Too sedate for me

So beautiful here, very clean and very sunny ALL the time - crazy Australians wearing Ugg boots and scarfs because it's their winter (75F)! But...very white, very sedate and doesn't feel integrated. Know I am probably seeing only small part and staying in posh suburbs, but not a place I would want to live.

Saying that, did go to more amazing beaches yesterday. Took ferry to a national park and walked in the bush. Saw wallabies and more dolphins.

Off to Sydney Uni now to do first talk - yikes! Then Aida at opera house tonight before flying to Brisbane tomorrow.

Have done battle with Lloyds so they are finally convinced I am not an international fraudster and will let me use an ATM - morons!

Not swam in sea as a tad chilly and there are sharks, lots of sharks, though surfers don't seem to mind them.

Missing you all, think it's cos you are all so far away.

x

Dolphins

(Saturday pm)

I know this is reading more like a nature blog, but there are some fab creatures here. Had a lazy morning and think - half way through my trip - I am over the jet lag. So this afternoon we went to the local beaches. One half is this endless white sand with surfers and pristine promenade - a bit formal for me - then it turns into a beautiful cove with iguanas, penguins, crashing waves and dolphins diving through the surf. Totally amazing and all normal apparently. This evening we went to a fish restaurant and had Moreton Bay Bugs, like a small lobster but really yummy with a taste of scallops. Barramundi followed, with a fine selection of BYO Aussie wines bought from the drive through off licence.

There is a warm breeze and a trillion stars in the sky, with the gentle song of the cicadas to rock me to sleep - how's the weather there?!!

Fruit Bats at 5am

Knackered. Having a lazy Saturday morning, free of pounding the streets of Sydney. Spent yesterday doing culture at the art galleries and then went to the botanical gardens behind the opera house, which are fab. Spotted some unusual fruit in the trees and on closer inspection realised they were massive fruit bats. 22,000 of them to be precise! Was so freaked out that I thought I would share the experience with Den, only to get my math wrong and woke him at 5am. Many of you may of heard the yell of 'F-ing fruit bats' drifting across Bristol in the early hours. Decided that as impressive as some of the landmarks in the city are, the real Sydney is the beaches and surrounding area. The city is pretty much the same as other major places, with cheap to expensive clothing shops, coffee bars and vomiting youth on a Friday night. Going to the funkier areas this weekend and as much as I would love to trek off further afield, time wont allow, though think my hosts are taking me out to a national park tomorrow - you just seem to have to go to the end of any road to stumble across a reserve or park. Went to China Town last night for food and then to a funky bar, with the lecturer who has organised my seminar at the Uni on Monday. He lives the idealic beach apartment life here and works out at the gym where Hugh Jackman beefs up for Wolverine - I am easily impressed! Have to work on my presentation now, then off to the beach for some seafood. Mmm prawntastic.

They go Whoop Whoop

Here I am in Oz. Think I left some of my brain matter on the plane, but sure it will catch up. Staying in leafy suburbs of Balgowlah Heights and was woken this morning by the garden birds. But no boring brown sparrows here, we've got parroty things and big grey birds that make a wibbley whoop whoop sound - often used in the scene links on Neighbours. Walked around endless tiny coves backed by fantastic modern split level houses with tropical gardens, then caught ferry from Manley wharf into Sydney. A very Queen of Sheba way to arrive, with the opera house and bridge coming into view as you pass the skyscrapers that make the classic skyline of the city. Wandered around to get a feel for the place, then had to sit down (slump with jet lag) on the good old open top bus tour. Gloriously sunny, like our summer days, despite it being winter here! Spent evening by opera house watching ferries come and go. Off to sleep for a trillion years now. Den can't post on to my log - can someone help him?!!

12 hours to go

Very very excited! This time tomorrow morning I will be on the coach to Heathrow, then fly at 12.30pm. Thought I would make you all hate me by posting a photo of where I am staying in Sydney.

Big thank you

Only a few days to go - aaaah! And what a fab bunch of mates you are. Have been supported with loans of suitcases and laptops and supplies of beer money! Even had my conference dinner and the lounge for my 6hr wait in Bangkok sponsored. Thanks guys. x

Come to Oz

It's not that I don't love you all deeply, I just can't be arsed to write a trillion postcards, so come along on a virtual trip to Oz.

Lou

x