4th December – 10th December – Days 237 to 244

Right after such a weak effort last week I will try and redeem myself.

A busy week in the land of Oz which has seen me Christmas Shopping, (groan), partying – Richard’s Birthday, BBQ’s – Richard’s Birthday, (he’s like the Queen has two birthdays), working hard, drinking - saying Good Bye to Matt and Sonia as they move on to new roles and generally enjoying what Sydney has to offer.




A pint of your best please Mr bar steward, sorry make that a schooner of your best please Bruce!

Monday was reasonably quiet work wise and I spent it in Pymble. We did have a power cut which struck when I was buying my lunch so I had to sit out in the sun for an hour as we were unable to reach our floor – harsh but fair.

Tuesday started with a breakfast seminar and then over to North Sydney with Mark for a meeting. The day finished with a tennis session with Dave & Sarah and Richard & Helen and an overnight with Pizza and wine.

Dave & Sarah in their New Car

Wednesday found me in the city office hosting a couple of meetings, planned to go to the FMA Christmas Bash but didn’t manage to grace them with my presence in the end.

Thursday was again city based and finished with us saying a final good bye to Matt before he heads off to Singapore for his new job. Sadly he is leaving Gin behind at the moment but all three of them will be back together for Christmas, yes she’s pregnant and really happy as are we all.

Matt getting to grips with being a Father...We bought him a Rough Guide to Babies book as one of his leaving pressies..!

Thursday finished with a personal meeting and then a Christmas Party thrown by a supplier at The Bathers Pavilion at Balmoral Beach – very nice.

On Friday I managed to catch up with Pete who I hadn’t seen for ages, we had Yum-Cha for lunch and caught up – he looked really well, I think the Aussie’s call it Buff.

Then we said a final good bye to Sonia and Alison before I headed back to the unit for a long overdue gym session – it hurt!

Alison screen testing for Kiss the band......every picture of her on the day involved her sticking out her tounge, must be a local custom

Saturday saw me being domestic and shopping for Christmas – nearly there, famous last words. Saturday night saw us going over to Manley by ferry for Birthday fun at Ribs and Rump – a rather famous South African Steak House that has entertained most National Rugby Union and League teams over the last ten years. A good night but we all ate and drank too much and left distinctly over weight.







Birthday Celebrations at Ribs and Rump in Manley







It was shopping again on Sunday at a huge mall near the airport and then off to Richards BBQ, he of two Birthday celebrations!





View from Richard and Helens BBQ Terrace of the Harbour and a Mad Max style HMAS Customs boat.....








Home by 6 and I hit the gym again before a night of calls to the UK after which I collapsed into bed dreaming about how tough my life is.....