Well, welcome back to work everyone!! Hope you all had a fantastic time over xmas and that your New Year Festivities left you feeling as ill as I did! Anyway more about that later....
So I've been in Manly for a few days now and I love it. I arrived here and checked into the guest house and then came out for a mammoth walk all round manly trying to find an internet cafe only to find that it was just up the road - talk about take the long way round!! So I updated my web and did some shopping and made my way up to the guest house.
I was sat outside doing another Suduko (sad I know but addictive!)when a very nice Kiwi lady came outside and told me that noone sits outside her guesthouse without a drink and on their own. She then told me she is the housekeeper and proceeded to ply me with Sambuca on an empty stomach!!! Next thing I know a group of guys came back from the pub, 2 from Scotland (Singy & Scotty) and one from Oz, Tim. So we all sat around chatting and drinking and then made our way out to the barbeque area out back where Taneas partner then produced home made flans (not as good as mums cheese flan but pretty good!). We proceeded to get very drunk and they are all soo lovely and have really looked out for me.
So then Friday I got up and went down the beach with the guys and came back to get ready to go to Wendy & Ians for a Bar-B-Q where I would see cousin Paul for the first time in 5 years. Bit daunting so Tanea fed me sambuca again before I left. All in all a fantastic evening although it took me 2.5 hours to get back! But bless Singy waited up for me to make sure I was ok!
Saturday and it's New Years Eve!! So went for a walk into town and actually had my hair cut. It is now short at the back so that it can start growing into a bob - long hair again - oh my god!! Then I made my way into Sydney to meet Dad & Eve at McMahons Point for 3pm ready to 'cop a squat' to view the fireworks. McMahons Point is right in front of the harbour bridge which was the focus for the fireworks and the Opera House is behind that.. The view was amazing and although the wait was a little tedious (saved only by my bottle of water aka Smirnoff Ice!) it was well worth it. The theme for the night (and year) was Heart & Soul. So Dad bought Eve and I flashing red hearts which we wore proudly. At 9pm the first lot of fireworks went off and they were amazing. They are done for the kids and then the families tend to leave the party goers to it. At Midnight the show was like none other I have ever seen. It was beautiful and I just sat in awe hardly able to actually believe that I'm on the other side of the world and how fantastic it is. I am soo lucky and wish that you could all experience it too - hopefully this blog goes some way to helping you imagine!
So I got back to Manly where I met the guys for a drink, except that I didn't cos they had shut the main corso in Manly due to fights earlier in the evening so I didn't get to the pub in time. Never mind - I think I had had enough by then!! I sent loads of texts and hope you all got them.
New Years Day arrived and god did I feel ill. Not helped by the fact that Sydney experienced it's hottest day on record since 1939, hitting 45 degrees. It was too hot to go out so we just sat in the house and watched telly. Went to bed early and prepared for a day in the sun the next day.
However, It then all changed. The winds picked up and the rain was acoming!! The temperature plummetted and by 7am it was only 19 degrees and cloudy. I actually had to wear my tracky top all day it was sooo cold!! Kind of good in a way as I had to move out and into a backpackers down the road - just can't afford the rent in the guest house although I'm gutted cos I've made some great friends. Anyway, the guys helped me take my stuff down and I was gutted - it is awful - so hard when you are used to the guesthouse with a room to yourself and your own fridge and telly!! Anyway, they took me back to the house where I went and had a quiet cry and then proceeded to get me very drunk. Tan took pity on me and I stayed there again last night - even though most of my stuff is at the backpackers and very soon I'm going up there again to spend the evening drinking!! Was going to go down the pub but they guys have just text saying the pub is dead!!!
Today I got up and spent the day on the beach. It was a nice 30 degrees - deceivingly cool and I now have a little redness shall we say!! Never mind. So that has been my week so far.
As I said before I really do hope that you all have a fantastic 2006 and it brings everything you wish for. I promise I WILL come home once my tan is dark enough - but it will take a bit more working on for the time being!!
Enjoy work, and I'll have a drink for you all in Sydney!!
Lots of love to you all
Me
xxx
Happy New year Baby