Mike and Ella Are Here!

Well, they were here but they have just gone off to the Blue Mountains and maybe the Hunter Valley for a few days. They are due back on Friday, in time for mass celebrations across Sydney when just about everyone we have met here, including H and I, breaks up for a two week holiday.

We’ve been on the go since they arrived and as a result, we haven’t had much sleep. But it’s all good and fantastic seeing them again. I met them both at the airport early Saturday morning and we have spent the last few days watching the cricket, going to the beach, drinking beer, shopping at Warringah Mall (we got that one out the way nice and early), introducing friends and saying goodbye to Will who heads back to the UK for a couple of weeks this evening. Given the fact that Christmas is nearly here we are pretty under prepared. Mike and Ella left a Turkey breast, some pigs and blankets in the freezer before they left and I've stocked up on the Coopers but we'll have to get lots more. I think a trip to the Fish Market on Christmas Eve is on the cards. Our balcony is covered with rather nice fairy lights though, expertly put up by H and Ella as Mike and I reverted back to our finest Australian accents, lay on the sofa and watched the cricket.

As far as Christmas is concerned, I think it will involve a early morning swim and surf followed by a nice lunch and then an afternoon on the beach with the North Shore crew. Swimming, surfing, beach cricket will be the order of the day but those of you back in Blighty will be pleased to hear that the weather forecast isn't the best, with only 21 degrees forecast. Anyway, the suggested plan is to spend the evening at a friends (Martin's) house in Neutral bay where we are going for a BBQ and karaoke!! The Sydney to Hobart yacht race kicks off on Boxing Day and I think we are all going to go to the North Head to watch it.

I’ve also got a little trip to Brisbane tomorrow. There’s a work Xmas do going on up there and I’m being flown up with the Velocity Account team – BBQ and Bare Foot Bowls. I don't think my IT team are too happy about me going but I'm not going to say no to a day out the office, in the sun, eating, drinking and playing bowls in the middle of Brisbane.

And on Saturday we are all heading to a day at the races.

There is also talk of kayaking and going to the Opera House over the next couple of weeks. And that’s not forgetting H’s 29th Birthday, New Years Eve in Sydney Harbour, the 'Field Day' festival on New Years Day and the Ashes, to which Mike, Chewie and I are going, even though it’s a done deal.

With Mike and Ella here, Mark and Kim arriving in Sydney today, and the Wichards at the end of the month, it is going to be a very busy, but brilliant, couple of weeks. It also seems that most of our Sydney friends have friends of their own from the UK coming to visit.

We’ve both been looking forward to this time for so long. I can’t believe it has already come around.