We've spent the morning having our first look at Sydney. First impressions are great - really bright and airy, with a great mix of modern and contemporary architecture. After a great baguette lunch and a quick haircut, where the barber was moaning about illegal immigrants, we had a quick run around the shops. Fortunately the girls had already decided they wanted to go off on their own so we were spared the 'women shopping' routine...For our sins our only responsibilty was to decide on, and buy, the food for the next couple of days. As we are on a pretty strict budget here we also vowed not to spend money on anything else...oops!

The sum total of our escapade is as follows:

One Set of BBQ tongs/slice/fork (bargain of the day at $8 (all prices in Aus dollars - divide by 2.5 for UKP)
One CD/MP3 Cassette Adapter so we can listen to to music on the car stereo - $30
A Bullmastiff Coaster - $5 (Pressie for Jen - we're both missing the dog)
A BBQ Grill Set - $18
An Adaptor to turn 12V cigarette lighter into 240V so we can use Pat's laptop on the move ($80)
Pressie for Jen - $enough
Food/Wine/Booze shop - $190 (!)

So it's mince, mashed potato and peas tonight and sausages and mash tomorrow. Great to be cooking again...tomorrow we're going up the Harbour Bridge on the Bridge Climb and exploring the rest of the Manly and the harbour. Hopefully the weather will hold up as it has been lovely and sunny today. Am also meeting with an ex-Michael Page colleague for lunch tomorrow. He too has left MP and now works for TMP!! Who'd ever be mad enough to do that???

In other news Rich has now confided that he has fired over 10,000 rounds whilst in the TA and he spent all his formative years training in the gym and kickboxing. I am scared. If you never hear from us again you know why...If you read this Rich - only joking big man!!