Australia 2005 part 2

Blog 1

Hello everyone...

Gutted you didn’t get my last email as I spent about 45 minutes writing it, doh!!! So here goes again... My memory span is terrible, though, so I’ll try to tell you as much as I can!! :-)

Ok... Got to Cairns and stayed in a place right on the beach/lagoon. Nice location, but terrible hostel... so I moved to a place where loads of people told me to stay. The minute I got there, I knew why... The place was like a palace—four TV rooms, one on each floor, comfy sofas, a nightclub/bar attached to it, beautiful pool, café, beauty shop, and more... The reason why I’m going on about it is because if you're backpacking, you stay in some nice places, but most are horrid... and Gilligan’s (where I stayed) was a five-star backpackers, soooo nice.... so nice I’m going back in a few days :-)

Anyways, I’ve not been up to loads and loads as normal since I’ve done mostly all I want to do... I did, however, put myself through the sheer terror of a bungee jump!!! It was very scary... As I was standing on the edge with a rope tied around my ankles and looking downwards, seeing the 50-meter jump, I was in an awful state/// hyperventilating the lot! The guide had to calm me down, and his words were, and I will never forget this... "What you're going through is normal. What you're about to do is not normal. It's insanity, so let's show the world how crazy you really are." Somehow that helped me go through with it! :-)

1, 2, 3—Smile for the camera. I looked at the camera in sheer terror. It’s sooo funny... JUMP!! I did it, woohoo! :-) I was still shaking for about half an hour afterward... and the adrenaline gave me a happy buzz for the rest of the night. You just have to see my video... I’ll show you all when I’m back.... Then I went on a Minjin swing, which was good fun...

I also plucked up the courage and went diving in the Great Barrier Reef, actually won the trip in another game I played on the pub crawl! Anyways... I’ve never done scuba before, and I loved it! It was the most amazing experience, and I found Nemo!!!! :-) It was only a half-hour dive, and it went far too quick! Just wish I had done my PADI in Thailand now so I could do more diving... I can do as many introductory dives as I want, though, so all good! :-)

The rest of my time in Cairns was just basically lazing around and partying at night!!! It was a good, good laugh... We went to a place called the Woolshed that everyone rants and raves about... Good for a couple of nights, but after that, I got a bit bored of the place... It’s like a meat market for backpackers! :-)

There's another club called Soho, which is really cool, as it plays dance all night.

I went on two bar crawls, which were such a laugh, as we played loads of crazy games and got loads of cheap wine!! It was a good laugh...

I’m in Cape Trib at the moment... Got here yesterday... Last night was a chilled one, and today I went horse riding on the beach!!! It was wicked... and my horse galloped... I’ve never been on a galloping horse before. It was good fun!!! :-)

Then I went to the bat house and saw the most adorable fruit bat... He was so tame and like a playful little puppy with his owner... biting him and stuff like puppies do... He was the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen!!! I want a pet one!

Oh, I’m staying in the middle of a rainforest at the moment, if people don’t know what Cape Trib is about... It’s miles of tropical rainforest, and the rainforest meets the beach.... The backpackers I'm in is right in the middle of it all... and there is a HUGE!!!! spider living right next to my dorm!! I mean huge... I’ll look on the net in a minute to see if I can find a pic and show you, so yeah, a little bit freaked out by that, and the fact that all the windows in the dorm were wide open when I arrived... I took the liberty of shutting them all...

Nighttime is pretty scary as it’s just us, the trees, and the bugs! Gulp!

To add insult to injury, I am going on a night walk tonight directly through the rainforest... to look for all the spiders, snakes, and crocodiles!!!! Gulp! All part of the fun and games, though!! I love the fear factor! Hehehe

Erm, I’ve not done much else apart from the above... I’ve just kind of been taking it easy... mainly because I’m broke! :-)

Anyways,

This will probably be my last email, as I’m back on the 5th of July... so see you all then.

Natalie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I’m up in Cape Tribulation at the moment... Been here since yesterday and leaving tomorrow.

Blog 2 Here's your text with only the grammar and spelling corrected, keeping everything else the same:

Oks as you well know I very nearly missed my flight!! Which wasn’t really a good start... Considering I only found out at 10pm the night before was even worse!! I didn’t even get to say bye to my closest pals or my Dad!! So wasn’t too happy about that, but hey, it cannot be helped!!

The flight was fine!! Only 19 hours (and I slept for 9 with the help of sleeping tabs) in total, and we stopped at Singapore for an hour for my much-needed cigarette! (God, I hate being a smoker!) When we took off, I decided to take full advantage of the free alcohol and got wasted! To the point where the stewardess refused to give me any more!! lol and the cheeky mare that I am when I’ve had a few said! "What ya gonna do, chuck me out?" They just laughed and found it very amusing! As did the poor soul sitting next to me! Got off the plane and I owned up to having too many cigs on me (being the honest person that I am). So I got bloody done and had to pay for them again!!! Doh!!! I was fuming, plus it took me forever to get through the gates. All my bags, backpacks, and myself were scanned!! :-(

Also, on the plane, I went through one sunset, and it was amazing!! Never seen anything like it! Also flew over Oz in daylight so saw everything!!! I’ve never seen so much of nothing!! lol... Just desert! We flew over Ayers Rock too!! So I’ve seen it already!! I can’t wait to do the outback trip!

So got to the hostel in Coogee at about 10ish and was welcomed with a can of beer! Welcome to Coogee, get drunk! (Erm, is that wise?) lol....I drank it gratefully, then moved into my room and was welcomed by another 3 gals who asked me if I was out tonight and offered me some goon (wine). So how could I bloody refuse that lol!! Not even a chance to get over my jetlag!! But sod it lol!!

Anyways, so we all went out in Coogee. Before we’d even left the hostel, I fell backside first down the concrete stairs!! Couldn’t get up for about 10 minutes as I was in so much pain (even being drunk!!). All the girls were trying to scrape me up, but it wasn’t happening! lol.... I twisted my ankle, have a huge bruise on my elbow, and really damaged my back!! But never fear, I still went out to party!!!

The place we went to was pants... I mean, it’s Coogee Beach—it’s not big on nightlife... And get this! It was a non-smoking club, as is every other place in Australia!! It actually isn’t that bad, though, as all the smokers go outside, and it’s like a social thing...

The next day, I just munted around in the hostel.... met loads of new people and just chilled really... I was severely hungover and did make it to the beach for about half an hour, but I couldn’t take the heat, so I came back lol and just died in the TV room!!

That night, I was out again on the razz... Went to Bondi Beach this time... So much better than Coogee for bars and clubs, and they were actually playing funky house!!! I was in my element... We then went from one place to the next, which should have been a 5-minute walk, but the horrible doorman told us the wrong direction!! So we ended up walking for about an hour!!!! By this point, I was annoyed and wanted to go home... Didn’t even say bye to the others lol.. So went outside and tried to get a taxi, failed miserably, so decided to just go back into the club with the others!! lol!! Didn’t get home till 5am in the end!!

The next day was pretty much the same.... Hangover day... Chilled... Chatted... Met more people, too cloudy for the beach.. Then that night!!! I had the best night ever!! Went on a boat party around Sydney Opera House and Bridge etc!!!! It was blinding!! Free alcohol and free booze!! For only 15 dollars!! The music was very funky, and loads of people were in fancy dress (we didn’t know it was fancy dress lol). It was the most amazing evening!!! Met more great people! Saw Russell Crowe’s house too!!

Yesterday, I went and visited my mate Stu, whom I met in Thailand earlier this year. It was nice to catch up with him... He lives over in Manly, which meant I had to get another boat there! It’s so weird—the boats are like buses out here!!! So commonly used!! And today, I’ve been on the beach all day catching some rays!!

Coogee Beach is amazing!!! Such a lovely place!! I’ve got a sea view room and a cricket pitch next to us! Yesterday, there were rugby players warming up there, so you can imagine what us girls are like—cooing over them from the balcony!! lol... Coogee’s so far away from the city, though, so I’ll have to move when I get a job :-( I’ve got an interview tomorrow!! Woohoo!!

Anyways, I’m sure you’re all falling asleep by now, so I’ll stop lol....

Sorry for the spelling—no time to check it! Also, the space bar is stuffed, as you can probably tell!!!

Chat to you soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Blog 3

G’day mateys... How you going?

Right, do this in order and don’t cheat by looking at all the photos first...

Ok... I have three new boyfriends—see pictures 1, 2, and 3... Not 4!!!

Right, have you seen them? Maybe, I dunno... Obviously, I had a bit too much of... (See pic 4).... and was obviously wearing my (See pic 5). So that’s how the story goes!!! Only kidding... well, you know I’m only p—ssing about anyway lol!! Just trying to make you laugh but probably failed miserably...

Don’t ever take me too seriously, will ya, ‘cause I am slowly losing the plot... Ah, sorry, I already have!

So how are you all going?? Good—I sound like an Aussie!!! Luckily my accent’s not changing... Well, I don’t think it is anyway lol...

Right, I can’t remember exactly what I said in my last email, so if I start babbling on about the same sh—t, then just don’t read it...

Will start from today and work backwards... Ok...

Caught my first wave today!!! Woooo hoooo!! On ye old Boogie board! It was soooooo much fun... I then got attacked by the seaweed, shat myself (well, not literally), so went back to the beach and got burnt again!! That’s twice now! Gosh! But being burnt is cool... Just means better colour next day...

So yes, had a very fun morning... Although there weren’t actually many waves... Coogee doesn’t really get them!

I’ve now moved into that flat with Zoe and Lucy, and there’s this other Aussie girl here, and she looks the spitting image of you, Debbie!!! Jeez! It’s your twin, I’m telling ya... She’s a lovely gal but talks too much sometimes...

The flat is well nice... We have all the luxuries... Bath, own bedroom, TV, DVD player, stereo... Probably sounds like bare necessities to you lot... But it’s a very good thing for me (sorry if I’m talking in riddles, I know what I mean, bet you don’t though).

Also, if I don’t go out in the evening, I can get a good night’s sleep as there’s no noise!! The hostel was a nightmare, thinking back... Sharing a room with 10 others, and it would be different people every day—wasn’t the best living arrangement. And also, ‘cause we lived so close to the clubs, all the drunkards stumble out and make a load of noise...

Saw something really funny the other night when I was awoken by shouting... Two drunkards trying to catch a taxi, stumbling all over the place and failing miserably to get one... I felt sorry for them! Bless— even though they woke me up!!!

Also, I don’t think some of the people in that hostel went to sleep! There was this old mad Scottish guy with a worse split personality than mine who was up 24/7! Drinking!!

After New Year, I’m probably gonna move into the city to be closer to work...

I’ve cut down on drinking just a tad, as I am completely immune to it now, so it’s pretty expensive going out, so I’m giving ye old body a break... (I’m not an alcoholic—I’m on hols!! And I never drink during the day—too bloody dangerous in this heat!!!)

Christmas Day—we are going to Bondi now... We would be stupid to miss it, really... We got our tickets ‘n all...

So can’t wait for that! Can’t believe it’s a week till Christmas!! It does not feel like Christmas at all... No decorations or anything! :-(

I’m learning to surf in the New Year, and they take you to the place where Home and Away is filmed, so I’m gonna meet all the stars...

I’m also doing my second sky dive at some point this week over Sydney! Cannot f—king wait, I tell ya!! If you ever get the chance to do one in your life, then do it, ‘cause it’s the most blinding experience you will ever have!! Take my bl—dy word for it!!

Bungee is ok too, but a bit scarier... Don’t think I’ll do a bungee again, in all honesty... Well, I will do the one in New Zealand, which is 150 meters, just to say I’ve done it... And I’ll probably do the highest in the world, which is in South Africa!

God knows how high that is!!

I’ve already decided I’m definitely not coming back in 6 months... I know I’m gonna miss the English summer, which I am gutted about... But I really need to get this travel bug outta me so I can come home, settle down, get a flat, and a good job....

I’m probably gonna do a visa run to NZ, then come back for 3 months, then do another visa run... I’ll have to come back in 2007, though, as my passport runs out!!

I guess you’ve all heard about the riots out here! It’s sooo bad! But don’t worry, as much as I love a good old scrap, I’m keeping well away!!!

They have shut all the beaches apart from Coogee, so I’m lucky...

And the place is swarming with police... Each car and bus that comes in gets searched by them!

So we are pretty safe...

Right, that’s all, folks!! I gotta go check my chicken on the barbie... Now let’s just hope I don’t poison myself!! Gulp....

Just checked it... Looks yummy... And I just fell up the stairs too! :-(

God, I’m so accident-prone!

Right, that’s definitely all for now! lol... Chicken’s probably cremated... If I’ve left anyone out of the list, I am truly sorry!! Don’t hate me! :-(

It’s just hard trying to remember everyone!!

Bye for now!!

Missing you all loads... Lots of love

Natalie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. The last pic is those little birds I told you about... You just have to see them... They’re sooo cute!

Blog 4

G’day mateys... How you going?

Right, do this in order and don’t cheat by looking at all the photos first...

Ok... I have three new boyfriends—see pictures 1, 2, and 3... Not 4!!!

Right, have you seen them? Maybe, I dunno... Obviously, I had a bit too much of... (See pic 4).... and was obviously wearing my (See pic 5). So that’s how the story goes!!! Only kidding... well, you know I’m only p—ssing about anyway lol!! Just trying to make you laugh but probably failed miserably...

Don’t ever take me too seriously, will ya, ‘cause I am slowly losing the plot... Ah, sorry, I already have!

So how are you all going?? Good—I sound like an Aussie!!! Luckily my accent’s not changing... Well, I don’t think it is anyway lol...

Right, I can’t remember exactly what I said in my last email, so if I start babbling on about the same sh—t, then just don’t read it...

Will start from today and work backwards... Ok...

Caught my first wave today!!! Woooo hoooo!! On ye old Boogie board! It was soooooo much fun... I then got attacked by the seaweed, shat myself (well, not literally), so went back to the beach and got burnt again!! That’s twice now! Gosh! But being burnt is cool... Just means better colour next day...

So yes, had a very fun morning... Although there weren’t actually many waves... Coogee doesn’t really get them!

I’ve now moved into that flat with Zoe and Lucy, and there’s this other Aussie girl here, and she looks the spitting image of you, Debbie!!! Jeez! It’s your twin, I’m telling ya... She’s a lovely gal but talks too much sometimes...

The flat is well nice... We have all the luxuries... Bath, own bedroom, TV, DVD player, stereo... Probably sounds like bare necessities to you lot... But it’s a very good thing for me (sorry if I’m talking in riddles, I know what I mean, bet you don’t though).

Also, if I don’t go out in the evening, I can get a good night’s sleep as there’s no noise!! The hostel was a nightmare, thinking back... Sharing a room with 10 others, and it would be different people every day—wasn’t the best living arrangement. And also, ‘cause we lived so close to the clubs, all the drunkards stumble out and make a load of noise...

Saw something really funny the other night when I was awoken by shouting... Two drunkards trying to catch a taxi, stumbling all over the place and failing miserably to get one... I felt sorry for them! Bless— even though they woke me up!!!

Also, I don’t think some of the people in that hostel went to sleep! There was this old mad Scottish guy with a worse split personality than mine who was up 24/7! Drinking!!

After New Year, I’m probably gonna move into the city to be closer to work...

I’ve cut down on drinking just a tad, as I am completely immune to it now, so it’s pretty expensive going out, so I’m giving ye old body a break... (I’m not an alcoholic—I’m on hols!! And I never drink during the day—too bloody dangerous in this heat!!!)

Christmas Day—we are going to Bondi now... We would be stupid to miss it, really... We got our tickets ‘n all...

So can’t wait for that! Can’t believe it’s a week till Christmas!! It does not feel like Christmas at all... No decorations or anything! :-(

I’m learning to surf in the New Year, and they take you to the place where Home and Away is filmed, so I’m gonna meet all the stars...

I’m also doing my second sky dive at some point this week over Sydney! Cannot f—king wait, I tell ya!! If you ever get the chance to do one in your life, then do it, ‘cause it’s the most blinding experience you will ever have!! Take my bl—dy word for it!!

Bungee is ok too, but a bit scarier... Don’t think I’ll do a bungee again, in all honesty... Well, I will do the one in New Zealand, which is 150 meters, just to say I’ve done it... And I’ll probably do the highest in the world, which is in South Africa!

God knows how high that is!!

I’ve already decided I’m definitely not coming back in 6 months... I know I’m gonna miss the English summer, which I am gutted about... But I really need to get this travel bug outta me so I can come home, settle down, get a flat, and a good job....

I’m probably gonna do a visa run to NZ, then come back for 3 months, then do another visa run... I’ll have to come back in 2007, though, as my passport runs out!!

I guess you’ve all heard about the riots out here! It’s sooo bad! But don’t worry, as much as I love a good old scrap, I’m keeping well away!!!

They have shut all the beaches apart from Coogee, so I’m lucky...

And the place is swarming with police... Each car and bus that comes in gets searched by them!

So we are pretty safe...

Right, that’s all, folks!! I gotta go check my chicken on the barbie... Now let’s just hope I don’t poison myself!! Gulp....

Just checked it... Looks yummy... And I just fell up the stairs too! :-(

God, I’m so accident-prone!

Right, that’s definitely all for now! lol... Chicken’s probably cremated... If I’ve left anyone out of the list, I am truly sorry!! Don’t hate me! :-(

It’s just hard trying to remember everyone!!

Bye for now!!

Missing you all loads... Lots of love

Natalie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. The last pic is those little birds I told you about... You just have to see them... They’re sooo cute!

Blog 5

Xmas day was spent in the Bondi Pavilion with Judge Jules... I was absolutely spangled—it was a great day... We got right to the front to see him, and he’s one crazy dude, I tell ya...

New Year's—we went and saw the fireworks. We had a great spot, but me and Dave decided to try and get a better one, so we were running up this hill like nutters with only 15 minutes until the fireworks went off, fighting through the crowds, etc., etc.... and in the end, we ended up getting a worse view!! Ahhh well, good excuse to stay for another year, I guess!!! lol....

New Year's Day was another spangled one—we went to see Pete Tong at The Palace (our local) and had a great day...

Whilst we’re on the going-out nights and I don’t forget... We went to a great place called Cargo on Saturday—the music was great... But it was someone’s leaving do, and he wanted to go to Home Nightclub, so we ended up there. It was a good night—Tall Paul was playing, so the music was pretty heavy but still good!!

So yeah, Xmas and New Year were different—and guess what I had for Xmas dinner... McDonald's!!

Everywhere was open on Xmas day, including the video shop... It’s sad, really—they don’t celebrate it like we do...

Blog 6

Hey everyone....

Hope you’re all well.... I’m all good, not been up to much interesting as just working and stuff, earning a bit of dollar before I head off...

Plan is to go at the end of Feb/March to Melbourne for a month or two, then Tasmania, then hit the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, then New Zealand to do a visa run as my visa expires in 3 months... Time f—king flies, I tell ya!!!

Feeling slightly delicate today... Out last night... So my email probably won’t be very witty or long!

Have been sitting in front of this PC for over an hour, so got the hump too!!

Am downloading all my pics to the website—about 500 in total! Will put the link at the end of this mail if they ever bl—dy finish...

It’s said 24 minutes since I started downloading them!! Boo hooo!!!

Anyway, apart from being a misery guts at the moment, I’m all good really...

Still having a lot of fun, still in love...

I’m living in a house at the moment... It’s like a big house split into a load of rooms, about 10 or 15, I think...

Then there’s a shared kitchen, which is basically the party room!!

Met more great people, including about 20 Irish loons, a few gals from Essex, and some Canadians...

We all have a ball and get on really well....

Was all out last night—party at ours first, then we went over to this hut thing on the beach, and about 20 of us crammed around this table—all Irish apart from us!!

Felt like I was back at school, hanging out in the park, drinking a bottle of 20/20 (not literally—they don’t sell it here).

All the Irish were singing and being merry, and it was a lot of fun...

Then we went back to the house, where a few people still were, had a few more, and then headed to ye good old Palace for a change lol...

We managed to gain free entry because Zoe, the cheeky mare, blagged some bloke to pay for us to get in lol...

She makes me die!! Lmao!

Then we met Dave and the rest, who were already in there, p—ssed... Had a couple of shots, and to be honest, don’t really remember much after that!

Then Zoe strolled in absolutely wrecked, didn’t say a word, and fell on the bed and zonked out like a light...

She just called me and asked what went on last night and if she did anything bad...

I was like... You’re asking me?! I don’t f—king know lol....

Oh, I’m waffling again—sorry...

I’m like a bl—dy machine when I write these emails...

Waffle waffle waffle....

Zoe is leaving me soon—boo hoo... She’s on route to Melbourne in about a week...

Be like losing my sister, as she feels like one!!

Only be apart for a few weeks, though, so all good....

Then I’m probably gonna move into another room in the house with the two Essex lasses—Jo and Hayley—top quality gals who like to party...

Was considering moving in with Dave, but in all honesty, it could ruin us, and I don’t want that to happen...

So I’m being sensible and staying with the gals...

I’ve actually done some touristy things...

In fact, I think I’ve done everything there is to do in Sydney lol!!!

• Done a tour of the Opera House—which was really interesting... hmmm.... lol....

• Went to Australia Museum, Police Museum...

• All around the Botanic Gardens, Palm Beach, Luna Park...

• Snorkeling (didn’t see any fish, though).

• Boat trips

• Been to nearly every nightclub in Sydney, Manly, the Zoo...

• Probably more, but my brain’s dead at the moment...

Botanic Gardens are amazing!! Sooo pretty, and it houses 3,000 fruit bats—we saw them all hanging from the trees, really cute! 😃

Australia Day was wicked!!!

I worked till about 4 p.m. and then headed down to Darling Harbour...

Met some gals from work, Dave and the rest in one of the bars, and then went and saw the fireworks...

Bl—dy amazing—almost as good as the ones on New Year’s!!

Quality!!

There are some pics—not too great, though...

I mean, it’s not easy taking pics of fireworks...

You’ll be pleased to know I have actually cut down on drinking—only because I’m bored of getting drunk lol...

As I said before, I’ve been doing more tourist things during the day—sightseeing...

Being a proper tourist!

It was Zoe’s 21st birthday last week, so we all went out to Tank Nightclub for Defected in the House—quality night, as always...

Me, Zoe, and a few gals from work are going on a boat party tonight, which should be quality...

Free food, champagne, and male strippers!!

Wooooo!!!

Will make a change for me to see male strippers as opposed to female ones—lmao!

Anyway, that’s all, folks!!!

Told ya it wouldn’t be that long an email!! 😊

And photos are uploaded!! Yippeeeeeee...

Will send a separate email with them on in a sec!

Blog 7 Here’s your text with only the grammar and spelling corrected, keeping everything else unchanged:

Zoe left me :-( to go to Melbourne a few weeks ago... Miss her loads!! But we`re gonna be reunited next Monday, as yes, I’m finally leaving Sydney! Woooo hooooo... I’m on the move!!

I’m off to Melbourne myself—sick of Sydney now and looking forward to not working for a while too, need a break... I’ve been working my ikkle ass off! So bring on the traveling... This time I actually know what I’m doing lol...

Melbourne for a month, Tasmania for a couple of days... Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, then Alice Springs... then New Zealand for a visa run, then Darwin, Western Australia, then Perth, then back to Sydney...

Then I might go to the ski resort and do a ski season if I can get a job that’s cash in hand, as after my visa run I’m officially not allowed to work... Bl—dy daft, really! Bunch of buffoons!

So yeah, that’s the plan of action... After my travels, I might have more of an idea of when I’m coming home... I’m seriously considering going to South America too with Dave...

He says it’s nicer than Thailand, so it must be bl—dy amazing! Ideally, I’d like to stay here till next New Year’s Eve, but that probably won’t happen... I dunno... I never know...

Erm... I’ve moved in with two other gals—Debbie and Liz! Quality girls, proper on my level... One’s Scottish and the other English...

We’ve had a ball since living together... So on my level like you wouldn’t believe!

That leads me to the adventure stories....

One adventure was with Zoe (club adventure), the other with Debs and Liz and two randoms we collected from the nightclub (the unforgettable disastrous adventure)

Club adventure

Remember in my last email I told you I was going on a boat with male strippers... Well, that’s where it all began...

The party was bl—dy excellent... There were about 8 of us that went, and we pretended that one of the girls (Angie) was the hen! lol...

So in turn, we got loads of free gifts... It was quality...

She even had to stand up and do a speech... Well, sort of—we had to fill out a questionnaire about her, and the host got her up in front of the whole boat of people (about 200 people aboard) and read the questions out...

Was hilarious....

Oh, and I got absolutely harassed by a stripper!! Danced with me... And I just thought he was only doing his job and entertaining... But then he just didn’t go away lol...

I had to hide from him in the end lol...

Yeah, he was fit, but me? A good gal, as you well know....

Anyway... Boat party finished about 11, and we had gotten friendly with the owner, so he invited us all back to a house party...

So off we went, that was pretty cool...

Then we all got bored, so decided to go to a nightclub... Off we went....

By that point, people were dropping like flies and going home...

But not me and Zoe!! :)

I’ve only corrected grammar and spelling as requested—everything else remains untouched! Let me know if you need any adjustments. 😊

Blog 8

Hey you guys

How are you all? Good I hope?? Is the weather getting any better?? Must be warming up a bit now surely? Been up to much, out much... come on peeps, give me some feedback. Always interested to know what is happening back home and if I’m missing out on anything.

I’m now in Melbourne, been here about a week now... It’s bloody excellent!!! Sh-ts all over Sydney, I must say... much more friendly city with loads of great people, and the nightlife is 100 times better. I’ve been reunited with Zoe and have also made a few more cool new buddies, including Melissa, Sandy, Hayden, and some Irish lads that I met in Sydney are here too, and we’ve all just been having a ball... My cousin is here as well, and it’s great to catch up with him...

Was a bit tearful saying goodbye to Dave, but I’m gonna see him again in a few weeks, and in all honesty, I think it’ll be good to have a little breather. I mean, we were together almost every day and didn’t have time to catch breath, so a good thing and made me miss him more.

So hopped on the plane to Melbourne and had a frightful journey... nothing happened, I just think I’m a little bit afraid of flying... must be my age... I’m dreading getting on the next plane to NZ, but I’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it... Anyways, arrived at the hostel, and I must say, what a bloody lovely hostel... I’m staying in Base in St Kilda, and it is like five-star, so it’s lovely!! Bar downstairs, nice bar too, all done up shiny and red lol... Oh and get this... in the floor, there’s a fish tank~!! Yes, literally in the bloody floor, it’s quality! You can walk on the fish lol...

So walked in and was greeted by the Irish lads I met in Sydney... such a great, great bunch... not sure if I’ve mentioned them before in previous emails, but they’re such a laugh... nuts!! Been knocking about with them really since I’ve been here... so had a few bevvies with them, and then Zoe came and met me... was pretty wicked to see her again... Next day, she went to New Zealand, and I went to do a few touristy things in town!!

To be honest, my first day here, I wasn’t too happy really... in fact, I was pretty depressed... but according to everyone (sorry for caps), that’s pretty normal when you experience change. I mean, I was in Coogee for three months, so it was a bit of an old shock to the old system!

Anyway, since I’ve been here, I’ve been on a few tours around the city to have a butchers... well, nice city, I must say... very modern... skyscrapers everywhere... makes the city look well nice! Also, the city is overrun by trams instead of buses... trams everywhere, really does give the city something a little bit special, makes it unique in a way.

Went to a few boring museums... boat cruise up and down the river, casino... blimey, I’ve never seen such a big casino—it’s huge!!!! Then on Friday night, the Irish lads had a BBQ, and it was blinding... normally, only a couple of people will show their face, but there were loads of people at this one, and we had such a laugh... one of the Irish lads has one of those flute things and was playing it... everyone was trying to do Irish dancing... it was such a laugh... you just had to be there really... Tuesday was quiz night here at the hostel, which was also another good crack... we didn’t win... Thursday karaoke, and for once, I didn’t actually get up and do it lol... Wednesday night, me and a few peeps got a bit of dinner and just went and sat over the park and had a good laugh!!! It’s so cool here... the social circle is ace at the moment... much better than the social circle in Sydney, I must say... more of a laugh and laid-back here...

Ok, coming up is the Commonwealth Games, as you must have heard about... tonight’s the opening ceremony, and that’s where we are off to!!! It’s gonna properly kick off, oh, and I’m gonna have a boogie with the Queen!! lol.... So yeah, it’s gonna be pretty mental here over the next few weeks... I booked some tickets for the athletics on Monday, so look out for me on the TV, won’t ya! I’ll be in the crowd somewhere... Saturday they have the triathlon, and they run through St Kilda... right next to my hostel!! Melbourne is basically going to turn into one massive party, and I cannot bloody wait!!! I couldn’t have timed it better if I must say so myself...

Aside from the Commonwealth Games, I’m going on the Neighbours tour on Friday... seeing good old Ramsay Street... Saturday I’m going to this really old-fashioned town! Can’t explain it really... but it’s like a cowboy town, so that will be good.... Going to the Grand Prix too!! Cannot bloody wait!!! Can’t believe I’m going really!! It’s like mental... going there for the last race... on 2nd April... so again, watch out for me on TV!!! Also, have got tickets for U2, but as you probably know, they have delayed their tour as there’s an illness in the family!! So that’s a bit of a shame really... might have to sell my tickets as they’re delayed until November... but hey, might still be around then... Also gonna go to Phillip Island to see penguins, and if I have the guts, swim with seals, but I probably won’t... lol

Traveling starts in a few weeks... told you my plans already... so that should be good...

So that’s it really... anyway, must go now... I’m starting to see squares... love and miss you all... hope you’re all ok... and look out for me on TV

Nats xxxxxxxxxx

p.s... Peeps who’ve written me a mail, I’ll reply next time I’m online, which won’t be long, hopefully... need to get off the PC for now xx

Blog 10

Went to Phillip Island for the day, which is just off the coast of Melbourne. We started by going to a zoo, which was pretty cool. I got to kiss a wombat! We got to feed the kangaroos and cuddle a koala... we saw some deadly dingoes too, but apparently, you could have had a photo with them, though it was about 30 dollars, so we didn’t bother.

We then headed up to Phillip Island, got there by bridge... It was absolutely stunning, reminded me of Fraser Island... Mile-long beaches, nice green scenery too... We then went penguin spotting along this cliff kinda thing. We walked on a wooden walkway around the cliffs, and it was pretty cool really. Did see a couple of penguins!

Best Bit Then in the evening, we went to this reserve centre where the penguins basically live!! I dunno what happens really, but they somehow head to a certain spot on the beach and make their way inland through this place, which also has wooden floorboards and fences to separate you from them.

On the beach, there were these two huge stands, the sort you would see at a football pitch or a mini stadium. This is where we all sat and waited for the penguins to show their feathers!!

They emerged from the sea one by one but kept chickening out and diving back in the water. This went on for about half an hour, and by that point, the number of penguins grew, and there were about 50 of them! It was well cute...

They finally plucked up the courage and came waddling along up the beach and walked right past ya!! Was well cool... Then as you're making your way out of the complex, there are penguins everywhere waddling along at the same speed you’re walking!

They make a pretty evil noise, though... One that would scare me, I think, if I were to hear it in the woods lol!

Only the grammar and spelling corrected as requested, no formatting changes! Let me know if you need anything else. 😊 Blog 12

Went out on a speed boat the other day with a couple of people me and Zoe know... It was a quality day! The sun was shining, it was about 32 degrees. We went from St Kilda to Black Rock, and the speed boat also had one of them donut rings attached to the back... I went on it and absolutely crapped myself!!! Well scared of the water, me! I think I’m gonna be eaten by a shark!! Was such a good day, the boat was so comfy... comfy sofas to lay on and shit! We sat on it all day and hopped off around lunchtime for some traditional fish and chips!! Well, not proper traditional like you get in the UK! Was such a nice day for it as well!! What a quality experience that was! I’ve left the CD with the pics up at home, so will upload them soon.

Went to the AFL... Australian Football League... See pictures! Was ok... bit boring, though! But it was good to say I’d been in Telstra! Was meant to go there for the U2 concert, but it got postponed till Nov!! The game was on for a total of 3 hours and basically was just a lot of pushing and shoving! Sorry for the caps! lol... The atmosphere wasn’t like you would get in an English football stadium either!

Grand Prix - Good day! Shame you only got to see the cars for a second as they zoom past ya! But it was good to say I’d been there! It was sooo sooo loud, we had to wear earplugs! We also saw some plane shows when we were there! See pics! It was pretty quality, really! I must say! A Boeing 747 flew over the track, well low it was!! We spent the whole day there and had a wicked time! It was me, Zoe, and Melissa that went!

Me, Zoe, and Melissa are currently living in a wicked little room... Now you’re probably gonna think it wouldn’t be nice if you saw it... Well, you haven’t seen it lol! It’s cool but has no windows, it’s like a dungeon, hehe, and you never know what time of day it is... but it’s proper cozy! Well nice! Perfect little hideout lol....

Dave and Dan came down yesterday, as me and Dave are going traveling for two weeks starting from tomorrow... We are going to Tasmania by ferry! 10 hours in total... It’s a pretty huge ferry, though! We have hired a campervan... it’s called a Wicked Campervan, which has graffiti on the outside... There are heaps of them in Oz, and it’s like a little campervan community! It’s pretty cool... It’s got everything you need in it as well, so accommodation sorted... Be weird living out of a van for two weeks... lol... gypsy! Well, looking forward to it... Then I’m off to Adelaide along Great Ocean Road in the same van with Dave, and then I leave for New Zealand on the 21st April... Not sure how long I will be there for, so just booked a one-way ticket... Might do a ski season...

Anyway, gotta go!! Hope you’re all good and leave me a message.

Nats xxxxxx

Blog 14

Hey everyone!

Just got back from a two-week road trip with Dave... It was wicked, but bloody cold and kinda something that would be better if done when you're an oldie. We hired out a Wicked Campervan and drove around Tasmania.. The campervan is a part of a chain... they're called Wicked Campervans and have all graffiti over them! Pretty cool, actually, but death traps, and I wouldn’t hire one again! See pics.... when I upload them... silly me can't retrieve the cable from my case as I locked it and locked the key in it!!!! Doh!! Waiting for someone to break it open for me....

Day 1 - Got a ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania, first time I’ve been on a ferry, and I tell ya, I absolutely crapped myself! The sea was so rough, and the boat was just crashing against the waves like no one's business! Seasick would be an understatement, and considering I have a fear of boats, I wasn’t best pleased.. It took 10 hours to get there, and we went on the night one... So got a bit drunk just to get to sleep! Arrived at 7am in the morning and drove to a car park and had a kip in the back of the van... We then went and saw some sights and headed to Burnie. There, we went to a cheese factory, waterfall, and somewhere else.. can't remember where, to be honest... Ah yes! Waratah! We spent the night there, and I tell ya, probably the worst night of my life! It was freezing, raining, and we only had a small blanket to cover us! :-( Booo hoooo!! Plus, we were on top of a mountain, which didn’t help.

Day 2 - Got a heater! Then drove to Queenstown. We were meant to go to Cradle Mountain, but it was p—ssing down with rain, so we couldn't... Headed to Queenstown and hired a caravan... After the previous night, we just wanted to have a good old sleep! Had a nice scenic drive there and had a crash... I was driving and took a bend a bit too fast and bang—into the rails... Smashed the light... Not good and scary..

Day 3 - Drove to Hobart, had a look around, and went for a meal in the evening...

Day 4 - Went to the most haunted place in the world—or Australia or something—called Port Arthur and did a ghost tour... It was really, really freaky! Basically, it’s a big site where all the convicts were sent when Australia first started to populate not so many years ago! :).... Big torture site, and god knows what else went on there, but anyway, we were taken around all the buildings at night and told all the stories... In one particular place, I smelt something really, really horrible and then a smoky smell... Couldn't have been anyone smoking, as we were underground.. I asked the tour guide, and she said some people smell it, others don't! So hey, I must be gifted... Didn’t see any ghosts at the time but took loads of photos, and in a couple of them... you can very vaguely see ghosts!! I’m not even kidding ya! When I put the pics up, I’ll explain where to look, and you can see for yourself... Tell ya, didn’t really believe in ghosts before I went there, but now I do! Gulp..

Day 5 - Went back to the Port Arthur site during the day, and it wasn’t as scary during the day... Did a tour of the ruins and stuff and learned some history about it!! Ozzies make me laugh... They call us Poms, but POM actually means Prisoner of Mother England.... Which actually makes them the Poms!! LMAO... Then we headed to a really pretty place on the east coast and watched a romantic sunset.

Day 6 - Stayed around for the day and did some walks... In fact, one of the only walks we did in Tas... and Tas is a place to go walking... But to be honest, as I said before, it’s somewhere you’d go when you're retired... Bit boring for us youngsters, really... We went to a place called Wineglass Bay, and it was beautiful...

Day 7 - Went to a place called Launceston and went on a chairlift above the trees... That was good fun... And then went to the Roman Baths for a nice relaxing afternoon... And then went for a fat Chinese in the evening and got all porked up and then played a game called Keeno for the rest of the evening... Which is like the lottery but a lottery that’s drawn every 2 and a half minutes... We only won 50 bucks....

Day 8 - Carried on playing Keeno in the morning, won a microwave out of a machine... Not even kidding ya... Silly grabbing machine thing... The kinda thing you get in arcades... I put a dollar in and won a microwave!! LMAO!! I mean, what’s a traveler want with a microwave! :) We sold it when we got back to Melbourne...

Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road was beautiful. It’s the road that runs along the south coast of Australia... It’s amazing... You’ll see the pics when I put them up.... We just drove along, did all the sites, and some short walks, only because we had to see the sites lol... We did this over 5 days and stopped in random places to stay... We stayed in some tiny little towns where there only be a population of about 200 people! Ghost towns, very remote, very quiet... There were small pubs there, but the type of place you go into and everyone looks around at you... Then we went to Launceston, which is home to the gold mines... And there’s a town there called Sovereign Hill, which is set up like it's in the 1800s—dirt roads, horse-drawn carriages, actors walking around dressed up in the things they used to wear in those days... Was pretty amazing, actually... You had the chance to dig for gold as well... Me did plenty of that! :) And even got a certificate for it! Hehehe.

Then back to Melbourne... We went to the casino last night and blew some money on roulette... When you play it, you get drinks for like 2 dollars... Which is a pound... So me... took full advantage and got a little worse for wear... Bit lary apparently, and when I lost all my money on black, I tried to grab the chips back :) And told the croupier it was all a fix.... Dave said it was funny, and other people found it amusing.... Brightened up the old croupier’s night, I reckon! lol... Then the bouncers were called over, so I buttoned it...

Not very happy at the moment... Just had to say bye to Dave again... :-( Was very tearful. He’s going back to the UK in 2 weeks :( and I’m staying here for another 3 months... Sitting in the hostel on my own, feeling sorry for myself and waiting for a pickup to go to the airport... I’m going to New Zealand tonight as my visa has officially expired... So going to get a holiday one... and coming back... Thinking of going to Perth next... Melbourne’s a bit too cold...

So bye for now peeps/// Missing ya xxxxxxxxx