Err...

I made it back to Wales.
Having dropped from the 36 oC in Meblourne to just 2 oC upon landing in Manchester Airport I think I've aclimatised fairly quickly. The other day I had breakfast without a jumper on, admittedly the place was centrally heated but it's a start.

The proper bitter that comes out of a hand pump and pork scratchings that look like a dead rat fossil are all just as good as I remember.
As luck would have my joy at these two long lost loves lasted only a couple of weeks as I have moved to Skerries, Ireland where, beyond all belief, they don't have them. The only slight compensation is that they do have dry roasted peanuts which is one up on Oz.

As is usually the case I am working in a local pub just to get the oney rolling in. Actually managed to land two jobs in a week before finally selecting the one in a traditional old mans pub which sells 90% Guinness and the odd vodka for the lady.

Anyway, beter run as I start work at 12.. the oub doesn't open until 4pm but I get to potter around and polish things and poke the fire for a few hours first!

Take 'er easy

..leaving on a Jet Plane

.. but I do know when I'll be back again.

My Australian Odessey is finally over. I have a flight booked to land back in Wales on the 22nd January.

It's kind of felt like time to leave for the past few weeks and I just cant hold out any longer without a decent pint of bitter and bag of pork scratchings... I found my limit of endurance!

Someone please tell me the weather is inclementally warm back home at the moment.....

..back in Melbourne..

....back in Melbourne and back living in the same hostel as last time in South Melbourne. Not much of any excitement to report, working a bit here and there behind the bar and generally keeping myself busy with odd jobs.

Looking to be home sometime in the New Year with the aim of moving to Canada for a while to have a looksee.

Hope everyone is well, have a Holly Jolly Christmas...

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This is me and Temuera Morrison, better know as Jake the Muss from 'Once Were Warriors' or for you Star Wars geeks (that's me too!) Jango Fett.

On the Glacier, freezing.

I know it isn't the best quality, but in this picture camera and prospective trickery (similar to that used in LOTR) has made it appear that Linda is a giant and me a mere Hobbit sized man... isn't it amazing.

The beautiful backdrop at Queenstown.

This is me having just run down the steepest street in the world which is situated in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Kia Ora

Well, the white water rafting never hapened due to all the rivers being flooded. Apparently they only go when it is upto 200 cubits water (per second or something) and it was a round 1500 at one point dropping down to 600 when we were meant to go.

Have seen alot more of New Zealand though and can honestly say it hass the most beautiful and diverse countryside I have ever seen. The people in New Zealand seem to take themselves a little less seriously than Australians do and aren't quite as full of themselves. There often seems this vibe in Australia that they're tryin to step up and prove they are a World power as important as America, Britain and China whereas everyone in New Zealand seems a little happier just being what they are. The beer us alright a well, anyone who hasn't tried a Speights Gold Medal Ale should do so, it's lovely stuff, had a trott around their brewery in Dunedin and have to say it's the best Brewery Tour I've ever been on.

Spent a few days in Queenstown which looks like a picture postcard of a happy little tourist town next to a big lake in the lou of a stream of spectecalur mountains. Also went walking on a Glacier which was fun... afterwards, at the time is was just bloody freezing and it rained all day. Pretty amazing though as you actually walk through a rainforest to drop onto the Glacier which doesn't seem possible. It is also one of the only Glaciers in the world that in spite of Global Warming is actually advancing and getting bigger.

Crossed over upto to the North Island a couple of days ago and have been holed up in Taupo for a few days. It's been raining all day today but as we managed to bag ourselve a room with a tv, video, dvd player, fridge and internet all for the princely sum of $80 a night (about 26 pounds sterling) it hasn't been so bad. I think I've watched about 8 movies in the last couple of days!

Anywho, better dash, I'll write some more when I get back to Oz in a weeks time,

Take 'er easy,

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Kiwiland

Just a quick update.... have left Perth and am now in New Zealand. Currently in Christchurch but will be heading off down South tomorrow to go white water rafting.

I'll write a bit more once I've actually seen some stuff... which there is apparetnly alot of here. Will be back in Melbourne for the start of December where we'll be staying for Christmas.

Take it easy everyone... oh, and I will try and start replying to peoples emails when I get a chance, keep them coming as news from home always cheers me up!

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