Happy Christmas and a very pink New Year

Career breaks sponsored by Barclaycard
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All, (written by Rupert, Jo to follow)

- Brillliant new radio advert --- "if you are looking for a quick divorce and don't have grounds for it come to Johnsons solisitors, we can talk about creating compromising positions for your marrage and ways to agitate your spouse call 4456 3478 now...."

Well the adverts are still living up to their billing as the finest thing on the radio here and we've been putting in the miles to listen to quite a few of them since we last put a reply on here.

The beautiful Blue Mountains....
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We went from the last place we e-mailed up to the Blue mountains unfortunately our planning went a little awry and we started to run low on fuel - when we pulled into a little village the only petrol station was closed so we pretty much had to stay there - luckily there was a pub open so we went in. It was like a Western as soon as as we walked in you could see and hear the tumble weed blowing. The locals slowly resumed their conversations but pretty much all attention was on Jo - As the only girl/beautiful woman/female other than the sheep that they'd seen for the last year. The barman took pity on us and suggested we went into the pool room to eat in order to avoid the stares. Gradually a few of the old boys plucked up the courage to come in, then leave to report to the others (she's eating chips now...) eventually one of them sidled up to us and asked if we were Poms - we confirmed that we were and he told us that he'd bet Bruce that we were Poms. After that he rather run out of things to say and backed off.

Our Neighbours
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We left in the morning and made our way up to the Blue mountains - although we had both visited before Jo had only seen them in the mist and had rather missed out on them altogether. We got there in.... the mist and couldn't see a thing - we did the only decent thing and took some photos of the whiteness and went to the bar. We made some new and very odd German friends who kept wanting to hit me (Kylie is this an Australian tradition thing?) but also invited us to christmas. We woke up with very sore heads. Fortunately the sun was out and Jo agreed that the views were worth the effort.

Christmas Day overlooking the Harbour Bridge
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Arrived in Sydney to see a couple of old work friends - Barclaycarders might remember Chris Clow and Rachel Booth who were staying in Sydney in a very bling appartment overlooking the bridge and the harbour - if you see pictures of the bridge with the opera house on the left then they live in the flats at the back of the picture. They welcomed us with open arms and showed us around. Also met up with another Barclaycarder Viki Caddy for a curry (heaven). When they all left for Christmas in Melbourne Chris and Rachel let us stay. Christmas Eve in the city frantically buying presents in the rain and suitably celebrating with an abandoned DHL pilot (random), Christmas on Manley beach (hot, oysters for dinner) boxing day on Bondi with dinner overlooking the bridge and an evening with the Hudsons (appologies to those of you who got the very out of tune "I love you Baby" at boxing day lunch time)

The only other notable thing that happened in Sydney was an attempt to wash our clothes that went badly wrong - i'm sure they were cleaned well enough but im not sure I wanted them to be changed into tie dye pink. If you are wondering why any future pictures of me (strangely none of Jo's clothes changed colour... I suspect a conspiracy) seem to be multi couloured (but mainly pink) clothes then that's your explanation.

We've moved up the coast to Byron Bay to squeeze ourselves into a campsite and enjoy the near perfect climate, beaches and sea in Byron. - if you didn't believe me about the weather last time in Victoria then you'll probably not believe me when I tell you that it actually snowed there on Christmas day - in the middle of the Australian summer in an area that had just been burned out by the fires.

cheers all.

Rupert

p.s. who signed in as "wHY' on the last entry?

Dear All, (by Jo)

Thanks to everyone who made the effort to comment on our last blog - they're definitely the best bit about this site (a fact that was actually confirmed to me by my Mother last night!). It's good to hear from you all and to hear that you're all celebrating the festive preiod in style at home. Also good to see that this site has become a bit of a dating playground for all our friends! I am concerned though about the Smittys lack of bubbles - if you get into dire need Mum Hopkins has what was left of our stash (which doesn't actually amount to much!) in her attic. Please don't break in though - I'm sure if you ask nicely she'll get it down and make you a nice cup of tea!

Rups is right - the radio ads are fantastic over here (and don't worry Matt - I'm keeping all the relevant numbers as we Hopkins' don't know when we might need them!.... Actually there was a whole area in Victoria named after the Hopkins'. With our smuggling background I'm reasonably confident that we may have been 'asked' to move out here at her majestys pleasure....).

Sydney was excellent - definitely an advert for career breaks sponsored by Barclaycard! Really good to catch up with lots of old friends. Sadly though I lived up to my domestic goddess name and did indeeed manage to dye most of our clothes pink, I had heard it's the new black!

Christmas Day was hot and sunny and as true 'pommes' in Oz we celebrated on the beach. Be grateful that we have decided not to inflict our Christmas day photos on you - beachwear and antlers!

Another highlight in Sydney was Rupert finding his favourite pub, just down the road from Rachel and Chris - on Thursday nights when you order a round you play 'paper, scissors, stone' with the barman and if you win your drinks are free, I had to stop him applying for a job there.

It's time too you had a cats update (!) - they are very happily settled with their foster parents and loving life in the countryside. Recently (much to Ann and Rays pleasure) they have started bringing in little 'presents' - Rupert is very proud that they're starting to kill (don't forget he was the one wanting to throw stones at the koalas), I'd be happier if they were bringing back healthy proper vegetarian food.

(For Seans benefit) Our wildlife spotting continues and 'fortunately' we've seen some pretty huge spiders over the last few days and a beetle the size of my hand. I actually like spiders, but the problem here is that some of them can kill you. The bigger problem is some of killing ones look exactly like the friendly household spiders you find everywhere. Rupert walked through a huge spiders web last night on the way back to the van and freaked out - ended up 'dancing' on the spot like a man possessed. He's still with us now though so I can have a good laugh at the memory!

New Years Eve today so wishing you all an exceptionally Happy New Year however you're celebrating! Our new year comes 11 hours before you so while you're lunching on New Years Eve we'll be raising a glass of bubbles (of course) to you all.

As promised we haven't raved about the weather or the beaches and we've tried, but it's 37 degrees today and the beach in Byron is stunning....

Keep in touch....

Jo

xxxx