So Here We Are

Hey.

It's been ages since I did an update, but today I find myself at a loose end and 30 mins left on my internet time so I figured I should do an update.

Where was I? The Everglades...that was pretty interesting. We canoed for a fair few hours over three days and saw lots of trees and water and camped and got bitten and...well that was it really. Not the most spectacular of adventures. Was a bit boring really.

After Noosa we went back to Brisbane for the party and to say goodbye to the children etc. It was pretty sad. The party was good. I massacred Dido...twice. And then sang everything that Shane or Nick could play, got a little drunk and crashed out. Awoke early the next day and then fell asleep in Oskars bed until the day was almost over.

Went to my last dance classs and cried like a baby saying goodbye, but saying goodbye to the children and Nicole was horrible. Had to do them all seperately. Jonny woke me up at 5am as he was off on a bike ride to say goodbye so was all groggy and couldn't get back to sleep because the wheels were in motion. Children hopped into bed with me early doors and it was just awful all day really. Goodbyes to Tillie and Nic took her off to school while I played bubbles with Oskar, goodbyes to Oskar as he hopped off to daycare. He didn't know what to do with himself poor little mite. Doesn't like all this emotional stuff, me crying like a baby and Nicole getting upset. Sensitive soul. Then there was goodbyes to Nanna and Pa as we drove off for Nic to drop me and Lauren at our appointed bus stop. I'm never going to forget waving goodbye to Nic and Olly at the side of the road. The windows were tinted and I knew that even though I could see them, they couldn't see me. Was heartbreaking to say the least and I sobbed my heart out for a fair old while once they were out of my sight. I don't know when I'll see them again. With any luck before I leave, but I don't really know how that'll work out.

So after Brisbane it was on to Byron Bay where we have already been once for Laurens birthday. We met up with our English lads on route which was nice as we'd missed them. The first night we just hung out as I was pretty wiped from my emotional day and early start. Then we did a day trip out to this little hippie town called Nimbin. Everyone had been telling me it was the maddest thing they'd ever seen and it's mad because people are just offering you skunk and hash cookies left, right and centre. To be fair I was a little disappointed as it was just like a miniature version of Camden really and nowhere near as wacky and insane as I was hoping it migt be. there was a cool museum though which I got some funky pictures of. That night me and Lauren went out and met some really cool guys from the gold coast that we hung out with. Ended up dragging everyone to the beach to watch the sunrise only to realise that the beach actually points North and so you can't see the surise. Whoops. Was pretty fun anyways.

Our Oz bus picked us up and took us down to surf camp. We hadn't been to bed and had Sonic as our driver again. He was probably my favourite out of all the guys we had. Him and Forrest the others were spanners really. So yeah down to surf camp where we had a surf lesson, which is pretty hard when you've not had any sleep. I crashed out immediately afterwards and except for a 30 minute wake up to munch a chocolate bar that tasted disgusting I slept right through until 6am the next day. Much needed rest.

After this it was a long ass trek bus journey down to Sydney where we stayed for 2 days before flying to Melbourne. Which is where we currently are.

I have managed to find a job in a bar, but it's only 2 nights/12 hours a week which is an issue as I need to save money for New Zealand and it just about covers rent, food and expenses. I'm looking for office work, but apparantly I can kiss it goodbye before Christmas. Have also been looking for other bar work and cafe work, but alas so is the rest of the backpacking population that are here for Christmas.

As Xmas looms I kind of want to be at home. That's probably mostly to do with me being unsure about work etc. It's only 4 weeks until we go to New Zealand, but if I can't find some extra work I don't really know where that leaves me with going there. I think I'd still go as the flight is paid for and the camper would be cheaper than a hostel for the three weeks. Although I wouldn't find a hostel for it now I don't think. Sorry t his is musings as oppossed to plans, but I need to try and think my way around things.

So yes, we're in Melbourne, which I love and I feel like myself again while I'm here. That sounded a lot less strange when I said it in my head. Pretty much we just hang out in the day and I work Thursday and Friday nights. My bodyclock is shot as my shifts start at 10pm and finish anywhere up until 7am. My bar shuts on the 20th December so that's another worry. It opens again on the 8th of Jan, but I need to get my shifts covered otherwise I won't be able to come back to it which I'm planning on doing. I want to stay here until my visa expires now. I like it. It's just like London, which is probably why. It's got more culture too.

Anyways my half hour is almost up. I hope this well overdue blog finds you all well and happy and looking forward to the festive period. Take care and I will keep you updated on my goings ons when I actually have some.

Mulu

x xx x

Sand In Your Pants...

So i'm currently in Noosa about 2 hours north of Brisbane and we're on the last leg of our insane 4 week madness!

Have just been at Fraser which is absolutely stunning, but being a sand island you get sand in everything and even end up eating it. Eggy bread and sand...lovely! I pretty much lived on rice crackers for 3 days because it was easier than having to wait for evryone else to finish cooking there meat dinners before starting mine and being on the beach it's very windy and so takes lonegr to cook. They put lentils in for my dinner, that would have been fun to try and cook on the silly litle gas stoves you get. But anyways Fraser Island is beautiful.

We went up to Indian heads where you look out over the water and it's so clear. You can see all the sharks swimming around and turtles and stingrays when you're stood at the top of all the cliffs. We went to Lake Mackenzie which is just stunning. You walk through "The Bush" and before you know it you walk out onto pure white sand with this beautiful freshwater lake on the otherside. There's no fish or anything in there and your skin is so smooth after you've been swimming in it because of all the Eucalyptus trees. The sand is also really fine and works like a brilliant exfoliator. We also went to lake Wabby which is strange. Again you have to walk through the bush and then you come to this great big sandblow and you feel as if you just walked into the desert. You have to trek for about 2 kms and then you go over the edge of this big dune and it's really steep and there's another beautiful lake. This one is a bit green because it has fish and algae, but I prefered it to Mackenzie because it was just so strange to walk across a desert and find this beautiful little oasis.

Back to Brisbane on Friday to see my surrogate family and after that maybe head North back to Rainbow Beach to work at the hostel we stayed in. We'll probably be there until we go to New Zealand on the 28th of December as Christmas in Sydney will cost way more than we can feasably do on our budget.

So I think that's about it as my time is ticking on this bad boy and I can't get anymore time because the reception and bar is closed for the evening. Tomorrow we're off for a bush camp and then a 3 day 2 night canoe safari down the everglades.

Will tell you about that when I get back on Wednesday.

Hope you're all well.

Mulu

x xx x