All work and no play........

makes Steve a dull boy....

I'm working lots and not saving up any money whatsoever, its so difficult to save money in Sydney, I'm not even really going out much and if I am I'm only spending a little amount on booze. I've been working since the middle of October (so that's 3 months now) and I've not saved up anything and have nothing to show for it either. Before I know it I'll be on the plane home having not seen any of Australia! Haven't even got any credit on my phone or any food in the house. I think I have a small bag of rice and a few handfuls of penne pasta... and half a bottle of Finlandia vodka....! I am now resorting to leaving my wallet at home so I can't take out any money to spend on useless rubbish. Even the rent in our apartment is going up from $130 per week to $145.

There hasn't really been any full days of sunshine either for over a week now, its always warm here though, in the twenty's, but its always drizzling or just dull and grey, I know I'm homesick but I don't need rain! My tan which kinda also started to peel but still look good, has suddenly disappeared, and my socks are always wet when it rains because I have crap trainers!

On the plus side, a friend from work drove me around for hours yesterday and I got to see loads more of Sydney, but not the city bits, mostly northern Sydney and some lil' beaches and lakes and stuff. Lots of nice views but I forgot to take my camera so sorry no pictures. We'll go again soon though and I promise to take pics. It was so weird being a passenger in a car too! First passenger ride in a car since I left home....

I hope tomorrow that someone decides to leave several hundred-dollar bills on the floor somewhere just in time for me to pick them up...

Johnny Ox (friend from back home home in Melton Mowbray) left for Melbourne today, he couldn't find any work so is on the rest of his trip back home, he'll be back home by mid-Feb, I hope I don't have to move on soon as I won't have an opportunity like this again! Shaun is still here though. Lawrence my flatmate is always in the net cafe talking to his ex on MSN and never goes out anymore, he's trying to save up money too but is having the same problem as me. Our other flatmates from Sweden; Magnus & Johan haven't worked since December so they have no money to go out either! Swedish Chris went to Melbourne last week and I haven't seen Yorkshire Amy for a while. Swedish Sofia is on her way to Perth (or possibly has already gone?!) and Jason is already on his way up the east coast!

I need to get out of here...

x

Rain rain rain....

Hi, this is just to let you all know that your one and only McSteve is still alive and nowhere near the bush fires or anything like that, and there isn't really anymore racial bashing going on thats clouding the news. I'm a bit sunburnt from watching the cricket yesterday but it was fun watching the South African's amass a total of 451-9 declared, then reduce the Aussies to about 59-3 or something like that in about 15 overs. Australia still managed to turn the game around in their 2nd innings though in the last few days, so the Aussie's are all smug around here, mainly thanks to Ricky Ponting, the small whiny git! I at least have a bit of a nice tan now though... The cricket was fun, people just getting some sun, beer and enjoying the atmosphere, quite a few stars there, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Graeme Smith, plus some inflatable fun for the crown to enjoy (see gallery by clicking on the picture below)

"Bowled 'im Warney!"

The last few days have been mental weather, it rained so much lately, pretty much since the start of the new year. It rained loads last night whilst walking home from work, then I decided just to strip off and stick all my clothes in the wash.... A few minutes later I went to check my messages on my phone, but alas, I'd gone and stuck it in the washing machine hadn't I!? My new phone!!! I know it was only $69, but still! I tried to rescue it from the warm soapy watered cauldron of the top loading washing machine (thank god you can just open the lid of the washing machine at any point throughout the wash cycle!) and we blow dried it but it doesn't work at all, not surprisingly really!!! I'm relying on my old phone, but the keys down the right hand side still require major pressure to be applied on them to register a keystroke, and I'm not sure how long the battery will last, but its all I got! I can't afford another phone! As the Swedish say; "Ma telephone a tresig." (My phone is broken)...

I'm off out in Manly tonight with my Swedish mate Chris, today is my day off, so hopefully I can actually have a decent night out without worrying about anything, despite all my dumb antics of late.

Happy 2006!

New Years Eve was kinda weird, it was so hot, and everyone was in a panic about going to see some fireworks somewhere or going to some dance thing elsewhere. Shaun, Johnnie, Lawrence & I got a load of beers in and just played Pro Evo 5 on the Playstation 2 before wandering down to Circular Quay for the midnight fireworks. There were some close matches but the overall jist was that Johnny & Lawrence could play, and myself and Shaun are fairly bob...

To get into most bars or clubs you needed a ticket or had to pay a lot on the door, so we didn't bother going anywhere for a drink before going to see the fireworks at midnight. Shaun disappeared for a minute though, and came back with a case of beer, much to Lawrence's delight. Amy came and met us, and the search for a decent spot began. We found a palce watch the fireworks where the ferrys were, but I wandered off in my drunken stupor and kinda floated around in front of the contemporary art museum, so I could see the Opera House quite well and got a decent enough view to see the fireworks above the harbour bridge too. However, I lost everyone else and just spent the countdown surrounded by thounsands of strangers!

Harbour Bridge

The view was pretty decent, I would have been thankful for the zoom on my camera but I didn't really need it, the fireworks were pretty awesome and all over the sky in front of me, despite some poor camera skills I still managed to get a few decent shots of it all.

Sydney Opera House

There are a few videos I have too but I need somewhere to upload them. They put the pictures to shame and are really pretty cool.

I stumbled home soon after the fireworks finished, I think they lasted around 20 or so minutes, the networks were all jammed so I couldn't call anyone or find anyone, so my bed seemed like a good idea at the time, especially seeing as I had work in the morning.

Worth a visit on New Years Eve is Sydney, I tell thee...

P.S. Its been about 44 degrees celcius today, I have melted several times over, its not funny... Better than minus 6 though I guess?! Wouldn't mind a bit of snow though!