02.01.2005

So first things first - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Now boys and girls here we go so take a deep breath........ Last time i left you i was in Australia's answer to Ibiza and heading for Byron so we shall take it from there......

Byron was amazing, fab place, loads of hippies and chilled out people loving life and having lots of fun - as did i!! Spent four days in Byron and was brilliant, met up with some great people, went out drinking (shock,horror), chilled on the beach and visited....Nimbin. Now Nimbin...the best way to describe it (sorry to those of you that don't know him) but is to say would be Micky Doo s heaven. Basically loads of hippies sat round smoking drugs and living in their own little worlds, very bizarre. Now would love to say that i ignored all the drugs and just soaked up the atmosphere but there is only so many times a girl such as myself can be offered chocolate chip cookies and refuse!!! Lets just say was a very amusing day! (sorry mum!)

Went to some hippies house who had a massive garden filled with all the plants you could think of, had a wander around there trying to avoid the killer wildlife that was very present and then returned to the hostel to sleep!!!! In all fairness far too much fun was had in Byron.

Then i spent 14 (yes 14) long hours on the bus to Sydney where i was met (at 10 in the morning i hasten to add) by a very drunk Alex and Rod, went and had brekkie and then returned to good old Redfern to empty the contents of my backpack on the floor and thank god that i don't have to carry it for two weeks, and so the Sydney fun began.

First full day back and i went to meet up with Sian who i worked at the Roadhouse with, supposedly to go shopping...however, 4 bottles of wine later i somehow managed to get myself home! After a day of recovery along came Alexs 21st birthday and so we climbed Sydney Harbour bridge. Was brilliant - VERY VERY high but brilliant and for some bizarre reason i actually managed to make it all the way to the top without hyperventilating (even managed to talk all the way up - bet that shocks you Mark!!!!!) In the evening we caught a ferry over to Manly for dinner and then sat on the beach with a few stubbies - all very civilized sweetie darling.

The next morning was time for birthday trip number 3 - Jetboat around Sydney Harbour. Now i happily climbed on board and sat in between the japs to then be told by the driver blokey that he had decided i had to sit next to him. Why do i always get picked on?!! He had a great time spinning the boat 360 degrees as i was flying into him then over to the otherside, whilst all the japs are laughing and giggling as they bump shoulders with the person next to them. 30 minutes later i get off the boat with a very bruised knee, blood running down my hands and completely soaked whereas all the other passengers get off looking like they have just been for a walk in the park. A very painful but VERY enjoyable experience so thank you.

Then it was off to meet more fellow travellers (funnily enough in a pub) and then we went to circular Quay to see a VERY big boat. The biggest that has ever been in Circular Quay no less, 2 and a half times the size of titanic. Was a massive fireworks display as the ship set sail then off we returned...to the pub!!

So before i knew it it was Christmas eve and we went to Darling Harbour to watch (and join in with!!) a carol service, was all good - father christmas arrived on a jet ski - hello like how bizarre is that and then off we went...to the pub!!! Couldn't quite grasp the concept that it was christmas so spent most of the time staring at people in santas hats and shorts thinking that they had gone mental!! Christmas day began with a bottle of champagne and an fry up (as you do) and then we headed off to Bondi Beach.

Now, it was only the coldest christmas day Sydney has had in 10 years - how typical - but we didn't let that stop us and i was in the sea with 100 other brits wearing santa hats before you could say what times the turkey ready? Finally it all got too much and returned home to watch a crappy tv movie and have a snooze (well it was christmas day after all!) in the evening we went to a cafe for christmas dinner - well so they called it. My idea of christmas dinner isn't processed turkey and garlic bread- but hey what do i know!!! Left my mates house at midnight and returned home after one glass of wine congratulating myself on a sober christmas.

But oh no, you should never count you chickens Charlotte-Jayne and after popping outside to say hello to Alex and Rod, things kinda changed a tad and i got to bed at 7am - SO not sober!!! Dragged myself out of bed on Boxing Day and went to Watsons Bay to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race before sitting in a beer garden all afternoon listening to live music and putting the world to rights with my fellow companions. The fun doesn't end there as 2 days later i went to the Opera House to watch a show which was amazing, out for dinner the next night and then to a barbie the following evening to meet my brothers mates who i was to be spending New year with.

And so came New year, right deep breath (you'll get it in a minute). New years eve was spent on a boat at Circular Quay, was absolutely amazing i have to say and certainly topped any other New year that's for sure, the wine and champagne was flowing and the fireworks amazing and then guess what happened? Well if we think CJ, a boat, lots of water, lots of alcohol - what would we conclude - yes indeed you got it - a very drowned CJ being pulled from the water!!!! Yes boys and girls all the predictions came true as i ended up in the water, was goodbye phone, goodbye camera, new shoes, cardigan and pride and HELLO 2005!!!!!

So after a day of feeling sorry for myself, my electrical equipment and nursing my many injuries i can now indeed see the funny side and have made a late new years resolution - Not to end up fully dressed and in salt water ever again - well at least not for the rest of the year. Is funny looking back on it now but in all fairness trying to fight my way back to the surface was not particularly amusing but at least is one i shall never forget and i can say i started 2005 with a "splash".

So yep i SO haven't changed and that has been the life of Ceej of late. And now for the start of the year.....leaving Sydney on Wednesday and going to Canberra, then on to Melbourne, great ocean road, adelaide, kangaroo island, tasmania and New Zealand, followed by..............Pewsey!!! A little over 10 weeks - i really cant believe it, time has gone so quickly...hmm maybe i shouldn't have spent so much of it in pubs!!!!

So my gorgeous hunks, i hope you all had amazing new years and please have let somebody have done something more embarrassing than me (although maybe mine is a little hard to top!). Hope 2005 brings you all you wish for (well of course it will - as you get to see me!).

Loads of Love as always a very drowned Ceej xxxxxx