Clare writes: Well, it's New Year's Eve here already and we're looking forward to tonight's fireworks.

The jury's still out on our computer problems but we're managing to get online for a bit most days - apologies to those we haven't communicated with as much as we'd planned.

We've done loads of sightseeing around Sydney's massive harbour and beyond - walked out across the Harbour Bridge to Cremone Point, ferry to Manly (Sheila swam from BOTH beaches), and all the way upriver to Rydalmere, cliff walk from Bondi to Coogee beach, Darling Harbour, Potts Point, city centre, saw loads of HUGE flying squirrels (a type of bat) in theBotanic Gardens - all these pics and more are still to come on this site. Basically we've walked our little feet off - part of getting fit for the next stage... our 'Face the Outback' trip next week after Melbourne.

Anyway - a very happy 2009 to all our readers... and if you see the Sydney Harbour fireworks, think of us...