Sorry to be dull, but I am still in Sydney and am not too sure when I'll be leaving - it's a long story which I will bore you with at a later date. I have also realised that with the festive season in full swing, I have neglected to give you my little spiel about the city, but do not fear, I will make amends now! Sydney is centred on Port Jackson, but the Greater Sydney area sprawls over 1800 sq km, encompassing Botany Bay (south), abutting the Blue Mountains (west) and the National Parks near Broken Bay (north). The city is hilly and the layout complicated by the harbour's numerous bays and headlands. Tha harbour divides the city horizontally, with the 2 halves joined by the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel. As such this is very much an outdoor city, with waterways, cliffs and tree-lined streets, making it the ideal place to laze or surf on a beach, go yachting or walking. I have found it to be a very vibrant, cosmopolitan city with lots to see and do. The only worry here is the 26 million sq km hole in the ozone layer - the world's largest - which is above southern Australia. The sun really does seem to be hotter on the skin here, even when the temperature is fairly moderate. I know that sounds contrary, but you'll have to come and see what I mean for yourselves. On Sunday night Richard and I went to the local - The Golden Barley Hotel - and had a few beers whilst playing Backgammon. Now, I knew how to play the game, but had never used the doubling dice, so it was time I learnt. Four hours (and several beers) later and we headed home with the scores standing at 450 odd to me and 8 (yes eight) to Richard - some major beginners luck I feel and it's not as bad as it sounds as you can score 192 in one game. Monday I recovered from the night before and on Tuesday Richard actually had the day off, so he took me sightseeing for the day, to all the places that were easier to get to in a car. After coffee and handmade chocolates at a small place called Adorra, we headed to our first port of call - Bondi Beach. I don't quite know what I was expecting, but this certainly was not it. The beach itself was ok, but the surrounding area was very run down and reminded me of a typical British seaside town - rather tacky - and there wasn't a lifeguard to be seen, oh well. We only stopped long enough to take a couple of pictures and have a paddle (been there, done that), before heading off to Watson's Bay, Camp Cove and South Head. We had a lovely wander along the beach and cliff top to see the lighthouse, before stopping for a drink and then heading back with fish and chips. That evening, Richard and I went to The Imperial, which is where they filmed some scenes in the movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, for those of you who have seen it or heard of it. The reason for going - Bingay!!! No I have not spelt it wrong, that is what it is called and it is hosted by a couple of drag queens. We met up with Jodie from Romford and some of her friends and we had an absolute scream. All the classic bingo calls had been modified - for example - 88, 2 fat ladies became 2 fat ladies followed by one of them saying "it's very lonely in the sidecar". A reference to the TV programme of the same name, where the 2 fat ladies are cooks and one of them is always in the side car. Some of the alternative bingo calls were rather rude, but very funny. If anyone shouted bingo, instead of bingay, they had to wear the dunce's sombrero, which fortunately none of us did, but then we didn't win anything either. At the end of the night, we had raised $3000 for the tsunami appeal and had fun at the same time, a great evening. Today I went to the Justice and Police Museum in the city, which was actually much better and bigger than I thought it would be - they also had a photographic exhibition on, called Penitentiary to Private Prison. It was interesting from my point of view to see the famous case studies - like the first fingerprint conviction, as they differ from what I was taught during my training. My mobile is still not right and I called my company here and the problem is in the UK, so messages are taking days to get through. Hence, I'm not ignoring any of you, so bear with me!! Sherry xx