It's been a week now since I have landed and boy have the last 7 weeks caught up with me! To say I've been unwell is a understatement of the century! I have been virtually bed bound and progressively getting worse every single day! Now on Saturday 2nd it's derby day where there is a requirement of me to getting royally twated so I need my body to man up and sort itself out! Chances of this without intervention - nil.

I give in an book an appointment for the doctors as I'm now at the point where I can't even hold myself up to get out of bed! So Australia doesn't do the NHS which means I'm not out of pocket by just $222! A simple appointment cost $72 without a Medicare card which I obviously don't have and didn't plan on having to get one as I am never ill!? The lovely doctor however is convinced I have malaria because I had it before and she is sure it is more than a cold.. Brilliant. So the other $150 then got spent on about 10 blood tests in order to find out what it really is?! It was all rushed through and I can't say I wasn't feeling just slightly homesick at this stage! Chicken soup just didn't taste the same, actually it didn't even resemble chicken soup (the chicken was bright pink!) so I sat and just felt sorry for myself.. I did however need to get better soon as I was needed for a roadtrip..(more of that later!)

So derby day was upon us. I had borrowed everything seeing as Asia has demolished my bank account and I couldn't justify buying a new dress and heels for one day! Everyone was up early, tanning (not me - thank you thailand..) doing their hair, make up an the lads downstairs watching the pre race commentary! I've never made a bet, occasionally gambled on blackjack when I was drunk but couldn't tell you if I ever won.. Hardly the same though!

I got suitably tipsy by the time we left and then we headed of to Flemington race course to hopefully win some money and to drink this cold or flu out of me!

For my first bet, I put £7 on two horses.. Only for them to come in 2nd and 3rd! This meant I only won £10. However, I think I've worked out what 'odds' are good now so next stop ascot!

For the rest of the week I explored Melbourne a little more, got slightly better and the doctor finally got back to me.. Fortunately I hadn't managed to catch malaria again, however I did catch influenza.. Or bird flu to others. Ahh well thank you asia.. It was most definitely worth it!