Well, can't believe that I'm actually writing this, but this is the last update I'll be writing as a "Sydneysider". Next time am back here, will only be for a week as a backpacker again :o( Am very reluctant to leave Sydney, but I have done what I came here to do, earn money and live as an Aussie for a while.
Have now finished up work and had a few days to get everything sorted, packed and together...we moved out of our apartment this morning, and spend our last night at a hostel tonight, before heading off tomorrow.
The last few months we've been trying to pack in as much as possible before we leave - all of those things we just hadn't gotten round to...it was a long list!
Not sure if the rest of the World has caught the news of late about the Aussie Olympic Swimming Trials and Ian Thorpe's controversial false start, disqualification and then re-instated after his replacement stood down for him in the team?? Well, those who know me well, being the swim fan that I am, know I've alwasy wanted to see Thorpey swim, so we took ourselves up to the Olympic Park a few months ago and saw him in action...luckily it was the day after his false start fiasco, and he wasn't gonna make the same mistake twice, so we were relieved to get to see him swim. Well, he won his heat and went on the make the team for that event. Was good to see other top Aussie swimmers compete too, and think i may have to support the Aussies and the Brits in Athens!!
Have also been getting into the watersports myself. Have wanted to complete my PADI Open Water Diving course ever since I first scuba dived nearly seven years ago!!! So finally took the opportunity and after 2 weekends of theory and written exam, pool sessions and 4 open water dives around Sydney, both in the Harbour (with panaromic city skyline being the last thing you see before you leave the surface...pretty cool!) and out in the open sea, just down the road from where we live. Saw all kinds of cool stuff, parrot fish, lion fish, cuttlefish, and at the same time learning and practising all our core skills needed to pass...am relieved to say I did pass, so am now a qualified scuba diver...hurrah!! Am hoping to do some more on our travels.
Easter was different over here too...the weather was gorgeous, sunny and hot...just what was needed...luckily the chocolate over here has a special ingredient to stop all those easter eggs melting in the heat!! We didn't really get up to too much of the traditional easter stuff this year...although the Aussies seem to celebrate it more than Christmas (?!) Good Friday was our Surf Lessons!! I have been wanting to try surfing ever since we first stepped off the plane, so we booked with a local surf school and got taken off to Cronulla, one of Sydney's southern beaches, for the day. Our teacher was a sun-battered lifelong surfer, such a "dude" it was funny!!! And the thing is, he made it look sooooo much easier than it actually was!!! Looked simple, a 4-step way they show you to get up on the board...practice on the sand...yep, all pretty straightforward, so you drag your board into the water, jump on wait for a wave (only very small ones might i add!) and try to get up...and stay up into the beach!! Well, after a tiring hour or so, had managed to get up and stay up once. Have realised I am not going to be a natural surf chick, but am hoping a bit more practice around australia and i ma just be able to handle myself and a board to give it a go at home (yes, it will be freezing, but hey!). The next day though....woke up, and could hardly move...was aching ALL over and in places I didn't even know I had a muscle! Incidentally the next two days of my dive course were on the saturday nd sunday...Lord knows how I managed to lift that tank on my back, could hardly walk without it, let alone carrying it to our dive site!!! Ah well, no pain, no gain, as the saying goes!
Well, it's really getting into winter here...most people assume Australia is year-round sun and warm temperatures...you can be excused for thinking that until you've actually been here...it's damn cold right now, and you can all have a giggle when you find out the UK is having balmier weather than us down under right now!!! Took a trip to the Blue Mountains yesterday...now when I say mountains, they're just kind of hills really, not huge snow-capped peaks, but the weather was soooo cold. Was only outside for a bit and my fingers and nose had gone numb, the wind was biting my cheeks...it was like being at home, BUT minus the big fluffy coat, gloves, hat & scarf I would have had in the UK...us backpackers are so underdressed for the cold over here!!
OK, am gonna keep it short and sweet, and will leave you with a few more photos from the last few months. Am off to reminisce about my time in Sydney, the fab people I've met and the experiences I've had...if any of you guys are reading this, a big THANKS for the last few months, has been amazing...a real ripper!! (Sorry, the Aussie phrases are coming out now...have obviously been here way to long already!!)
Ciao!