It might not quite be a white picket fence neighbourhood, but Maroubra is a beautiful suburb and an awesome place to live. The cousins can pretty much see the sea from nursery and school, and they have a life packed with fun outdoor activities. It really is a place of beautiful people in Sydney, and it's definitely true in the suburbs. Everyone is toned and beautiful... and I mean everyone. It's definitely motivation to run down the beach when there is hotties everywhere... although you see that many in a day the novelty does wear off.... 

I'm living with my aunty, uncle and two awesome cousins; Lola, 7 and Alfie, 3. Alfie bless him has given up his bedroom for me <3, 10 minutes away from Maroubra beach. It's amazing having family here, even though I am so far away from home- it doesn't feel like that at all. Especially with Skype, Viber and Whatsapp, and those willing to keep me sane with constant contact- being here is easy, totally different to my last adventure.

For the first time in a very long time I'm not working or studying. I have no stress in my life and as I say my hardest decision is what flavour Slurpee to have or if I'd rather go to Hyde Park or the beach in the sunshine. 

Life is good- living the dream.

After a good few weeks in sunny (well mostly sunny) Sydney, I decided it was about time to go and visit my good friend Jenny who is currently living in Surfers Paradise. 

Getting a flight internally is less fuss than getting on a train in England, I get there on the Thursday night and me and Jenny head out for a famous 'one drink'. It's so bloody expensive but it is Thursday. We head to the local Irish bar for a $10 Steak, and then off to a bar for Corona club- where Corona is only $2.50. We met some strange characters on the way back, and we stop by the kebab shop to see Isaac, who Jenny had made friends with. We joined in with some Turkish festivities, singing, dancing and playing drums. It starts to chuck it down so we run home, and Jenny has to be up in a few hours for work #woops.

I spend Friday wandering around Surfers, sounds perfect but the weather was rubbish so I spend my time in shops looking but not spending. It's not too hard over here, the shops aren't as good. Although I am anticipating the arrival of Topshop in Sydney in September... If I'm still here by then...

It's Friday night, and where Jenny and Bruce live they have a BBQ, swimming pool and jacuzzi. We make use of the BBQ and play the post it note game. On Saturday we take a bit of a road trip upto Brisbane, we park in a suburb and get the boat in- it's lovely. Again, the weather is bad which is a shame as it does spoil the view slightly. Right in the centre of the city is a man made beach next to the river, with a swimming pool. The beach is surrounded by a park which is complete with bars and market stalls, and even a Nando's. 

Brisbane is smaller than Sydney and has a different vibe. Before heading back to Surfer's we visit the beautiful botanical gardens consisting of a waterfall, wildlife, statues and two very wet weddings, and one very soaked bride. We both noted if you are ever to get married in Australia do it in the winter as it's the dry season, if you want to avoid panda eyes.

Saturday night was a bit of a blur, I blame the $8 jugs of beer we were drinking. Sunday was for recovering. Since arriving in Oz, I was making a huge effort to do exercise and be on a healthy diet, which excluded alcohol. I've lost almost half a stone although I'm afraid I have probably put this on after all the junk this weekend. Oh well you only live once!

What a beautiful day for an outdoor occasion. Omar had gotten us press passes for the 20th anniversary of the annual film festival Tropfest in Sydney. The sun is shining and we arrive in The Domain in the heart of the city at 3.30pm. We realise we are some of the first there and the films don't actually start until 8pm.
 

Lucky it's glorious weather and not a cloud insight, we settle comfortably on the grass with complimentary popcorn and sweets.

As it starts to fill up they announce that the 'stars' will be coming down the red carpet very soon. Im sceptical that we may not know the Australian minor celebrities, I haven't watched Home and Away or Neighbours in quite a few years. I made my way in to the ‘Press Pen’ and began recognising some familiar faces.

I notice the Aussie from Ugly Betty and I was quite shocked to see Cate Blanchett, not so 'minor' after all. We eat our words as we see Nicole Kidman making her way towards us, I’m stood next to a photographer that tried to elbow me out of the way but I managed to get a great shot of Nicole Kidman that was published in n Australian entertainment magazine. 

We realise we can get into a nice press area with seats and complimentary food and drink, as we eagerly wait for the films to start.

The films were good and mostly entertaining. Although some were a little dark and at times the audience seemed a little uneasy… are we allowed to laugh at this?

By the fifth short film (6 in total), the heavens start to open in a good old Manchester fashion. I tell myself to man up, with seven soggy festivals in England under my belt surely I can manage until the end... Afterall Omar, has to write up the event.  It gets too heavy and the only place under cover was reserved for the VIP's... After running under a tree and still getting drenched we had no other option but to abandon ship along with most of the rest of the audience. My friend in Surfers Paradise, Queensland was much more lucky. She was watching it on a big screen on a beach in beautiful weather. I picked the wrong state.

Task for Monday: BUY AN UMBRELLA