Ray & Neil's Christmas Message to all our friends and family 2007.

(Just click on 'play' button to download our Christmas message)

And We're off AGAIN!!!!!

...but this is the very last one!

We decided that maybe Melbourne was a bit too racy for what we are looking for. Please don't get us wrong, its a fantastic place to live and it has so much going on but we feel that its just not what we're looking for.

So we've decided to upsticks again and move to Queensland - the Sunshine State!!

The lease on our apartment expires in early January and Neil's job has not quite panned out as we thought it would and so we decided to move north - but this one is the very last move!!!

We are moving to Brisbane in early December and we are both able to get transfers with our current employers. Neil is going to become the Head of Operations for Queensland with his current company and Ray is going to get a transfer but will probably re establish his business in a few months.

Our container is still in Auckland and we're getting this sent to Brisbane now so it should be there when we arrive - we so can't wait to have all our nick nack noos around us again!!

Brisbane is a lot more laid back as a city and a lot smaller. What's more - it gets 300 days of sunshine a year which puts it as the sunniest city in the world! It will be a lot hotter than Melly and we hope we will be able to cope with the heat - but as a must we're getting a place with aircon!!!

We actually know some people already as Neil's ex boss lives there (he's from Coventry) and we know a guy from Auckland that moved there earlier this year, so hopefully we'll have some mates waiting for us when we get there.

The great thing about Brizzy is that it is 1 hour south of the Sunshine Coast and an hour north of The Gold Coast (the playground of ther ozzies) so we can certianly see us spending lots of time on either coast (we're working on the washboard stomachs currently but with little success!!). The Great Barrier Reef is not too far away either.

Hopefully we will see some of you this side of the world in 2008.

Neil & Ray

PHILLIP ISLAND

We decided to head off to Phillip Island as it was a bank holiday 2 weeks ago and we rented a cottage in the main town called Cowes. It was great to get out of the city and the Island has so much natural beauty all around.

The weather on this weekend was not too kind but we did manage to get out and about most days.

We went walking on the headland around Woolamai Beach which was gorgeous and very similar landscape to NZ. The wind was really gusting though which made the walk even more spectacular as the waves were battering the headland below.

These guys live in the trees on the island - there is actually a sanctuary where they have put boards in stilts so you can walk amoungst the trees and see them almost at eye level! They seem so fed up and miserable!!! As it happens, they are always really spaced out because they only eat eucalyptus leaves which have a drug which makes them high all the time!!!

There are thousands of minature penguins that live on the island and every night they come out of the water and woddle up to their burrows in the sand. There are litterally thousands of them and you can go and watch them (although we didn't). They don't mind at all that hundreds of humans come out every night to see them - they just pop out of the ocean and waddle past!!

DAYLESFORD

Daylesford is a Spa Town not far from Melbourne CBD. Its has loads of natural springs and thus there are loads of spa retreats, most of which are really upmarket. We decided that we needed some pampering so last weekend, we booked and off we went. This spa retreat we went to was way out in the sticks - total seclusion and the only noise was the birds in the tress - it was bliss!!

The apartment has its own treatment rooms below and so we spent a whole day being massaged n stuff! - it was great!!

We went out and about for a walk on the Sunday and here are some snaps of the countryside and few of the locals. The cockatoos and parrots and pretty standard stuff - they are as common as blackbirds in the UK!

Here the woodland is quite boring compared to NZ. Its a lot less lush (due to it being a lot drier here) and mostly gum trees!

The Great Ocean Road

This road is on the south coast and was built as a war memorial. It goes for ages and the views are amazing. The beaches are mostly surf beaches and you can see all the surf dudes out on the waves almost every day!!! Its a great drive and the day we went, there was hardly any other cars on the road.

A FEW SNAPS OF THE CITY

Supermarkets in Melly are a bit of a hit or miss. But the local markets are fantastic. This is South Melbourne Market - everything is so fresh - its still got a pulse!!!

We went up the Eureka Tower - here are a few snaps from the top!

Hook Turns - Doh!!!!

Because of the trams - you have to go left - to go right!!! This is a total nightmare as not all junctions have these, but those that do, you have to wait in the left then scoot right when an space appears - needless to say its the most scary thing we've ever done driving!!!

Melbourne - The World's Most Livable City

Here are some snaps of a typical Sunday out and about. We can so see why Melbourne is now the top city in the world to live - there is gigillions of stuf to do, great weather and zero crime! - So far we love it. Its been a bit of a shock to us coming from very tranquil NZ to racy Melly but we're now getting into it.

The people are just as friendly and there are so many open spaces - its great. The transport system is amazing (must be close to best in the world) and girls......the shopping is to DIE FOR!!!!!

Today is only the beggining of spring and the temp was about 22 but the weather keeps changing. One minute its fine and sunny, next it was gales and rain!! Everyone says - if you don't like the weather in Melbourne - just give it 5 mins - now we can see what they mean!!!

If anyone is interested here is a bit of background on where we live now. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/06/1075854028808.html