29th Jan 2012

29^th Jan 2012

Hello there!!!

And how are you all? I hope all is well with everyone!!! What news do you have in the Southern hemisphere?? First of all... we now have a blog... so subscribe to it if you wish!!!

Possibly a short enough update for you this time as we haven’t really been at much at all.... YEA I know I said that before. Since I was last writing two big things have happened to us. 1. I started my new job and 2. We are going to move house!!! Wooowooo!!!

I started work on the 23^rd of Jan, and as luck would have it, it was a short week. Australia day was slap bang in the middle of the week... well not exactly the middle- Thursday - and even though I had the good fortunate of a day off, I had to be in work on Friday. Boooo to that I say. However I must admit... I had the whole week off to myself before that... as Mick was in his 1^st full working week... so really I shouldn’t be complaining at all should i!? Work... is.... interesting. Its a very similar set up to Diageo and the training and learning processes are non existent... suppose I should just accept this as the way things are in the world... but it just pains me. Work wise, I know the bones of what needs to be done and the likes... I just need to know the contacts and such and so far the manager doesn’t seem to care so much and seems to be under the impression I know it all... even though he interviewed me and is aware its my 1^st Ozzie job. Anywho... I shall muddle on and if I make a mess of it... at least ill do it in style and have gained some experience. Ha!! But I can say... 4 days in and I miss Helen, Carolyn and Edel!!! And all the other ladies and alex. J Im on a team of boys/men and they are more moody than I remember. They are all friendly when they need to be but they don’t do lunch but go on smoking breaks... which isn’t of use to me. However there is an Irish girl in QA, Aisling, who sits behind me ... so im sorted really ... anywho... the company is slick... makes almost everything .... I got a heap of freebies there on Wednesday... vanish, dettol soap stuff, veet... it was great! On a positive note- work isn’t too far away from where Mick is working... so he picks me up in the evening, which is handy. The bus in the morning  leaves from the top of the road and I have to get a second bus about ten mins away from work so in total it takes about an hour to get to work... which is only a 20min drive... so collecting me is great!! (there are no foothpaths so I can’t walk the ten mins as the bus stops on a freeway!!) Roll on week number 2...

For Australia day, we really didn’t know what to do. It surprised us and well we were delighted to have the day off but we had no plans. We headed into Sydney to Hyde Park and had a look see around the place. There were a lot of childrens things going on and we saw loads of vintage cars. Managed to get myself slightly sunburnt again... but this time it wasn’t bad or sore thank god. We ended up going to a place called the Rocks in Sydney- it’s an old area of Sydney and there was a street market and festival going on. We got ourselves a seat in an irish bar beside a massive window and people watched and took it all in. It was great craic!!!!

The second big adventure in our little world is our moving out of our apartment from Lane Cove!!! We are moving away from our 70year old landlady into a 13person, 8 bed share house in Rozelle... about ten minutes down the road. It’s nearer the city and we will be closer to work- ill only have to get one bus yippee!! The people in the house are all between 25- 35, all different nationalities so we will hopefully make some friends. It’s a massive two story house- used to be a manner house of the area. The room is huge, a lot bigger than where we are now. Queen bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, set of drawers etc. The showers, toilets and kitchen/sitting room are all shared. There is a bathroom downstairs and one upstairs and then outside in outhouses there are more showers and toilets. It was a hostel at one point. It’s going to be loud possibly, and it will definitely be interesting. Cleaners come in every Thursday to clean the common areas. There is a big back yard equipped in outdoor furniture, bar area and bbq. We are a lot nearer the city, nearer pubs, restaurants, shops etc... don’t get me wrong. Lane Cove is lovely, it really is and it has everything and we would love to stay on here but the situation is changing and we need to be out on our own and right now it didn’t have any nice/cheap share houses. So next Saturday4th we get the keys to the new place and we move in. I have to say we are both looking forward to it. For those of you who wish to write the old fashioned way the address is: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I look forward to any correspondence!!!! J

And that my lovely people is all the news we have for you. We have managed to get ourselves to the cinema twice- to see Sherlock Holmes (mick fell asleep for most of it J ) and the Descendents (mick stayed awake)- both really good movies. The rest of our weekends have been spent trying to suss out cheap food, drinks, clothes and accessories... tis a tough job!! Haha. Today we ventured back to Palm Beach- AKA Summer Bay. It was awesome. I have some photos that I need to put up on facebook, so far I haven’t had the time so bare with me.

Right... bed calls!!

Ttu soon

Love k

14th Jan 2012

14^th Jan 2012

Hello Everyone

Happy belated 2012 to all I haven’t been in contact with and apologies to the rest if I sound like im repeating myself!!!

How are you? How is everything going on? By the way, if youve been getting spam from my email, my apologies, ive changed my password so hopefully that puts a stop to it. Seems it happened when I logged into free wifi on my travels!!!

Im afraid this instalment will be a bit shorter than previous emails – we have found ourselves a routine and are now keeping our heads down!!

First and foremost, the Sydney New Years eve fireworks were amazing!!! We watched them in Mort Bay Park in Balmain – we got up super early and arrived down at the park at 10am to ensure we got a good spot (couldn’t come all this way and barely see then now could we!?)... it was raining and horrible out, but that didn’t last too long. Luckily enough we got the last car parking spot just outside the entrance of the park so to say we were happy out was an understatement- otherwise if we hadn’t gotten a space we’d have had to go back to Lane Cove and get the bus into the City and back out again to Balmain with all our belongings... chairs, picnic blanket, two eskies (cooler boxes), books and newspapers... it would not have been pleasant and I dread to think what it would have been like to get it all back to Lane Cove later the next day at 1am in the morning!!! Around 11am we ventured out of the car and set ourselves up under a tree. We had packed lunch and dinner all sorted from the night before and also had a cooler boxes of water and alcoholic beverages on ice. Already people were in the park setting up tents and picnic blankets well before we had gotten out of the card– kids running around and people turned on their music and all sorts- games, footy, chats, it was lovely. The sun came out and we stayed under our tree for a good bit of the day. Me and sunburn.... we don’t like each other!! The atmosphere was relaxed and everyone was enjoying themselves. Eventually we decided to move closer to the action and to the edge of the wharf and set up beside the railings- Harbour Bridge in full view. We were kind of amazed that the park wasn’t as packed as we had anticipated but that all changed swiftly after we moved. The weather was awesome!!! It was the only word for it. Blue sky and sun and not a cloud in sight. Mick got his photo taken with some cops- intentionally mind you- he wasn’t arrested or anything!!! A plane wrote words in the sky at one stage and everyone was taking photos, including me. Then the aboriginals set off their cleansing green smoke ... we weren’t sure at the time what it was – we thought it was a type of firework and they were testing it out as it was bright and sunny still. (Found out after that it was like special incense stuff) Once it got dark, it got pretty chilly. We had brought a blanket and also jumpers and trousers so we were grand and warm. At 9pm we had the first set of fireworks and they were pretty cool. A lot of the families left after these. The 12pm fireworks were something else. I’ve managed to take a video of them however it’s too big to email so I have to figure out how to get it up onto YouTube and when I figure it out, I’ll send you guys on the link. It not excellent and cant truly represent what it’s like in real life but it’ll give you an idea. I’ll keep you posted on how I get on!!!! They went on for a good 15mins almost. People around us were saying they were the best yet that they have seen. 6million was spent on these fireworks and there were multiple firing points, including the bridge and about 5 other areas- when the tall skyscrapers in the city were part of the fun and they too were setting off fireworks. Fireworks were going off behind us up north of the bridge and then further south of the bridge. They used a new type of firework that when it “pops” it looks like butterflies. AMAZING!!! Anyway, it was a long day but so worth it. We got back to Lane Cove and to our lovely cosy bed around 1.30am and we slept the whole next day only moving to get food and go back to sleep again!!!

And since New Years, our lives haven’t been very exciting!! Managed to get to an internet cafe and upload a lot of the photos I’ve been taking and on the Tuesday just after New Years, we began the job hunt and worked on our CVs all day and pretty much for the following days after that and applied for as many jobs as possible!!!!

Thursday 5^th of Jan we had our first Ozzie date night!! Yea I’ve been here nearly a month and it took us that long to organise a date!! Haha!! We didn’t venture too far, and went to a lovely little Italian, run by Italians, in Lane Cove village and had the best pizza. True, authentic Italian wood fired pizza.... and I’ve been to Italy... this was way better!!!!

Saturday 7^th morning we went to Aldi to by ourselves body boards (half surf boards), our own cooler box and a little small tent! After we went into Sydney and did the Hop on/Hop off bus tour. The day was gorgeous and we were lazy and didn’t fancy walking about so sat upstairs on the open top bus and let the driver and guide to the rest!!! We had seen a lot of the city already by just driving around but we couldn’t tell you what we were looking at so this opened our eyes a little. Also the Sydney festival is on for the three weeks after New Years and there were free gigs in parks all over Sydney. People just sitting around have picnics and relaxing- its so laid back!! Saturday we got a bit of good news that Mick got a job. Thrilled to say the least!

Sunday 8^th we headed back into the city to PJO Briens- an Irish pub- and stayed a while and celebrated a little – possibly prematurely as Mick hadn’t started his job but it was a nice thing to do regardless. The day started out fab but when I say it lashed rain.... by god it poured out of the heavens. Thunder and lightning and a massive amount of water. It was unreal and at one stage.... it was as if we were in a pub at home just looking out. It was a little strange and made me a bit homesick! Never thought id say that about rain!!!! We got soaked coming home- no umbrellas, no coats... haha.

Monday 9^th we ventured to Ikea.... its the exact same as Dublin and bought ourselves some pint glasses... or a little bigger than pint glasses. It was very exciting!! (NOT) but it gave us something to do.

Tuesday 10^th we decided to head to Manly beach and try out our Aldi purchases. We had no idea how to use the body boards so watched others using them and then off we went into the sea- it was great craic. You face the shore, lie on the board and catch a wave as it breaks and it brings you back into the shore- brilliant fun.... except when a wave catches you off guard and completely up turns you on your head when you least expect and you nearly die in two foot of water and your boyfriend just stands there laughing at you!! Hahaha. I nearly lost my life with the shock of it but its all part and parcel of it I suppose. I will pay attention more. I had a little sit down after my tumble and about ten minutes later I was back in the water. It was great.

Wednesday 11^th, Mick started his new job!!! Wahey!!!!!! Up at 5.30am and out the door at 6am. I didn’t do too much during the day accept head to the gym and a bit of washing,.... yes im very exciting as you can tell!!! Thursday and Friday were pretty much the same... with one little difference, I had an interview for a job and im delighted to say that I got it!! Wooo!!! I start my new job on the 23^rd of Jan for a company called Reckitt Benckiser – they produce the big brands such as Vanish, Harpic, Durex, Scholl etc.... it’s a 4 month contract so it’s the Ozzie experience that I need to get the foot in the door I hope!!! So bring it on!!

And that my lovelies is all the newses that I have for you. Suppose this email has turned longer than I had expected but I do waffle a lot!

Send me updates on how you are all getting on, I love to hear from you!!!

Talk to you soon,

Love K

30th December 2011

30^th December 2011

Well Hello World!!!

We are back in business and back online and on the internet!!! Wooo!!!

How are you all? I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas!!! I cant wait to hear all the news!!!

Our Christmas was very different! We are currently based in Lane Cove- north shore of Sydney. We are staying with a 70yr old lady called Elwyn- she is a true and true Australian battle-axe- thats the only way I can put her but awfully nice and not one bit shy giving her opinion not matter how out there it is or racist!!! The apartment is old, and in a bushy style area, it is quiet yet is near everything. It is a 3 bed and we have our own bathroom and fridge and cupboard. Out the back in a small park area and Elywns pet possum and baby. She regularly feeds both and also the wild parrots- there are parrots everywhere!!!! – both animal types are tame enough. We have decided that we will extend our stay here with her until Feb 8^th- giving us time to get to know Sydney better and look for and get jobs.

We arrived in Sydney early on Wed 21^st to be greeted by Elwyns daughter Nicole- she is a happy hippy and hates the “big man corporation” but is lovely and asks the strangest questions about Ireland!? She showed us the apartment and told us where the nearest supermarket was and then was gone. For the first three days we had the whole apartment to ourselves – which was bliss!! We got to do all our washing done and relaxed for the evening- clean clothes are sooooo good J  We were shattered from all the driving. Fair play to Mick, he did the majority of it and I helped where I could. However had we known what it was going to be like... we may not have done it. But the experience in itself was worth it as not many Australians have done that trip!!!

Thursday 22^nd.... it was dull and raining. The weather has changed dramatically from west to east as we travelled over so much so we have questioned going back to Perth.... to the sun!!!! It’s a lot cooler in Sydney and also more green but the weather seems to pick up in the afternoons and im glad to say that the freckles are coming along nicely now. We ventured out and around Sydney for a drive on Thursday and headed for Bondi Beach- complete a utter let down and to make matters worse... my camera died so we will have to go back for photos... sure one just has too!! Our apartment complex has tennis courts, an outdoor pool, indoor pool, hottub and sauna so we had other things to be occupied with that evening.

Friday 23^rd – to say it rained... well if it didn’t rain, it poured for most of the morning. The sun came out at lunch time and we decided to take the bull by the horns and got ourselves on a bus from Lance cove to the city. We arrived at the Queen Victoria Building and did some window shopping. Ventured over to the Sydney Town hall and the made our way down to Darling Harbour where we decided to go to the Aquarium. It was awesome! Sharks and every fish imaginable- it was fantastic. When we arrived home we finally got to meet our land lady and spent until late into the evening talking with her. As it happens she is an ex- Marketing Manager... in fmcg... I kid you not... so she has and knows all the contacts in the business on the Sydney side. So watch this space. She is currently freelancing for Woolworths.

Christmas eve morning was a complete wash out- thunder and lightening and floods to beat the band!!! Again the sun came out around lunch time and we headed to the shops to get a few bits for the Christmas Lunch. Elwyn had asked us to join her and her daughter, her daughters partner Jarrod and their son Marlon for Christmas day lunch – it was to be a cold platter... so we couldn’t really say no and we wanted to see what an Ozzie Christmas was like. Elwyn was not afraid to put us to work once we arrived back with the shopping, we had to help ready the food for the next day while having a few drinks and listening to Christmas carols in the background. To say it was strange is possibly the biggest understatement. There was no Christmas eve sessions – there was food preparation to do!!!

Christmas day was sunny and hot. A surprise to my family- I got dressed and put on makeup for once instead of wearing my usual bed hair and pjs. The guests arrived around 1pm and lunch was served just after 2pm. We ate outside in the sun and all the food was cold but lovely. I wore my santa hat and we drank champagne and sparkling wine! Unfortunately we didn’t feel Christmassy at all as it was all so strange.  Jarrod works in TV and film as a special effects person. Marlon is 13 and got a puppy for Christmas called Ginger- we were all very taken with her. Everyone was lovely and we both had a good time! After lunch everyone expect Elywn went for a walk down to the water front in Lane cove – and when we came back the guests left. Elwyn had told us that the next day we were going to head for Palm beach and that she would show us around the North of Sydney .... there was no discussion and Mick was driving! We had to be up early so we made a swift getaway to our room to ring our families and for an early night. Any kind of horse racing we had wanted to go too... was out the window!!

Stephens Day started at 8am.... I told you we had a very different Christmas... we drove around everywhere!!! We headed to Manly beach- a fabulous beach close to the apartment and then headed up to Palm Beach- where the shoot Home and Away- had a coffee by the beach and then a picnic. We arrived home around 4pm and were fit for nothing. Haha but we got a good feel for the area a bit more so that was a bonus. We watched a dvd for the night.

Tuesday 27^th- we did two big things- I joined a gym and we found our spot for New Years Eve. A place called Mort Bay Park in Balmain thanks to the lovely Mary Joyce. We have gotten chairs, eskies (cooler boxes) food and drinks and the plan is to be there super early and possibly sleep in the car that night id needed. We cant see the opera house but we have a fantastic view of the Harbour bridge.

Wednesday 28^th and Thursday 29^th- we haven’t been up to much except figuring out ways to get to Mort Bay Park, trying to sort out a driving licence for me (which I now do not need it seems in New South Wales- the Irish one is fine- but I still need an id card of some sort), trying to buy an internet usb so that we can get back on the net full time and skype and email whenever we want. Going to the gym and reading the newspapers and looking for jobs.... all while trying to get a tan... in my case... trying to not get burnt.

Today- Friday 30^th we have been busy sorting out the internet- yay we got it and I also have my NSW ID card- the photo on it is dreadful but at least now I don’t have to carry around my passport. We ventured into the city today and went to Circular Key to see the Harbour Bridge up close and also to the Opera House. Along the way we bumped into Tommy Walsh and his gf and Brian Smith and Michelle Grogan.... small world I tell ya!!! Brian and Michelle only landed today in Oz- they have been in Thialand for the past few weeks and loved it. After a chat and number swapping we headed to the Botanic gardens where we took the choo-choo express- a little toy train around the gardens. It was fun!!! Our real plan had been to get on one of those hop on/hop off buses but time ran away with us. We will save it for another day!!! So tomorrow is the big 2012 celebrations!!! Wooo!! We are playing to be in our park super early- around 10am if possible which is hard for us at present as getting up early is not nice!! We will have to get used to it once we get working.

And that my lovelies is all the news I have for you!! I want to hear about all your christmas’s and steves nights and all the fun and craic had!!!

The plan for the weekend it to enjoy the new years celebrations and start Monday morning on a job hunt. Then the real fun begins!!! I look forward to hearing from you all!!

Much love Karen

20th December 2011

Wednesday 20^th December 2011

Hello hello everyone!!

I cant believe I am emailing on the 20^th of December and is definitely not one bit Christmassy!!! I hope you all are well and everything is going good. So here goes the news from the last 5 or so days... it has been a busy few days....i sound like a Eurovision announcer!! All we have been singing is the song from Shrek where donkey sings.... WE’RE ON THE ROAD AGAIN... for the last few days. They have been hard going but great all rolled into one!!

On Wednesday we arrived in Adelaide and spent all day Thursday seeing the sights- we visited Cleland Wildlife park and got to see the Koalas and fed the kangaroos and all matter of animals including ducks and black swans and birds... it was brilliant. The day was fantastic and the weather awesome. We were too late to hold the Koala but we got to pet him and took photos. We then headed to Mount Lofty summit to see the whole layout of Adelaide below us- it was some sight and then before it got dark we managed to go to the Botanic Gardens. That night we ventured out for dinner and found ourselves a lovely Argentinean restaurant. Yum yum!! We have come to realise that Ozzies don’t really do late dinners... as we are finding that when we head out around 8.30pm a lot of places are closed!!! Murphys Law!! Adelaide is very different to Perth, busier and there is a buzz about it. Everywhere is very clean- the streets and houses and gardens are all well kept. Its different!

Friday we drove across the border from South Australia to Victoria and arrived in Geelong later than we had expected. We had misjudged the distance and missed out on the entire Great Ocean Road due to the fact it was dark... however we did see the lovely cobalt blue lake of Mount Gambier, an extinct volcano ... the time error didn’t stop us, the next day, Saturday, we back tracked and saw the whole Great Ocean Road in full colour version. Whoever said it was all “ocean” drive lied!!!! A lot of it is forest... I think we have seen more trees than the ocean along our journey in total ... and we did take the ocean road... . hahaha!!  We had the pleasure of also coming across wild koala... Mick spotted a family on the side of the road with their cameras in bushes... it was on a very bad bend and he saw the Koala... so we stopped immediately only to see it come down from the tree and cross the busy road.... not a bother on it. So we followed and Mick took some photos. Extremely cute!!! I’ll have them up on Facebook soon!!! We saw Spit lighthouse, loads of Ocean and the famous Twelve Apostles. AWESOME sight. We arrived back in Melbourne around 8pm to find that the hotel we booked was only a street away from China town and smack bang in the middle of the city of Melbourne. The buzz of the city even so late at night was something else. People were milling about laughing, buskers were playing or singing. It was fantastic. We could not wait for it to be day time again to see it in the flesh!!

As per normal occurrence, Sunday was cloudy!!! Typical!! But it did not deter us. We ventured out and walked the legs off ourselves around the city of Melbourne after a lovely breakfast in a little cafe and we didn’t even get to see a ¼ of the city!! After our walk we settled down to a few drinks and headed out for dinner. 

Monday we started our final trek to Sydney. We were under no pressure. So we have taken it easy enough travelling along the coast... again... the amount of trees to ocean/water is greater!!! FOR A COAST ROAD!!! Anyway, we found a beach called Woodside Beach which is the start of the 90 Mile Beach coast..... it was deserted. Completely. One minute I was there taking photographs and laughing, the next minute a buck naked Michael Durkan was running towards the water... his clothes had been left at my feet. I could do nothing else but laugh!!! Unfortunately I didn’t take photos to prove he did this, but I assure you he did. The best I can do is show you a photo of him drying off!!! J We ended up as far as a place called Lakes Entrance and booked ourselves into a lodge cabin for the night. It was cool!! We cooked dinner and vegged for the night. Just what we needed.

Today we have driven to a port/beach called Batesman Bay and are now booked into a lovely little motel. We stopped off at a few beaches along the way in Eden and we went for a wade/swim... I waded, mick swam....which has resulted in a brunt back for the lovely Karen. But such is life. Its not too bad at all thank god. Lesson learnt!!!  Tomorrow our final leg of our journey is left before we arrive in Lane Cove in Sydney. Our landlady has been in contact with us twice so far and seems to be a lovely lady. We will be in Sydney for 3 weeks. We have been speaking to the hotel receptionist and she thinks we’ll get to Sydney in about 3hours... so we shall be lunching tomorrow in Sydney!! Wooo!!! The plan after the three weeks... at the minute we are hoping to get work and stay there for the foreseeable future. If we don’t like it, we may return to Melbourne. We had found that as we have visited city after city the atmosphere is getting better and better.... so here’s hoping Sydney is wonderful!!

And that my lovelies is the update for now!! I will be in touch- to everyone- have a wonderful Christmas and I will email you all again in the new year.

Talk to you in 2012!!!!

Love k

12th December 2011

MONDAY 12^th December 2011

Hey there lovely people!

This email is going to be a bit random and all over the place... we are in the outback halfway across the Nullarbor Plain in a little motel in a place called Madura – motel is called The Madura Oasis Motel. There is no signal or reception and wireless internet does not exist!!! The room we are in is huge, clean and has everything one would want, tv, ensuite, fridge, kettle, bed, table and chairs etc... we brought our toaster with us and bread so toasties all around!!!

A lot has happened in the last 7 days- last Monday we went to Perth Zoo. It was awesome but I have to say Dublin Zoo is just as good if not better, Dublin is definitely bigger. We spent ages there so much so we actually got locked into the zoo... unbeknowns to us!! We kinda wondered why is was soooo quiet and why some of the animals had disappeared.... but took no notice as we were enjoying the walk around in the sun. As we were leaving we came across a keeper and she was like- are you guys visiting the zoo... we said yes and she told us that it had been closed the last hour or so and she wasn’t sure how to get us out. Eeekkk. Eventually she decided the best thing to do was to let us out the side entrance and sure then we were sorted. It was a funny adventure!! Got to see all sorts of animals and took loads of pics- see facebook!

Tuesday we headed to Kings Cross Park for a walk around after hitting a gym (yes a gym it was very impressive!!!!)- it had been raining all day and we decided on a whim to chance our arm and head to the park. It was lovely but the breeze was cool. We stayed about an hour and took the randomest photos- I realised after that I didn’t really take much pictures of the plants and its a fecking botanic garden!!!!

Wednesday it’d rained most of the day- thunder and lightening- the works. We hit the gym and mick showed me some weight machines...!!! We met up with Micks mate Dave that evening for dinner and a small pub crawl- went to the Lucky Shag, Rosie OGradys and Black Bettys. Interesting due to the ID checks we had to go through at each pub and it wasn’t very busy but a good laugh all the same.

Thursday spent all day running around getting visa labels and trying to fast track my driving licence and sorting my bankers card as well as hitting the gym. Unfortunately drivers licence will come through by the time I hit Adelaide so ill just do the whole thing again once I reach Sydney- least then ill have at least 3 weeks to get it sorted. I can drive on my current irish licence for three months so I am ok for now. Itd be handy to have the licence to use it as a form of ID. Anywho ill not worry too much about it!!!

Friday we decided to hit  Rottnest Island. It is a ferry ride away from Perth. We got the ferry from fremantle and we rented out bikes. Dave came with us. Ferry ride over was nice and calm. We cycled around Rottnest for about 3 hours up and down hills and it was hard!!! Poor Dave hadn’t been on a bike in about 10years and I think we might have killed him. Hahaha. We had lunch and after that decided drinks would be in order!! The plan had been to go snorkling as it is beautiful and comes highly recommended but there was a helicopter flying over the beaches and that meant one thing... shark spotted so the water was a no go area. We enjoyed beers and wines in the sun and of course I got slightly sunburnt even though I had sun screen on!! But hay its a slight tan.... I say slight cuz mick is black and ill never get that tanned ever!!!! We met some quokkas on the island. It is their natural habitat and they were super friendly. I got pictures of mick petting one. They come out looking for food from the tourists. They are very cute. On the way home on the boat a lady sitting across from us showed us a photo of the shark that was in the water... so im kinda glad we didn’t go snorkling. Friday evening was out last night in Perth, we didn’t do much bar have dinner in the house in Scarbrough- we were knackered. Hahaha. We found out that evening that the girl we were renting the room off was back in the area and was moving back in on Sunday- suited us perfectly. She is the overall owner/renter of the house and gave out to Daniella for letting the plants die.... ooopsie!!!

Saturday, we spent the morning cleaning the apartment and packing. Loading up the car was funny- its jam packed... even now. Yea I don’t travel lightly as you all probably know hahaha. We drove to Cunderin and then the farm to see Micks adopted family Andrew and Tracy, leaving Perth just after 3pm. It was bitter sweet I suppose. The house we were in was very cute and comfy. It was a really lovely place to stay and easy to get around- I was just getting used to Perth but we had done all the touristy stuff... there was nothing else really do to do, except work! Anywho – we got to the farm just after 6- I got to drive the car to the farm once we got off the highway. Never drove an automatic before but so far so good and its easy enough. Just need some practice I suppose. The area is beautiful but really in the middle of nowhere. Saw loads of parrots!!!! When we got to the farm, Tracy had dinner made for us- Green Thai curry, naan bread and sticky toffee pudding.... ALL MADE FROM SCRATCH!!! She is some cook and im glad I don’t live there full time with her!!! Hahaha. We chatted and swapped funny stories all evening- it was a great laugh. The next morning we had a lovely breakfast and headed away around 11am. Next stop Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

I drove the whole way to Kalgoorlie-Boulder. It was long- 5 hours but cool!!! When we got there we booked into the Palace Hotel- a really old refurbished hotel- id say it was the same as is was back in 1894 when the town was founded!!! Hahaha. We went and seen the Super Pit- I hope to stick photos up on facebook. It was AWESOME!!!! They mine for gold and nickel and granite. It was some pit. Most of the shops and pubs were shut- after all it was a Sunday, day of rest and all that!!!! Haha.

Monday,  TODAY- we began our real journey.... across the Nullarbor Plain on the Eyre Highway- seemingly it is a rite of passage so to speak- we met loads of camper vans and cars just like ours jam packed!!  We started off in Woolworths to buy some water, food and bread for the trip and of course takeaway coffees... which took ages... mick has decided that WA does not stand for Western Australia but in fact stands for WAITING AGES... cuz we were waiting ten minutes for the takeaway coffee... but I have to say it was good coffee. We drove for 8 hours and have landed here in Madura for the night- halfway across the plain. It was some drive and we have taken a few photos which dont really fully show the plain or its vastness– one needs to drive it to understand how vast it is.... roll on tomorrow I say!!! So far we have seen lots of dead kangaroos, one live kangaroo in the distance, an eagle and a load of hawks. Micks thinks he saw an emu... but we cant be sure and we were not stopping to check it out!!! We will nearly be in Adelaide tomorrow or at least we will be in South Australia and we have initially given ourselves 10 days to get to Sydney... and now its looking like we will get to spend a few days in Adelaide and Melbourne or go and see more bits and bobs!!! I cant wait!!! Wooo!! However for now I will sign off... the motel bed looks inviting. Driving, even when taking turns- is tiring!!! Peace out and ill write again soon!!!

WEDNESDAY 14^th

 Well... WE HAVE ARRIVED in Adelaide....!!! 2767kms completed already from Perth... and possibly another 2000 to go to reach Sydney depending on if we take the coast road from Melbourne... which I think is a must!!! Bring it on!! Wooooo!!!! To say that the drive on Monday from Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta was vast is possibly the biggest understatement of the year. The pictures I have DO NOT do the place justice – check out facebook. There are towns marked on the map every 200km along the way... but they are not towns... but petrol stations and that’s about it and there is nothing else after or in between but tress and bushes and then there is nothing... and I mean NOTHING!!

Tuesday we drove again all day. I found this day the hardest so far as my back was broken and really sore for some reason- sitting down is not good for you and we were solidly driving and I had leg cramps all night- not fun but they are gone now thank god. We arrived in Ceduna South Australia late and had some fun trying to book a room in a motel. The reception was shut and so you had to ring a place far way and book and then get a code and a key dropped out of a box... very very strange I must say but it was a nice motel- best we have been in so far and we got breakfast included. We have been living on ham rolls and chicken rolls and the likes for the past few days so yesterday we went mental and bought pizza!!! Haha. I wont even go into the drama that happened when we had to check out.... the motel didn’t even realise we were there... as we had checked in so late the night before. Gas is all I can say!!!

Today, Wednesday, we arrived in Adelaide and got really lucky with a hotel- called the Rydges- its like a Jurys Inn. I had my first experience of a drive through bottle shop about an hour ago... I kid you not. You drive through, get your order, pay and away you go. Very novel!!! We drove a good distance again today, across the wheatfields. We plan to stay here for two nights, tomorrow we explore and Friday we head off in the direction of Melbourne. So far since we have left Perth the weather has been cool and over cast. Tomorrow its meant to pick up again and hit 30degrees... bring it on!!! I might just get some colour... hopefully not red!!!

And.... for now that is all the newses and stories from Karen and Mick here in OZ, I hope the snow is not sticking and that it doesn’t get too bad.

Send me your newses as I now have coverage again and can reply!!

From k 

4th December 2011

4^th December 2011-12-04

Hey Hey Northern Hemisphere....!!!!

Well guys and dolls im here down under har har har– day number 4.... this morning ive awoken to a small thunder storm...but I think its gone now. Bare with me on this email- normally im very good at emails... but im not used to writing to everyone at the same time!!! Just so you all know... I ramble and I waffle so enjoy.... or not!!

I don’t really have much news only to say the following few bits and bobs-the whole good bye in the airport was really hard. I had some issues with my very heavy bags but I got that all sorted thank god. The flight from Dublin to Frankfurt was lovely... I had three seats to myself, bliss... the plane had to be de-iced in frankurt before we took off and cuz it was a 12hour flight from Frankfurt to Singapore...it was hell... I was stuck in the middle of two german ladies who decided to hold a conversation over me any time there was light... it was awful and very rude. Anywho... to add to my owe there was a child behind me to kicked my seat for most of the way. I can now tell you what it must me like to be pregnant in your bum/back area... and I don’t like it I tell ya!!! The Singapore to perth flight was easy compared to the 12hours.... I could do 5 hours no probs!!! Haha. I was lucky on the last flight cuz I had two seats to myself and could have a lie down. Watched a lot of movies... if you haven’t seen the Guard... go see it!

Landed in at 1.10am- so around 5pm ish irish time. Going through Perth passport control and customs was a bit off putting and took a long time but I was out by 2am. I didn’t get checked for my baggage and all my bags arrived over no probs... and when I arrived into the arrivals hall... I burst out crying when I saw himself!! By the way I spent most of the time on the flights crying... I was very emotional!!! Perth arrivals hall is teeny tiny. And in my humble opinion, Dublin T2 is a lovely airport- very modern!!! it was 22degrees at 2am... and Helen no I did not hop on him (right away!!) ... we both were a bit like “omg you are here and are real”.

We came back to the house- it’s a lovely little house/apt type complex but no stories... it’s hard to explain. Its very modern, two bedrooms, wet room, toilet, kitchen/sitting room. I have created organised chaos in the master bedroom with all my stuff.... !!! We are based in Scarborough Beach- the beach is 5mins away and as of yet I haven’t been down on it. Micks house mate Daneilla is german and lovely. She has been in Perth for the last 4 months.

Friday day when we got up we went into Perth to get my phone sorted. My number is as follows +61xxxxx email me for it. For those of you who have whatsapp- im still on the irish number for the application. I would have to remove it and reinstall it and well im too god dam lazy to do that so- whatsapp away as normal. Whoever told me that fashion is the pits here was incorrect!! Hahaha. Its ok like!!!  It was 36degrees and by god that it hot. The jet lag started to hit and I was in bed by 8pm and slept til late Saturday.

Saturday we went for a drive up the coast and visited Hillarys Harbour- just walked around it and took a few photos. As of yet we haven’t gone to any sites or anything- we are just having a look see!! .... very very hot on sat- shorts and tshirt required.

Sunday- we headed to fremantle- as there are street markets  up there and landed ourselves a carnival type show.... it was pure luck. The area is similar to how temple bar used to be ten years ago and one of the streets really reminds me of the wild west... but modern!! It wasn’t that hot- around 30degrees... which is lovely and bareable hahaha... yea I know I have to get used to the heat!!!!

We are planning on getting in a few trips this week if we can.... going to try and do all the sites of Perth if possible...the good ones anyway. We are only going to be here for a week, Saturday we are heading to Sydney- 1^st stop, Cunderin where Mick was working to see him old boss and wife. We are then heading to Kalgoolrie-Boulder and from there onwards!!! I’m looking forward to it I must say. I’m going to try and take loads of photos and stick them up as a go along. We have to be in Sydney for the 21^st. 

 Right as this is only short and sweet, ill do my best to make it better the next time!!! Enjoy and I hope all is well in Ireland. Sca me back with any newses- be it small or big- or even bits and bobs from the newspaper!!! We want to hear it all!!!

Love Karen