From the sublime to the ridiculous...

Chris and Charlotte; mild mannered, friendly, down to earth, loads of stories to tell, helpful.

New Irish housemate couple (even after 3 days after trying to be nice to them and find their names out they haven't bothered to tell us...); inconsiderate, rude, unfriendly, boring, nothing to tell.

Chalk and cheese, Cambridge and Manchester Uniteds, Tony Blair and an honest politician. Yes they are all as different and as contrasting (some would say so different in fact that they're opposite) as our previous and 'new' housemates. All we know despite seeing them on three occasions (and hearing them on many more) is that they're Irish, love themselves (HE spent over 40 mins in the bathroom this morning perfecting his boy-bandesque look (he now successfully looks a bit like the ugly one from Boyzone)) and have no personality between them. She is so vapid that she makes the Queen Mother look full of life...

Anyway claws away for a minute. Although it is just mentioning the hilarious moment last night when we locked ourselves in the bathroom (the handle came off in our hand) and the only exit was through the dullards' room...at about 10.30. They weren't amused but we thought it was hilarious...

Onto our past two days, which have been, housemates aside, an unmitigated success. We managed to find a hire car last thing on Thursday evening and, thus ventured out from Noosa yesterday, and again today. First up yesterday was Australia Zoo - this was set up in 1970 by a couple who spawned the most famous 'Crocodile Hunter' in the world - one Steve Irwin. He has since taken control of the site and it now covers over 75 hectares with plans to increase in size to over 315 ha within 3 years. It is a great zoo because the animals are enclosed in areas akin to their natural environment; crocodiles in billabongs, snakes in dense undergrowth, and spiders under toilet seats. We also sat through a highly entertaining crocodile show (no top-hats and dancing though...shame) before leaving at around 2.30pm. We didn't spot the man himself, although he was apparently, 'in the area'...I guess it's a little strange in that it's just about the only zoo in the world where people come to look at a human.

Onwards and upwards to the local Noosa Par 3 (Aussie for pitch 'n' putt) golf course where for the second time this holiday I got 'spanked by my wife' - she beat me by one shot. Revenge will be mine...I did distinguish myself by hitting one ball into a lake which cost me two shots, and thus the match...

After our rude awakening by the Avon couple at around 6.30(am) we evenutally surfaced at round 8ish before heading out to the Eumundi market - a local institution. As markets go (avid readers will know they are the bane of my life) it was good and we found at least one decent stall which sold framed photos (all taken by the stall-holder) from the Barrier Reef and around. He's putting together a couple of pictures in a frame for us and posting them home. We chatted with him about various divesites, and had a wonderfully hot 'hot dog' before heading north to Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach. To liven things up a little Jen did her 'that scenic route road looks nice' routine and we thus went via Aberdeen (even saw seagulls the size of dogs...) At Tin Can Bay we successfully saw none of the dolphins it is famous for and at Rainbow Beach we saw very little of the famous multi-coloured sand as by the time we got there it was almost time to get back (d'oh!) and it was at least a 3 mile walk along the beach, dodging high-tide, 4x4 trucks and kids with ominous looking buckets and spades. So, here we are back in Noosa, which is definitely turning into one of our fave places in Aus. We're going to give it one more go with Mr & Mrs Vain this evening before giving them up as a lost cause (in case you're thinking 'well isn't there a possibility they just don't like you...?' we have thought that too but then realised we haven't even spent enough time with them for them to hate us...) Tomorrow is a designated beach day (our last for a long long while probably) whilst we should arrive in Brisbane around lunchtime on Monday.

In other news I have had a great idea what to do when I return to the UK - one which I am going to explore but I can't say what it is here so you'll just have to wait - it is a corker though!!