Weeks Twenty-two and Twenty-three: Too many Goodbyes.

Aloha, oh blog readers of the world. It's another fortnightly blog entry this time, as I have spent so many days at work that I have very little of note to report...

In between long days on Greenpeace Patrol, I've spent several days chilling on the beach, on the odd day that the weather has been nice - Sort it out, Australia! There have been far too many cold and cloudy days for my liking, it's like an English summer!

Several Churchies have departed Newy for distant shores, in Australia and elsewhere. We've had to say goodbye to Steph, Dom, Toni, Lars and several others, which has been incredibly sad. I cannot believe how fast the time has passed - a whole semester gone! A whole group of friends departing for home, already.

Last weekend, we threw a fake 'Aussie Christmas' for Anna, as she'll be home for the real thing. We made a full Christmas roast dinner, with apple-berry crumble for pudding. There were decorations and Santa hats aplenty, and $40-worth of confectionery stuffed into a stocking for the inevitable post-food baby sugar binge. It was SO fun and yummy! Afterwards we went around Newcastle on a 'zitch-tour'...

This week has been back to the Greenpeace-y grind, with a few breaks for Pedi-Cab tours of the harbour courtesy of Tai and his remarkable calf muscles; trips to a deserted Francis Beach in Swansea (complete with a very Blue Crush-esque sign stating 'Locals Only'... Sorry bogans of Swansea); and BBQs in King Edwards Park.

Work has been fairly full-on, but it has otherwise been a pretty chilled couple of weeks here in Newy. I am currently contemplating the large pile of clothes on my bed, which require sorting and packing before I leave tonight for Sydney, where I will finally meet up with Hugo for our East Coast backpacking adventure :) I'm so excited!

I am now officially half way through my year abroad, as I have just now changed my flight home to the 19th June 2012 - six months from tomorrow. This actually scares me a little.. I have had the most incredible, exhilarating six months of my life down under. I have met so, so many amazing people, from all corners of the globe. Moving to the opposite side of the world and jumping head first into this, together, has forged some amazing friendships. I have spent six wonderful months laughing, lying on the sand, sleeping under the stars and making incredible memories with incredible people. Seeing so many close friends leave is heartbreaking, and the idea that I myself will be doing the same in just six months is equally so. I miss home and my friends and family... but I have never had as much fun as I have these past six months here in Newcastle.

'We will never again be together so young'

And I am forced to say goodbye to some amazing people... This has been an amazing six months with you all, and there is no chance I'm letting you all escape me that easily. Goodbye, not farewell. You get a six-month head start to find a good hiding place: I'M COMING TO GET YOU!

Weeks Twenty and Twenty-one: Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road.

Once again, I'm doubling up my blog entries. The past fortnight has been very busy - I've worked (a lot), moved off campus and into the Church Street house, gone to Melbourne with the girls, and worked some more.

Last week was fairly dull - I worked Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday. I spent Friday in a mad rush to pack up my room and move out, in the space of about three hours. Fun.

Saturday was finally time to head to Melbourne, after what seems like months and months of waiting. I had heard so much about the city and was so excited to finally see it! When Kirsty and I got there, at about 5pm, it was pouring with rain and unsettlingly reminiscent of the UK. We got to the hostel and sorted out yet another dorm mess-up. I am starting to believe that we are literally jinxed when it comes to hostels - not once has a booking gone smoothly! Liz and Roseanna had a later flight and met us at the hostel.

Sunday dawned chilly and grey, but dry, at least. We had a (free!) breakfast before heading down Elizabeth street for an explore of the Queen Victoria markets and the city. The markets were enormous and sprawling. We found a little doughnut van jam-packed (like the doughnuts, haaaa) with about 15 people, serving up gorgeous fresh jam doughnuts, yum. The food market was surprisingly cheap and sold so much yummy looking food. Trust me to ignore the clothes and go straight to the food section...

Christmas at the Queen Victoria market.

After the markets, we headed to the city and Federation Square. It's architecturally incredible and had a great little boutique market inside, but I didn't really get it... There didn't seem to be much purpose to any of the buildings. Maybe it's better when there is an event on...

Federation Square

The sun came out in the afternoon, so we headed to St Kilda. We browsed the markets and lazed in the sunshine outside Luna Park, before heading for dinner at a vegan restaurant where you pay by donation! Not our usual scene but it was fun and the food was good. In the evening we headed back to the hostel before having a drink in town.

Luna Park, St Kilda

One of the things I most wanted to see whilst in Victoria was the Great Ocean Road. Everyone I know whom has seen it says that it is stunning. The tours out of Melbourne run at around $100, which is a fair chunk of money for a day trip. I'm not a fan of tours anyways, I don't like how regimented they are. I like to be freeee. With the girls in agreement on the issue, we decided to look into renting a car for the day and driving along part of the road. It's a long way, and the tour agent tried her best to discourage us, but we went for it anyway and booked the car for Tuesday. We spent the rest of the day strolling around St Kilda and eating our own weights in sandwiches and cakes, mmmm :)

Standard St Kilda rooftop!

In the evening we headed to Brunswick Street and found this really cool little bar with an amazing band playing and lots of cheap wine. Kirsty and Roseanna headed back early and Liz and I stayed out and bought another bottle of wine...

It was an early start in the morning, and I felt R.O.U.G.H. After a shower and some breakfast I felt fine,  but the same could not be said for Liz! We picked up the car and headed out of Melbourne, with surprising ease considering the city's notoriously complicated street layouts. It took about 3 hours to reach the Great Ocean Road, stopping at Bells Beach on the way. The road itself was unbelievable - I have never seen sea that blue before! We had frequent stops to take in the view and paddle in the (freeeezing cold) Southern Ocean. It's so strange to think that the next landmass must be Antarctica!

Road trip!

Bells Beach, the home of surfing in Australia.

Start of the Great Ocean Road!

Our car :)

Scenic stop #98768432

SO beautiful!

We made it to the Twelve Apostles by 1pm, which was pretty much bang on target! The Apostles themselves were stunning, if a little over-touristed. We stopped for a picnic feast and lots of photos before heading back to Melbourne, and getting back in record time :)

The Twelve Apostles!

:)

Our epic 500km road trip.

Liz had an early flight to Sydney on Wednesday morning, to connect with her flight to Thailand. Roseanna caught a lunchtime train to Albury on the NSW/VIC border for a few days. Kirsty and I spent the morning perusing the shops and delighting in the discovery of a pick'n'mix shop selling ACTUAL galaxy chocolate! At $2.40 for a "fun size" (I fail to see what is fun about a bag containing approximately 3 chocolates) a bag of Minstrels, though, it was not to be. :(

We flew back to Newcastle and met up with our new roomies! A night out at the Brewery was definitely in order, and so my first night with my own room in Church Street culminated in another group sleepover!

I was working again on Thursday and Friday, siiiigh. The money is urgently needed though!

Saturday was possibly the most active day I've had in ages! I got up for a morning run along my new happy place - Nobby's breakwater.After a shower I headed for a walk with Kirst, Josh, Anna and Steph along the 4 miles of Bathers Way to Glenrock Lagoon, where we chilled in the sun. The novelty of sunbathing in December has still not worn off! We walked back mid-afternoon to get wedges at The Grand - which are, fyi, the best wedges in the Southern Hemisphere. Or maybe even the world. They are seriously that good. Yes, I'm going on about food again. No, I don't care.

We had a BBQ in the evening (there she goes again!) by the foreshore, before having a few drinks back at the house for Steph's last night in Newie.

My alarm went off at 5.30am today, when I stumbled in a daze to Bogey Hole to watch the sunrise with everyone. We headed back to 62 for a pancake breakfast before a day on the (insanely windy) beach. This evening, Anna has kicked our arses leading a kickboxing class in King Edwards Park - it was so good but I will definitely feel it in the morning!

The next two weeks will probably be fairly uneventful, with lots of work and hopefully even more beach time! Two weeks tomorrow, Hugo gets into Sydney and we start our travels up the East Coast. I'm so excited to get travelling again!