The countdown has begun...

I finally know what I'm doing. After months of speculation I finally have the last leg of my trip sorted. I'd originally booked my last 2 flights for the 17th and 25th of January simply because they couldn't book any further ahead at the time. So in true Bobby style I left it until the 15th before I actually decided it would be a good idea to sort it out. I phoned Quantas in the evening and tried to change the flights before she started getting impatient because all the numbers had rubbed off the tickets. Look sweetheart, it's not my fault your ink is shit. Anyway she said I would have to go into the branch in the middle of town, a day before I was due to fly out.

01 Our sweaty house. It's nicer inside.

Well to cut a long story short, an hour later and $200 poorer, my itinery was complete. The plan? Finish work here at the end of February, hire a car and drive to Melbourne, fly to Perth, do some stuff on the West Coast until the end of March then fly to Singapore, overland to Thailand, and back home on the 6th of May. Yes I'm afraid I had to cut my round-the-world trip down by two days so, strictly speaking, I won't have been travelling for a year. Oh no, that means I'll have to do it again.

02 Coogee... From the top of our road

One thing's for sure... I don't want to stay anywhere for any great length of time when I get back. Pay off debts, save some money, then get back on the road. There are way too many experiences to savour to get stuck in a 9-5 looking forward to the next DVD and complaining about how crap the programs are on tv. Not to mention the British winter. If I can get back out before November I'll be happy. God, I sound like a whinging pom and I'm not even back yet.

Anyway, without going into the age-old argument of 'material wealth vs life experience' usually reserved for dreadlocked travellers who've smoked too much weed, I'll let you know what we've been up to since NYE.

03 Coogee Beach 1

The first Saturday we got to the beach after a horrendous THREE minute walk down the road. We met up with Ems, Farley, Nick, Ian, Helen and Laura and spent the whole day bodysurfing (ruining every muscle and bone in the process) playing football and frisbee, and just laying around doing very little. After we were all sufficiently fried and exhausted, we went for $5 steak & mash (2 QUID!) and a few beers, before retiring back to Arcadia Street for more beers, a few singsongs, and some guitar lessons. Emma quickly and enthusiastically learnt A and E, only to wake up in the morning with no recollection of said chords and jagged nails from where she'd bitten them off. Result!

04 Coogee Beach 2

That week we had to say goodbye to Nick, who's pissed off to Perth for a few months to find some Australians. Apparently there are some about over there. I also said goodbye to sleep, as every night since has been spent staying up late, watching DVDs, going to pubs and clubs, and drinking. Last night was the first night in 8 that I haven't been mashed in some way, and the blissful sleep that ensued was definately appreciated.

After a great weekend of recovery and relaxation watching films, having barbeques and playing cricket with a plank and a breeze block, we had to say goodbye to Farley & Ems who bought a van off some Germans and are now making their way up the East Coast. Also Lou, who has run off to Melbourne. Carsten will be leaving on Monday, also bound for Melbourne.

05 Pissing around during the day

So once again, it'll be Emer and Bobby living it up in Arcadia Street although thankfully, Ian, Helen, Laura and Lindsay are still around to keep us entertained.

Have fun on your travels guys. Be seeing you soon.

06 Farley: Creature from Labyrinth | Ian: Pensive

07 The Coogee Beer Glass Olympics!

08 Ems or Eva. Eva or Ems. Can't be sure.

09 Gang photo

10 Ems: Guitar Virtuoso

11 California, california, here we caaaaaaaaaaaaaa

12 Eeeeeeeemerrrrrrrrr

13 Turn that *!@$ing flash off

14 Look. It's not even funny alright

15 Shut up it's well funny

16 Mistaken for a cockroach