heres some more pics that i thought you should see. its mainly from my road trip with marc though!

well here is my final oz instalment i guess- aaaaah! so after the cricket (what a let down eh?) i flew to canberra to catch up with my aussie&nbsp...

"HOORAH" i hear you say. an update on the blog i seem to be hooked on. well maybe not but here's what ive been up to over the yuletide period! af...

i arrived in melbourne yesterday in time for the robster and christmas. oh, and did i mention that i'm going to the ashes?!! unreal, well i wo...

ok, so its been a while. so long in fact that i got told that tumbleweed was seen blowing across my blog. apart from the last 3 weeks ive been pret...

as marc is setting off back to alice in time for the henley-on-todd regatta (a boat race in the dry river! yes, think fred flinstone!), which im ve...

get up at stupid o'clock to watch the sunrise over uluru- in my pyjamas! very fetching! was pretty cool although the sunrise viewing spot is closer...

after another early start we drive for a bit before finally clapping eyes on uluru. i nearly peeed my pants! really, i was that excited! to me this...

after an early start (6.30) we get to kings canyon by lunch time. we decide (and have been told) to do the 6km 3-4 hour walk rated difficult- yippe...

so we have spent 3 days in alice and are heading to the rock tomorrow. so what have we been doing here, i hear you say? well, after the free pancak...

stopped at the devils marbles. as you can imagine they are big, big rocks that are similar to, well, marbles! the local aboriginals believe they ar...

a short trip to the cutta cutta caves (cutta cutta means many stars in the local aboriginal language) where we had a guided tour. interesting stuff...

after not getting much sleep in the coffin, sorry, tent, i didnt feel on top of the world, and marc was feeling ill as well! what fun we are! our ...

so i am finally up to date on my blog! boy its taken a while! and i still have some of marc's photos to add to the kakadu part! that can wait till ...

after a super early start (need to get the aircon fixed and update blog before we go!) we eventually head to litchfield np not far from darwin. ou...

a nice leisurely morning stroll around a monsoon forest to awaken the senses! heehee! cant believe how hot it is even at 9am. as we were walking i ...

ok, so pine creek was like days ago! we are most of the way around kakadu now! after some culcha at the bowali visitor centre we drove to ubirr (o...

we decided to get up nice and early to take advantage of a free ranger walk around yellow water billabong. we saw some really cool wildlife- mostly...

ok, so still in kakadu (silly computer)! marc wakes me up at 6.30am and tells me that we are going on a day trip! so we set off, 3 4wd with 5 peo...

after popping to the hot springs again we then went to the school of the air. this place is unbelievable, it is the centre where they communic...

ok, so again, not the fittest person in the world but this morning did a 3 and a half hour hike! yes, hike. not walk, hike. and it was uphill, most...

the morning entailed a relaxing cruise on lake argyle, which is the 2nd largest manmade waterway thingy in australia! it is 21 times the size of sy...

after we do the 3 walks around Mirima National Park (which take all of an hour!), which is similar but heaps smaller, than the bungle bungles, we h...

a lazy start (pancakes and egg sangers for brekkie) and head towards kununurra via wyndham. apart from the 5 rivers lookout there is a 20metre ceme...

oh...my....god. we got up at 4.30am! we decided last night to drive to the entrance of the park and hopefully hitch a lift in with some lovely peop...

so after crapping it about camping (with those lovely little things i love so much) it actually went ok. although it was no bed i managed to get so...

after a much fun and hilarity on our drive to fitzroy crossing (as i pull out of a roadhouse onto a highway we realise the boot is still ...

so after a week of generally relaxing and doing pretty much nowt im getting ready for another road trip up to darwin. i cant wait! and even going t...

i met up with lisa today...in broome.... AUSTRALIA! for those who dont know, lisa is a friend from back home who i havent seen in 6 months! althoug...

after yet another long day on the road (600km this time) we arrive in broome in the evening. i catch up with a roomate from adelaide called marc. w...

so after a chilled last day at coral bay (more beach and snorkelling!) we hit the road on saturday. as its such a long way to broome we are staying...

after another day at the beach yesterday i thought i should actually do something! so today i'm going on a glass bottomed boat with a bit of snorke...

after a lazy start to the day christine and i head down to the beach. just to give you an idea of where i am.... the weather is hot, the beach is s...

so after an early start to catch the dolphins (christine hasnt seen them yet). hang on, have i even told you about christine? well, christine is fr...

after an early start the drive goes well. apart from underestimating how far it was and having to drive a few hours in the dark. as you guys may or...

so i drag myself down to the river for an 8am (yes, EIGHT A.M) race start. i was determined to watch it, however rough i felt. most people dont bot...

so tommorrow is the avon descent that starts here in northam so the tradition is for the whole town to get plastered the night before! sounds good ...

just a quickie as im here with lisa! yes, from back home! just some pics of a plane flight that di's friend dennis took us up on. was wicked! very ...

hmm, jelly and ice cream- what more does a girl need?! ok, chocolate cake!

went to a place called the jenna tavern in jennacubine. the pub is well known for its food, you go select what you want from the fridge and he barb...

so ive spent the last 5 days living on a farm! looking after 3 children while their mum went up north to play hockey and their dad is busy working ...

so this is what greeted me on my way to work this morning! the area im in, avon valley, is where they do ballooning, skydiving, gliding, etc. dont ...

so after being taken out in perth last night by some of lucinda's friends, lucinda and her hubby brett (shane's brother!) took me down to mandurah ...

we travel back through mount barker which is a well known wine region. so it would be rude of not to stop at  least once, dont you think?! we ...

so after an hour or so drive to pemberton we head straight to the Gloucester Tree, the most well known of trees in this area. the tree is 61m (bloo...

my mate les and i decide to head to the southern forests for a couple of days to see some mahoosive trees and climb one or two maybe! the forests a...

hooray! at last ive managed to add more photos! they go back as far as about 20th may. broken arm, scar and dolphin feeding among the highlights!

i went to another afl match today- west coast eagles (w.a. team) against western bulldogs (melbourne team). the stadium (subiaco oval) was hug...

so after a few bevvies at the grass valley tavern (my 1st time back since leaving) and catching up with people, tina, shane and i head back as ther...

so over the weekend there was an olive festival held in york! (hence or the olive prep!). on the friday olivesmiths (tina and shanes olive company)...

as everyone is enjoying themselves so much jess and troy decide to stay an extra night! so i spend the afternoon by the pool! just with less beer t...

on our way down to kalbarri we stop at a place called hamelin pool telegraph station where there are some weird things called stromatolites. they a...

so we get to monkey mia at 8am and there is already quite a crowd along the shore. every morning about this time, dolphins come into shore to get f...

after an early start (the children are 2 and 4, they dont have a concept of time!) and a yummy brekkie we set off for shark bay at 8.30. luckily i ...

so im off again, this time up to shark bay with the family ive been working for. we stop at geraldton on the way up for the 1st night. apart from b...

hooray, at last its my check up! its only been 2 weeks but feels like forever! as i only had a hard cast down the back of my arm and wrapped in ban...

after being devastated (i couldnt eat for a week) about missing out on the first lot of robbie tickets, i managed to get 2 when they released more ...

yep, you guessed it, more olives today! luckily not picking though! we had to go to york to the olive press to pick up the oil from all those lovel...

offered to hoover for di- broke the hoover. enough said.

unfortunately due to rough weather conditions i didnt get woken up at stupid o'clock to go get the craypots in and fish. darn that weather!!! im no...

so despite not being able to work im still managing to have some fun! bruce, the sheep shearer/farmer guy, takes me with him up to cervantes as he'...

so i do some right-handed ironing for jen as they are letting me stay there for a bit. and i end up dropping the bloody iron and making a nice...

well, a few hours at the races! i went with jess and the children for a bit then took the children back. the weather was fantastic considering its ...

after babysitting last night for jess,tinas cousin, and troy, the nurse that looked after me in northam (yes, it is like gravenhurst!), w...

despite still feeling like a bag o'shite i (no its not the drugs, they only gave my paracetemol!) i go into work with tina to her parents busi...

well, my temporary home anyway! i manage to shower by myself, even wash my hair one handed! AND get dressed! adrian picks me up at lunch time the...

the surgeon comes in to tell me that the op went well (he told me immediately after op too, but i guess i was too out of it!) and they hadnt had to...

after miraculously managing to get some sleep the nurse comes in at 8 to get me ready for my op at 11. it was very weird having someone wash you in...

so after an hour and a half olive picking in the lovely australian winter sunshine we break (ha ha) for a barbie lunch.  ade and i decide to d...

sorry its taken me so long to update blog, as many of you know i have my reasons! so my first week was pretty good as far as jobs go. working and ...

after being told by jen not to surface before 10am (or half 10 if i want! they have obviously taken on the aussie way of life!) we go through the h...

after checking out and all the usual stuff i head off to the outback (!!) with my house on my back! so, after getting the wrong train to the bus st...

i decide (despite my lack of funds!) that i should get out for the day so i take the train to fremantle. when you pull in on the train it reminds y...

as the weather was bloomin marvellous today i was going to head to the beach but decided to save that for teh weekend and so i headed back to kings...

after a cultural day i was chilling out in room in the evening when a guy in the bed across the room (unmade!) stumbles out of the room, 5 minutes ...

after a free brekkie i head into the city to go to some weird modern tower thing called the swan bells. it hold all 16 of the bells of st.mart...

after managing a few more hours of sleep here and there they started playing music at 6.45am!!!! i'll be waking up then! only a few hours to g...

ok, so i TRIED to get some sleep... i didnt actually get much though! the odd hour or two here and there. its about as comfortable as an aerop...

after being woken up by the torrential rain on our skylight i guess its time to get up and ready. spent the day wandering around, had a farewell b...

abbie and me have a wander and a munch in central market which is loads of different food stalls- my favourite kind! i head to glenelg (beach town...

after meeting said canadian for a coffee i head to the botanic gardens for some fresh air! a really beautiful place with some cool plants and tree...

thought as i only have a few days left i better get some more sights in! so abbie and me head to parliament house to watch question time! it was ac...

so after filling my face with cereal, toast and maybe a pancake (or two!) we head to remarkable rocks. another one of those roy walker moments obvi...

up at 5.40 AM! boy, this better be worth it! we get picked up by scott, our tour guide, at 6.30, in the minibus (and when i say minibus im emphasis...

up at 6.45- god, what time are we gonna start drinking???!! our first stop was to see the worlds biggest rocking horse!!! yes, really! what an acc...

decide to check out the city so go for a wander to see what this place has to offer.... so maybe its because its sunday... and i have just come fr...

ok, to start with im actually in kingston s.e. but the 'town' must be so small that the computer is oblivious to it! but we did pass through beachp...

up and ready to leave by 9.15 (hey, i did go to bed at 10!)- its gonna be a long drive today. few more photo opportunities at port campbell, the a...

so after managing to be showered and ready to leave at 7.45 we cant get hold of our idiot landlord to check out. after hanging around we decide to ...

its my last day at work today- aaahh! and i had a hangover and little sleep (surprise, surprise!). it was actually really sad, ive mad good friends...

ANOTHER public holiday today, ANZAC day. i meet up with dave, an aussie guy who i worked with in greece 5 years ago! he takes me to a wil...

me and sarah (roomie) decide spontaneously to take the ferry across to williamstown! its meant to be a pretty area with a nice beach (obviously in ...

spill miso soup (basically, hot watery soup) all over a table and nearly over some guy- well done me!

as i went out with my aussie friend emma in geelong i get train back to melbourne in time for our trip to phillip island in the afternoon. we get ...

yes, i have the worlds worst hangover! im never drinking again (sorry kerry and karen!). AS IF! chill out and try and recover as i have work at wa...

after getting an choc easter bunny from my boss (aah, how sweet!) the long weekend was calling. so my roomies and me (bunny ears and all!) head to...

so even though im leaving in 2 weeks (ssshhh, dont tell the boss!) i thought i'd try and earn some extra cash. my first shift goes well, despite be...

I booked the campervan today- hoorah! its actually a relocation which works out dirt cheap. me and my roomie sarah will be leaving in 2 weeks! i g...

couple of us went into the city today and there happened to be a thai food and culture festival, so we filled our faces! but more importantly, i fo...

to celebrate our new room mate moving in (and because, unlike us, we have major hangovers!) we go to greasy joes (you remember, where the guy who u...

so after dragging myself out of bed to get ready for work (oh, with a neck that feels like its the size of the elephant mans!) i decide i can ...

what a way to go! all week ive been hearing the cars at work (which is a fair way away from the circuit) and getting excited about the race (very u...

after a very comfortable and smooth one hour train ride (it is possible thameslink!) to geelong (jelong!) i go to my first footie match with my aus...

so the games are finally coming to a close. we head back to federation square to watch the closing ceremony. dont get such a good spot but some peo...

i headed into the city today to go up the observation deck. as it was such a nice day you could see for miles! in fact, im sure i saw the white cli...

tonight a few of us went to sidney myer to see 3 groups perform, all from the pacific. the first group were the same haka dancers as before but the...

hoorah- its finally here! so roz and i were walking to the mcg (melbourne cricket ground) and who do we bump into? my ol' mate kelly holmes (see p...

me and tallia head into the city to see some maori haka dancers. theres a festival on running alongside the games, loads of dance, music, street th...

so after 3 and a half hours sleep i get up at 7am to see the triathlon! i get a good spot for the womens- just as they get out of the sea! after ...

so after having a disasterous custard making morning (i was using TEAspoons instead of TABLEspoons! no wonder it wasnt thickening!) i finally found...

so the games are officially opened tonight- hooray! as soon as i get home from looking after the monsters all day (actually, i spent the morning pe...

just had the crappest couple of days since getting here, i guess it was inevitable! first, the messed up my tax number and so i wasnt going to get...

so after doing a dry run yesterday to see how long, etc it would take me to get to work i thought i would be sorted this morning. does it run smoot...

mum, you would be proud of me! as it was a public holiday today i did some cleaning at the apartments! 3 and a half hours actually and i was knacke...

check me out- ive become miss cultural! i spend 3 hours in the melbourne museum today! could have been longer but they were shutting so i basicall...

today i go to work in my t-shirt, jumper AND coat! not good news considering i came here partly for the sun! and i take my brolly as its spitting o...

HOOOOORRRRRAAAAAYYYY! i went to get my tickets for the commonwealth games today! im SOOOO excited! im going to see the athletics at the mcg (melbo...

this morning i finally succombed to temptation... my first macdonalds since living across the road and smelling it daily for the past 3 weeks or so...

saturdays seem to be my cultural day! i headed into the city to go to the old melbourne gaol. i spent 3 hours there! it was actually very interesti...

so the first weird event of the day was meeting an australian girl at work (funnily enough!) who had lived in thurleigh for 3 months last year and ...

so today i have the best intentions of not drinking but again, free alcohol + backpackers= drunk backpackers! of course i pick up lots of interest...

slept till 2pm! must have been the goon! so what better weather to tidy up the courtyard in then torrential rain and thunderstorms! lovely! after...

well, after a very late night mixed with alcohol i knew what was coming next! a phone call at 9am to see if i could work! well i was of course elat...

wake up surprisingly with no hangover- feels good! sobriety is the future, im telling you! head into the city and have a tour around federation sq...

hooray!! ive moved back to st.kilda! the room is wicked- bunk bed and single (mine obviously!), kettle, fridge, microwave, and most importantly, a ...

so, ive just realised that all im writing about now is going out, drinking too much and spending too much money!so i'll squash the last f...

so, drinking and getting up early do not go together! and nor, does drink and interviews! i manage to find the office ok and the interview is fine...

after a leisurely start to the day at my place (!!!) i head to st.kilda to meet the others as tonight is THE big night- we are going to see dr.karl...

as i didnt really drink last night i had no hangover- fantastic! a few of us head to see some apartments to rent which look promising but quite har...

my birthday!!! woohoo! although waking up on the floor after not much sleep wasnt the best start! so i had to head back to house to collect my parc...

so i check out today as my plan is to move to house- the one a million miles away! 4 of us hire rollerblades out to skate along st.kilda esplanade...

so tonight at red eye bar (hostel bar) its ladies night which means you get free bubbly until it runs out!!!! it was also beach party night but aft...

my first lay-in today until 12! a couple of the girls were heading off to ramsey street but ive got a couple of months here so no rush. as it was ...

the other guys rented a car to go to phillip island today but as im here a while i dont want to spend all my dosh at once. so i decide to head to t...

so today, as its the first working day ive been here i have to go get my police check sorted out so i can finally get some work. after another long...

ok, not much im gonna write as i had a hangover all day! i had to get tram to meet cheryl (bus driver) as im gonna be staying there. cheap and she'...

after a surprisingly good sleep i got up early, had a shower (luckily i was 2nd in line!) and headed downstairs to finally use the computer! hey, i...

up early AGAIN and only toast and cereal to keep us going for the day! as we entered wilsons promontory (a national park that is the most southerl...

hooray, a lay in! can you believe i think 7am is a lay in! organic porridge and pancakes for breakfast! we only had an hours drive to the buchan c...

another early start- whoever said this backpacking lark is a holiday was having a laugh! breakfast at 7- cereal, toast, fry up, the lot!!! we were...

so, here goes for my first proper 'backpacking' experience! up at 5am to head into the city to catch bus. met a couple of people before getting on...

so today i booked my tour to melbourne!!! it leaves at 7am in the morn! at least i'll be a proper backpacker then! met my friend anna for sushi bef...

after spending what seemed to be forever in the internet cafe trying to sort out my camera and uploading photos (of course with the heart stopping ...

today is my day out with chris and mike. they are taking me up north sydney to a couple of beaches there. the drive was nice, through lots of bush...

today was my moving day, and the first day i would have to trudge around with my backpack - could be interesting! dean 3 met me at bondi junction ...

after a much better sleep (windows shut!) mike had decided to take me on the ferry from manly to sydney. as we were driving up to manly (about 40 m...

so after a shower and another good chin wag over brekkie i decided to head into the city. as i was staying in suburbia i had to get a bus from cher...

well, i finally made it, just! i got made to wait at check-in so they could check my visa, and then i spent too much time writing postcards and not...

so whats the best way to deal with a hangover? go the four seasons hotel and be pampered in the five star spa of course! my cousin has a contact (i...

woke up early AGAIN! it was still pouring of rain (who said it wasnt monsoon season!) so i guess going to the beaches is out of the question! so w...

despite a late night i was up at 6am! disneyland today - yippee! we got there about lunchtime and although ive never been a big disney fan i was l...

3.30 am- awake!! exactly what we didnt want! we couldnt get back to sleep so we had tea and watched a dvd! on our walk to station i tried a tradit...

so, although im now in sydney i thought i'd better tell you all about hong kong! flight was good although i couldnt get to sleep for worrying about...

hello all! a huge thanks to you for my party, i had a fab night, hope you did too. here are some photos!