It's 8 hours of Shakespeare (they just trying to do what The Appel already did twice ;-) and I'm really looking forward to it! As it starts at 1 pm, I'll do some camera shopping before that. Good thing is that the camera's here ar cheaper than in the Netherlands and if I pay more than 300 dollars for it I'll get 19% tax back… so that's the sunny side…A surf on new years day as well of course and work later on that day, and the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that….Now it's Tuesday and finally a day of!! 30 degrees here, so I've been for a surf in my bordies (boardshorts) and chilled out outside. Now sitting on the sofa with my feet up (my legs are sooo tired from work). Tomorrow work at 3pm and Thursday of again (theatre). I'll be leaving Manly in 2 ½ weeks and then the travelling really begins. I'll miss Manly, because my life here is really nice: people at work are nice, yoga is great, my friends (Maria, Stina, Alex, Gary, Sonia): I'll miss them all… but there's a lot more to see! The plan is travelling south first (Melbourne, Philip Island, Bells Beach) and fly from Melbourne to Auckland where Sonia's going to pick me up. I have to book a flight from New Zealand to Brisbane end of March andthen I'll do the Gold Coast and slowly surfing back to Sydney, where I'll be leaving on the 1st of Mai to Bali.Funny? facts:- If you're about to cross the zebra by bike, the cars will stop for you!- If you're being stopped by the police because you're not wearing a helmet (cycling) and you don't have lights, they'll let you go without a fine, knowing that you'll never going to buy a helmet or light- If you want a hard copy of your rapport of your lost camera (for insurance reasons) you have to pay 73 dollars