Alright guys!!!! just to let you know i bought a new computer and im on the net, Finally!! so i can keep in touch more often now. Hope your both ok. Will catch up soon. can you text me cos i've lost your number!  Bye guys x x x

Well back at work again, only 4 days left until we become free spirits again its going to be great. Definitely ready for the adventure now!! We had the most amazing weekend with Nikki and Kris at Apollo Bay. They were the best hosts ever. Thank you so much guys (kris I know if your reading this - get back to work!!)  Friday night we drove down, stopping for pizza and the boys had a few beers in the back of the car. I did a Powelly and fell asleep in the car (I blame the chair heaters tho!) Decided to head to bed early that night as we had a big day of hiking to waterfalls planned for the next day. We got up pretty early and headed into the the town for some breakie, had a little walk round the arts and crafts market and into a few of the cool little surf shops. Grabbed some supplies for the bbq later, a kilo of prawns and some calamari from the local fish market it all smelt very fresh n fishy!!  We then drove up into the hills there were some fantastic views out over the bay the photos don't really do it justice, passed a few Lamar?s on the way (gotta get one of those when we get back!) Followed Austin down the bush tracks to our first Waterfall Beauchamp , it was so nice to get out of the city and be surrounded by trees and open space again, the weather was perfect for walking not too hot (but not really warm enough for us to swim) although Austin went in every puddle inch of water available god that dog loves to swim. That was just the warm up for the bigger walk to the Hope........... waterfall. I think we picked the perfect time of year to go as there was no-one around had the whole Ottways National Park to ourselves.  Headed back to the house had some nibbles and took Austin for another walk down to the beach, it was too chilly for a swim so we decided to get back and start drinking the keg that Kris had purchased earlier that day.  It was a lovely evening so we decided some outside games were in order, I discovered I have a secret hidden talent for Lawn balls, we played (Bocce or petanque a slightly different version where you throw the ball rather than rolling). Anyway I think I may have found my next  career step when get home becoming a professional botong player.  Then again it may be that the others were slightly more pissed than me, the fact they couldn't see as straight as me might have effected their game play, as the night got darker we lit up the bbq, cooked up so marvellous grub and headed into the house where we drank and ate, whilst continuing the competition with some original carpet bowls very retro!! By about 2 am we were comfortably drunk and decided no trip to Apollo Bay would be complete with out a dip in the sea so we thought it would be a good idea to go for a mid-night swim.  It was bloody freezing, the boys ran in and me and Nikki ran away but they managed to drag us in for a few seconds (god having contact lenses, is such a great excuse to deter people from draggin you into the icy ocean).  Sunday, everyone woke up rather hung-over, Nikki was pretty ill (don't think the crazy psycodelic  70's wallpaper in the toilet helped) But she battled through and we set off to do the Ottway tree top walk, a walkway 40 metres above and in the rainforest trees. It was so cool being so high up, although I wouldn't recommend the spiral tower to anyone who is slightly scared of heights and hung over we all felt rather green by the time we got to the top!! The view was amazing to see the eucalyptus trees are so straight like poles and the moss that?s been growing on them for thousands of years is crazy. It just shows how devastating the bush fires are, they are burning all around Victoria at the moment. (i can see a haze over the city out the window at work) We're both off to watch melbourne victory vs Sydey in the A league at the telstra dome tonight should be a good match!! then having a few drinks to say bye to everyone!! freo here we come.

Had our first taste of summer last night, it was a gorgeous warm night, after a few drinks in the office with the girls and Gary (tales of the navy!) With Phil playing on the new bongos (don't ask why we have bongos in a financial planners reception but anyway!!) Headed home slightly tipsy then carried on the evening at the Belguim Beer garden on St Kilda road, anyone heading to Melbourne its a must, we just wish we'd discovered it earlier. Had our final farewell drinks with flat mates Ollie and Sarah as they will have left the flat on Sunday before we get back from Apollo Bay. We'l be sad to part ways with them as been living with them for over 3 month now, so have to keep in touch guys if your reading this!! Good luck on your travels and don't forget our invite to the wedding!!! tee hee!! Definately come down to Poole one day and catch up next year.

Just counting down the hours at work, today 8 hrs then we are off to Apollo Bay with Kris and Nikki can't wait so sure I will have lots to write about and so photos to add next week!! bye for now Verina x x

hey bec, lovely to hear from you, missing you as always!!!

Just a quick one as im at work (working hard as usual not!!!) Sounds like your settling in well, and the calender is starting to fill up now. Karaoke hey..... don't scare him with your singing will you! you'l have to keep me posted on that one.... exciting. You always like Aussie men.

Bit disappointed we tried to book the Arts Factory the other day but its totally booked up so gotta find somewhere else to stay in Byron, I was gutted it was the only please we really wanted to stay in, but we're gonna sneak in anyway and have a look around go to the Buddha bar. Can't wait to finish work now, i've been day dreaming all day about the beach. So excited bout going back to Heathers, seeing Jess and Scott again and the pooches (missed them!)

Going to a Wittner Shoes xmas party tonight with the girls meant to be dressed as an indian our group theme is YMCA, so it should be interesting especially as I don't have an outfit yet!! will find something.

Love to all, missing you all heaps! love verina x x x

To KRIS..... im getting enough s*** at work about the cricket so don't you start!! Can't wait for the weekend road trip is goona be awsome!!

Hi V and toby, i am so excited for you both you will be travelling up the east coast and staying in the Arts factory in byron bay, i absolutely loved it! so pleased you are getting to see Heather on christmas day i wish i was there with you. life is busy in the bay! lucy from notts came down for the weekend and we went for a meal at cathy's in whitstable. i met her lodger and his friend kyle, suppose to be going to karaoke with kyle in the next few weeks! watch this space! hes nice! australian from sydney, will be probably travelling home May! anyway had a lovely meal and a few drinks afterwards. work is much the same but looking into a different option play therapy. jacks been playing and recording another albumn in the studios. this weekend mitsu is having a party, and abbie is getting gohonzon so a few get togethers! obviously christmas is looming and i am skint! well wish i was exploring instead of browsing the shops! love you and leave you take care Becsxx

Have the english team come to play Cricket this summer or are they just on a holiday like you two? HAHA

2 weeks untill we leave Melbourne!!! So excited to get out of the office and kick of the steel toe caps!!!  Just booked our flights to Perth leaving on the 10th dec and coming back on the 29th dec just in time for us to go to a festival on New years eve, going to be spending xmas in Fremantle!! we cant wait.

Weve planned our whole trip up the east coast all done and paid for!! we start on the 2nd of jan make our way up to Sydney for 3 days seee the harbour, etc do a Blue Mountains tour which is going to be amazing. Then up to Coffs Harbour and on to Byron Bay, stay in the Arts Factory where we'l be staying in a teepee as recommended by everyone thats been so awaiting big things. We are really packing in the days its going to be mad rush of travel and relaxation combined, Visiting the Whitsundays to do a 2 night 2 day sailing cruise and then on to Fraiser Island, were we drive round the iland made up of sand in huge 4wd's!! also going to magnetic island and loads more  we will write more and tell you all about it on route, its gonna be great to finally see a bit more of Oz, living in a city for 3 months cant wait to see the sights again.

Writing this slightly hungover as we had a couple of friends round last night, it was also Sarah's birthday, and Ollie proposed she said yes, so big congratulations to them!!!

 Speak to you all again soon, love T and V x x x  x

P.s.There were paragraphs in that message when I wrote it, they seem to have disappeared. I?ll have Baird after me for my bad punctuation if I?m not careful. Anyway See ya

Yo Dudes, Long time no communicate so thought I?d better get my ass in to gear. Also my boss is off this week and writing this is a good way to look like I?m doing work but actually not. Nice one on being in the snow in Australia chaps. So your both working which is good to know, wouldn?t want you to be having to much fun?! Doing a bit of marquee work eh Toby, copying Jason again? Have your Marquee firm got a little song as well? Hi ya yal right, want to **** a tenter? I hope that?s not too naughty to write on here (but it just made me laugh remembering it, I am a looser). Nice to see your keeping up the tradition of meeting someone from the Isle of Wight when ever someone goes on their travels. I have to confess I?ve been pretty slack in keeping in touch with the homeys, you?ve probably spoken to them more than me (I?m hoping they may read this and give me a ring, I would call them but I?ve got no credit as usual). Although I did speak to Steve a few weeks back.  Not much has been cracking off for me really. I think you know about the move to Brum. Since the summer we have been hibernating really. Did I tell you that I won tickets to Creamfields? Yes I know not really my bag, why did you enter that I hear you say, well I was trying to win tickets for Lennon to go to Bestival. Then MTV rang and said we?d won VIP tickets for Creamfields. It was quite a surreal experience, hanging back stage with Keith from the Prodigy and Shola Ama (is that how you spell her name, she has got fat). I also won tickets to another festival, the end of the road, I couldn?t go. Then there was Bestival which was an experience (some bad organisation on my part meant we got there late). I think a good time was had by all. I managed to go to a festival on the Isle of Wight and not see one person I know (which brings us nicely back to you meeting people in OZ) I have a new job, marketing assistant for incorporatewear which is a corporate clothing company surprisingly. It?s nice to finally have a proper job.  Lennon and I are off to watch Gomez tonight supported by the mighty Josh Ritter and then a nostalgia trip next week with an evening with the Bluetones.  Me and the Missis are trying to find a holiday at the moment; we have a week booked off before Christmas and want to go somewhere hot. It?s looking like the Caribbean but we?ll have to see as it?s a bit pricy. Unfortunately Australia is a bit far for us to go for a week otherwise I?d be straight on it. I think that?s all I have for you on this occasion, however I will write again when something of interest happens. Be excellent to each other (and stop writing gay messages to each other on your message board, only joking it gave me a watery eye Toby) Laters  Andy

YYYYEEEESSSSS!!!! First day off today in 2 weeks!!! Cant do much though as verina's working all day!! Havent spent much time together recently as weve both been working,  know she'll read this later so i thought i would take advantage of the board and just let Verina know how much i love her and really looking forward to spending more time together and having the time of our life on the rest of the trip.(bit cheesy i know!!) xxx

hi all,

well rather random today!!! toby has been working in the SNOW in a blizard, how crazy the weather is here climate change and all that!!! its been 7 degrees in Melbourne the coldest since 1977!! it was 3 degrees where toby was in  ballarat 3 hrs from city, people were even making snow men!! well were gonna go book some trips on the east coast cant wait to go on holiday now been working far too hard 55 hour weeks !!! speak to you all soon love T and V x x

hi toby and verina we are at sues today. lovely to hear you on the phone earlier; granny says hello and hope you get her 12 page letter. we have just celebrated  grandads          72nd birthday and had a nice get together. Wish you were both here to help eat all the food - missing you both

granny will be texting you as soon as she gets her phone back

lots of love from all of the family

xxxxxxx