So we got dropped off in Newport where Jons family live and where I stayed for a couple of nights. Lovely family, and Travers (the son) took us out in Sydney on the Friday night(funnily enough I drank too much again and suffered the next day!!).We met Dad and Eve for a drink before going to eat at some Thai DIY restaurant in Pyrmont (nice food - just not so hot on service!) and then went to some record launch in town.

Saturday came and we headed down to the beach and then Dad & Eve came over to pick me up from Newport to go and stay with Ian and Wendy. Wendy is Eve's sister and just fab - the whole family were brilliant. That evening we just sat and chatted and got to know each other. At 6pm the boys wanted to go to bed cos Santa would come quicker but weren't allowed!!

Xmas day arrived and I really didn't know what to expect but it was fab. Having been hideously homesick yesterday, xmas in the Sun is a total cure!!

We started the day with the boys opening their pressies, and I even had a couple. I am now the proud owner of a Pink Passport Holder and Luggage Label, and an Australia Flag Umbrella - watch out Croydon!! Thanks to everyone who sent me a card out here - it made me feel really special (and not speshell!) and I loved them.

We then filled a few lemonade bottles with Champagne and Guava juice and made up our canapes (smoked salmon and cream cheese on little mini breads!) and packed the Eski and headed down to North Curl Curl beach. Straight into the water for a swim at 10am on xmas day - it was beautiful and just a perfect start to xmas. We then sat and quaffed our champers and canapes - 'a blessed way to spend the day'! We then headed home to Wendy and Ian's and sat in the pool drinking more champers and generally enjoying the 'xmas spirit'! It was perfect and sorry if you got upset if I sent you that photos by the pool!!!

Jacks and her hubby came round and brought the turkey and we did the roast potatoes and veg (well, Wendy did) and we had the best xmas roast ever - nothing like eating out under the stars in your bikini and a sarong!!! Definately a first - although I confess I felt a little underdressed!!

The day progressed with games, humming games and more games, and was just totally an almost perfect xmas. Why only almost perfect? Cos I didn't have all my family and friends there, but there's always next year everyone!!??!!..........

Boxing Day, Babbs, Lee, Jon, Dad, Ian and I all headed out on a boat into the harbour to watch the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race start. It was an all you could eat and drink boat and I did!! The yachts were amazing and we were amongst famous people like Billy Connolly - get me!! Not much else to say on that - probably cos it was just drinking, eating and boats.

We ended the day back in Sydney and Babbs, Lee, Jon & I headed for Pancakes on the Rocks - Yummmmmmmmm!!! Just the best pancakes ever! We then went for a bottle of wine by central quay before heading home - and that was eventful in itself. My phone battery went dead and I didn't have Ian & wendys number, dads phone was switched off and the information line on public phones will only give a cab number if you know the name of the firm!! So after about half an hour thinking about what I was going to do I eventually mananaged to hassle a nice lady posting her letters and made it home.

Tuesday I just spent the morning in the pool and then headed into Manly to meet Babbs, Lee, Jon & Kate for a meal and a few drinks. Kate very kindly invited me to stay so I didn't have to worry about getting back to Killara, and we went to BlueWater, the best restaurant in town!! Went for a drink in the Steyne, and then ate, and then headed back to Kates via the Boatshed!! A classic night which became a very drunken affair once back at Kates, with Me, Lee & Babbs debating the pros and cons of management etc etc. All in a fantastic night out, although my head the next morning said otherwise!!

I headed back to the City where I met Dad & Eve and we walked all round the Opera House, and then through most of Sydney City and then met friends of Eve's for a drink and then dinner in a cheap and cheerful (not that cheerful) place in town before heading back for white port at Wendys!!

And today I have come back to Manly and am now staying at a very nice guesthouse where I have my own room with TV and fridge and a whole double bed to myself - I can't wait to go to bed!!! I'm here for 4 nights and then have to find somewhere else but hopefully by then most of the backpackers will be flying home having recovered from New Years Eve in Sydney.

So on that note I shall leave and make a solemn promise to update more often from now on. I'm going to be really busy from now on with loads to cram into my time left in Oz.

Hope you all had a great xmas, are enjoying the snow, and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I know that 2006 totally has to be a year where things start going right for me, and I hope that it brings everything that you wish for - I love you all very much.

Happy New Year!

Hels Bels
xxxx