Dec 2006

oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god-did i say taht already?!
i cant desribe to u how emotional today was!
so i had spent teh week laughing about skydiving-winding up the family-saying i was going to jump alone (i jumped tandem-u think i wnat responsibility over pulling the cord!?)
but when it came to it i was actually .. well... bricking it!!!!
so i met my instructer who reasssued me taht teher was nothing to worry about and taht we were only climbing 14,000 feet, we would be freefalling over the ocean and he went through the intsructions. arms accross my chest at first, kneel at teh door of the plane and when he signalled just fall out-yeah-easy-really!!!!!!!
and i did what i usually do in those sitautions-didnt really listen but pretended that i did!
i was jumping in an area called Wollongong-which was 2 hrs east of sydney, over a gorgeous beach. the conditions couldnt have been better- the sun was amazing,the sea an amazing aquamarine colour.
as we ascended over the ocean i literally felt my head would explode with the scenery!
the instructer pointed a mini camara in my face and asked me how i was feeling-oh u know, fine i mean jumping out of a plane may be normal for u luv but jumping out of bed hard enough for me these days!
then it was time-one, two, three....
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, f@!!!!!!@@@@@@@@%%%%%%%%%%%%%**************k!
rushing through the air, the water below me.. am going to die!!!!!
then the paracute opened and we drifted over the ocean - i got to control the reins!!! i did a few spins!!
this is WHY i came to auz!!!!
then time for landing, the sand rushing to my feet, then solid ground.
how do i feel!
i want to do it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hey guys!
so yeah christmas on bondi-i did the typical backpacker xmas day but hey i'm in sydney, its xmas and it had to be done. it was so strange xmas morning-i mean at home its cold, usulaly raining, no one leaves the house, u watch tv all day, eat lots and drink. fall aleep at 9pm watching vicor of dipley!!! here i was on a bus at 12pm on the way to bondi beach. the streets were packed with people-i mean all the shops were open.even clothes shops!!! when we got to the bneach i was expecting hundreds of thousands of mad, drunk backpackers when actaully it was quite civilised! the beach was full but u could find a place to sit. there was lots of families having picnics. the policy on no alochol on the beach was very strict and there was police checking bags as soon as u got there which was good because a lot of alcohol, and backpackers on a beach doesnt mix well! it was a very surreal day-i mean i was there with a pair of shorts on, an xmas hat watching a guy dressed as santa on a surf board and an australian tv show filming him! so yeah i may be in the background to that!!! am glad i did it but not the expereinece i thought it wouldbe! also as much as it was nice to have sun, i was pining for some snow, (or rain) and dark mornings! spending time with my family and playing with my nieces toys!(sorry ellie!)
so yeah-xmas in the sun cool but at teh risk of sounding extremely chessy- there is definetly no place like home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

in an attempt to get into the christmas spirit, i decided taht i needed to go to see a carol service-and what better place to go than the opera house! also a good excuse to put a dress on considering i have lived in my walking boots, vest tops and combats for teh last 7 weeks!!!
and the opera house didnt disappoint. the location couldnt be more perfect- it was beautiful. the harbour at night is a mix of music, lights, every nationaity under the sun and the atmosphere was buzzing!!!
the opera singers had amazing voices-very famous aussie singers that i obviously didnt know! we did the typical dumb tourist thing and took photos- a scary old woman told us off!!!
i couldnt resist joining in and singing silent night( i think everyone around me now have to see a psychtarist for psychological disturbance!)
anyone who was anyone was there-even father christmas himself- and yes i did have a photo with him-i have evidence-he exists!!!!!!!!!!!
it is going to be very wierd being away from home, family, friends this year -i am looking forward to bondi beach (well u have to rite?) and new years eve on teh harbour but am going to miss home like crazy. cold dark evenings, christmas dinner, vicor of dipley!!!
want to wish everyone who is reading this family, friends, other travellers -past, presenta nd future
merry christmas and have a happy, healthy safe and lucky new year
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

hi guys so yeah decided a few weeks ago as well as needing tio make sure taht i dont run out of money and also because i was getting quite restless, i decided to trya nd get a job. bene working in a warehouse on and off last couple of weeks. i have to say taht it is the most difficult job taht i have had. i mena the work it self is quite easy-packing boxes, and putting pamplets in order of page number but its been so hard to stay awake! work starts at 630am but have to get up at 5am for the bus! also the factory is very hot and i coem hioome not only very dirty but also smelling of serious BO!!!!!!!!!!
sounds starnge but ahve actually enjoyed it as i ahev met soem australain people-because did u know atht no actual australains live in sydney!!!
anyhow its all good prepartion as i ahve arranged to do fruitpickinga fetr xmas-i live sydney on jan 3rd and head fopr milduara which is on the NSW /Victoria border! know its going to be seriously hard, hot work but looking forwrad to seeing real auz and being in the country! also gives me some tiem to save some cash for my next set of travels -hopefully to melborne and then taz!
anyhow gmtv (britsih tv morn show) filiming in sydney today so going to do my best to get on the box!!!!!look out for me!

oh my god.
thats is all i can say.(yeah rite!)
breathtaking.
the one thing i wnated to do when in sydney was the bridgeclimb. I had been winding my mam up about me doing it for months beofre i came-saying that i was going to absail down the front of it(by the way u arent aloud to do that mam!)
i thought yeah this will be a piece of cake-am bit of a thrillseeker!
but must admit even i was scared when they started strapping us all up in a belt and expalining all the safety techniques. alos the hieght taht u climb too etc. didnt help taht teh group taht i was in the guy was really scared of flights and was a lovely shade of green.
felt like saying to our tour guide-let me out!!!
but honestly it is not scary at all-why? because u are so blown over by the scenery. the opera house looks even more magnificent, the harbour water that day was glistening green. it was fuull of sailing ships and yahts and the people looked like little ants.
the first bit of the climb was very steep up very narow steps -think everyones bum muscles had a good workout taht day!
our guide was great-told us about teh history of the bridge- the year it was built, how many people it took to build it, and u know non important information like how many people died building it! only 2 poeple fell off(very reassuring when u are at the top looking down at god knows how many racing cars under your feet)
sounds stupid but i felt really emotional. nearly had to use the communal tissue that the guides give u at the start! i mean yeah this IS a beautiful city-even with the skyscrappers and raods, and traffic. have got my photo of proof and a chessy certificate to mark the day.
next skydiving- 14,000 feet.
sorry mam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!