MERRY XMAS everyone! What a strange xmas day - on our part at least having spent the afternoon on the beach and swimming in the sea! Our xmas morning was xmas eve back home, so after breakfast we got on the computer on skype and managed to get hold of Nicky, Scott's sister, and following that most of the Gregg family. Scott and myself had a lovely chat catching up with everyone. It was good to see family and this made us feel more Christmassy, especially since when we'd been down for breakfast in the hotel everyone looked a bit sullen and nobody said Happy Christmas! I was expecting fancy dress, santa hats and at least smiles! On the plus side it does feel a treat to have a hotel room for 4 nights with a private bathroom, aircon, a proper comfy bed and a kitchenette - absolute luxury after the campervan experiences.

By about midday we were ready to head out into Sydney. The original plan had been to sit on Bondi beach for Christmas, but after several conversations with locals we were persuaded otherwise. Apparently Bondi is packed with young Brits on the piss for Christmas day, and desperate to avoid the 'I'm too cool to smile' culture we'd experienced at Byron Bay, we opted for a ferry trip to Manly instead.

We walked through Hyde Park and the Botanical Gardens again towards Circular Quay where we needed to get on a ferry. We took the opportunity to have more of an explore of the beautiful shady gardens and headed around the edge of the gardens towards a district called Yurong. This gave us the classical camera angle of the opera house with the bridge behind. We looked on with interest and amusement at the many families setting up full-on Christmas picnic lunches in the park, staking their claim on the best shady spots and setting up tables with crackers and the works. In contrast we enjoyed our Christmas dinner of an icecream, rapidly melting in the heat! I cast a thought back to the UK where everyone would soon be waking up to cosy houses filled with the smell of roast turkey. As lovely as all this sunshine was you can't beat a good old English Christmas.

The ferry to Manly was packed to the brim, mostly with tourists who had the same idea as us. Rather than joining the crowds on the deck cramming in to get photos of the harbour, we sat down and relaxed for 25mins. As we pulled in towards the wharf at Manly we could see hundreds of little jelly fish floating in the water under the jetty. I made a mental note to be wary swimming; the memory of my sea urchin experience in Croatia ever more vivid.

The main beach at Manly was on the other side of the headland, and a smaller beach harbourside. As we crossed the headland we could see the main beack packed with bodies and huge surf waves crashing on the sand. The sound of the lifeguard on loudspeaker echoed around the bay warning everyone the beach was closed and no swimming allowed due to rip currents. By now the day was a scorcher and Scott and I could think of nothing else other than a cooling dip in the sea. So I didn't take much persuasion to head back to the quiet and sheltered harbour beach, despite the jellies.

We enjoyed several relaxing hours stretching out in the sun and caking on the suncream. To my delight we realised the jelly fish were some kind of non stinging variety as Scott saw a young child throwing one at her sister! Relieved I took a swim along the bay looking out across the small yachts anchored nearby.

By about 5pmwe were done in and all sunned out - ready to return to the air con of our hotel room and to catch our family's on skype on what would be their xmas morning. On the ferry ride back we smugly got one of the best spots sitting on the deck, which gave us a brilliant view of Harbour Bridge as we approached the Circular Quay.

In the evening we enjoyed the healthiest Christmas dinner I've ever had of spinach, feta and pumpkin salad! (The cooking facilities in our room are limited to a microwave and kettle, and I outright refused to have a microwaveable roast dinner!!) We were really excited to meet our little nephew Euan finally via the fabulous medium of skype. Not as good as getting to hold him but the best we can get when thousands of miles apart! I enjoyed several glasses of wine, and Scott several beers, as we chatted to his parents for ages. We collapsed into bed after a very different and memorable Christmas Day!