rattley eyes

11/09/05

G'day all.
well, its been a thoroughly interesting week. i have said goodbye to my parents, hello/goodbye to mark and hello to my mate nick (AKA Rattley eyes) & and his girlfriend.

mark kipped down with us for a couple of nights, to help his budget... managed to watch a bit of cricket with him, and he was definitely thrilled to be sat in front of a TV for once.

he left on the thurs morn, and in the afternoon, we took in 2 strangers we picked up from the airport. It was fantastic seeing nick again after 4 months....but nothing changes. he's already fallen over in the shower! he couldnt wait to get out and have a beer. so, we all decided to go our for a quiet drink on a thurs night. nick was ok after his flight but annette was flagging a bit. to the point where her eyes were watering as bad as someone crying!! so her and tanya went off home, and me and nick continued. needless to say that he didnt turn up back at ours til 6am, after I was chucked out of a club at 4am. he got lost and couldnt find his way home! good job i took the friday off work.....

we went to the Home and Away beach on the friday (Palm Beach - pic attached), and it was weird being there, as i watched so many episodes growing up as a kid. it was quite windy though, and practically deserted. got a few pics of the surf club etc.

sat, we took in the sights of sydney (again - sigh....). took nick 2 mins after seeing the majestic opera house and dominating harbour bridge, to ask when we were having another beer. oh well, maybe he'll look back and appreciate the pics he took!

sat night was a bog night out, be we ended up going home early, in by 3am.......

today we been to manly, and took in some rays..

he's off to cairns monday to begin his travels, as are me and tanya in less than 3 weeks......yay.

getting updates from my mum and dad. they been to fraser island, whit sundays, etc etc. they're loving it. they will actually be in cairns the same time as my mate nick- how weird. think they're gonna meet up.

so not having anymore visitors now, me and tanya can start saving some money again....expensive lark this hosting stuff.

be seeing you
Aaron & tanya

kangaroo v camel

04/09

Hey people. been a couple of weeks since my last update, but have been doing loads!

I met up with my mate mark from Barclays. he was in sydney for a few days, so i pointed him in the right direction for the opera house and harbour bridge. also went out for a few drinks and met up with Vikki as well. Mark and I also comemorated his visit with the official handing over of teh FOS ball ceremony. There were a few dignaturies there to witness the momentus occasion....well tanya was there!

soon after he left, we picked up my parents from the airport, and boy did they look weary! poor guys, didnt get much sleep on the way over, but then who does? It was so good seeing them again, but it didnt feel like I hadnt seen them for nearly 4 months.

they had a few hours kip, and then it was down to the old opera house and harbour bridge. dont think they really took it in that they were across the other side of the world....

that eve, we had an all you can eat buffet for about 24 pounds, at the sydney tower revolving resturant. we overlooked the whole of sydney at night and it was spectacular to say the least. if there's one thing you should do in sydney, its that... i was a little eccentric and tried kangaroo again, and also camel....yes camel... the problem was, after i ate the camel, it kinda gave me the hump.....HA HA HA. It wasnt the best meat in the world, but at least i had a go!! So thats croc, kangaroo and camel i have tried since leaving home.

the next day (sunday), we went to manly and visited the oceanarium. had some cool sharks there. showed them round the beach and the craft market.

on monday, we went to the blue mountains, which was delightful (thinking of alterative words to good).... a bit nippy, but the sun was out for us and gave us some awesome views. went on the worlds steepest train ride, down to one of the valleys...you at to hold on really tight as there were no seatbelts.

tuesday, we just did a few more local sights, like darling harbour, bondi and the botanical gdns. can you believe that the closed the opera house down for some business conference. you couldnt get within 200 yards of the place......

on weds, we flew up to the gold coast to get a little sun. we had a place booked up in a resort on a golf course. it was lush. heated pool, jaccuzzi spa in the bathroom etc etc.... and a view of the hills from our balcony.

we visited surfers paradise on thurs and byron bay on friday. the beaches were gorgeous at both places, and really cant wait to start travelling again and spend longer in these places. byron bay was really nice and was sooo laid back. not many people rate surfers paradise, but i thought it was pleasant, and will make the most of it when we visit again.

we flew back on saturday, when we said goodbye to my parents.. they are heading up the coast now, and actually be in cairns the same time as my mate nick (rattley). how weird.

Me and tanya had such a great time with our parents, and we did our best to get them accustomed to life here in OZ. I think they will enjoy the rest of their trip..also, gave my dad a new nickname. we call him winston now (as in churchill - the nodding dog) as he kept falling asleep in random places....so funny.....(see attached pic)

for us, its back to work, on monday, but only for a few weeks..... looking forward to seeing nick on thursday, and he will be here over the weekend. gonna drink beer, talk footy and learn to surf when he gets here!!

hope you liked the pics I sent.

will update you again soon,

Aaron & tan