It was all go, attention all Rachel and Liz were on Melbourne soil Bridie and Hannah were about to pop. Unfortunately they landed at some awful time in the morning so we would have to wait to go round as they were staying at Chloe's. Becki was dying in the morning, she had caught a cold, so she decided to stay at home to save her energy while Bridie and me when to meet the girls. W e jumped on the train and got a bit lost but made it to Chloe's without too many dramas. We walked in and no one was there, they were both jet lagged in bed! Of course that didn't stop us, we hadn't seen anyone from home for months, so we burst in and there were hugs and kisses all round!

We caught up with each other, all pinching ourselves that yes we were the other side of the world living the dream! We all went for a walk in the city and stopped in Victoria Market. Rachel was so excited about everything, if anyone deserved a holiday it was her. We all went back to Chole's to try and organise sleeping arrangements, we decided that Rachel would stay with us and Liz would stay at Chole's. So we grabbed Rachel's suitcase and dragged it to her new Australian house. There were more hugs thrown around when Rachel and Becki were reunited, and a few drinks followed.

The next day we planned a massive tourist day of walking, culture and museum. We headed to Melbournes history museum, where we were greeted with new and old history, interaction and animals. We saw a stuffed Simon the huntsman and it sent shivers down my spine remembering day one. Somehow we ended up getting split up and Rachel was left with Becki and I. We stayed in the museum for a while then decided to head home. Rachel had said she wanted to get a tattoo symbolising her trip. Knowing that I was in my element, tattoo shopping we would go, I asked around and hey presto I found one. We had all been talking about what colour star we would have so we were all prepared. Rachel booked an appointment, we were told to get some food for Rachel to give her energy so we headed to the big M, for a nutritious meal. After just 50 minuets of pain Rachel was now in the tattoo group, she couldn't give blood for the next 6 months and she will always have to drink at have you ever, but man it looked good. The southern cross on her neck with different coloured stars for everyone on the trip.

The next day we chilled out and in the evening Cat came over to met Rachel and Bridie and we all had some drinks and headed to a salsa bar. As soon as I heard the beat the start of the trip came flooding back, 1,2,3,4... I didn't realise but I actually remembered more than I thought. We all had a wonderful night, there was a huge brass band, lots of wonderful dancers and everyone there wanted to just dance and have fun.

Unfortunately work called and we had to do our five day training course so we could become sales machines. Day one was easy, it was all about the history of the company, how much money we are going to make and what wonderful careers we would get out of this opportunity. Everyone was pumped and ready to get involved the next day.

Day two was a bit more full on and it was all about script learning. We had a heads up as Murray had got us learning it during our first week at the club, Day three was the same all script learning but it also held one amazing delight, pay day!!!! Over six month now I have just watched my hard earned cash go down and down and then suddenly YES, I was in the positive of my Australian account, what a joy it was. We had the weekend off, to practice our scripts and chill out, there was no chilling for us, the girls were here and it was Beckis birthday so time to play up!

On the Saturday we went to an AFL (Australian Football League) game, where our home town Richmond was playing Chole's home team St Kildas. We got our asses absolutely kicked but the atmosphere in the stadium was infectious. Luckily for us poor innocent English folk Brendon, Choles boyfriend came along to the game to explain the rules. The game is a mixture of football, rugby and handball. The Australians can't believe that no one out of Australia has heard of the game, but to be honest its not too bad. The football is rugby shaped, and you can kick and throw the ball. If the ball is caught from a kick then its a mark, meaning the player who caught it can kick for goal without being tackled by the opposite team. Now Australians are nice people who like to give everyone a chance and live by the rule innocent until proven guilty, this is reflected in their sport, you get a point for trying! Yup even adults get this, there are two huge goals, displayed like rugby goals, with two post either side of it. If you get the ball through the outside posts or hit the post you get one point and if you get it through the "goal" you get a bounce five points, so a total of six points for a goal!

The is called football but the rules and fans don't reflect the game. The fans of both teams sit next to each other, there are no fights, no name calling or rude chants. As a result its a massive family event, with the tickets being the same price as the cinema, you get young children, youths, middle aged and older people at the game. There is also about a 60-40% split male and female divide, but everyone has something on supporting their team. It could just be a scarf, hat, shirt or a full head to toe covering of the team but everyone has something. To fit in, I brought a Richmond hat and Becki brought a scarf and we all got our faces painted.... we did look the part. Everyone got fully involved in the game, screaming at the players and roaring with the crowd when we scored. Even though we lost we all had an amazing time. We got home still buzzing, had a few more drinks, sang some old skols songs and had a massive sleep over. It was an amazing night, just hanging out with my best friends, it felt like I was home!!

Sunday came and it was birthday day! Becki's actual birthday was on monday, but we were working girl now so work came first. We just chilled out in the day, went shopping and had a relaxing day. Liz, Chole, Brendon and Cat all came over for drinks. Chole and Liz baked Becki an absolutely amazing looking and tasting Australian flag birthday cake. It must have taken them ages to make and us only seconds to munch on down.... well we are backpackers after all.

Becki opened her present and loved each one, I brought her Lee Evans DVD which she had been going on about scene we left England, Rachel and Bridie made Becki some posters, Liz got Becki a t-shirt and Bridie made a huge picture frame of our time as a group in Melbourne. Even though it was Becki's birthday everyone was on a high, then from nowhere (I think Rachel forgot) she brought out some surprise pressies from home,Becki's mum had sent a package with Rachel. Becki opened each one with a smile ear to ear and I am sure there were a few tears but she would kill me if I said that!!! That night we had a few drinks, then headed to the crown casino. There was everything there, pubs, restaurants, cinema, clubs, shops and of course a five story casino that went on for miles.

Becki was the only one who played but me being me, everytime she won I would take some chips and saved them until she had won her money back. I continued sneaking a few chips here and there and when she had finished she bet $50 and came away with $150. Being the tourist she is she got the money in big notes, one greenie $100 bill which none of us had seen and a yellow $50. We continued the party at a pub then headed to St Kilda for a few drinks. We didn't actually make it to St Kilda as the tram ride was boring us, so we got off and headed to the first bar we saw... After talking to some locals the next day we found out it was a drug hang out bar, and stays open a full 72 hours over the weekend... noone noticed as we were all having such a wicked time.

The next day, assessment day at work, going out the night before a good idea? Well maybe not but we both aced the assessment, Becki got 98% and I beated her with a whopping 99%!!! had to put that in as it drives her mad.... there might be a little bit of competition between us now and then. That night, we just chilled out with Cat and the crew, ate Becki's favorite dinner fajitas and headed to the Great Britian pub, where none of us drank, we just chatted.

The last day of the course was boring as it was slow and we were all so eager to get to the clubs so we can get stuck in, selling. We left feeling positive about the job and ready be to selling 5 a day..... well that soon changed!

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was spent at work, doing outreach, after outreach, getting turned down again and again.. turns out selling isn't quite as easy as I first thought. That weekend we went on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road, to see the 12 Apostles . The trip there was full of us singing, sleeping and rain! We arrived at the 12 Apostles to be greeted with the same weather we drove there in, but spirits were high and we weren't about to be beaten by a bit of rain. We all got suited and booted up and headed out.

There were only seven Apostles left due to erosion from the sea but the views were spectacular and the weather kinda added to it. We took some photos and ran back to the car to warm up. We made a few stops on the way home to shop and grab a bite to eat.

The following week was spent with a mixture of work, few drinks, some yummy home cooked food by Rachel, lots of Master chef and chilling out. We went to the Great Britain pub again on Wednesday for an open mic night. Yea I know what your thinking, come the other side of the world and drink in and English pub, yeah, yeah, yeah I know its lame but it had a great atmosphere and its close to home. The open mic night was really funny, being able to judge people who have more guts than any of us to get on stage and perform their talent. There was a mixture of singing, playing instruments, bands and comedians. All in all a very good night.

Sadly all good things come to an end and Bridies time in Melbourne was almost up. So we decided to get dressed up, for some reason fancy dress and party the night away. I am not sure how it happened or how we even managed it, but wee all put on "I Love..." tops. We had a mixture of Rio, HK, Fiji and Becki had a I love Manly (a famous beach of Sydney, but we shortened it to I love man... just for jokes!) That night we were all on top form, everyone was buzzing during pre drinks, singing, dancing and having a ball. We went to St Kilda to meet Liz, Chole and Brendon to watch a live band, who were wicked. Still enjoying the night we went to a few more bars, then grabbed some well needed food and headed home with miles all round.

The next day we spent orgainsing our stuff and helping Bridie pack for the rest of her trip. She was heading to Perth to spend some time with Pedros family then finishing her trip in South East Asia. We had a traditional roast dinner cooked by the wonderful Liz and Chole. The roast was amazing and the tastes left my mouth way too quickly, no one does a roast like an English, 7 months I had to wait for this one, I hope its not another 7 months until the next! We said our good dyes to Bridie and Rachel, Becki and myself headed with her to the Sky bus terminal which would take her to the airport. It was really sad saying good bye to Bridie as we had so many adventures and life changing experiences we could have only dreamed of back in England. It was such a strange feeling saying good bye as, we both knew the next time we saw each other we would be home but what we didn't know was when. Weeks, months or years.... again only time will tell. Its one thing you learn when on the road, plans change on a daily basis and even having flights booked isn't a final decision, it can only be final when your bums sat on the plane. Bride has a lot to orgainse when she gets home and I hope travel has equipped her to face the challenges ahead.

Also with Bridie going I knew it was only days away when I would have to say good bye to Liz and Rachel, my last bit of home, I wasn't too sure how I would deal with everyone leaving knowing they would all be reunited with each other and our friends in a few weeks and I would be still so far away. Not letting the unknown trouble me too much we orgainsed our last days to make the most of them. Most of it was a mixture of work, food and films but we did squeeze another AFL game in and a few drinking sessions to say good bye in style! The AFL was Essendon and the Hawks. Becki and Rachel took Essendon and Liz and myself took the mighty Hawks... To be fair none of us knew anything about the teams we made our decision based on the looks of the players and the colours of their shirt!! The first three quarters weren't too much to right home about but then tables turned and it was almost neck and neck. The last quarter had the crowd going wild and all four of us were screaming at the top of our voices trying to encourage our teams. I am not going to say who won as that would be unfair, I am just going to say Becki and Rachel were very sore losers! Liz went to meet Chole and we headed back to Richmond and stopped at a few pubs. Sadly Becki was feeling a bit ruff so she headed home as we had work the next day. I decided I would take the opportunity to hang out with Rachel on a one on one basis. We decided to put some bets one and both lost! Stupid English and Australian football teams! We then were heading home and Rachel decided that there was a queue outside this club so we had to go in for a drink or it would be rude! So we did and it was a perfect way to finish a wonderful holiday with one of my oldest friends!

Anyone who knows Rachel they will know her art of leaving things to the last minute, she did book her ticked to OZ without a passport well packing was the same. She spent the morning rushing around trying to fit her stuff into her bag and luckily for me, most of it couldn't fit so I got a new wardrobe! She took some pictures of the house, street and the local hangouts (meaning Coles the supermarket and the BSW, which saw at least one of us each day!) Brendon came with Liz in the car to collect Rachel, so we all said our good byes and there were big kisses and hugs all round.

It was really sad to watch them drive off, but I tried to put that at the back of my mind and focus on the coming months... Next visitor would be George from Bolivia and Carnival!