I paid for the Visa, VERY surprised that Australia need one and not USA nor Argentina and caught the plane. Jayshree, Arun's lovely wife met me at Chatswood station and took me to their house. I was made at home and then a little later Arun returned from having just won a golf match! Arun took me around to many places of interest in the Sydney area, including The Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and many beaches, and the B'Hai Faith Church. But most important of all (LOL) to SCARBOROUGH PARK. My third Scarborough!

Arun and I once shared lodgings way back in 1963/4. He, like me, was a Vegetarian, and our landlady was Veggie; we had much to talk over after not seeing each other for so many years, though we had been in touch most of the time by Xmas cards.

On the Tuesday 4th Dec Mike came over to pick me up and took me to his wonderful range for a few hours, talking about stamps (Mike is a member oif Yahoo Stamp Addicts) and many other things. It was great meeting up with Mike after all this time.

On the wednesday 6th Dec I started on a 12 day venture to Alice Springs, bang in the middle of Australia. I had an overnight train ride to Adelaide, which was interrupted by seeing a LIVE performance on a makeshift stage of Australia's famous group *HUMAN NATURE* at Broken Hill Station. Here, and in many other outback stations, they performed their routine and that included a song along with a local primary school. I took many photos of the group performing, including one movie!

Later I arrived in the heat of the afternoon in Adelaide and found me a reasonable hotel, bang in the centre!

I found two delightful veggie restaurants, again in the centre of Adelaide and can highly recomend them to anyone for a good meal. REMEMBER *Sprouts* and *Bliss*. Those are the two places I ate at, and really enjoyed my meals. Adelaide has two FREE bus services! MY GOODNESS! Other towns & Cities need to consider this!The next day I set out on the Ghan Railway, a legend! Met some lovely people on the train, played Scrabble (lost) and Cheat (Lost) and another game (Won!) When I arrived at Alice Springs one of the people on the train, playing "CHEAT" I found out was called ALICE. Now I had brought with me my copy of "A Town Like Alice", by Neville Shute. Made in to a BBC Film series a long time ago, and one of the reasons I was now in Alice Springs! Very moving story in the book & BBC Film. Well I asked Alice if she would sign my book on Alice Springs station! and she did! Photo to prove it LOL!

In Alice I experienced my first Backpackers accomodation, at Alice Lodge! IT WAS SO HOT! I went into town and bought some swimming trunks, to have an evening dip in the outdoor pool at the Lodge! The first time I have swum ANYWHERE for many years! LOL 37C in the shade!

An early rise at 4.15 am to get taken for an adventure of a lifetime!

I had booked to go on a two day Adventure Tour of Australia, to Uluru and other places. There were 7 of us (two UK, 2 Japanese 1 Irish 1 London Irish, and 1 Californian). We had a guide and a trainee guide! They pointed out many interesting features of the countryside, both geographical and flora & fauna. One highlight was seeing a black eagle feasting on a dead kangaroo. Out first port of call was to Kings Canyon, where in temps of 40C + in the shade (Over 50C in the sun!) we climbed a hill called Heart Attack Hill!

Going up was easier than going down! (for me!) I have never drunk so much water in my life before in one day! 3 litres. I took close up pictures of two dangerous spiders! whilst resting! In the evening after seeing the sun set over Uluru we learned to play the Didgeridoo, I proved that it CAN be played from either end LOL!. That night we slept under the stars.

Up again at 4 am for breakfast to see the sun rise over Uluru, then a walk right round this auspicious red rock, 9 Km, took us 110 minutes! The rock is amazing, in it's different faces and fissures, at one point there was the most awesome SMILE! We then drove off to see Katy Tjuta (The Olgas) and to explore it's canyon. We also went to an Aboriginal Art & Craft exhibition, and saw the "Fools" Ayres rock on the way back to Alice Springs. I had a well earned swim in the Alice Lodge pool.

Then returned to Adelaide by the Ghan, it was still hot! The next day it was cooler, but still warm I went to a wildlife park, and it went COLD and rained! But i did stroke a Koala and fed a kangaroo. I had two more meals at the Bliss & Sprouts veggie restaurants in my two day stay in Adelaide.

On Friday 15th Dec I was back on the train to Sydney, with a 2 hour stop at Broken Hill. The overnight trip and arrival back in Sydney was not an easy one for sleep. I found my train for Gosford, and Sandra kindly met me at the station. Sandra was in fact one of my earliest pupils when I was a teacher, she now has three children of her own, two grown up. She lives in a lovely part of NSW, Avoca Beach. It was fascinating talking over old times and finding out how we had each developed over the past 40 years. We had re-met via Friends Reunited, only about 2 years ago. It was lovely seeing her now as an intelligent adult, and i am grateful for the time & trouble she took to show me around her area of NSW. All too soon I was back on the train to return to Arun & Jayshree for one final night, and to pick up my heavy suitcase.

I am in deed MOST grateful to Arun & Jayshree for all the kindness and trouble they both took to look after me. I hope one day they will make their way to Scarborough.

For early next morning a taxi arrives at 5am to take me to the station to get a train to to the capital state of ACT, Canberra. Here I was met by Chris Yardley. Chris is the only one whom I was/am seeing on my trip who is OLDER than me, by a few months! For he used to live in the same street, and was in the same class as I was in the 5^th year at The Skinners' School. It was wonderful catching up with those old times, and learning what had happened to a few of our old classmates. One had been a policeman, and had ended up as being chief security officer with Winston Churchill! YES true, the Ex Prime Minister of UK! Chris's wife, Audrey was a pleasure to meet. She was so kind and friendly and though not veggie, she went to a lot of trouble to see that I had food I liked. It was a really wonderful two days I spend there, We went to a wildlife to see a Platypus, but didn't, and other creatures whom we did see! We went to the Parliament House, and a wonderful museum of Australian History. It was sad to leave after such a short time, as I found Chris was a KEEN philatelist, and we could have talked for hours! Anyway early next morning I was transported to the station and whisked back to Sydney, where I booked a hotel night for Dec 29^th, and off to Toowoomba after a delicious salad sandwich from Macquaire Gourmet near the Hyde Park in 225 Macquaire Street. (I bought an extra one for my train journey too!) I arrived in Brisbane at 5.30 am! And by 10.30 I was at my final destination, before Xmas, of Toowoomba. After 5 years of knowing each other on the net I finally met Mellissa. Mellissa is married to Josh a lovely person and they are expecting their first baby in about 3 weeks. Mellissa is one of those special people who can listen well, and a great sympathiser. We both help others in a Depression Group in Yahoo. Obviously Mellissa will not be able to be very active, and I hope I won't be too much bother! I did at least cook them last night one of stir-fries. Now I have cooked in 5 continents!

A Happy Xmas to every one, I hope to write one or two more episodes, maybe when I am in Perth, but it may have to wait till I get home.

A very Pleasant new Year to you all too.