Tis the season to be jolly , tra la la la la, la la, la, la! How are you all?

Im currently in Great Western, about 2:30hrs west of Melbourne by car. Working away renovating houses, while staying at the bosses house. Decent enough set up, but problems with pay and the like, causing a few headaches. When things are going well, its shit hot. But when it not running smoothly, there is places i would rather be.

As it stands myself and young Colin leave for Sydney on the 23rd of December. Hopefully have a good time up there for Christmas and New Year. Staying with the Irish, Seadna, Lee and new addition to the troops, Deco. His banter shall be replacing Marks, who has become involved with some english lass, so has diminished as far as craic goes. ha ha ha. All drunken fools like us, so we fit in nicely.

After new years we will be coming back down Melbourne way to work for about three weeks, before leaving for Singapore on Jan 31st. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, all in 3 months. Should be a lot of travelling, but alot of fun along the way. Such a different culture, so the true travel experience! Thats the plan, and i cant wait.

Its not that im not enjoying Australia, it just that i have seen all that i want to see, and im done with the place. It a nice country, but when you really look it is just a warm, sunny England. Some people say it just like the States, but ive never been there so cant comment. Based on this wont be going to the States either. But im sure you know what i mean, aint no place like home. But looking back in a few years, i will see only good times, and none of the grey times.

As for news, there is problems with bush fires out here. What you think is clouds in the sky is actually smoke. Pretty mad!! Coupled with the water shortage, its a testing predicament to be in. With the drought, alot of animals are migrating to find water. Seen loads of Kangaroos, Wallabies, native birds, Achidnas and foxes. Pretty cool, but such a shame for the animals. It just never rains, and doesnt look like it is going to either!!! You actually have to go to a shop to buy water to put in your tanks. Crazy.

Ive put some photos up of the bush fire smoke. Some pretty cool pictures, but the destruction the fires are causing is horrific. But enjoy the pictures, also some pictures of the gang from our last days in Cairns, many moons ago now!

A very merry Christmas, and the best of luck for the New Year.

Hope you are all doing well, Hail Hail, and keep in touch. Love hearing whats going on back home, or where ever you are in the wide world.

David G x