As I progress through Australia the cities I am visiting are largely as I expected.

Arriving in Canberra on a cool Saturday morning, I observed the orderly nature that is usual with planned cities. Whilst Canberra seems somewhere that has too many roads for people/cars, it does not have the souless atmosphere of english versions such as Stevenage or Milton Keynes. The view across Burley Firkin lake towards Parliment house was sufficiently impressive as a capital city should be. The strangest thing was that, whilst walking thhrough the city centre at 9:30 on a Saturday morning in search of breakfast, nothing was open. However, it was reassuring when I was finally able to eat breakfast in a cafe whilst watching a re-run of the previous night's Super 14 match, without a sniff of AFL anywhere.

It was good to catch up with Claire and Brett even though it wasn't long since I'd met/seen them. The majority of saturday was spent with Brett and I working away at a case (sorry 'slab') of Carlton draught, my drink of preference at the time. That was until Brett introduced me to Boags that evening at the rugby. It's interesting to note that strong lager over here is anything up to 4.5% which is equivalent to normal lager back home so building me an image as a big drinker!

Claire, through her contacts, managed to score free tickets to the rugby game, so at this point I must thank the National Gallery of Australia. Having watched southern hemisphere rugby on the tele it was interesting to watch a live game (regardless of the fact they're trying to ruin our game!) and it certainly got me yearning to play rugby again. For the first time I felt like my old self - a pair of jeans and a rugby shirt, beer in hand watching the rugby, but with the added bonus of a nice warm Aussie summer evening.

Following a big drinking night we did the cultural thing on Sunday, visiting the ANZAC war memorial, including a museum on Australia's war involvements. Continuing from Asia this made me feel pretty ignorant, not realising the extent of Australia's war involvement and indeed the threats against them, particularly in the 2nd world war.

We also did the sites, which included the Aboriginal tent embassy, a peaceful protest by indigenous Australians against the oppression suffered in the past. This resides outside the original Parliment house and was particularly significant during 'Sorry' day last year, when Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised for the land theft and expoilation over the last century. Maybe someone should have told them that the new Parliment house is over the road!

After a good weekend in Canberra I moved on to Sydney. The main opportunity being to see the sights and, more importantly, meet up with old friends. Unlike Melbourne, I succesfully met up with Pete who collected me from Windsor station and, having turfed Robbie out his bed, is putting me up for the week - big thanks to Pete, Emma, Charlie and Robbie. Great to catch up with some old friends on their new life in Australia.

Over the past few days I've been busy seeing the sights; the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the Olympic Park and Stadium where England won the rugby world cup. Today Charlie, Robbie and I visited the Sydney Cricket Ground which has inspired me to return for the Ashes series in 2010/11 (Hopefully I'll have paid off this trip by then!). Points of interest were that we were allowed to walk across the playing field itself (The MCG allowed us 2 feet onto the outfield) and, when we were due to climb the newest stand of the stadium, meeting former Australian Prime Minister John Howard in the lift! I managed to bite my lip and avoid remarking on his enthusiasm (or lack of) in awarding the Rugby World Cup to Martin Johnson in 2003.

Tonight I met up with Nev, another former member of Essington and Great Wyrley CC, and was introduced to his new family. As before, great to see old friends, however strange in new environments.

Over the next few days I have a visit to the Blue mountains scheduled, as well as seeing friends Dave and Manisha in Manly, before heading up the east coast on Sunday evening. Again, an overnight bus, this time to the holiday resort of BYron Bay, where I plan to at least attempt Surfing. That should be amusing.